"The Almighty blesses! Inspector Isaac, it's been years since we last t, and you've indeed grown prosperous! To have this seaside warehouse courtyard and two-story building in Lisbon's expensive comrcial port..."
"Ah hah! Honorable Lorenzo the Kni... Guild Chief, this is all thanks to the City-State Republic (La Serenissima) having a reputable na, and guild rchants conducting honest trade, blessed by the Holy Mother! As a mber of the City-State's comrcial guild, it is through the guild's reputation that I manage to stand my ground in Lisbon, making a minor contribution to the Almighty and the Republic…"
"Haha! Isaac, humility is a virtue taught by the Almighty, but excessive humility is pride! Before coming here, I even had an audience with the City-State bishop… The bishop was very satisfied with the spices sent by the guild, and highly praised your additional contributions!"
"Ah… The bishop's contribution? I, uh… oh, right! I also have a gift from the Southern Continent, dedicated to the guild's patrons, the distinguished councillors… Yes! It's been prepared, it's prepared!…"
The waves of the North Atlantic crash persistently along the rugged Portuguese coast towards the south, only easing after rounding a bend. The expansive bay curves inward, a natural deep-water harbor able to resist storms. The long Tagus River flows into the ocean here, bringing fertile riverbank land along its course and carving out a flat rivermouth plain. Together, these favorable geographic features form the largest port city on the western side of the Iberian Peninsula, the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.
At this mont, in a corner of Lisbon's outer harbor, a few nobles dressed as wealthy rchants, escorted by more than ten chamberlains, quickly make their way into a two-story building within the seaside warehouse district. Leading the way is Eliyahu the Jewish rchant, smiling broadly. Behind are two people, an older and a younger, both cautiously wearing wide rchant hats, entering the courtyard where the building stands discreetly. Once the courtyard gate closes, the "old wealthy rchant" removes his hat, revealing a weathered Italian face: it is none other than the old knight Lorenzo.
"The Almighty blesses! Lorenzo the Knight, though this building is sowhat tucked away, it is a superb vantage point! I often linger here, watching the rchant ships co and go, estimating the types and quantities of cargo..."
"Haha! Isaac, you truly are a born rchant, shrewd as if gold coins have eyes..."
"Ah hah! It's all for serving the City-State, for serving the guild..."
The group ascends the building, their tone growing lighter. From this seaside building, the prosperous scene of the harbor is fully visible. Hundreds of black-skinned labor slaves are busily loading and unloading at the dock, sweating profusely. rchant ships of various sizes from different countries and City-States, each flying different national and City-State flags, are gathering in Lisbon's outer harbor at Tagus Bay. The Portuguese Royal Family fleet recently returned from the Southern Continent, along with the goods worth ten tis in profit inticing everyone, is undoubtedly the core attraction of this comrcial prosperity.
"The Almighty! This is truly a prosperous port, almost comparable to the Venice comrcial port... Portuguese trade with the Southern Continent surely fills their coffers, making the City-State councillors envious!…"
"Lorenzo, there's a City-State proverb, 'The path to glory is not paved with flowers', 'Only the wise can grow wealthy'... The Portuguese prosperity stems from their wisdom in shipbuilding and navigation, their courage and bravery in exploring the sea! In my view, the adventurous and exploratory spirit of the Portuguese nobility surpasses those noble councillors sitting idle in their manor gardens enjoying wine and won, those indulging in luxury, fat and gluttonous individuals, by far!…"
"Uh…"
Hearing this sharp comnt, the old knight Lorenzo hesitated slightly, looking helplessly at the young man standing confidently with hat in hand behind him. The leading Jewish rchant Eliyahu was visibly startled, cautiously observing while smilingly asking.
"Lorenzo the Knight, who is this young, valiant and wise noble?…"
"Ahem! Isaac, let introduce... This is Giovanni Tran, the eldest son of Councillor Sylvester Tran, the grandson of Governor Moro!…"
"Ah! It turns out to be the eldest son of Councillor Tran, the great-grandson of Governor Moro?! No wonder so distinguished, exuding such nobility, like a mythical flying lion..."
The Jewish rchant Eliyahu wore a beaming smile, flattering for quite so ti. anwhile, the young Giovanni removed his hat, with an aloof posture, casting a discreetly smiling glance at the Jewish rchant, evidently looking down upon him. Eliyahu kept the smile while turning to call for the straightforward and robust Slavic servant.
"Ivan! Go bring my very best barrel of Douro port wine! I wish to entertain the distinguished guest!…"
"Uh… Master, you an, the very best?…"
Upon hearing this, a rare look of astonishnt crossed Ivan's honest and dull face. Master had repeatedly instructed him that when guests ca to the house, if he said "good wine," it ant mixing in seven to eight parts water. If he said "best wine," it ant wine and water half-and-half. Only when he said "very best wine," was it the original wine with no water mixed at all. Having followed the master for several years, this was the first ti hearing him say, "Bring the very best wine"...
"Indeed! The very best Douro port wine, from the Douro River Valley in Porto to the north, that barrel from ten years ago!… These two are the most distinguished guests!…"
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