The General’s mansion was a luxurious residence situated next to the Grand Palace, covering a vast area.
The mansion’s gates stood wide open like the gates of a city, with a team of fully ard family guards clad in armor standing outside. These were the private forces of the Thessalonica General, who only followed his orders.
The banquet had not yet started.
The invited nobles gathered in small groups, engaging in quiet conversations based on their own circles.
"Branas of Adrian Castle has already been breached by the Thrace Imperial Guard. It is said that Your Majesty intends to hold a small victory ceremony for the Imperial Guard."
Soone spoke with a complex expression: "The army of magic potions crafted by Her Highness the Eldest Princess is indeed formidable. With the Imperial Guard present, Your Majesty’s position is as secure as ever."
"Heh, it’s not just the Imperial Guard present; it’s Anna the Princess."
Among these people were quite a few with connections to Branas. Because of their numbers, even if they had dealings with rebels, they did not worry about Her Majesty the Empress holding them accountable later.
When Losa and Anna arrived, they didn’t attract much attention. Both were dressed simply today, and if not for their distinguished deanor and the invitations they held, the guards might not have let them in.
The Military Zone General of Thessalonica, a middle-aged man with a handso face and a bushy beard, walked over with a smile as soon as they entered the venue.
"Good day, esteed Purple Robe Princess, Anna."
Anna slightly nodded to him, her deanor noticeably cold: "Good day, General Nikiforos."
Nikiforos didn’t take offense and looked at Losa beside Anna: "This must be General Losa, indeed a youthful hero. Although I haven’t witnessed your dragon-slaying prowess in the arena, I have heard of your reputation."
"In the past six months, you’ve accomplished quite a bit in the Eastern diterranean."
The term diterranean has long been established, sotis referred to as the land-locked sea.
Losa spoke directly: "What does the General want from ?"
Nikiforos chuckled: "General Losa truly possesses the characteristic straightforwardness of the Germanic people. In that case, I’ll be direct as well. You may have heard that the Vasilyakos Family primarily engages in mariti trade."
Losa responded politely: "Of course, your family has a long-standing history, and its wealth is widely known. I have heard of it."
"Recently, a fleet dispatched by the family lost contact while returning from Cria, in the Mist Sea Region of the Black Sea. According to pirates who narrowly escaped, they encountered a sea monster."
"Sea monster?"
Losa inquired: "What kind of sea monster?"
Nikiforos’s face showed a trace of embarrassnt: "It could have been a giant whirlpool. Although there have always been rumors of sea monsters along that route, no one has seen the true shape of a sea monster. Or, those who have seen it haven’t survived to tell the tale."
"What does the General wish for to do?"
"Ahem."
Nikiforos glanced around and lowered his voice: "The returning ship carries a valuable artifact. I hope you can help retrieve this treasure."
"What kind of treasure?"
Losa, intrigued, asked straightforwardly: "Describe its appearance in detail. After all, finding it in a sunken ship under the sea is not easy."
After hearing Nikiforos’s description, Losa nodded with determination: "I am willing to take on this commission, but what will I receive in return?"
Nikiforos smiled: "I know General Losa, you do not lack wealth, but you are aware of the imnse treasures hidden in diterranean trade. I am willing to help you organize a rchant fleet and allow you to use our family flag to avoid pirate risks. After all, General Losa, you possess Eira Port and Limassol, two crucial trade ports. It would be a sha not to utilize them."
Losa shook his head: "Forget it; General, you might not be aware that I am very short on cash lately. The reward for this commission is best paid in Gold Coins."
With Turriados joining him, his rchant fleet in the Limassol military district wasn’t ford from scratch.
Nikiforos was slightly taken aback but said: "In that case, as long as General Losa can retrieve my treasure, I am willing to pay twenty thousand Suludes Gold Coins as a reward."
"No problem!"
Twenty thousand Suludes Gold Coins were equivalent to over a year’s worth of taxes for Hebron.
Losa asked curiously: "But why don’t you ask Anna to handle this?"
Nikiforos’s face showed a trace of embarrassnt: "General Losa, you don’t know Anna’s habits. She only handles extraordinary events in Constantinople, anything beyond that scope, she has always been unwilling to get involved."
"Furthermore..."
Nikiforos paused: "How could I request the esteed Purple Robe Princess to deal with my affairs?"
...
Anna coldly laughed: "He fears I’ll seize his treasure. Nikiforos is ultimately just a secular lord and doesn’t realize that the treasure in his eyes isn’t much in mine."
Losa laughed: "It seems this General, after all, has confidence in handling ."
After all, he wasn’t isolated. If he turned against General Nikiforos, Losa worried about retribution from the other side.
"It’s probably not entirely because of this, since you have a good reputation, and the cost of breaking agreents is higher for you."
Ordinary people indeed have a resistant attitude towards Wizards. For instance, in folklore, wizards are rarely portrayed positively, often appearing as the masterminds behind so conspiracy or disaster.
Many lords are also wary of Casters who co to their territories.
"Anna, there’s sothing I’d like to ask you for help with."
"What is it?"
"Lend so money."
"Didn’t Your Majesty just award you fifty thousand Suludes Gold Coins?"
"Spent it all."
Anna’s face was filled with shock: "Do you have a monstrous beast devouring gold?"
That’s fifty thousand Gold Coins, half a ton of Gold!
Thinking of his retainers, Losa showed a trace of a bitter smile: "Indeed, they are gold-devouring beasts, and not just one but a group."
Every retainer needs money to advance. Is it not gold-devouring?
Anna was silent for quite a while, then nodded: "I can lend it to you. When do you plan to repay it?"
"Within a month."
For this operation, Losa planned to call on Hog, ask him to co to Constantinople to see him, and bring the treasure he collected during this period as repaynt.
"How much do you need?"
"Preferably fifty thousand."
Losa glanced at Anna’s expression, seeing her face was not too pleasant, then added: "One or two thousand would work."
If he had fifty thousand, he would first upgrade Chelina to full level.
If it’s less than fifty thousand, then upgrading each retainer a few levels would be a better choice.
"You have quite a demand, follow ."
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