Three days later, on the top floor of the Rapids City Exchange.
Through the expensive crystal-glass windows, the city's outline lood in the glow of dawn, with faint mist covering the distant harbor.
The window with the Libra's gold emblem was gently closed by an attendant to prevent the cold wind outside from freezing the seventeen gentlen in the eting room.
These "gentlen" were the senior partners of the igedi Comrce Association.
To swiftly recover the economy post-war, Horn granted considerable support and authority to the igedi Comrce Association, enabling them to acquire a large amount of the industries previously owned by the nobility.
These seventeen individuals were spread across industries such as finance, shipping, dyeing, grain, carriage and horse line, textiles, pharmacy, and leather goods, with most holding more than half the market share in their respective fields.
In the eyes of most commoners, aren't these senior partners the "lords" themselves?
However, in the presence of the not-yet-arrived Horn, these partners were like lambs in a winter sheepfold, anxious and uneasy.
The long table was placed beside the fireplace, under the large gold-frad painting "The Smile of the Saint's Grandson," with oranges, teacups, eting minutes, and pen and paper prepared on the tabletop.
The air was filled with the aroma of coffee, and several attendants moved back and forth on one side, serving fresh snacks and drinks to these upper-level individuals.
The partners' attire was all impeccable, wearing dark robes or whale-bone long skirts, utilizing the fashionable narrow-sleeve design, with a silk scarf tied at the collar or gold and silver collar pins attached.
Sitting on the carved hardwood upholstered chairs on both sides, the senior partners were whispering and conversing.
So appeared serious, saying to each other things like "What do you fear, I fear nothing" and "I thought you had no news."
So appeared sullen, like the insurance tycoon Old Eddie and the lottery king Brandon, both looking as if they hadn't woken up yet.
So even left their seats, wandering around the eting room, occasionally bending down, bracing themselves against the back of chairs on both sides, and conversing with the partners beside them.
This particularly referred to Duterte, the steward of the Rapids City Exchange.
Duterte was considered one of the founding mbers of the igedi Comrce Association, having actively rged his comrce association into igedi at the ti, which was a gamble.
But he won that gamble; igedi Comrce Association first swept through Lower Reif County, then extended its branches into all aspects of industry and comrce in the Thousand River Valley and even Black Snake Bay by betting on Horn and Moliat.
During this ti, Duterte spearheaded the charge, expanding igedi Comrce Association's business map frantically with super high efficiency and execution.
Dressed in a wide robe cloak imitating a noble's, Duterte was still whispering to a partner: "Lady Margaret, what does this so-called 'Guild Registration Act' and 'Proposal to Establish Saint Father's Association in igedi Comrce Association' an?"
"You know how in the Imperial Army, the Emperor often sends a supervisor to monitor the troops, don't you? Isn't this the sa as a supervisor?"
"I understand the Saint's Grandson's good intentions, but do you dare to trust those monastic leaders under him? When the ti cos, if he obstructs you even a little, it can lead to your bankruptcy and ruin!"
"If the Saint Father's Association is really established, would the igedi Comrce Association still be ours? Wouldn't it beco the property of His Majesty Saint Sun?"
"Look, they want real-na registration for comrce associations and real-na registration for financial stocks; isn't this just for accountability?"
It doesn't really hinder these "tycoons" from monopolizing, whether it's the real-na registration for guilds or finance.
But once implented, it would drastically increase the cost for partners to manipulate the market.
The forr days of holding shares and having servants as brokers or representatives would be gone.
Because once it's in real-na, ownership belongs to the one registered by na, and the person has the power but can't exercise it, and risks and debts can be easily dumped on the nad.
The servant with na and form wouldn't revolt?
Duterte tapped an urgent rhythm on the back of the chair with his fingers, as if in encouragent.
When he noticed Lady Margaret, who was in charge of the Pharmacy Guild, clutching her pearl handbag, he continued to murmur in her ear: "Can't you see, we used to avoid undue accusations by being anonymous under Cheka and the Gendarrie, but now?"
Trembling slightly, Lady Margaret paused for a few seconds: "I understand."
Duterte stood up and looked around the entire igedi Comrce Association. Beyond those senior partners surviving under Horn's backing, over ten partners leaned towards him.
As long as these senior partners of igedi Comrce Association united, Horn couldn't really do anything to them.
Then no choice but to rely on the Autocratic Duke, unless the Saint's Grandson wanted a civil war, otherwise, he wouldn't dare to go too far, at most forcing them to bleed so gold coins.
Duterte was prepared to painfully part with 8,000 gold pounds cash in advance this ti!
He knew the Great Shepherd appreciated reputation, and planned to donate to organizations like orphanages in the na of the Great Shepherd.
The sudden pop of wood in the fireplace startled the textile industry partner, who knocked over a bone china teacup.
Brown liquid spread across the gold embroidered tablecloth, much like the clandestine trading network beneath the igedi Comrce Association's table.
The river of money ford by anonymous guilds and unregistered holdings flowed slowly in unseen places.
The shipping partner nad lson couldn't help but snort: "So people shouldn't overreach; without His Majesty Saint Sun, where would we be sitting here today?
Moreover, shouldn't so people consider their conscience? Is ill-gotten wealth so easy to earn?"
Duterte sneered, glancing at him and disdaining further dispute.
lson's largest shipping order was Horn's border trade, so naturally, he spoke for Horn.
Duterte never expected to rope him to his side; he looked around and raised his teacup: "Gentlen, there's treachery around His Majesty; as loyal citizens of His Majesty, as devout believers of the Holy Father—
If they are determined to push these absurd acts, we will exhaust every ans to prevent the traitor's sche from succeeding!"
"Indeed, indeed!" Out of the seventeen senior partners present, twelve raised their teacups.
"Plop——"
"His Majesty Horn, the County Governor of Lower Reif County, Lady Catherine, arrive!" the crier announced loudly.
Almost instinctively, everyone in the eting room stood up to welco.
The eting room doors opened, and Horn and Catherine walked in together.
Horn wore a deep purple long robe, still with that constant smiling look.
Catherine, holding Horn's arm, was dressed in a light blue male military uniform, adorned with exquisite gold ornants on her chest.
"Duterte!" Catherine's glasses glinted with cold light, "What were you just saying?"
"Just chatting with everyone, expressing my admiration for both of you, as endless as the waters of the Nao'an River," Duterte bowed politely, returned to his seat.
As he bowed his head and briskly walked back, the corner of his mouth curled into a disdainful smile.
Horn calmly scanned the room full of partners, especially stopping for a mont on Duterte before taking a seat at the head of the table.
Catherine took a seat next to him, quietly observing each partner present.
"Today, everyone is present; you all know the issues we are to discuss— real-na registration and the establishnt of the Saint Father's Association. What are your opinions? Feel free to speak up."
Horn, as always, went straight to the point without wasting words, addressing those senior partners.
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