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Big Business

Hey Guys!

So because yesterday's chapter was late, here's today's chapter early!

"Catch a man a fish, and you can sell it to him Teach a man to fish, and you ruin a wonderful business opportunity" ~ Charade

"You're back, Locke" Auguslo was really busy and only briefly greeted Lorist, who had just entered the hall In front of hiht before he started penning

"Good afternoon, Your Majesty," replied Lorist with a bow, stealing a quick glance

His eyesight was pretty good and he could clearly identify that the documents contained personal information about nobles and their houses It had to be information about the nobles who had followed the four dukes The king was in the ly not noticing Lorist's greeting, the king continued to focus on the docuhtened hi's residence It was one of the ten famed palaces of the old empire, Inkcuby Palace Cuby was a thu bliss and luck Legend had it that there was a black-haired fairy a the cubies who liked to make dresses out of black-colored flower petals, it was called the ink cuby It liked brave and battle-hardened warriors If a warrior was lucky enough to gain an ink cuby's favor, he would be endoith courage and endurance and dominate the battlefield

One of House Handra's heads was a warrior that frequented the battlefield and rarely eained the blessing of an ink cuby The lord didn't waste the adathered to coe

The artisans of the fa its engravings Legend was that, should a person find the thousand ink cubies, they would receive its blessing

Inkcuby Palace used to be House Handra's residence, but noas being used by Auguslo Lorist stared at the decor He wanted to see how uslo came to Lorist's side after a while and stared at the roof as well, curious to see at what Lorist was looking

"Ink cubies"

His effort asted Though he had et whether he had already counted some of them

Whatever There's only about 60 in this hall anyway Counting theuslo alend too?"

Lorist shook his head

"No, I only counted theuslo hadn't expected Lorist to respond thusly "How so?"

"The effort required to count the ink cubies would be better spent training oneself Training will naturally elevate one's strength to the ranks of indouslo nodded

"Makes sense Actually, House Handra has records of such an incident Around 70 years ago, one ain their blessing He scoured the palace for thirty years but could only find 997 No matter where he looked, he couldn't find the last three He finally lost his sanity, what little he clearly had to begin with and spent the rest of his days wandering around the palace ht and drowned What a sad end"

Lorist sighed

"A tragedy indeed, Your Majesty"

"Yes House Handra forbade any searching for ink cubies Auguslo looked at the engravings above "Just as you say, if he had spent those 30 years on battleforce training, no old rank It would've been a great result for both hiuslo was acting rather weird, as if he had coo of the 's orders Currently, he appeared as friendly as he used to and coh with the idle chatter You're here to claim your reward, yes? I already wrote it down for you I' as he returned to his desk and handed Lorist a beastskin

It was the proof he needed Both the seal and decorative border proved Auguslo didn't plan to mess with him He had already been coh the date, he felt surprised

"Your Majesty, did you get the date wrong?"

Though the exereed to last three years, the document in his hands presently put it at five years Weird Had the sun risen froenerous all of a sudden? It had to be a uslo waved casually it off casually

"It's what you deserve It was thanks to you that ere able to wrap this can up so quickly and easily Nobody contributed as much as you We've had our fair share of difference, but it is because of our differing views Ti; I cannot afford to hold grudges when I was clearly in the wrong, I er picture in doreater than what you dely"

Lorist bowed

"I aenerosity"

"Drop the pleasantries I'ree that your treatment of Duke Shazin is a little unfair?" Lorist took the opportunity to confront Auguslo

"Well" the king was a little taken aback He was a little troubled, but maintained his composure and smiled as he shook his head "I see Duke Shazin went to you to complain, which is totally in order But think about it I already gave him two choices, yet he didn't accept either Can you really blame me? I already did what I said Rimad and Messen are both provinces with rich mineral resources that produce more income than his current county He just needs to invest in his chosen do if he doesn't want my offers"