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"I'm sure Your Majesty understands Messen and Rimad's current situation It's obvious that Duke Shazin wouldn't want such provinces He isn't very good at ement so how could he choose dominions that require exactly that?"

"Hahaha, you can't blahed, "Who was it that ravaged Messen and Rimad? It certainly wasn't done by my order? Consider this: Duke Shazin wanted Kribia, yes, but do his contributions iven hiive hi any sha he could do about it either Auguslo was right in that Shazin's perfor from the sidelines He had followed Lorist closely, yes, but he didn't contribute ue little with such a reason

"Fine Your Majesty is correct Duke Shazin shouldn't have had such blind ambitions I take my leave now"

Lorist felt he should leave now that matters had been settled

"Locke, wait There is one ht, the show's finally starting He definitely has so in mind, he would not have increased reward otherwise Wise, objective kingin h?

"What is it, Your Majesty? Do you have any instructions?"

"Well, it's like this You've been hunting ic beasts in the demonic lands for the lastyour new lands and I didn't want to sit around in Hans until you returned So, I went to de was to put some meat in my men's diets"

"I have no intent to fault you for your actions I just wish to know if the furs are still here"

"They are indeed, Your Majesty," Lorist replied, slightly reserved, "Would you like a few? I just recently put together a selection of the best ones I'll send someone over with a few"

"I can pay for them"

"No need, Your Majesty There are only ten Just consider it a gift," said Lorist generously

"That's not quite what I had in mind, Locke I wish to purchase all the furs"

"All the furs?"

Can you really afford it? Lorist wondered, Apart from the more precious ones I shipped back to the doether they should be worth at least a old Fordes—

A spark suddenly lit up in his mind

—Of course! You just took four duchies Funds are the one thing you don't lack right now

Three of the dukes had paid hiold Fordes left behind in Duke Farkel's camp There was also the money thewas a co eyes like he was looking at a statue ain, what does he ith the furs? So to train a unit or legion that can act during winter as well?—

It didn't take long for hi's intentions

—Whatever, I'll sell theret it if Ia winter force is easy? Does he really think winter clothing alone is enough to let men move around freely in thefar too sihtly

"Very well The furs I have on my should be worth about 145 million Since my client in Your Majesty, I'll lower the price to 12 million How's that? I'll also throw in a few dozen precious pelts as a gift"

Alright I'll just give him all the precious furs if that's what it takes

"Wait, how old Fordes? Do you really have that uslo was a little taken aback He hadn't expected Lorist would have thatto forion named Blizzardblitz He would train them to use skis and launch surprise attacks in winter His ht him a harsh lesson Of the 30 thousand troops he ht thousand made it to the city He didn't think he'd need so many if their casualty rate could be lowered with their equip He only planned to purchase 10 thousand sets He wasn't going to train every soldier under his command in winter combat It would be a waste

He had known of Lorist's hunts for a year now He didn't really mind since it let the men eat more meat and bewildered the eneic beasts was incredibly wasteful and foolish He had no idea the Nortons had begun their rise to poith killing ic beasts Lorist had shipped most of the valuable furs back hooat furs were left

He thought Lorist only had furs worth 400 thousand and enough to outfit his new detachht even have some left over That was the only reason he had not specified a number but had offered to buy them all The difference between his expectation and Lorist's quote shocked hi for a whole ht back froreat shape I wouldn't throw in any torn ones to inflate the nuain, I didn't think Your Majesty would be so adept at business I'm sure you will resell them for quite the profit in the capital" Lorist pushed the sale with all he had

"This well" Auguslo had forgotten about the new furs He had over-promised and found it hard to deliver

"Surely Your Majesty wasn't joking around with loo, after all I'll send souslo forced himself to s the pill

"Very well I'll take my leave I'll wait for your men in my camp"