"Master, does it still hurt?"
Seeing Xu Yi touching his lips, Linda immediately asked with concern. {Entertainment + Reading}Novel
Xu Yi smiled bitterly and shook his head: "It doesn't hurt, but it looks like this. I guess it won't be better when I get home. What should I say if Steele sees it..."
Linda covered her mouth and snickered.
"Master, you were accidentally kissed by Princess Caroline. If Madam had seen it, she would have known what happened immediately."
Xu Yi glared at her angrily: "If Steele asks, I will tell you that I was bitten by you!"
"Madam won't believe it. She knows that I definitely don't have the courage."
Looking at Linda who was snickering, Xu Yi sighed helplessly, thinking that this matter might not be explained clearly.
The best way is probably to honestly explain to Steele after returning, and maybe win Steele's forgiveness.
Seeing that the magic bus had entered the gate of Anvilmar City, Xu Yi shook his head and stopped thinking about these things.
After getting out of the car, Xu Yi took Linda straight to Earl Satsuma's villa.
Director Ram received the notice from Earl Satsuma two days ago and knew that Xu Yi was coming today. He made preparations in advance and immediately greeted Xu Yi and Linda when they appeared.
"President Xu, Viscount Leslie and Baron Haynes are already waiting for you in the living room."
Xu Yi was stunned: "Viscount Leslie? When did he come back?"
Before Director Ram could answer, a long laugh sounded in the courtyard.
"I've been back for less than half a month. I didn't expect to see you today."
Xu Yi turned around and looked with surprise on his face. He immediately greeted him with a big smile.
"Lord Viscount, long time no see!"
Viscount Leslie laughed: "Xu Yi, you are a Viscount yourself now, so you can no longer address me with the same honorific title as before."
Xu Yi quickly shook his head: "My honorific title for Lord Viscount has nothing to do with the regulations of the Noble Council. It is purely because of my heartfelt respect."
Viscount Leslie turned to Baron Haynes and said, "Look, after two years of not seeing each other, Xu Yi has become more talkative than before. No wonder the Xinfei Chamber of Commerce is developing so well now."
Baron Heiners shrugged: "I think he is right, otherwise according to the regulations of the Noble Council. Shouldn't I address him as Lord Viscount every time I see him?"
Xu Yi and Viscount Leslie looked at each other. Laughing loudly at the same time.
"Okay, let's ignore the broken rules of the Noble Council. We are all old friends. You can call me whatever you want. Xu Yi. You are the same as Heiners. Just call me Leslie. Say. You are now a very famous person in the kingdom. You are not the small businessman with little status before. You can no longer address me as respectfully as before." Viscount Leslie said.
Xu Yi hesitated for a moment and read the header: "Okay. Zi... Well, Leslie, what are your plans next after you come back this time?"
"This is exactly what I want to discuss with you. I discussed it with Director Falane of your Chamber of Commerce in Anvilmar City before. He told me that he could not make the final decision. I will just wait for you to come back."
"Need to discuss with me?" Xu Yi was a little puzzled and looked at Baron Heiners with a questioning look.
Baron Haynes shook his head, while Viscount Leslie laughed, pulled Xu Yi and walked out of the courtyard.
"Let's go, I've already booked a banquet at Chanel Restaurant. I won't come back until I get drunk tonight!"
Xu Yi could only helplessly signal to Director Ram and ask him to arrange Linda, and he left the other courtyard sandwiched between Viscount Leslie and Baron Haynes.
# # #
"When it comes to Zhenbei Army, it's really tough."
Viscount Leslie sighed deeply, his expression full of memories and emotions.
"I'm afraid you have never thought that in the snowy and windy environment on the northern border, people may freeze to death at any time, but a large number of soldiers in the Zhenbei Army don't even have a cotton coat that can wrap themselves tightly."
"Wouldn't that mean many people would freeze to death?" Baron Heiners on the side couldn't help but ask.
"It won't be a big deal if you freeze to death." Viscount Leslie shook his head. "But it's true that dozens of Zhenbei Army soldiers freeze to death every winter."
Baron Heiners and Xu Yi looked at each other with a hint of unbearability in their eyes.
It was already halfway through the banquet and half drunk. When Viscount Leslie heard the two people asking about his status in the military, he immediately started chatting and started talking non-stop.
"Why do the soldiers of the Zhenbei Army have strong physical fitness? It's actually because in winter, in order to prevent them from freezing to death, they can only keep warming their bodies through exercises. But because the supplies can't keep up, they can't even eat enough. If you practice too much, your physical strength will not be able to keep up. But if you don't practice, you will freeze to death. Therefore, every winter, the Zhenbei Army will decide how to practice based on how much food they have. We need to change the training plan, otherwise people will die.”
Xu Yi couldn't help but frown: "I heard from Major Macconley that the annual military expenditure of the Zhenbei Army is at least close to 200,000 gold coins. Although it is not enough to improve the military equipment, it is not enough to have enough food, right?"
Viscount Leslie glanced sideways at Xu Yi and sneered: "Two hundred thousand gold coins? Do you know how many gold coins will be ultimately used on the soldiers of the Zhenbei Army?"
Xu Yi remained silent.
Although he didn't have much contact, it can be inferred from the words revealed by Major Macconley that the corruption of King Lampali's army is extremely serious. If the kingdom's finance allocates 200,000 gold coins to the Zhenbei Army as military expenses , and what was ultimately used on the Zhenbei Army might not even have fifty thousand gold coins.
Under such circumstances, the Zhenbei Army has been able to persist for so many years and has not allowed the Sak Kingdom to take a step deeper into the kingdom. This shows how tenacious the Zhenbei Army's combat effectiveness and will are.
"What about this period of time? His Royal Highness Prince Eric has begun to lead the Northern Suppression Army. There will be no shortage of supplies, right?" Baron Heiners asked. "His Royal Highness wants to win this battle so much and establish prestige for himself. I think he will not treat the soldiers of Zhenbei Army badly in this regard."
"Really?" Viscount Leslie's eyes flashed before leaving the Zhenbei Army. When His Royal Highness Prince Eric entertained himself, the table of dishes that even he felt were too extravagant, he sneered again, but did not comment.
Viscount Leslie did not speak, and the audience fell into silence for a while.
Xu Yi looked at Viscount Leslie and Baron Haynes who were both lost in thought, coughed slightly, and asked Viscount Leslie: "If you don't talk about these disappointing things, son... Leslie, you just said you have something to do." What does discussing with me have to do with your future plans?"
Viscount Leslie put down his wine glass and said seriously: "I mentioned this matter to Director Fa Lane of your Chamber of Commerce before. But he may not have informed you. Then I will say it again. Xu Yi, I want to cooperate with your Xinfei Chamber of Commerce. What do you think about opening a magic machine factory?”
Xu Yi was suddenly startled: "Are you cooperating with our Chamber of Commerce? In your name or in the name of your Stark family?"
Viscount Leslie smiled and said: "I am not the patriarch now, so of course I can only speak for myself."
Xu Yi frowned: "If you do this, won't your family have any objections?"
"This is my own business. They are not qualified to give me advice." Viscount Leslie waved his hand. "Xu Yi. Just say it's okay?"
"Of course. In fact, Leslie, you would have owned shares in our Chamber of Commerce before, if you had not voluntarily quit. Now you are the major shareholder of our Chamber of Commerce, and there is no need to come to me to discuss cooperation." Xu Yi said sincerely.
"There is no need to mention the past. And to be honest, I am even more grateful now that I made such a wise decision. Otherwise, because I hold part of the shares of the Xinfei Chamber of Commerce, those annoying guys in the family would not be able to You know how to force me."
Xu Yi and Heinas looked at each other and saw the worry in each other's eyes.
It can be heard from Viscount Leslie's words that the situation in the Stark family after his return may not be very good.
And under such circumstances, he actually came to discuss cooperation with Xu Yi to open a magic machine factory. Isn't this clearly going against the will of the family
"Leslie, have you thought clearly about the consequences of doing this?" Xu Yi asked in a deep voice.
Viscount Leslie smiled slightly: "Don't worry, I know these things much better than you do."
Xu Yi read the first page, took a breath, and said: "Okay, now that you have made a decision, as a friend, of course I will try my best to help you. Tell me, what kind of magic machine factory do you want to open? And How do you want to cooperate with our Chamber of Commerce?”
Viscount Leslie shook his head: "It doesn't matter what kind of factory it is, and it doesn't matter what kind of cooperation we have, as long as we cooperate with your Xinfei Chamber of Commerce."
Hearing this answer, Xu Yi and Baron Heiners gasped at the same time.
If the two of them were just guessing just now, now they are certain.
Viscount Leslie, it is clear that he wants to go against the will of the Stark family and confront the family head-on!
However, although he is the eldest son of the current Stark family patriarch and was considered the most likely candidate to succeed him as the next patriarch, such blatant confrontation with the family will definitely not yield good results.
The Stark family is recognized as the most powerful noble family in the Lampali Kingdom besides the royal family. The amount of energy it contains is far beyond what an individual can match.
Why should Viscount Leslie fight against the family
Xu Yi thought for a long time, and then asked slowly: "Leslie, from the standpoint of me, the Xinfei Chamber of Commerce, and even Her Royal Highness Princess Sevigny, I very much hope that you will do this. But from the standpoint of a friend , but I really don’t want you to do this, it won’t do you any good.”
"Yes, this will only make you suffer, so forget it?" Baron Heiners also advised.
Also from a large aristocratic family, Baron Haynes is far more aware than Xu Yi of the courage and price it takes to confront his family.
Viscount Leslie shook his head: "In this world, there are always some things that you want to do regardless of the cost." After a pause, he continued: "Especially when I am in the Zhenbei Army. After two years."
Seeing Viscount Leslie's resolute expression, Xu Yi knew that persuasion was useless. After thinking about it, he extended his hand to Viscount Leslie.
"Well, Leslie, you are welcome to officially join the ranks of the magic industry." (To be continued...)