On the west side of Loren City, within a fairly large house, Rajos Assad paced back and forth, his face filled with worry.
As a descendant of the Assad Family, being an illegitimate child, he was not valued by the family, not even by his father, the current patriarch of the Assad Family, who did not like this unexpected son born from the maid's womb.
Even though Rajos Assad became an Apprentice Knight before the age of eighteen, it was the same.
He couldn't get the chance to pledge loyalty to the family.
Nor could he, like his siblings, become a steward of various Assad Trading Teams.
Only a small shop located in Loren City.
God, it's Loren City.
Not to mention, it was located in the newly developed and rundown Northern Province.
Even that shop was pitifully small.
Truth be told, he was extremely unwilling.
But what of it if he was unwilling, he didn't have the courage to become a Pioneer Knight.
So he could only obey the family's orders, heading to Loren City, to take over that tiny shop.
Yet when he accepted reality.
After arriving in Loren City.
He discovered the situation was even more difficult than he had imagined.
Because the entire trade of Loren City was nearly monopolized by the Habbs Commerce Association.
Trying to sell goods was next to impossible.
After half a year, the Gold Coins he brought were almost exhausted, yet the shop's revenue was still a meager few dozen Silver Coins.
With such treatment, let alone managing well, even survival would be a significant issue.
So, three months ago, when he realized that the entire Northern Province seemed to lack some special materials for sale, he had a bold idea, and that was to smuggle some special goods to the Northern Province for sale.
Especially some military supplies.
Thinking about it, given the level of crisis in the Northern Province, those things should sell well.
And just right, the Assad Family was engaged in trade, and even though he wasn't valued, he was still the son of the current patriarch of the Assad Family, getting some things wasn't too big of a challenge.
With the idea.
It naturally led to action.
His first target was Molten Fire Oil.
Compared to other military supplies, Molten Fire Oil wasn't that expensive, and its practicality was greater.
It could be used in various environments.
In his view, the price he could obtain ten pounds of Molten Fire Oil from the family was only about ten Silver Coins, which he could sell in the Northern Province for fifty, or even a hundred Silver Coins, at least ten times the price.
More importantly, the special nature of Molten Fire Oil allowed it to be mixed with ordinary water. It could be extracted upon reaching Loren City, enough to evade the border patrols.
In fact, that was exactly the case.
A week ago, the first batch of Molten Fire Oil had been transported over.
And three days ago, he had already extracted the Molten Fire Oil.
But when it reached this point, a problem occurred.
And that was finding a suitable buyer.
Yes, a suitable buyer.
He thought Molten Fire Oil didn't lack those in need.
But that was only what he thought.
In fact, buyers were hard to find.
Especially finding a trustworthy trading partner, that was even more difficult.
Smuggling goods, and such important goods too, once leaked, the situation could be no joke.
If he were nobility, it would be fine, but unfortunately, he's not. He would definitely end up on the gallows, and his father likely wouldn't protect him.
For a moment, he regretted it.
Regretting his impulsive actions.
He kept walking.
The worry on his face still didn't fade away.
Until a moment later, Rajos Assad looked to the Knight's Squire beside him.
That was one of his few most loyal Knight's Squires.
"Lam, is that person really trustworthy?"
He spoke with a note of worry.
"Sir, that person is trustworthy!"
"Moreover, that person does not have a noble title, and behind him is only a baron. Even if leaked, we could deny it. No one could prove those things were sold by us, and no one could prove those things were Molten Fire Oil, right?"
Lam spoke respectfully.
"That's right!"
Listening to Lam's words and thinking of the preparations he had made, he couldn't help but relax a little.
But just as he relaxed.
A servant quickly ran over.
"Master, the Thor Dressrosa Knight requests a meeting with you!"
The servant spoke respectfully, then handed over a card.
"Thor Dressrosa?"
"From the Dressrosa Family?"
Rajos Assad was taken aback, his brows furrowing in some confusion.
He was naturally aware of his own family's situation, the Dressrosa Family wasn't exactly friendly with them.
The sudden appearance of someone from the Dressrosa Family to visit left him puzzled for a moment.
"Let him come in!"
"Prepare a bit!"
Rajos Assad frowned for a moment, but ultimately nodded.
Noble etiquette made it impossible for him to refuse.
He was also somewhat curious about why the visitor had come.
Soon, Thor and Reine were ushered into the room by the servant.
"Honorable Lord Rajos Assad, I apologize for the intrusion, please accept this small gift, and I hope you won't mind."
Thor spoke with a smile and then gestured for Reine to present a wooden box.
The servant took it and handed it to Rajos Assad.
"There's no need for such formality, Thor Dressrosa Knight!"
Rajos Assad said with a smile as he casually opened the wooden box, intending to close it again as usual.
But at the moment he saw the contents of the box, his hand froze.
His pupils instantly widened.
"Bang!"
The wooden box dropped, and he stood up abruptly, his expression shifting unpredictably as he looked at Thor.
"You!"
Rajos Assad instinctively exclaimed but was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Lord Rajos, no need to be alarmed. I came here to discuss business with you, and mean no harm."
Thor's gentle voice sounded, his expression still bearing a calm smile.
Looking at Thor's smile.
Rajos Assad took a deep breath, suppressing the panic and tension in his heart, and gestured for the others to leave.
Once everyone had left the room, he turned his gaze to Thor.
"Business, Thor Dressrosa Sir, this is not the way to discuss business."
His voice carried a somber tone, with a trace of coldness, a gleam of fierceness in his eyes.
"No, no!"
"Lord Rajos, you've misunderstood!"
"I said I came to discuss business, and this naturally is business."
"For instance, I could buy five hundred pounds of that kind of thing."