CHAPTER 151: THE CRISIS RESOLVED

Orlan walked toward the parlor, with Syra and Alex following closely behind.

A look of confusion and doubt crossed his face as he asked, "Alex, are you sure you’re not mistaken? Why would the head of the Blue Moon Trading House’s southern branch come here?"

Even if it was just the southern branch, Orlan knew better than anyone that someone who held such a position was not to be taken lightly.

The Blue Moon Trading House was the most powerful in the entire empire. It had branches in all four major regions, with its headquarters in the imperial capital.

Renowned for pioneering innovations, developing an advanced financial system, and achieving countless milestones, the Trading House commanded immense influence.

Even the dukes of the four regions showed respect toward its branch leaders and dared not act arrogantly around them.

Now, a figure of such power was suddenly coming to his mansion—an unexpected visit that stirred both suspicion and excitement within Orlan.

After all, the southern branch leader was held in high esteem, even among the noble families.

Alex’s expression grew serious as he replied, "I don’t know either, my lord. The head of the southern branch arrived without warning. At first, I assumed it was arranged by you—but clearly, that wasn’t the case."

Orlan was at a loss for words. Even as a marquis, inviting someone of that stature was no easy feat.

Syra, walking quietly beside them, remained silent. But her eyes narrowed slightly, as if she had realized something that neither Orlan nor Alex had yet understood.

The three of them finally arrived at the parlor—where the so-called "branch chief"

turned out to be a woman.

She was strikingly beautiful, exuding a refined elegance. Her long, wavy hair was a deep shade of red.

Dressed in a black formal gown, her slender figure was clearly outlined.

As soon as she noticed their presence, her crimson eyes landed on Orlan. A small smile formed on her lips, and she rose gracefully to her feet.

"Good morning, Marquis Orlan," she greeted warmly, extending her hand. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Thea, leader of the southern branch of the Blue Moon Trading House. I apologize for the sudden visit—I hope I’m not intruding."

Orlan returned her smile and shook her hand with equal politeness.

"Good morning to you as well, Leader Thea. I’ve heard your name from many sources. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person. This is a great honor for the Caltheron family," he said softly, his tone free of arrogance.

Thea chuckled lightly and shook her head. "You flatter me too much, Marquis Orlan. I’m not nearly as impressive as you say."

Then, turning to Syra, she offered another warm smile. "You must be Lady Syra, correct? It’s a pleasure to meet you."

Syra was surprised but quickly composed herself. She returned the smile and said, "Nice to meet you too, Leader Thea."

Although she had no idea how Thea knew her name, Syra felt touched—and a little excited.

After all, being acknowledged by the branch leader of the Blue Moon Trading House was no small thing.

After a brief exchange, the three of them took their seats on the parlor sofa. Meanwhile, Alex quietly stepped back, allowing them to speak in private.

"So, Leader Thea," Orlan began cautiously, "may I ask the purpose of your visit?"

He still wasn’t sure whether her arrival brought good news—or trouble.

Still, he was certain he had no debts or pressing business with the Blue Moon Trading House.

Sensing his unease, Thea offered a soft smile to ease the tension.

"You don’t need to be so wary, Marquis Orlan. I haven’t come for anything unpleasant. On the contrary, I’m here to offer you a proposal for cooperation."

"Cooperation?" Orlan raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Yes," Thea confirmed with a nod. "I’m aware of the difficult situation facing your territory. It’s about the staple goods crisis, isn’t it?"

Orlan was slightly taken aback, but he quickly regained his composure. The food shortages in Valmiris and Lunaris were no secret—word had already spread.

So it wasn’t surprising that Thea knew about it.

"You’re right," Orlan admitted, making no effort to hide the issue. "The cities of Lunaris and Valmiris are suffering from a food shortage. Merchants from other regions who were supposed to purchase the local harvests simply vanished—they never came. I’ve tried reaching out to several noble houses for help, but all my efforts have failed."

Of course, he knew his efforts had been in vain. After all, this situation was most likely orchestrated by the Malvain family, and most of the nobles in the southern region were under their influence.

"My dear..." Syra gently took his hand, offering silent encouragement.

Orlan turned to her and gave a faint smile in return.

Thea nodded slowly before saying, "Since I’m already aware of your situation, I’d like to offer my cooperation. What do you think?"

Orlan was quiet for a moment before giving a small nod. "Alright. I’m willing to cooperate. Please explain the terms."

Seeing him agree so readily, Thea was pleasantly surprised.

She had expected Orlan to be more cautious, perhaps even reluctant—but she had misjudged him.

They soon moved on to discuss the details of the cooperation. Since both sides already understood each other’s needs, there was no need for lengthy explanations.

Orlan governed a vast territory with a stable market. The citizens of Valmiris and Lunaris enjoyed prosperity, with incomes above the regional average.

Meanwhile, Thea—backed by the full power of the Blue Moon Trading House—commanded an extensive network of merchants.

In addition, the Trading House managed tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of hectares of farmland that produced rice, wheat, and various other crops.

Their conversation went on for nearly an hour, free of the usual arguments or disputes that often accompanied business negotiations.

Throughout it all, Syra remained quiet, simply listening from Orlan’s side.

As his wife, her role was to support him—and to speak only when truly needed.

However, Syra herself possessed a deep understanding of leadership, economics, and other strategic matters.

So even though she wasn’t directly involved in the discussion, she listened closely and fully grasped the content of their conversation.

"Thank you, Leader Thea. I’m very pleased to be working with you and the Blue Moon Trading House," Orlan said as he rose to his feet and extended his hand.

At last, the problem that had weighed on his mind for the past month had come to an end.

With the support and supplies from the Blue Moon Trading House, he and the people of Lunaris and Valmiris no longer had to worry about the staple goods crisis.

"You’re welcome, Marquis Orlan. The pleasure is mine," Thea replied, rising and taking his hand.

The two of them shook hands with warm smiles.

After a brief exchange of parting words, Thea excused herself and left the mansion.

As she watched the woman depart, Syra turned to Orlan and asked, "Do you have any idea why Leader Thea appeared so suddenly?"

Orlan simply smiled and slowly shook his head. "I don’t know for sure. But I’m certain... It has something to do with him."

Syra was silent for a moment, then nodded with a faint smile.

"You’re right. It must be Prince Nolan..."