CHAPTER 184: NEGOTIATION AND TERMS (1)

Yawn~

Nolan opened his eyes and yawned lazily. He sat up, rubbing his heavy eyelids.

"Is it already noon?" he asked, glancing at the sun shining brightly through the window.

Shaking his head, he got out of bed and stretched his stiff body.

He walked over to the wardrobe, grabbed a bathrobe and towel, then headed to the bathroom.

Ten minutes later, Nolan emerged looking refreshed and energetic.

Ten o’clock, huh? That’s late, but still doable, he muttered, nodding with satisfaction.

Usually, he woke up around noon. But ever since the battle for the throne began, he had been waking up at seven or eight.

It wasn’t surprising, considering his sister Elina often disturbed his sleep.

Still, Nolan wasn’t angry or resentful toward her. After all, he loved her deeply.

He walked to the closet and swapped his bathrobe for a formal black robe.

Then he settled onto the sofa and called out, "Malverna, are you there?"

Buzz!

Suddenly, a black light appeared before him, forming a portal. From within it, Malverna stepped out, wearing a loose black dress that draped over her graceful curves.

She looked at Nolan with an indifferent gaze and asked, "What is it?"

Nolan ignored her cold tone and said, "I have a favor to ask."

"A favor?" Malverna’s eyes widened in surprise. "What kind of favor?"

Nolan smiled faintly before beginning, "I want to..."

Five minutes later...

"So, you want me to disguise myself as a Celestial Mage when the Austin family’s two warships arrive later?" she asked, still surprised.

"Yes, I want you to do that," Nolan replied with a nod. "Can you handle it?"

To ensure tomorrow would be safe, he planned to set up magical protection on the two warships arriving later.

The protection was necessary—after all, the sea monster they faced was almost on the scale of a catastrophe.

Confronting such a massive creature was no simple task. The risks of accidents and casualties were extremely high.

Moreover, the battle would take place at sea—a dangerous and unfavorable battlefield.

So extra protection was mandatory. With his powers, Nolan was confident it could be done.

However, this plan might raise suspicion from some people, like Rafine and Elina.

More importantly, Nolan wanted to test Malverna’s strength—whether her magic could withstand attacks from a monster nearly catastrophic in scale.

Malverna caught on to his intentions and felt challenged. With a cold snort, she folded her arms across her chest and said confidently, "You underestimate me. Fine, I’ll go along with your plan."

Nolan chuckled and nodded in approval.

"Good. Tomorrow, we’ll head to the port where the ships are arriving."

***

"What? The leader of the Eastern branch of the Blue Moon Trading House is coming here?"

At the dining table, Darel was stunned as he looked at Nolan sitting at the head of the table.

Elina and Rafine, seated nearby, showed no reaction, as if the news didn’t surprise them at all.

Nolan cut a piece of roast beef on his plate, pierced it with his fork, and took a bite.

As he chewed, he nodded slowly and said, "Yes, that man—I mean, their leader—is coming to discuss the eastern region crisis with Rafine."

A faint smile touched his lips as he said, "I’m letting you know because it would be rude for him to show up unannounced. So, I’d like to borrow your living room. Is that alright, Viscount Hermes?"

Darel quickly recovered from his surprise and nodded three times. "Of course, Your Highness. How could I refuse? If you need anything else, just let me know."

He patted his chest, silently saying, ’Please count on me.’

His manner was natural and respectful. Although Nolan, Elina, and Rafine were younger, their status far exceeded his—even hers.

Besides, they had come to Thalora City to help solve the sea monster problem that was disrupting the eastern region’s economy.

There was no way he could refuse such a small request.

Nolan smiled and shook his head. "Thank you for your concern, but we don’t want to be a burden. Borrowing the living room will be enough."

Darel didn’t press further and nodded lightly. "Very well. But if you need anything else, don’t hesitate to ask."

"Sure." Nolan smiled and nodded briefly.

***

Midday...

In the living room, Nolan sat in the center of the sofa, with Elina on his right and Rafine on his left.

Behind them, Luvistar stood silently, his expression serious and stern, as if on guard.

Opposite them sat a man in his early thirties.

He was handsome, with a thin mustache and a gentle smile.

His dark brown hair framed sharp gray eyes, and he wore a perfectly fitting gray formal robe.

"Welcome, Branch Chief Theo," Rafine greeted politely and carefully. "Thank you for coming all this way. I hope you don’t mind."

Beforehand, Nolan had instructed her not to be overly humble or arrogant toward Theo. He also reminded Rafine not to act as if Theo’s visit was a special favor from him.

She accepted his advice without question, agreeing immediately.

"Hahaha!" Theo laughed, shaking his head. "No need to worry, Young Lady Rafine. How could I take offense?"

He lifted a teacup from the table, took a sip, and continued, "On the contrary, I’m honored to accept your invitation."

Noticing his relaxed and humble manner, Rafine quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

She had expected Theo to be arrogant, cold, and unapproachable—but thankfully, he was nothing like that.

But in truth, her fears were justified. As the leader of the Empire’s largest Trading House branch, Theo was naturally arrogant and unapproachable.

However, since the invitation came directly from headquarters, he dared not be pretentious or insolent—otherwise, his hard-earned position could vanish overnight.

"Shall we get down to business, Branch Manager Theo?" Rafine asked politely.

Theo nodded quietly. "Of course, Young Lady Rafine. Is your concern related to the eastern region crisis?"

"Yes," Rafine replied, raising her cup to take a sip. "As you know, the eastern region is facing a severe crisis. Our finances have been drained due to the sea monsters disrupting trade routes between the Empire and neighboring kingdoms."

"The fishermen are afraid to go out to sea because the monster could appear at any moment and kill them. As a result, the economy is sluggish and struggling. The Austin family has requested help from the Imperial Palace, but that process takes too long. We need funds urgently."

Pausing briefly, Rafine straightened and met Theo’s gaze seriously. "So, can the Blue Moon Trading House provide us with a loan?"