The Alex Merchant Guild.
As one of the founders of Green City, the Alex Merchant Guild had a history so long that it commanded respect from all the nobles of Green City.
This guild, controlled by the Alex family, a marquis family of the kingdom, was one of the three largest merchant guilds in Green City, dominating half of the city's grain, cloth, salt, and weapon markets.
It could be said that the lives of the people of Green City were inseparable from the goods provided by the Alex Merchant Guild.
"A small merchant guild called the Golden Wheat Merchant Guild wants to purchase a large quantity of grain?
Enough to feed a hundred thousand people for a month?
Who is he? Why is he buying grain at this time?"
Winnie Alex looked solemn, her beautiful violet eyes filled with confusion.
For the eldest daughter of the Alex family, who had just taken over as the head of the Alex Merchant Guild, any unusual business activity was worth being cautious about.
Especially in October, with the Beastmen invading early and the long winter approaching, this sensitive timing made her think twice.
Rom Bernard looked at the girl known as the most beautiful tulip in Green City with deep admiration, his eyes filled with affection.
"President Winnie, according to our investigation, the Golden Wheat Merchant Guild raised all its funds for a mineral trade deal in the border region and even borrowed 200 gold pucks from the Green City Merchant Guild.
Due to the Beastmen invasion, the Golden Wheat Merchant Guild was robbed of all its gains on the way back to Green City.
As a result, the Golden Wheat Merchant Guild is now on the verge of bankruptcy.
The high-level mage from the Crimson Mage Tower acquired the nearly bankrupt Golden Wheat Merchant Guild three days ago.
A small figure like Laurent definitely doesn't have the means for such a large transaction. This deal must have been ordered by that high-level mage."
Rom knew that Winnie never liked vague reports, so he had gathered all the information before coming.
With Li De as his backer, Laurent had been walking with a spring in his step lately, boasting in taverns and other places about having the protection of the Crimson Mage Tower.
Thus, such information was easy to come by.
Of course, this was also part of Li De's plan. Keeping a low profile didn't work in Green City. Without sufficient power, even an underground force could bring down a merchant guild.
With a high-level mage as a backer, anyone thinking of targeting the Golden Wheat Merchant Guild would have to think twice.
Winnie's frown deepened. She had heard of Li De Kachar's name and had even attended the banquet held by the Mage Guild when the Crimson Mage Tower was completed.
This mage, who had arrived in Green City three years ago, was quite famous among the city's nobility.
"Rom, do you know about this mage, Li De Kachar?"
Rom nodded with a hint of envy, speaking with a touch of admiration.
"Li De Kachar is said to be the eldest son of a minor noble family from a border town. His entire family perished in the war due to the Beastmen invasion.
With their territory destroyed and their people slaughtered by the Beastmen, Li De Kachar was forced to come to Green City.
Three years ago, at just 22 years old, Li De Kachar was already a level 9 intermediate mage, just one step away from becoming a high-level mage.
Three months after joining the Green City Mage Guild, during a magic discussion hosted by the guild,
Li De listened to Grand Mage Spark Ross's lecture on magic and, in front of over a hundred people, successfully advanced to become a high-level mage.
Grand Mage Spark was so pleased that he took Li De as his disciple in front of everyone."
Born into a minor noble family, possessing exceptional magical talent, his family destroyed, breaking through to become a high-level mage in a foreign land, and gaining the favor of a grand mage.
All these legendary elements made Li De Kachar a celebrity in Green City.
Although several years had passed, the deep envy in Rom's tone told Winnie that this Li De was no ordinary mage.
But it was precisely because of this that she found it strange.
This high-level mage, who was said to leave his tower only once a month and was completely devoted to magic, Why would he suddenly acquire a nearly bankrupt merchant guild and purchase enough grain to feed a hundred thousand people for a month?
Was there something unusual going on?
On the surface, the Alex Merchant Guild was just a merchant guild, but Winnie knew that, behind the scenes, it was responsible for supplying grain to the border armies.
This year, due to the Beastmen invasion, grain production in the border regions had significantly declined.
If Green City, the largest support for the border, also faced a grain shortage, Then she, as the person responsible for military provisions, would undoubtedly be held accountable.
Thus, she had to carefully scrutinize every large-scale grain transaction.
"President Winnie, I don't think it's a big deal. These mages, who know nothing about business, probably heard about the border war and want to stockpile grain to make a profit during the winter."
Rom shook his head dismissively.
"Grain prices are already at a high point under our control. If they're willing to buy, we can raise the prices even further and release the stockpiles from the past two years once winter sets in.
Trust me, this mage will learn a hard lesson."
For the Alex Merchant Guild, which monopolized half of Green City's grain and was responsible for military provisions, raising grain prices was as simple as issuing an order.
Winnie shook her head.
"No, that's unnecessary. Whatever this mage's intentions are, it's not our concern.
You must remember, he is not only a high-level mage but also a disciple of Grand Mage Spark."
Rom nodded, his handsome face showing a hint of hesitation.
"President Winnie, should we agree to the Golden Wheat Merchant Guild's purchase request now?"
"No, I didn't say that."
Rom was starting to feel a bit exasperated. This tulip, admired by so many, was truly hard to understand.
"President Winnie, I don't understand what you mean. Could you explain more clearly?"
Winnie glanced at the troubled Rom and silently shook her head.
The eldest son of the Bernard marquis family was as lacking in business acumen as he was in magical talent.
If he hadn't been born into a good family, she wouldn't have even given him a second glance.
"Rom, you must understand that the most important thing in business is the exchange of resources.
Although Li De is a high-level mage, if this transaction proceeds too smoothly, then he and the Alex Merchant Guild would merely have an ordinary business relationship."
"If some significant issues arise during the process, and we happen to help him resolve them, wouldn't the Alex Merchant Guild earn his friendship?"
Rom suddenly understood, but then he couldn't help but show a hint of disdain, his arrogance evident.
"President Winnie, he's just a high-level mage from the countryside. Is it really worth our effort?"
Winnie frowned slightly. She was well aware of Rom's feelings for her. As the eldest son of a marquis family, he was a potential candidate for her.
If she had once considered evaluating him, she now had no interest in this marquis's son.
"Rom, a high-level mage alone isn't worth this much effort.
But if that high-level mage is a 25-year-old genius, and his teacher is a grand mage above level 15, Then he is worth it."