"I only mean for you to use other cards to secure a backing for yourself," she said. "The ideal, of course, is to not damage Illyan’s interest in this matter. The Glens are simply backup in case you need more weight in your voice."

The best-case scenario was winning Illyan and Acero Town over simultaneously, while also gaining some benefits for the Glens. Going past Illyan might become a point of criticism on Wilem when he returned as the heir.

Only two or three high nobles in Holt had level 3 towns associated with them. For the Glens, their largest territories were two level 2 towns, Baccal Town being one of them. Both were quite far away, but they had Mercenary Halls to connect them at least.

"The succeeding deals would depend on the Lord’s character," she said. "But...the Glens know of people who can maximise the metal found here, even better than the experts at Illyan. You can promise that connection."

She had gone around Illyan, and while she did not see everything (they only spent a day there), Garan had a glimpse of their ’premium’ products. Using his ability, he could determine the workmanship, and it was something only apprentices in Alterra would make.

Incorporating the metal into great alloys was fairly easy for Alterran blacksmiths. They’d even make money for lending the technology.

As for why she didn’t want Alterra involved directly, this place was too far. Why not share a bit of tech for goodwill and a bit of hands-off profit?

Wilem looked at her. "That’s a bit too much to promise, isn’t it?"

The more he heard, the more apprehensive he got.

How did she even know so much? Even if it was true, how could she guarantee the Glens would help out? He and that distant cousin of his had only spoken a few sentences over the past few years.

Wilem was a noble, and he had seen a lot of scheming, though not many had been directed at him. From what he observed, if something was too good to be true or if someone was promising too much, then it was likely a lie. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

He did not want to doubt the nice lady who had been helping them out, but it was just his nature to be a bit more guarded. He couldn’t help it.

Garan looked badly at him. How dare he doubt his wife when she was helping him so much?

Althea chuckled. "I’m not the one asking for help."

Wilem paused and nodded. Indeed. He was being presumptuous. He was raised as the heir, and most of what he said went, with people adjusting to him, and he got used to it.

Now, finally outside his family’s sphere of influence, he was slapped with the fact that he was weak and useless, unable to do anything on his own.

Althea appreciated that he was more introspective than offended by her actions, so she added a few more clues.

"When the time comes for you to message the Glens, ask for their young master. Tell him that Miss Althea said you can ask for help."

...

The Lord of Acero Town, Serao, was now very livid. He gritted his teeth in anger, slapping the armrest of his chair away.

How dare that bastard Orny demand for his niece as well?!

A nobleman dared ask for the Lord’s niece to be added to his harem! The arrogance was unprecedented!

Serao was in a dilemma. Although the mine was his, the territory was his, the token was his, he had little to do with handling the actual resource. As of now, it was the only resource his little town could harvest that would be enough to protect them for a while. If they lost it, too...

He couldn’t help but remember how arrogant a few surrounding towns were, attacking his people when they were outside, blatantly waiting to declare war as soon as they showed weakness.

The discovery of the new metal was a blessing to them. Illyan and other places already knew how to use them, so all they had to do was supply them for a minimal cost, in exchange for their protection.

However, Illyan wanted the cores processed into ingots already, with minimal impurities. After all, transferring raw ores was too costly and not worth the hassle for them.

They found that processing the metal really did have its risks. One, the cost of processing them, like smelting them, was massive. His poor self could not afford it.

Further, the workers overtly exposed to it developed skin allergies and lung issues. With their physique, it didn’t kill them, but it was painful. It was no wonder the other town wanted to be hands-off in its processing.

However, he had no idea how to process them, nor could he afford to build the infrastructure, no matter how much he tried. One family, the Fret family, had an expert blacksmith who knew how to handle them, how to properly harvest and process them.

Whoever he sent out to learn the trade was all conveniently killed, he reckoned it was due to the Fret Family.

He did not want to threaten them with his position, but when he tried, they claimed that their infrastructure and technology would be destroyed if any harm reached the family. At that point, Serao knew he was trapped.

He had limited ways to connect with others too, causing him to be trapped even more, even dependent on a noble family.

The Post Office was extremely expensive and there was no way he could save enough money to buy it within the next few decades.

Instead, he was convinced by various advisors to buy the inn instead, which was duplicable and could house more people for temporary housing, which was good income for them, who had lost a lot during various wars.

In retrospect, the hand behind that decision was likely from the Fret Family, too.

Serao was angry, but he was also ashamed. He was the Lord, but he was pushed to such a powerless position. He missed the days when they were still a level 1 Town.

When he was born, Acero was already a town, and when he took over the Token, they were already one of the top of the tier in the region. Life was peaceful and wars were very, very few.

However, as soon as they upgraded to a level 2 town—something he had been extremely proud of, a life’s achievement—they were harassed on all sides, making him regret even upgrading.

What other town had such an incompetent Lord as he?!