“Amellian Province is the future of the Empire. From now on, resources will flow there continuously—wealth, scientists, everything you can imagine.”

“The biggest flaw of Gephra is its lack of vast land and local resources. We can’t rely on imports forever.”

“It’s manageable in peace, but if war breaks out and our imported resources are cut off, we might have to compromise.”

“If we control Amellian Province, even if the main island falls, we’ll still have the strength to fight. But if we only have the main island, losing a war means losing everything.”

“Amellian Province will be the core of Gephra’s transformation. It has everything we need—land, population, abundant resources, and strategic depth.”

“Once we establish a foothold and assimilate the locals, it will undoubtedly become the new imperial capital.”

Some nobles looked surprised—this wasn’t the first time Lynch talked about Amellia’s importance, but many had never heard it firsthand before. The idea of a new imperial capital stirred their imagination.

Lynch briefly explained his reasoning. Nobles could easily verify this by consulting experts.

Gephra must change or be overtaken by the world. War is becoming costlier, and as it grows harder to wage, a long peace will follow.

If Gephra falls to second- or third-tier status during that time, it will never rise again.

Under immense pressure, change is inevitable. If Amellia develops enough to support Gephra’s strategic plans, there’s still hope.

“If Amellia’s development meets or exceeds imperial expectations,” Lynch said, looking around, “this is inevitable—it’s just a matter of time.”

“Five, seven, or ten years will pass quickly. The next war will accelerate this shift.”

“When the empire’s focus moves, Amellia will become the new empire. The royal family and ministers will relocate. What do you think will be most valuable then?”

Lynch loved to inspire others, preferring to persuade by involving everyone.

What others tell you might not be what you want or true. Only what you discover yourself, through effort, is real.

They pondered, believing their own conclusions to be right.

The young Count recovered first. Quick thinking and many ideas were his strengths.

“Mr. Lynch, is it… land?”

Lynch nodded, pleased. Others showed expressions of agreement.

On Gephra’s main island, land is most expensive because territory is limited.

The viscount raised another question. “But I saw a map of Amellia. It’s ten times or more the size of Gephra. Why would land there still be so expensive?”

The nobles turned their attention to the exchange between the two young men.

“Would you live in the wilderness?” Lynch asked. The viscount shook his head.

“No one lives in the wild. No matter how large a region is, people always cluster around a few centers.”

“In the Federation, rural land is cheap. If you’re willing to cultivate it yourself, you can get land rights for free…”

The Federation has laws granting land use for those who reclaim wilderness, with time limits and farming requirements before ownership and trading rights become permanent.

But if the land is neglected during the period, it won’t become private property.

Federation land is cheap and accessible to hard workers, yet people still flock to cities.

Downtown Eminence is called paved with gold bricks for its sky-high prices, causing deep despair among lower-class citizens.

Why gather in city centers and pay so much for real estate? It’s a trend.

“When Amellia develops, more nobles and capital will flood in. By then, if you want to invest, it will be too late.”

“Now, while attention is still low, is the perfect time to invest!”

Lynch spoke clearly. After some low murmurs, a new question arose.

Questions are normal. Only by resolving doubts can they follow Lynch further.

“Mr. Lynch, if we only buy land, it will be hard to get land near city centers. Also, land alone won’t generate quick returns…”

Simply put, it’s hard to buy, and short-term profits are limited.

Every inch of Amellia’s city centers is already owned. After such a long time stabilizing, forcing land purchases now could reignite conflicts between Gephra nobles and locals—disastrous for these young nobles.

Neither the governor nor the emperor would allow that.

Lynch shook his head. “You’re mistaken. Buying land doesn’t mean buying land alone,” he emphasized the last word. “For example, we can acquire land under the pretext of building factories.”

“I believe locals desperately want legal jobs to support their families.”

“Factories need not only buildings but also distribution areas and warehouses for raw materials. We must reserve space for future growth.”

“Such land will rise in value and won’t stir conflict with locals.”

“Or we could build schools—with large playgrounds, indoor sports halls, even artificial lakes!” 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

“There are many ways to acquire land. As for returns…”

Lynch thought for a moment, then placed a business card on the table. “If you trust me, once you own your land, you can entrust your ventures to them. The returns will definitely satisfy you.”

He joked, “Of course, it won’t be as exaggerated as Harmony Capital—around ten percent a year is reasonable.”

The young Count glanced at the card with a strange look. “Blackstone Capital… Is this your company, Mr. Lynch?”

Lynch nodded without hesitation. “Yes. Blackstone Capital is currently the Empire’s Imperial Zone Government’s closest partner, one of the Federation Government’s closest partners, and a member of the board of Nagaryll Joint Development Company…”

The impressive titles stunned everyone, whether they understood or not.

No one could compete with ties to both imperial and federal governments, and these nobles were naïve in such matters.

The viscount had copies of the card made by their clerks to ensure every copy was identical.

“Any other questions?” Lynch asked.

Everyone was silent. Just as Lynch was about to end the topic, the viscount raised his hand again.

“Mr. Lynch, what if we can’t buy land in the city center?” Young and bold, he felt close enough to Lynch to ask directly.

“Good question!” Lynch praised him, making the viscount beam with excitement—being admired is always a joy.

Lynch turned to the others. “This is easy to solve. If we can’t buy land in the city center, then we’ll move the city center to where we can buy land!”