The sun sets in the west.

Although the main banquet has not yet begun, the early arrival of the two Dukes made the atmosphere in the banquet hall lively.

Outside the hall, the logistics officer Shi Tuo and the steward of the Mindis Hall counted the carriages and gifts against the list, arguing back and forth with the coachmen and waiters who spoke with various accents.

In the hall, the servants who came with the guests kept coming and going, and from time to time they quarreled with the servants in the hall because of the master's needs and their requests.

Gilbert had to arrange for clowns, dancers and minstrels to enter in advance, play music, and serve wine and food in order to repay (distract) the enthusiasm (attention) of the guests. It is said that many of them came in without being invited.

People who were unable to enter the venue also hurried to the scene, wanting to try their luck on this special day.

Mallos skillfully and professionally coordinated in the middle, arranging seats, managing servants, discussing on-site matters with the steward sent by Fuxing Palace, and handling unexpected emergencies (for example, a lower-level noble brought six daughters who were not on the list,

Another example is Jorge, who was spitting and excitedly chattering to everyone, "Do you know the famous Polaris?" He was rearranged from the foreign guests' seat to the honorable veterans' seat).

Thales could only complain secretly. Although as the nominal owner of the Mindis Hall, he should sit at the head of the hall and wait for the guests. However, he was as noble as a king and wanted to attend today's banquet. The second prince sat calmly.

This is inappropriate. Secondly, Tails has a special status and has not returned home for a long time. He needs to establish a good first impression.

So after the Seven Star Waiters and the Two Dukes, Thales had to continue dragging a large group of waiters and guards, following Mallos's arrangements and Gilbert's instructions ("Your Highness, come here quickly, Your Highness, hurry up and go")

"There, where has your Highness gone..." - Thales' private complaint), walking back and forth in the Mindis Hall, greeting designated important guests, appeasing guests who are dissatisfied with their seats, and responding to the people on the road (whether sincere or not)

The greetings were greeted with (certainly false) smiles and gifts in return to demonstrate the royal dignity and the "hospitality, cordiality and decency" of the new Duke of Xinghu.

"Your Highness, you look so good and look healthy."

Duke Bob Cullen of the Eastern Sea Territory, with his white hair and fat belly, greeted Thales with a glowing face, supported by two waiters.

Thales coughed:

"Welcome, Prime Minister, I'm glad to see you are in good health."

Duke Cullen stays in Yongxing City for three seasons of the year to recuperate. However, when we saw him today, he was still as rich and naive as ever, and he was still the good-natured roly-poly of the kingdom in my impression.

No, not quite.

Thales glanced down.

At least, his belly is more bulging.

"No, as soon as I learned that you had escaped from the den of those northern barbarians, my pain immediately improved."

The guardian of the East China Sea Territory looked at the portraits of the Three Star Kings and said with a smile:

"God bless the stars, I miss this mansion so much - when it was still open, I often came to visit, but I didn't know how to cherish it. On the contrary, now that I am old and have no chance, I feel nostalgic for the past."

Thales smiled, pretending not to understand the implication of the Duke's words, and stretched out his hand to indicate that he would accompany him to the banquet hall in a polite manner.

"You will definitely like my gift. I have brought you a lot of pearls that are special products from the shore of Huigang, as well as spices, tea leaves and cloth shipped from the East China. All kinds of good things are definitely better than those from the south coast. You know

, if we go eastward, the ocean currents and trade winds will be on our side..."

Compared to Zhan's insincere words and Coste's sharp words, Duke Cullen's chattering is probably unique in the kingdom. It just happens that they are all correct and good-natured nonsense, and you have nothing to say to refute and interrupt.

In the past, Thales might have regarded it as a routine matter and given gifts.

but now……

Thales sighed and had to forcefully insert the fat Duke's kind and gentle talk to himself.

"Just now, Jorge from Elk City, who is an official, wanted to introduce his master's three daughters to me."

Duke Cullen's steps paused slightly, and the Sun Sword and Shield family crest on his body shook slightly.

"daughter?"

He held on to the string of inlaid jewels around his waist, but was overwhelmed by the weight and saw that the expensive belt was about to be broken by his belly.

"Three?"

Duke Cullen paused, looked at Thales carefully from head to toe, and sighed deeply:

"It's great to be young..."

Thales smiled awkwardly.

But the old Duke continued, his tone full of nostalgia:

"Think about the time I had three in one night..."

"The brothel madam - ahem, I mean, the hostess of Laiya Club wanted to add another one for the sake of status and tips, but I sternly refused. After all, Sunset has taught us that as nobles, we

You must set an example, keep yourself clean, and be abstinent..."

The old fat man's ability to disrupt people's lives is probably one of the best among the stars.

"Of course, when it comes to this, he is still not as powerful as your father. It is said that he once fought thirty people in one night on Hongfang Street..."

Thales's face grew darker and darker as he listened.

He interrupted quickly:

"No, Elk City doesn't mean that. It doesn't mean three at a time, but once..."

The Duke of Donghai still looked at him with a smile.

The prince sighed and gave up his efforts to make the picture darker and darker:

"About this news and the marriage proposal in Elk City, do you have anything else to say?"

Cullen was stunned for a moment and seemed to be thinking seriously.

After a second, he suddenly realized.

"oh!"

"I'm so sorry. My daughters got married and had children a long time ago, and some of them have become grandmothers."

The Prime Minister's face was filled with regret:

"As for the granddaughters, well, wait until I get back and count them... Well, I still have to spend some time taking portraits, preferably full-body portraits. I will give you a list later... No matter which one you have chosen, or which ones...

…”

Thales closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

When he opened his eyes again, the prince interrupted the Duke unceremoniously:

"The coastline of Exeter is not short, and the maritime territory borders us."

"That includes Elk City."

Duke Cullen stopped moving forward.

He patted the attendant on the shoulder, and the latter bowed skillfully and backed away.

Thales felt relieved.

There is drama.

"Whether it's the Reconstruction Tower or the Glacier Sea, the former is limited by the Sighing Mountains, and the latter suffers from frozen coasts, and both lack good harbors."

"Only the Gadlo family in Elk City holds the only twin ports of Elk, which connects inland transportation and owns hinterland towns, which is enough to support a long-distance fleet..."

Thales slowly stated his key points:

"I have the qualifications and ability to set sail and end the sea with our stars..."

Thales turned his eyes and changed his tone:

"To be precise, it is to share the huge profits of the Eastern Route with the seven ports in the East China Sea under your command."

The Duke of Donghai straightened up steadily and smiled brightly:

"Did you do well in your geography class?"

Duke Xinghu took a deep breath:

"For a century, because of the unprecedented strength of Longxiao City, Elk City has been restricted in every way: they are eager for the support of the Palace of Heroes, but also fear the majesty of the king. They have always kept a low profile in Exeter and kept a low profile."

Cullen shook his head:

"Growing up in the North is also beneficial?"

Thales frowned.

Play dumb.

But he had no choice.

He must make the most of today's meeting.

The prince chose to go straight to the point:

"However, today, Grand Duke Gadlo took the initiative to send someone to visit Yongxing City to attend my banquet."

Cullen chuckled:

"Come to propose marriage to you as a sign of friendship?"

Thales shook his head.

"They came here, including the childish proposal of marriage, mostly to make a gesture to find out which direction the wind was blowing."
To be continued...