Chapter 141: Titian's Decision

Titian’s carriage dropped Lin Qi and his companions back at the university town. Even Yulian disembarked to bid Titian farewell. After all, with Lin Qi’s return, Yulian had much to discuss with him—especially given the current circumstances. Since Lin Qi had suddenly struck up a connection with Titian, many things required careful, advance planning.

Surrounded by his guards, Titian confirmed the details of the wager set for three days later before departing in his carriage.

Once the carriage had put sufficient distance between them and the university town, Titian, who had been sitting calmly with a smile, suddenly spoke in a low voice: "You, after all this time, what have you found?"

A cold, emotionless voice, sounding as chilling as ice, emanated from nowhere: "Many things, Master."

Titian poured himself a cup of hot tea, crossed his legs, and smiled. "Speak. Tell me something that will interest me."

"Lin Qi, eighteen years old, only son of Lin Hu, a local powerhouse in Dunkirk, the Empire's third-largest port."

"Lin Hu, ancestral home in Dunkirk. The Lin Hu family has been rooted in Dunkirk since the city’s founding. Lin Hu currently monopolizes the flour supply for the seven northern provinces of the Empire. Based on various intelligence assessments, the Lin Hu family stores enough wheat, barley, and other grains to supply those seven provinces for an entire year."

Titian’s eyes widened in shock. Grain reserves for seven provinces for a year? Was that not the level of the Empire's strategic grain reserves for the northern war zone? Due to technological limitations, grain storage on the Western Continent rarely exceeded two years. Even the Gaul Empire could not store such vast quantities, and even the Imperial strategic reserves could only manage a one-year supply.

You’s voice remained as cold as ever, continuing to report his findings without a hint of fluctuation in his tone.

"Beyond the visible business of the Miller’s Guild, the Lin Hu family secretly controls over three hundred hotels and inns across the seven northern provinces. By preliminary estimates, the Lin Hu family’s personnel are spread throughout every major and medium-sized city in the northern part of the Empire."

"A truly hidden tycoon!" Titian exclaimed again. "And yet, the only son of such a man would covet my poor gold coins! Oh, my gold coins, my gold coins, it breaks my heart! Damn it, he took almost all the gold coins I had on me, and it pains me so. But I must still maintain my aristocratic composure. To hell with aristocratic composure!"

Waving his fist forcefully, Titian gritted his teeth. "Go on!"

"In the family intelligence system, the Lin Hu family is only a level-three priority, hence the lack of sufficient attention. The family once dispatched three undercover agents to attempt infiltration; without exception, they all died from 'accidental drowning' within three to six months. The intelligence they sent back was limited, only suggesting that the Lin Hu family holds shares in all three of Dunkirk’s major whaling companies."

"Dunkirk’s three major whaling companies! They control seventy percent of the Empire's material supply of unicorn whales!" Titian took a deep breath. "Well then, Lin Qi, if they are truly related to your family, you are far too greedy. My poor gold coins!"

"Due to the Hundred-Year Land-Island War, Dunkirk maintains a standing militia of fifty regiments of one thousand men each. According to information obtained by our family, the Lin Hu family likely holds direct control over about ten of these regiments. Which means..."

Titian interrupted You’s report. His eyes gleamed, and he whispered with extreme, teeth-gritting excitement: "Which means, if Lin Qi is genuinely pledging his loyalty to me, then the family could possess a secret army of ten thousand men just two days' sail from the Imperial capital, Braley!"

Even You’s cold voice showed a slight tremor: "Yes, Master, an army of ten thousand. A hidden army of ten thousand that no one knows about—that is always in the interest of the family!"

Titian snorted coldly: "Of course, not only in the family’s interest, but even more so in my own! An army of ten thousand—even if they are just militia—would certainly contain over a hundred elite fighters. If those two damned women refuse to crawl into my bed willingly, Lin Qi could surely help me drag them there! Lin Qi is indeed a man of many methods."

You’s voice paused momentarily. After a long while, he continued coldly: "Gathering all intelligence, the Lin Hu family is a local powerhouse with great potential. Especially since Lin Hu has already received the nomination from Dunkirk’s mayor, Baron Milo, and all the nobles and merchants of the city; he will become the new mayor of Dunkirk in two months!"

Titian smiled—a very brilliant smile. He was currently at a critical juncture, accumulating private power to pave the way for his future entry into the imperial court. At such a crucial moment, for such a marvelous person as Lin Qi to present himself, Titian suddenly began to feel grateful to his cousin, Yulian. Perhaps he should increase his support for Yulian’s family; he must firmly tie Lin Qi to his own war chariot.

"Any other good news? Tell me and make me happy!" Titian set down his teacup, feeling satisfied. The intelligence You had just shared might only be a fraction of the Lin Hu family's true strength, but even this was more than enough to please Titian. For a young man just beginning to build his private power to encounter a family that possessed both wealth and military force, while also holding the reins of power in a city, was a truly delightful prospect.

"During the Hundred-Year Land-Island War, the Lin Hu family was almost destroyed," You’s voice carried a hint of gravity.

"In the final years of the Hundred-Year Land-Island War, with three years left until the end, the Empire's northern front was under immense pressure. Foreign races launched an all-out invasion. The Lin Hu family donated five million gold coins to the Imperial Ministry of War as military pay, and further donated vast quantities of grain, medicinal herbs, spirits, fire oil, and other strategic supplies."

Titian was shocked. "Hell, with such a massive donation, their family should have been granted a title! At the very least, a hereditary peerage!"

You said coldly: "Lin Hu’s father, uncles, and all his brothers fell in the great war. Lin Hu himself was severely wounded. Perhaps devastated by the family tragedy, he declined all imperial honors—he only requested a document from the Empire granting his family business tax exemption for thirty years."

Titian opened his mouth, then whispered: "I can understand that. If all one's kin are dead, accepting an imperial title would be difficult to justify. This is a true hero. Oh, and then?"

Then, You’s next words nearly made Titian leap from his seat.

"Just an hour ago, top-secret intelligence was received—Lin Hu was indeed severely wounded on the battlefield back then, his heart pierced by an orcish crossbow bolt. It was General Lion who saved him with a bottle of secret medicine bestowed by His Majesty. This incident was not recorded in the Ministry of War archives, but was filed under the Ministry of the Interior’s imperial secret medicine usage logs. We received this intel just an hour ago."

Titian cried out: "General Lion? Which General Lion?"

"The then-commander of the Empire's North Sea defense line, rank of Major General; currently the Commander of the Imperial Capital Garrison, rank of General, hereditary Marquis, the mad lion who holds the Imperial Guard in his palm. 'Blood Lion General' Stann!"

"Hell!" Titian’s face was filled with ecstasy; he nearly started dancing inside the carriage.