When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

#736 - Be alert and don't lose points

The morning light was faint, and the iron sign swayed in the wind.

In the Old Eddie's Coffee Shop, the mahogany bar shone with a beeswax-like luster under the fluorite lamps.

These fluorite lamps were high-end goods recently acquired by the Holy See of Mechanics, providing soft, bright, and stable light, far superior to ordinary oil lamps or candles.

Originally, waiters without magical power could not activate fluorite lamps.

However, they could soak the fluorite in the concentrated light water recently released by the Dragon Language Alchemy University, which could achieve the same lighting effect—

The citizens of Rapid Falls City had long lost their previous fear of alchemical products.

Because according to the theological theory of the Holy Path Sect, love is life, and the Holy Father allows its use.

Even the Holy Grandson is taking the lead in using them, so why can't we? If the Holy Father blames us, the Holy Grandson will take responsibility.

In front of the L-shaped bar, twelve copper-clad bar stools were fixed to the floor, each seat surface dented with the buttock prints of past patrons.

The walls were covered with yellowed ship insurance policies, the soaked and dried papers curling slightly with the humid air of the port.

Eddie Crawford, senior partner of Meggerty Commerce and owner of Old Eddie's Coffee Shop, placed a silver spoon on the edge of his coffee cup, silently watching the rising water vapor.

The oil film rising in the cup shattered into gold leaf under the light, which always reminded him of the days twenty years ago when he wrote cargo manifests for merchant ships.

At that time, he was just a small clerk, and his days were as bitter as the coffee grounds settled in the cup.

Now, he was already an insurance tycoon in Rapid Falls City, and even Lower River County and Kasha County.

The insurance industry had existed in Windmill Land for a long time, its essence being that nautical technology was too poor and costs were too high, so an accident meant the entire family would be ruined.

Therefore, a group of citizens came up with a good idea in a beer hall: whoever wanted to go to sea would pay them 10% of the cargo value.

If the ship capsized, they would be fully compensated; if the ship did not capsize, the previously paid money would not be returned.

As long as 90 or more out of 100 ships could return, there would be profit.

The geographical factors of Thousand River Valley brought extremely high shipping demand, which also created insurance exchanges like Old Eddie's Coffee Shop.

"Good morning, Old Eddie," Brandon Raines, the lottery partner of Meggerty Commerce, impolitely brushed the dust off a stool and sat down.

This businessman in his early thirties had a baby face, and he opened his collar and wrapped a gold-plated pocket watch chain around his finger, looking more like a dissolute young man in his early twenties.

This demeanor was naturally related to his background. Brandon was previously the manager of Meggerty Commerce's gambling house.

However, later, in response to the civilization campaign initiated by the City Hall, Meggerty Commerce abolished all "legally operating" casinos and brothels, completely cutting off this business.

Although there were still small gambling houses and small brothels now, they would not have the scale of the past.

Compared with other peers, Brandon had a quick mind and turned the original edge-ball lottery mini-games into a weekly lottery.

Of course, there was a reason why Brandon could turn the mini-games in the casino into a lottery for the public.

The most crucial point was that he introduced alchemical materials from the Holy See of Mechanics as anti-counterfeiting labels; otherwise, what would happen if people faked the lottery?

And Brandon's lottery business could expand rapidly because Catherine was using Brandon's lottery to raise funds to rebuild Rapid Falls City.

This gambler rudely took the coffee from the waiter and placed it in front of him, added sugar with a teaspoon, and asked the waiter to add hot milk.

Eddie glanced at the clock in the corner, the sound of the brass gears meshing somehow reminding him of the torture instruments in the Cheka interrogation room.

"What time did His Grace make the appointment?"

"Nine o'clock in the morning." Deliberately taking out the gold-plated pocket watch from his pocket, Brandon deliberately raised it higher, even his voice becoming shrill, "It's only eight o'clock!"

Stirring the blue pulp coffee that was gradually turning from blue to blue-green, Old Eddie deliberately did not look at Brandon: "Shouldn't we leave?"

"It's early." Brandon blew on the heat of the coffee, "Besides, what if he waits a few minutes? Am I afraid of him?"

Old Eddie stirred his coffee faster and faster: "Aren't you afraid of him?"

"Are you afraid?" Brandon was still blowing on the water vapor on the coffee.

"Who said I'm afraid?"

"The Holy Grandson is quite scary, aren't you afraid of that?"

"If you're not afraid, what am I afraid of?"

"Okay, then we're not afraid, that's right, be spirited!"

"Yes, we're not afraid!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the teaspoon in Old Eddie's hand flew out, and Brandon blew most of the coffee out of the cup.

"This teaspoon is too light."

"Your coffee is too full."

The two picked up the teaspoons and wiped the table while talking.

"This Holy Grandson, born as a farmer, just drills into money." Stirring his coffee, Old Eddie coughed, "Send him a few coins, and he'll be honest."

"Jealousy shouldn't be this jealous. Once the rabbit is caught, the hunting dog is cooked?" Brandon echoed, "How many days have we made money?"

"However, we respect the Holy Grandson's position. What he says must be important, otherwise what would he call the two of us for?" Old Eddie coughed, "What, Brother Brandon, your news is well-informed, is there any special news?"

"Yes, very special." Brandon took a sip of coffee, "What, don't you have any?"

"Yes, I have it too, very special. I just want to make sure you have it." Old Eddie looked relieved, "I thought you didn't have it. Since you have it, then I don't need to say it."

"Oh..."

"Hmm..."

Swallowing the coffee that almost burned his tongue, Brandon looked at the calm Old Eddie beside him but was a little anxious.

"That Horne was born as a farmer and can be rude, but you and I are civilized people and can't be rude." Brandon looked at his pocket watch, it was already eight fifteen.

Old Eddie slowly finished the last sip of coffee, wiped the coffee stains on his chin, cheeks, and neck, and then said concisely: "Well, it's time to go."

The two picked up their canes, calmly led a few servants and bodyguards, and walked towards Horne's Rose Mansion across the river.

Walking past the guardian beast statue with only the base remaining beside the porch, counting thirty-seven steps, the two arrived at the third floor.

The two originally facing bedrooms, one was changed into Horne's office, and the other opposite was demolished and changed into a waiting room.

On the dark oak bench, five textile industry representatives who had arrived earlier were silent like damp wool, and two farmer representatives from the Consultative Council were talking creakily in incomprehensible local dialects.

Sitting on the second row of benches, taking the gray-robed monk's registration roster, Brandon tried to insert two bonds into it, but the gray-robed monk pulled them out and returned them.

"Summon the wool textile industry representatives from South Mande County to appear!"

The five representatives quickly got up and walked into the study under the guidance of the gray-robed monk. Before long, they came out with mournful faces.

"Summon the farmer representatives from Lower River County to appear!"

The two farmers walked in timidly. This time it was a little longer, and the two came out grinning.

Finally, the gray-robed monk looked at the registration form and stood by the door: "Summon Meggerty Commerce partners Eddie Crawford and Brandon Raines to appear!"

"Old Eddie, we are all decent people, we must have a civilized appearance."

"Stand firm, be spirited, don't let the Holy Grandson look down on us!"

The two took a deep breath, put on a calm and composed expression, and strode into this small office.

"You..." Horne looked up, his cold eyes staring straight at the two.

"Plop!"