“It seems that there are many handsome men in the Alanka Dukedom. Elshi Viscount was like that, and even the seemingly ill-tempered son also seemed formidable. Of course, whether he shouted at the port or not was none of Ru’s concern, so she followed Francis Gray to go further inside.

“Well, this is the monster carcass we need to sell!”

Francis’s voice strangely sounded more excited. He was three years older than Ru, a competent diplomat who was well-regarded in the Foreign Ministry. When she introduced herself to Ru, she quickly recited formal words with a soulless expression. However, for the first time, life returned to Francis’s eyes as she looked at him.

“Of course, it’s okay not to sell. The leather is durable, and the gems inside the monster are incredibly expensive. We can use everything. But if we sell this on the ships lined up outside…!”

Francis Gray pointed to the various ships from each country anchored in the distant harbor with a bright face. To her eyes, it all seemed like money.

“It generates enormous profits, Secretary Gray. Is this the new official?”

Ru turned her head following the soft voice that responded to Francis’s words. A middle-aged woman with well-groomed short black hair and a warm impression was waiting for them in a suit.

“Vice-Chief!”

Francis rushed over. Birds chirped in surprise and flew away when they saw Francis. The shouts of workers unloading goods in the distance and the sound of water splashing against the ship could be heard.

“Secretary, this is Jocelyn Moiquel, Vice-Chief of the Mel River Trade Headquarters.”

The weather was sunny, and there were too many new people for Ru to meet.

Ru greeted them politely and respectfully. Although the Vice-Chief smiled affectionately like a neighbor, in Ru’s experience, women with such impressions became more formidable when they rose to higher positions.

“Come on in. It’s great that Emperor sent young people when we were short of hands.”

The Vice-Chief, who was suddenly transferred to the Trade Headquarters, simply saw the two young people as sturdy laborers.

Ru and Francis were led straight to a room in a corner of the headquarters, filled with piles of documents.

“Well, this is everything related to the diplomatic and trade operations we need to review and process regarding monster byproducts. It’s been difficult without someone in charge, but it’s great that you’re here. Let’s try to review everything by the end of today.”

“Haha, Vice-Chief, it’s too much to review everything by the end of today with only the two of us. We’ll do our best within this week.”
“This week, do we have to transport the monster wings right away? Or do you think the decaying monster guts at the port will vibrate, Secretary Gray?”

“Oh, please! We’ll do our best!”

“Do your best? That’s a given.”

With a hearty laugh, the Vice-Chief patted Francis on the shoulder and disappeared.

“Oh, how am I supposed to handle all this…?”

Francis sighed deeply, looking at the desk and floor covered with documents, and observed Ru, who was taking off her coat.

“Are you okay, Secretary?”

Ru, already focused on the closest document, rolled up her sleeves.

“You can call me Rustica too, Francis. We have to do what we can today.”

Laughing at the external affairs arranged by the emperor didn’t seem worthwhile, but throwing all this work and leaving was also a disrespectful act toward the emperor. This was undoubtedly a trap.

‘I didn’t expect it to be easy anyway.’

It could be Hayden’s intended move, or there were many possibilities, but analyzing each one would be pointless. Let’s put everything we don’t know in our heads first.

“Is this where the import and export of monster byproducts are handled?”

However, before putting anything in her head, what was going on with the merchants rushing here?

“Oh, I came first!”

“What are you talking about? I got here first!”

Due to the scuffle at the entrance, Francis was completely taken aback.

“Hurry up and sell! We need to leave here soon!”

“Are you the only ones in a hurry? We have to set sail before the eye of the Cicletop rots!”

“Who let you take that eye? We’ll pay more!”

“The eye rots faster than the liver! Let us go first!”

The merchants were shouting at the entrance, ready to grab each other by the collar.

Moreover, since they were all from foreign countries, they had different accents, and sometimes different languages were used. Ru came forward in front of the stunned Francis and clenched her fist. Then she silently glared at them.

“Oh, let us go first!”

“Why bother if you’re not selling!”

Ru’s eyebrows rose. A burly merchant who was towering over her with a sharp look flinched.

“Quiet down!”

When Ru sternly spoke, the merchants were startled and looked at her.

“If you want to buy something, wait until we say we’re selling. What kind of behavior is this, coming here and treating the Trade Headquarters like a market without even declaring that you’re going to sell!”