Weeks flew by in the blink of an eye. The trading and shipping businesses skyrocketed and got a lot of profits. Rasmus had calculated it beforehand that the trading company wouldn’t get a lot of profit but it was covered by the profits from the shipping business. He didn’t mind if he got a lot of profit or not because he was still burning money.

The Vivelda and the Urion companies couldn’t compete at all no matter how hard they tried to get their customers back. They even sold their goods cheaper than Rasmus’s company, but they still struggled to keep up with his company. Not to mention that one of their customers was Rasmus himself by bought the cheap goods and then sold them to the merchants through Eduard’s trading post.

By doing so, Rasmus was out of the picture as the man behind the new trading and shipping company. He had begun to encourage local companies to start their trading and shipping companies again by giving them funds as much as they needed in exchange for percentages of the profits.

Carrion watched the whole thing as he was the one who recommended the nobles and the rich commoners to take the opportunity. He and Erlina were the ones who said that ‘the mysterious rich merchant from West Neva’ wanted healthy competition rather than monopolizing the market. That was when Rasmus came in and offered funds for them to start the business.

The words spread across the Republic of Cruen and there were already a few companies at the port. Slowly but surely, the Vivelda and the Urion companies were being pushed away, and exiled by the other competitors and the merchants.

“My lovely patron! It has been a while…” Erlina wrapped her arms around Rasmus’s neck with a sly smile on her face. “Oh, you’re my savior. Because of your businesses, merchants and nobles can spend their money on my ladies again. You saved all of us from bankruptcy,” she whispered as she giggled softly.

“How are you doing, Madam,” Rasmus raised his brows and looked down at Erlina.

“Please, stop calling me that…” Erlina placed her hands on Rasmus’s chest. “Call me Erlina, just Erlina, please?” She smirked and bit her bottom lip.

“Then you can call me by my name, no need to use my title or last name,” Rasmus smiled at Erlina.

“Lovely… my lovely patron, Rasmus…” Erlina said as she giggled. “So? What’s the reason for your visit? I bet you’re not here to sleep with my gorgeous ladies as always,” she tilted her head and wrapped her arms around Rasmus’s neck again.

“Can we talk privately?” Rasmus glanced at the merchants and nobles who were stealing glances at him.

“Of course! Follow me,” Erlina held Rasmus’s hand and guided him upstairs. “Is she tame enough for me to talk with her?” She whispered into Rasmus’s ear as she stole a glance at Aris who was following them from behind.

“Why don’t you try to talk with her? As long as you’re not being disrespectful, I think she won’t hurt you,” Rasmus answered as he looked at Aris.

“I really want to dress her and make her look gorgeous in dresses, but I’m too scared to speak to her. It’s a waste for someone as gorgeous as her to wear manly attire like that,” Erlina looked at Aris’s high boots, black breeches, and a white oversized long-sleeved shirt, making her look like a pirate.

“Is that a problem? Mind your own business, human,” Aris stared coldly at Erlina.

Erlina gasped as she lowered her head, hiding her face, and hugged Rasmus’s arm tightly. She was terrified and she knew that she shouldn’t have talked about Aris knowing that she had sharp hearing.

Rasmus looked at Aris from over his shoulder, surprised that Aris was being harsh which was unusual. He then saw a faint smirk on Aris’s face when they stared at each other. He realized she was teasing Erlina, but he didn’t want to spoil the fun and let Aris play with her toy.

They entered Erlina’s office and sat on the couch while Aris played with Erlina’s parrot.

“So? What is it that you want to talk about, Rasmus?” Erlina asked as she poured tea into Rasmus’s cup.

“I have asked this same question to Carrion, and he agreed to it,” Rasmus thanked Erlina and took a sip of his tea. “I want you to be the one who represents me and collects the money from those new companies from now on. Can you do that?”

Erlina stopped sipping her tea and slowly looked at Rasmus with a confused look.

“So, Carrion agreed to this? I don’t mind, but why?” Erlina tilted her head and put down the cup.

“Because I’m not going to stay here for long. I’ll begin to spread my influence to other nations once I’m done here,” Rasmus answered and looked at his reflection in the tea. “I have big plans for you, and only you, Erlina. Do you want to hear it?” He raised his brows and stared into Erlina’s eyes.

Erlina crossed her arms and leaned back, trying to make herself comfortable. She then nodded and decided to open her ears wide.

Rasmus explained his plan for her future in Eddenvilla which was to become the landlady that would own most of the land there. He began with her control over the port which soon would be handled by her and Eduard completely with the help of Matthias and the other captains.

He proposed to her to make a new brothel house, not an exclusive one so the ship crews from his company and the other shipping companies could spend their money and time there. Not only that he want her to make a new brothel house, but he also wanted her to make a new pub for both the rich and the townsfolk.

He explained to her how to spin the money and would end up in her pocket completely without nobody knowing it. He taught her real estate business as well and let her understand how it would make her the richest woman in Cruen by controlling Eddenvilla alone from behind the curtain.

He assured her that she would be safe and nobody could track her down if anyone tried to do any harm to the one behind this. He also revealed that he was planning to make Arka Gullivard his ally which meant that she would be protected both by marines, pirates, and the law. She would become the most powerful person with strong backing that would protect her.

“That’s…” Erlina was speechless, her eyes were empty but her head was trying to process everything that she had just heard. “Wow…” She chuckled in disbelief and looked at Rasmus.

“So, you have planned all this all along?” Erlina asked.

“Yes, I have planned it the moment I set foot in this city,” Rasmus nodded and took a sip of his tea. “But not everything. Some were decided after I stayed here for months,” he added.

Erlina took a deep breath and exhaled deeply as she stared at the ceiling, thinking how amazing Rasmus was. She didn’t expect him to be one of those people, the people who had the ambition and talent to control the world.

“The first time we discussed how I wanted to take over this city you were the one who helped me. This is how I repay those who helped me. You, Eduard, and Matthias, I owe you all for helping me, and I will never forget the help,” Rasmus said as he leaned back and looked at Erlina. “You also said that you wanted to be a part of it, so this is it. This is how I repay your help.”

“Well, just don’t forget to give my shares. I’m only asking for half of it,” Rasmus said with a smile.

“Of course…” Erlina shook her head as she massaged her forehead. “You’re going to make this happen, huh?” She sighed as she looked at Rasmus.

“With or without you, yes,” Rasmus nodded.

“What about Rion? Is he getting the same deal?” Erlina crossed her legs and put her hands on her thighs.

“No, I need him for a different thing, but I’m going to make him as important as you are,” Rasmus shook his head. “He might come with me once I’m done here in Eddenvilla,” he pointed out.

Erlina was a bit saddened by that, but she then smiled gently because she knew that Carrion would become a better man if he followed Rasmus. She knew that it was for the best.

“I know you’re amazing in reading people, so why don’t you join us after you managed to find someone who can run the business for you?” Rasmus asked with his brows raised. “We might need someone like you in the future. Especially Carrion since he might need you to be around him.”

“I’ll think about it,” Erlina smiled and nodded.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep