While Zhao Hai explored the Carrion Swamp, Casa City wasnt too peaceful. This time around, it wasnt the Purcell clan, but rather Laura who was in trouble.

Lauras business was larger than ever before as the Higanbana firm accounted for fifty percent of the entire commodities market within the Purcell Duchy. This figure was quite alarming.

Although the Purcell Duchy wasnt as great as the other duchies, the commodities market of an entire duchy was still quite large. In fact, it was quite a luxuriant line of business. How much did the people eat everyday? Saying that every day would be a struggle for their gold wasnt absolutely an exaggeration.

If there was a block of fat there, then everyone would want a piece. But if that fat was stuck on bone, then not everyone would be able to sink their teeth into it.2

An outsider trying to take a bite would be quite a hard feat, but that doesnt mean a family member couldnt try to eat it. This time, the schemes Laura had to fight against were by none other than the Markey Dell clan.

Although Lauras father was the second heir, the old patriarch was still alive. He was Lauras grandfather, and Karens3 father, Sioux4.

The old patriarch ruled the Markey Dell clans huge business empire. He wasnt an easy person to deal with as he was a pure businessman. Everything and anyone, in his eyes, were just business commodities. For commodities, so long as the price was right, he could sell them.

This old patriarch of the Markey Dell clan had very good business sense, which was beyond the imagination of ordinary men. His methods were extreme, and since the time he had taken over the Markey Dell clan, the clans business had become a lot larger.

Although the Markey Dell clans business was doing great, to have half the shares of the commodities market within a duchy, like what Laura had, wasnt something the clan was able to do. In comparison to the income of the other heirs, Lauras income was quite high.

This situation wasnt something the old patriarch would meddle with. To be honest, the old patriarchs thoughts about his second son werent really positive. This was due to Karens attitude towards doing business.

In the opinion of the old patriarch, if you were born in the Markey Dell clan and you didnt want to do business, then what were you going to do? If Karen wanted to learn magic, then he should excel in it. However, Karen hadnt. His life was not for cultivating magic, but rather, for researching magic.

If Karen really liked to cultivate magic, then even if he didnt do business, as long as he became a powerful magician then it would be of great help for the Markey Dell clan. However, hed only chosen to study magic. His strength was also only just that of a peak Rank Seven magician.

A Rank Seven magician was a great presence in the eyes of the commoners. However, for a clan such as the Markey Dell clan, a Rank Seven magician was inadequate.

Since the clan didnt pay any attention to Karen, and along with Karens attitude towards doing business, even though he was the second heir, he had already lost the possibility of inheriting and becoming the next clan patriarch5. Therefore, he was banished to the small northern area, the Purcell Duchy.

The location of the Purcell Duchy in the Aksu Empire wasnt good. It was in the north where it bordered with the Beastfolk. Although the Beastfolk havent caused any major problems lately, the Purcell clan would always have to be on guard in order to avoid any major disasters from happening, year in and year out. If those Beastfolk created trouble, then there wouldnt be much money to be made from doing business with the Purcell Duchy as the duchy was not very developed. This made it a somewhat remote and small area of the Aksu Empire.

However, even if it was a remote area, the people living there still needed daily necessities. And Laura, being a genius in business, had already spread the Taoyuan commodities throughout the Purcell Duchy and had even begun to export them throughout the Aksu Empire.

Laura certainly didnt cooperate with others as all of this business was handled by herself, especially in the distribution and sales of the Taoyuan commodities. With regards to the daily necessity stores, Laura promoted a live advertisement, stating that even if she were willing to cooperate with others, she had already made an agreement with Zhao Hai. Their agreement was that if she ever let others sell Taoyuan brand commodities, then Zhao Hai would cease to provide her with the products.

It was precisely because of the Taoyuan brand commodities that there was such success, so naturally, it made a lot of people envious. Putting others aside, even the heirs of the Markey Dell clan wanted to fight against her.

The fight between the heirs of the Markey Dell clan in other aspects wasnt too serious. However, the ability of an heir to do business was very important. This was also important when selecting the rightful heir of the Markey Dell clan.

Vying for the position of the next Clan Head were, besides Karen, the seven provincial heirs. These heirs would obstruct and maneuver against each other until they had indisputably beaten each other. This was a normal occurrence within the clan.

Karens father understood the situation as he was already quite old. However, he wasnt ready to give up his position even though he allowed his heirs to run their own businesses. The every action of these heirs couldnt be hidden from him.

Karen was the exception. Karen and Laura were in the Purcell Duchy, and the influence of the Markey Dell clan hadnt reached there yet. It could be said that Laura going out and establishing her own firm in the Purcell Duchy didnt conform to what the Markey Dell clan wanted. However, she had never asked for anything from the clan to assist her.

It was precisely because of this that the Markey Dell clans influence over Karen was minimal. Moreover, Laura didnt need to fear the clan this time around. She had helped the Purcell clan, so Evan was indebted to her. The Purcell clan would show kindness to Laura, and there wouldnt be any matter that would negatively affect them inside the boundaries of the Purcell Duchy.

One must also know that Laura was backed by the producer of the Taoyuan commodities, a black magician. That was something a lot of people were afraid of.

However, the most attractive thing were the benefits. To get benefits, people were willing to do everything they could, just like how it was when Zhao Hai was on Earth. To gain benefits, people would dare to do anything. Seemingly, this was a law that was relative to both planets. But on the Ark Continent, they could easily do it unlawfully. Such people would naturally do anything in their power in order to gain benefits.

Others wouldnt dare to struggle when it involved someone of the Markey Dell clan. However, the members and heirs of the Markey Dell clan wouldnt be as polite.

This time around, the old patriarch of the Markey Dell clan hadnt sent anyone. To be honest, even after Laura had made such a large scene, the old patriarch wasnt going to give them any attention. However, this was not the case for the heirs since they were now engaged in a battle for the right to obtain the Clan Heads position. If they could get the Taoyuan commodities, then it would give them a great boost.

The heir that looked for Laura was not Karens brother, the first heir Cenwen6, but rather the fifth heir of the Markey Dell clan, Carlo7.

Of course, Carlo didnt come personally, but instead sent his own steward, Alodia8. Carlo grew up with Alodia as his servant. Later on, when Carlo established his own force, Alodia was promoted to his steward because of his competency. Alodia, however, wasnt one of the clan's main stewards, but only an elder steward as he was in charge of assessing contributions.

Although the Markey Dell clan had eight heirs, there were only three powerful competitors. First was Karens brother who was the first-in-position heir, Cenwen. Next was Carlo, and the third was Jamie9.

The most vigorous of them was Jamie since he was highly favored by the Markey Dell clans patriarch, Sioux. However, Karens brother, Cenwen, was the one who had the greatest support inside the clan. This was due to the handling of his business, which was the oldest one among the heirs. Thus, he had a lot of influence with powerful people.

Carlo was the weakest of the three as he didnt have the patriarchs favor, nor massive supporters like Cenwen. However, he was the person who had the best behavior as he handled matters splendidly in all sorts of social occasions. He had even maintained a very good relationship with the nobles and was approved by the clans servants.

Compared to Karens position, Carlos status was a lot higher. Sending Alodia to see Karen was, in fact, giving Karen a lot of face.

Before Alodia arrived in Casa City, Laura already knew about it and had asked Karen and Quinn John to meet her in the study room. She then said, Grandpa Quinn John, Father, this visit of Alodias this time looks like it wont be a good thing. How do you see it?

Karen said thoughtfully, How can he so easily come and see us?

Laura looked at Karen, speechless, so she turned her head to Quinn John. Quinn John saw Lauras look and calmly said, Before, during that accident of yours Laura, it could have happened due to some people of the clan who might have tried to reach out to us here. Since your route was a secret, there must have been a breach of confidentiality from the family. In the beginning, we had sent people to investigate and the evidence points to Sir10 Cenwen.

But now, I think it unlikely since Sir Cenwen wouldnt need to do such a thing. Furthermore, during that time, we hadnt amounted to anything when compared to now. Up until now, we havent aroused his interest. So I concluded that someone else had done this and was planning to pin everything on Sir Cenwen. The people who might have done this would be either Carlo or Jamie as they have always been thinking of ways to attack Sir Cenwen. And now, Carlo has sent someone. I feel that this isn't looking good.

Laura nodded and said, Of course this isnt a good thing. However, I dont know their motives for coming here yet. Is it for our firm, or is it the Taoyuan products?

Quinn John replied, Im afraid it wont be due to our firm. If he really dares to grab our firms gains, then he would lose the right and qualifications to compete for the next head of the clan. As I see it, it will definitely be for the Taoyuan products. This is especially likely since right now, in the conflict between the three, he has the most inferior standing. Thus, he will want to use the Taoyuan products in order to expand his influence.

Notes:

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1 A chinese idiom that basically means it becomes a crime to possess something valuable. Also, a persons talent would arouse the envy of others. http://www.standardmandarin.com/idiom/literally-treasuring-a-jade-ring-becomes-a-crime-idiom-to-get-into-trouble-on-account-of-a-cherished

2 I hate this idiom or whatever this is. First part says the block of fat is valuable and rich, something everyone would want. Second part shows that the fat wasnt easy to take a bite out of.

3 - K ln. A perfectly proper MALE name. Stop being closed minded and meet more people...

4 - Su s. Shifs transliteration of Sioux is rather well done. MTL would have done Southward or something. South, Soth, SOS. Just really bad names. I like Sioux

5 In this case, the use of second heir is mostly his position in the family hierarchy and not his actual status as an inheritor to the family.

6 - Sn wn. Cenwen. Previous use was Ceinwen, but the pronunciation was off on my part. Props to TianDao for the pronunciation of Ceinwen.

7 - K lu. Carlo.

8 - o lu ji. Good transliteration to Alodia by Shif.

10 - Drn. A rather commonly seen Chinese respectful title towards a superior. I decided to use Sir.