Lord: I have built a witch's sanctuary.

Chapter 30 Goodwill

at the same time.

The Earl's Mansion, within the inner city of Frostwolf.

The warmth here is like springtime, a world apart from the icy, snowy landscape outside.

A huge crystal chandelier cast a soft glow, and the red pine wood in the fireplace crackled and burned, releasing the aroma of resin.

The long dining table was filled with exquisite silverware.

Countess Aurora sat in the main seat, holding a glass of blood-red wine.

She was very well-maintained and looked no more than thirty years old. Her skin was as white as porcelain, and there was a faint smile on her lips.

But in those eyes, there was only indifference.

On either side of the table sat a trembling treasurer and a calm-looking president of the Alchemist's Association.

"Madam, the outer city's fortifications really can't be delayed any longer."

The finance officer wiped the cold sweat from his brow. "We managed to stop this insect swarm, but the losses were devastating. If it happens again..."

"Then let it come."

The Countess took a sip of wine, her voice as soft as a feather, "Those lowly people in the outer city are like weeds."

She stretched out her slender fingers and made a grasping motion in the air.

"Wildfire cannot burn it all; the spring breeze brings it back to life."

"A batch dies, but a new batch will grow next spring. Why spend gold coins to protect weeds?"

The treasurer was speechless.

That's tens of thousands of lives!

But in the countess's eyes, it wasn't even as valuable as a single rose in her garden.

"Invest all of this year's tax revenue into the inner city's defensive array."

The Countess put down her wine glass, her tone becoming unquestionable, "Also, order the latest 'Magic Heavy Cannon' from the Alchemist's Guild. I want to make the inner city an impregnable fortress."

She turned to look at the alchemist guild leader who had remained silent.

"President Pym, is everything alright?"

Chairman Pym was a lean, old man who wore a monocle and whose eyes always gleamed with shrewdness.

He bowed slightly, a professional, fake smile playing on his lips.

"Of course, madam. As long as the gold coins are in place, the Alchemist's Guild will provide you with the strongest shield and the most powerful magic cannon."

"very good."

The Countess nodded in satisfaction. "Then let's adjourn the meeting. I'm tired."

President Pym stood up, performed a standard aristocratic bow, and left the room.

The fake smile on his face vanished instantly when he stepped out of the Earl's mansion and was hit by the cold wind.

Instead, there is a bottomless scheming.

Chairman Pym's carriage was parked in front of the Earl's mansion.

This is a black carriage that has been modified with alchemy. The wheels are engraved with levitation arrays to reduce bumps, so it can travel as smoothly as if on flat ground, even on snow.

He climbed into the carriage, where a warm breeze instantly enveloped his entire body.

Inside the carriage, the young assistant was holding an account book, looking worried.

"President, the Countess is too ruthless."

The assistant couldn't help but complain, "Completely abandoning the outer city... if word gets out, the Earl's mansion's reputation will be ruined..."

"reputation?"

Pym removed his monocle and carefully wiped it with a silk handkerchief. "Reputation is for the living. What use is reputation if everyone in the outer city is dead?"

He leaned back on the cushion, closed his eyes, and tapped his fingers lightly on his knees.

That was his habitual action when he was thinking.

"I saw something at the Earl's mansion just now."

Pym suddenly spoke up.

The assistant was taken aback. "What?"

"The opened book of investiture, and outside the window."

Pym put his glasses back on, a faint blue light flashing across the lens. "The Earl's mansion is situated at the highest point, offering a panoramic view of the entire snowfield."

"A snowfield?" The assistant was even more confused. "During the snow season, there's nothing there except monsters."

"It used to be."

Pym's voice was low, tinged with barely suppressed excitement, "But just now, I saw light."

"All of Baron Pioneer's sites have gone dark, except for one that is still lit."

He took out a sheepskin map from his pocket and spread it out on the small table.

That was a detailed map of the area surrounding Frostwolf Territory.

His thin, bony fingers pressed precisely on a red dot on the edge of the map.

"here."

The assistant leaned closer to take a look, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

"This is... that abandoned White Wolf outpost? That's where Young Master Lorraine was exiled!"

"That's right."

Pym's lips curled into a meaningful smile. "Lorraine. That bastard son the Countess sent to his death."

"Everyone thought he was dead. I thought so too."

"but……"

Pym tapped the red dot twice with his finger. "I saw in the Book of Consecration that the magical fluctuations in that place are even more stable than in Frostwolf City."

"What does this mean?"

The assistant swallowed hard. "Does that mean... there's a high-level magical facility operating there?"

"Not only that."

Pym's eyes gleamed with increasing intensity. "How could a newly adult, good-for-nothing young master, with only a maid, possibly survive on the snowfield? Unless..."

"Unless he finds relics from the previous era!"

The assistant exclaimed in surprise, "A legacy! Could it be that he unearthed the legacy of a great lord from the previous era?"

Pym nodded in satisfaction.

This is the intuition of a seasoned businessman.

In this resource-scarce post-apocalyptic world, a sudden rise of power often signifies the revival of ancient traditions.

"Think about it, before Lorraine left, she got a perfect score on the lord talent test."

Pym narrowed his eyes. "We all misjudged him. That kid's been hiding his true abilities all along; he's incredibly cunning..."

In Pym's view, Lorraine's previous forbearance and current outburst are exactly the standard script for a revenge-driven protagonist.

If that exiled young master truly possessed some kind of powerful force...

Once he returns to Frostwolf City...

Pym shivered, then felt a surge of elation.

This is an opportunity!

A tremendous investment opportunity!

"parking."

Pym suddenly shouted.

The coachman immediately pulled on the reins.

"What's wrong, Chairman?" the assistant asked, puzzled.

"money."

Pym stared at his assistant, his tone urgent, "That advance payment the Countess just gave us, hasn't it been deposited into the treasury yet?"

"Not yet, that's a deposit for the purchase of the magic heavy cannon, a total of 40,000 gold coins."

"Set aside one thousand... no, ten thousand gold coins."

Pym gritted his teeth, as if making a huge gamble, "Go to the outer city in the name of the Alchemists' Guild."

"Where are you going?"

"Distribute porridge! Distribute medicine! Repair houses!"

Pym's voice grew excited, "Especially those civilians injured by the insect swarm, give them the best alchemical potions! Tell them it's a gift from the Alchemists' Guild!"

The assistant was completely dumbfounded.

"President, are you crazy? Don't you always do business at a loss? You can't squeeze any profit out of those lowly people!"

"idiot!"

Pym slapped his assistant on the head. "Who said it was for the commoners?"

He pointed to the red dot on the map.

"This is for the future lord of Frostwolf City!"

"Since Lorraine was able to survive in that godforsaken place, he must be very powerful. Once the snow season is over and he returns to Frostwolf City, he will surely settle accounts with the forces that persecuted him before."

"Moreover, his various acts of helping the people and maids before he left, and even his willingness to defy the mistress for the sake of a maid, have already proven how cunning this person is. His previous playboy behavior was entirely an act."

"This also proves that this lord cares about his people."

"And now we've helped his people; that's a matter of goodwill! Offering help in times of need is a thousand times more valuable than adding to someone's existing success!"

"The day Young Master Lorraine returns with his army, this will be our lifeline, and perhaps even our stepping stone to success!"

The assistant covered his forehead, suddenly realizing what had happened.

high.

It's really high.

This is using the guise of charity to buy life-saving charms!

"But..." the assistant hesitated, "what if he dies in the snowfield?"

"He died in the snowfield. It was only worth 10,000 gold coins. Investment always involves risk."

Pym said in a deep voice, "Compared to the risk of betting everything on the Earl's Mansion, the Alchemist's Guild can afford this loss of gold coins!"

"Then... how should this debt be recorded?"

The assistant took out a pen, opened the ledger, and said, "Ten thousand gold coins is no small sum. If the guild audits the accounts..."

Pym straightened his collar, resuming his shrewd demeanor.

He looked out the window at the swirling snow, his eyes revealing the madness of a gambler.

Record it in the "Goodwill" column.

Pym said calmly.

"Note: An angel investment in the future."