"Let me introduce myself properly." Zhu Jianhong didn't hide anything and was completely out with his intentions. "I'm Zhu Jianhong, Prime Minister of the Western Moon kingdom and special advisor to King Shen Niu. I came here on the orders of his majesty."
He then handed him a scroll while briefing the entire contents of the letter in one sentence, "Our King invites you to a lunch and also discuss the matters, like for example, opening a weapon store like this at the Lunaris City."
"Your King wants me to open a new store there?" Mark never expected to receive an offer from the neighboring independent kingdom this quick. After all, it hasn't been long since he even came to this city and there are so many things that are incomplete.
After thinking briefly, Mark rejected it, "I'm sorry to disappoint you but there are already pending orders and we are barely keeping up with the demand. My manufacturer won't be able to supply weapons for a new store."
Mark's reply naturally disappointed the envoy from the Western Moon. However, he didn't give up because of the importance placed by his King.
"I heard that you were being restricted by the Imperial Palace to not sell weapons to the Kunyu bandits.
Several noble clans formed enmity with you. Because of the presence of a Beast Emperor, the Church of Nuwa will stand against you.
The Emperor had made your firearms official but the southern army is still hesitant to cooperate with you.
Even the lands you were granted come with several restrictions." Zhu Jianhong listed one after another, revealing every medium or high-level secret that couldn't have known him very easily.
"How about shifting your store to our kingdom if it is difficult to open a new store, then? You won't lack any customers in our kingdom too. In fact, our citizens were more prosperous.
Moreover, our kingdom is completely neutral. So, you can make business with Phoenix Empire as well as Leon Empire simultaneously." After pointing out the faults of the Phoenix Empire, he then spoke out about the advantages of their kingdom.
In fact, this isn't easy for him. After all, he came to the Imperial City as an envoy to discuss important matters with the Emperor while just giving an invitation to Mark but here, he was talking about splitting the alliance between Genesis store and the Imperial Palace.
If not for spies who constantly sent them the information of every important activity happening in the Phoenix Empire, where the center of those events happened to be Mark, he wouldn't have probably made such a bold move.
Unfortunately, he didn't know that the princess of the Phoenix Empire would be standing there and listening to his words.
Shang Jiao wished to go out and beat up this guy who is trying to insult her father by making such remarks but she barely managed to control herself as she was curious about her brother's opinion.
Whatever his reply is, Shang Jiao had decided to teach this middle-aged guy a lesson, although not at the store.
Thankfully for her, Mark didn't disappoint her either. He replied to the prime minister of Western Moon in a straight tone, "It looks like you misunderstood something. If I were to look at things like freedom or rich customers, I would have gone to the Empire of Qilin and set up my store over there. I choose this city because I was born here. In the future, when I will no longer have any positive feelings left here, I will naturally leave.
But then again, since your kingdom expressed interest in firearms, I'll open the branch at Lunaris when the manufacturing facility was completely built at the Kunyu mountain range and the production rate increases by several times.
For that to happen, you might have to wait for atleast a year or maybe more, who knows…
Until then, you can place a mass order here in advance, and then, resell them at your kingdom at whatever price you want to."
"Well, I will relay the message to our King." Zhu Jianhong found disappointed for sure as he failed in his mission. However, he doesn't want to return with empty hands too. So, he asked Mark whether he has any problem with accepting the lunch invitation.
When Mark replied that he can make the time, Zhu Jianhong nodded and forced out a smile, "We await your presence at Lunaris City. Please do keep that letter for the entry."
Soon, both of them left the store and Shang Jiao slowly came out in the open along with Chang Bo.
Mark spotted her from the corner of her eyes. He didn't look at her and just asked, "How much did you listen?"
"Everything, I guess." She replied.
"Then you must have been disappointed," said Mark while taking his seat.
"Why?" Shang Jiao was a little bit confused. Was he thinking that she wants him out of the Imperial City or something?
Mark then gave her a surprise with a little reminder, "I heard from your friend that the Ji Clan sent a marriage proposal for Western Moon for their eldest heir. Ji Cheng might have said that he is willing to forget the matter of Guanli's abduction but I knew that the major nobles never learned their lesson until they were completely destroyed.
If the Western Moon kingdom knows so much about me, then, they would have already learned about this incident.
Despite that, if they are inviting me for a lunch, then, that would only mean that the marriage proposal would be rejected."
Even though Mark had given a lengthy explanation, Shang Jiao didn't understand what this matter has to do with her being disappointed. It's not like she had any friendship with Ji Clan or Ji Mingyu.
She only cares about Ji Cheng and Ji Guanli because she had been close with them for more than a decade.
When said the same to Mark, the latter decided to reveal an important thing to see how she would react, "When he was a hostage, Ji Guanli admitted that he is the future son-in-law of the Emperor. In such a case, you will be the future daughter-in-law of the Ji Clan. Their family problems should be yours, right?"
"Eh?" Shang Jiao was stunned for a moment. "What nonsense is that?"
Mark looked at her in silence and blinked twice, acting as if he was surprised by her reply, "you weren't engaged?"
"Of course, we weren't. Why would I become his fiancée? He is my childhood friend." Shang Jiao snorted in response, displaying that she doesn't have any feelings for the scion of the Ji Clan.
Mark didn't know why but he was happy that his sister and Ji Guanli are just friends. He cannot acknowledge the brat who plans to use her and gain the position of Prince Consort.
Wait a second… Why does it matter who Shang Jiao likes or dislikes? For him, she should be nothing more than the daughter of the Emperor. Yes, he only has one real brother, and that one is living somewhere in another world or maybe, another universe.
Calming down himself, Mark then commented, "I guess he was probably trying to scare me to save himself with such a lie. But then again, no one will be surprised if Ji Clan will send a marriage proposal for you. If they can send it to Western Moon kingdom for their eldest heir, then, they can send it to the Imperial Palace for their youngest heir."
