James's father was abducted and had his hand severed, with the word "Price" carved into the palm.
Due to the brutality of the act, Reginald has kept the incident under wraps, and currently, only he, James, and Laurel are aware of it.
"The inevitable always arrives."
The seasoned merchant paced his office with a grim expression.
The issue of James's father did not concern him; to him, this farmer was merely an accessory to Laurel, and the fate of his nearly deceased father was irrelevant.
Reginald's concern was the underhanded tactics from other forces.
Although he was the wealthiest in Pelican City and held some capital in the entire Watson territory, he was insignificant compared to the truly wealthy families of the territory.
Just as Laurel gambled that merchants, due to certain constraints, would not dare to overstep, Reginald also gambled that the Pelican Trading Commerce would not crumble under the ruthless strategies of other wealthy merchants and traders of the Watson territory.
He thought he had bet correctly, as anyone could see the potential of the Pelican Trading Commerce. Even the local grain trading companies of Greenridge City, despite their concerted efforts to retaliate, could not hinder the Pelican Trading Commerce's rapid development.
This proved he had bet correctly.
But if he was right... then who kidnapped James's father?
Laurel, the ordinary-looking farmer, was also frowning, clearly pondering the same issue as Reginald and equally puzzled.
"If it was... someone from another trading company," he murmured, "why choose now?"
"But if not them, who else could it be?" Reginald exhaled a puff of cigar smoke, "Or is it that the big shot has grown bored? Deciding to remove the rules, watching us tear each other apart like wild dogs? That would be in line with the character of those big shots."
His words caused the usually calm Laurel to shudder, but the fearful and anxious James and the preoccupied Reginald did not notice.
The stocky man took a deep breath, picked up the severed hand on the table, and looked again at the word carved into the palm—Price.
As if driven mad by something, Laurel relentlessly squeezed his thoughts, his temples throbbing. After what seemed like an eternity, staring at the word, he suddenly blurted out:
"What if it's not for profit, but for... revenge?"
"It's around Greenridge City."
Then, Laurel gave James a very thoughtful lesson.
About the grain market, encroachment, destruction, and the final outcome...
After hearing all this, James stood frozen in place for a long, long time.
"Anyway, we will find a way to rescue your father, rest assured," Laurel said, patting James's shoulder symbolically, "The commerce now has plenty of money, rescuing your father won't be difficult. By the way, Mr. Hegel, your recent communication was..."
As the voices around him that didn't care for him faded away, James's mind echoed with the words Laurel had just said.
After a long while, he suddenly rushed out of the lounge without a word.
"Your friend seems to have taken quite a shock, Mr. Morlamo," Reginald shrugged.
"Just help him get revenge... Have someone kill all those who took his father, and he won't have too many complaints," Laurel said calmly.
"Even if he does, it doesn't matter, if he's too ungrateful, we'll just replace him."
"Haha, I really like your style, Mr. Morlamo, you're a good partner."
The two men no longer paid much attention to the young man who had run out and continued to discuss business matters.
Interestingly, the two who had previously been debating whether to expand production or not, suddenly came to an agreement:
To increase both the quantity and speed of production, and not just that.
They planned to enhance the reputation of the Pelican Trading Commerce from all aspects and to promote their magically extreme grain... throughout the entire empire.
Thus, a few days later, a renowned gourmet, famous within the empire—particularly among the circles of the elite—passed through the Watson territory.
By a "fortunate coincidence," he visited a restaurant with unique ingredients and was astounded by the quality of the vegetables and grains he tasted there.
-->