TFA2 1.1 - A Pair of Mother and Daughter

Merry Gold Union HQ, Makai Royal City

13:00, 26 Sept 2025

After having canned salmon steamed with ginger, scallion, salt, pepper, lemon juice, honey, and rice wine as her lunch, Lady Yuuri casually enjoyed a glass of cider. In all her life, never did she imagine that there would be people who could pack fresh salmon into a can and create a simple but incredibly delicacy with it. Moreover, their other commodities also surpassed her imagination.

'I have postponed the meeting with Amethyst Merchant for too long.'

Lady Yuuri heard about Amethyst Merchant for the first time a few weeks ago. In their letter, the three Maesters who accompanied Osvik suggested that Merry Gold Union should immediately cooperate with Amethyst Merchant, and Lady Yuuri should lead the negotiations directly.

The three Maesters wrote extensively about Amethyst Merchant’s god-level culinary traditions, along with their extraordinary mechanical engineering reflected in their watchmaking techniques, and the power source called electricity that could produce flameless lighting system or support various other mechanisms.

In short, their explanation sounded like a fairy tale and made Lady Yuuri felt as if she was cavemen from prehistoric era, especially the electricity which could power mechanisms to heat water or produce ice cube.

'How does electricity able to support two systems that work in polar principle? Also, is it true that humans can create ice? If it is true, this is a revolution in human civilization then.'

The more Lady Yuuri thought about Amethyst Merchant's level of technology, the more curious she became. However, she could not immediately meet Amethyst Merchant representative. As when she managed to take the time to return to Walluo City, Amethyst Merchant’s commodity that Osvik sent had arrived.

Lady Yuri still clearly remembered when Leira, her most trusted aide, with an indescribable expression reported the arrival of the magical commodity. After conducting a direct inspection, Lady Yuuri immediately canceled her return to Waluo City. If the marketing of the newly arrived commodity was not done carefully, a huge uproar would definitely hit Makai Royal City.

The uproar did eventually hit Makai Royal City, but fortunately Lady Yuuri was able to ensure that it didn't get out of hand. Even so, until now the nobles in Makai Royal City were still sending requests and bribes to get commodities from Amethyst Merchant’s exclusively.

Moreover, even if it took the role as a middle-party, Merry Gold Union had received a profit equivalent to last year's profit for every three batches. So, Lady Yuuri was really curious about the profit that Amethyst Merchant received.

'I have to secure a trade agreement with Amethyst Merchant and exploit it to the fullest,' Lady Yuuri muttered as determination flashed in her eyes.

At the same time, Leira entered the dining hall. "A message from Kingdom of Buriek just arrived. It said that Kingdom of Buriek must pay the winner's rights to Amethyst Merchant in the form of iron ore. So, they had to limit our orders and increase the price by ten times."

After slightly nodding Lady Yuuri said, "It seems Tuscan Region's assistance to Sandhur Region has something to do with Amethyst Merchant."

"We have also just received a message from Walluo City. Amethyst Merchant has submitted a massive order for food staple."

"Ordering food staple through Amethyst Merchant, this must be Duke Phelite's idea." Lady Yuuri sipped her cider before continuing, "I will take care of this transaction personally."

"Understood, and your Cloud Hawk is ready."

"Good, I can't wait to meet Yuuna."

Wasting no time, Lady Yuuri grabbed the small paper bag in front of her. Then, she immediately rushed towards the Cloud Hawk’s stable.

---

A small settlement of farmers, mountains range west of Walluo City.

A 10-year-old girl deftly helped the women thresh the corn from the cob. The color of the girl's clothes had faded and there were small patches in some places, but overall it was clean and tidy. Her expression and gaze also show that she was a smart kid.

The little girl was Yuuna. She was the second child of Count Terrek and Lady Yuuri. Since she was five years old, Yuuna had lived in the farmer's settlement and lives her life like a farmer's child. It was just that there was a Maester and several bodyguards who were also disguised as farmers accompanied her. The Maester was in charge of teaching her the knowledge of being a merchant, while the guards were in charge of protecting her safety.

Cultivation of a simple lifestyle from an early age was also had been experienced by Lady Yuuri, so Yuuna lived it without complaint, and she never once tried to run away like her mother did.

In addition to having a solid mentality and fortitude, life as a poor farmer's child also made Yuuna very creative and independent. At the age of seven, she was already able to make straw sandals and fix her torn clothes. Meanwhile, at the age of nine, she had perfectly absorbed all the knowledge given to her by the Maester.

Lady Yuuna then took her on a trip from Walluo City to Makai Royal City. On the way, Yuuna was given a little capital and being asked to develop it. The result was, she accurately determined what products should be bought from one area, and then being sold in the next one. All of this was achieved by Yuuna because she skillfully gathered information about the area she was going to visit from other traders, farmers, travelers, or other people.

In short, Yuuna understood the importance of information, knew how to collect and organize it, and then used it effectively. Therefore, it was natural that her profit was much bigger than what Lady Yuuri earned when she underwent the same test.

Yuuna and the other women were happily doing their daily chores, and then cheers of children who were playing not far from them suddenly was heard. While continuing to cheer the children pointed towards the sky. Yuuna and the other women immediately raised their heads, and their gazes were met by a dozen Cloud Hawks that circled the settlement. Then, four of them glided down gracefully to the grassy field on the edge of the settlement.

Wasting no time, Yuuna immediately approached Lady Yuuri who looked at her with joy. She didn't run or express her happiness. Yuuna calmly walked over to her mother and then hugged her tightly. The level of maturity that Yuuna showed made Lady Yuuri very proud, but also miserable at the same time, because in a flash Yuuna had passed her childhood.

However, after being satisfied hugging her mother, Yuuna then looked at her with a pitiful gaze and said, "Mommy, give me food. I'm super hungry."

In an instant, Lady Yuuri smiled widely while tears of joy streamed down her cheeks. 'It seems there is still a bit of a childish side in her heart.'

Without delay, Lady Yuuri handed over a small paper bag containing a tuna corn mayo sandwich to Yunna. "Try it, it's super delish."

"Really?" Yuuna asked as she took one of the sandwiches.

"Yes, it is," Lady Yuri replied confidently.

Hearing her mother confidence tone, Yuuna immediately gave a small nod. Then, after one small bite her eyes instantly widened. Without delay, Yuuna took a second bite, the third, and before she realized it, she had eaten all the sandwiches in the paper bag.

"Mommy, do you have more?"

After widely smiling Lady Yuuri replied, "When we arrive at Castle Walluo, we will have something better. So, wait for a little, okay?"

In an instant Yuuna replied with eager nods and Lady Yuuri hugged her tightly one more time.

At the same time, Lady Yuuri's bodyguards have finished unloading various commodities for the villager. After bowing slightly towards the Maester who was teaching Yuuna, Yuuna's bodyguard, and the other residents, Lady Yuuri then carried Yuuna up on top of her Cloud Hawk.

The journey to Walluo City was then being continued in hurry, as the sun had almost set in the west and Cloud Hawk could not fly at night.

*****