After the private meeting concludes, everyone begins to converse among themselves.

  Fabio finally finds a chance to be alone with Henwell. He spreads his arms wide and gives Henwell a bear hug. Henwell smiles warmly, returning the long-awaited greeting.

  Fabio's eyes are a bit misty as he pats Henwell's shoulder firmly, "My friend! I always knew you'd achieve something great!"

  Henwell chuckles, "You've done well too, Ironwall Lord of the Western Region!"

  Fabio sighs, "I'm sorry, Henwell. About my father, I'm truly sorry. I tried to find you, but there was no trace. The secret guard who took you away disappeared too, and I had no idea where to look."

  Henwell waves his hand, "It's all in the past. There were hardships, but they shaped who I am today."

  Fabio struggles to find the right words, "I suppose you wouldn't come to me now, given your current power rivals mine. I can assure you, what happened back then will never happen again. Whatever you choose to do, I won't stand against you."

  Henwell understands what Fabio means, "It's not that dramatic. Just like before, I'm simply trying to survive and protect myself."

  Fabio falls silent. It's true. Henwell just wants to live, much like they did back when they were desperately seeking a way to survive.

  Fabio is well aware of Grand Duke Amir's suppression and pressure on Henwell. However, due to his background and current position, along with various factors, he can't fully side with Henwell. The only promise he can make is not to stand with Grand Duke Amir against Henwell. For Henwell, this is already a significant help.

  Among the forces Grand Duke Amir can mobilize, only Fabio's legion poses a significant threat to Peace Haven. If retions with the duchy were to completely break down, even if the Iron Wall Legion doesn't engage Peace Haven directly, a push southward into Count Jansen's territory would force Henwell to move north for defense.

  However, with Fabio's promise, Count Jansen only needs to focus on countering the pressure from the east. This grants Henwell significant strategic leeway, ensuring that he won't be cornered by the duchy.

  Although Henwell assesses that the duchy is unlikely to unch a rge-scale military campaign in the short term, war is inherently unpredictable. There's no such thing as being fully prepared for war.

  As a leader responsible for the fate of millions, Henwell must pn for the worst-case scenarios.

  The two also finalize some covert colborations, including the trade of sensitive goods like siege crossbows, coal and iron resources, as well as warhorses and weapons.

  Both parties agree to send formal military delegations for private exchanges, and there will be some level of intelligence sharing, particurly concerning their western neighbor, the Kingdom of Ika.

  Following this, Henwell engages in private discussions with various representatives. Even some of the more daring nobles present attempt to approach and befriend him. Henwell remains approachable, warmly mingling with many of the mid-to-lower-ranking nobles.

  The banquet continues te into the night before gradually winding down.

  Over the next day, numerous nobles visit Henwell. He doesn't turn any of them away. With Peace Haven and himself now in the spotlight, there's no need to hide in the shadows.

  Peace Haven's vast array of goods needs to be sold far and wide. These nobles, being influential in their regions, can facilitate trade retionships. After all, Henwell can't resort to force every time his caravans face obstacles.

  Additionally, Henwell takes the opportunity to have a private conversation with Catherine while presenting her with a pocket watch.

  After the upcoming grand wedding, Catherine is set to move to the southwestern region of Billie. Her troops are already stationed in Backmount City, refusing to leave. It's expected that the authorities in Divine Revetion City will agree to the position Catherine desires.

  In this brief conflict, Catherine gains significantly. She not only trains her troops, turning them into one of the most formidable forces in Billie, but also amasses considerable political capital, especially among the Billie popuce. The people hold this "War Princess" in high regard.

  Now, with a vast territory as her stronghold, Catherine is ready to restart her colboration with Henwell.

  The two agree that after the current year, once Catherine solidifies her control over her territory, Henwell will send both overt commercial trade teams and covert smuggling caravans. Establishing this route with Catherine is crucial for Henwell. The unique materials from Mountainsteel and Greensteel are invaluable for Henwell's alloy production.

  Moreover, it opens up connections with Yinxin City. Since the war began, Henwell hasn't received any low-cost extraordinary potions from Bloodhorn. Over the past year, he's been purchasing these potions at high prices. The financial burden is minor compared to the significant shortage, which hinders both talent development and potion analysis.

  With Henwell's implementation of more precise measurements, there's an urgent need for alloy and potion experimentation, requiring substantial sample materials. Henwell is confident that it won't be long before these efforts yield significant results.

  He's not afraid to spend money; his greatest fear is being unable to spend it, which would mean being completely blocked by other forces.

  Currently, Peace Haven, much like the Vorry Duchy, is undergoing a critical transformation. While it appears to be at its peak, it's also quite fragile. Henwell doesn't need much time—just five years.

  With that, Peace Haven will no longer fear threats from its neighbors. By then, Peace Haven's armor will have hardened, and its cws and fangs will have sharpened. The surrounding wolves will no longer be a threat but rather prey in Henwell's eyes—he will become a mighty tiger lying in wait, ready to pounce!

  Just a day before the grand wedding, someone unexpected pays Henwell a visit. After a long moment of hesitation, Henwell steps out to welcome the guest inside.

  Once seated, the two remain silent for quite some time before Henwell finally speaks, "I suppose, Count, you're not here to apologize, are you?"

  Obiken chuckles, "Of course not! To this day, I don't believe I did anything wrong back then."

  Henwell raises an eyebrow, "Oh? Do you not think I could have been a great help to Fabio? If I were by his side, he might have achieved even more by now."

  Obiken sighs, "Ah, precisely because of your current achievements, I'm relieved about my decision back then. If you had stayed with Fabio all these years, he might already be sitting in the Grand Duke's seat!"

  Henwell responds, "You're too kind, Count. But wouldn't that be a good thing?"

  Obiken shakes his head, "No, it wouldn't. If that were the case, the duchy wouldn't have the chance to transform. You don't understand! For this outcome, my father, my grandfather, our family has poured in generations of effort!"

  Henwell scoffs, "If you believe I could help Fabio become a Grand Duke, why don't you believe I could turn the duchy into a kingdom?"

  Obiken ughs, "Oh, I believe it! But it would become your kingdom! From the first moment I saw you, I noticed something in your eyes. You're not someone who would always serve Fabio. You're different from others; there's something more in your eyes, and something less."

  "Oh? Please, do eborate."

  "In your eyes, there's more ambition and less reverence for nobility and royal authority."

  Henwell remains silent for a while, then bursts into ughter, "Hahaha… Spot on!"