Forde Trade Union

The seven largest merchant guilds of the trade union had a discussion about implementing the nobility system. In principle, the guilds weren't against it as presidents of the seven largest guilds were to be entitled as dukes. The only problem was the enfeoffment of land.

The original plan concerned the Falik Plains which had eight cities in total. Apart from Morante City, each of the seven other cities on the plains will be enfeoffed to one of the seven dukes. However, that territory was a little too small, and the Forde Merchant Guild which thrived on agriculture objected vehemently to that and even threatened to leave the trade union. That's why they had to abandon that plan.

Even though the trade union had a wide sphere of influence, the only other place under its rule apart from the Falik Plains are the Calisto Mountains. In the end, it was decided that the Falik Plains and Morante City would be left untouched as they were the core of the trade union which the citizens depended on for emotional stability. Calisto Mountains would then be divided into 50 different dominions and enfeoffed to those of the rank of viscount and below. As for ranks above the count, they can only expand their land through their own efforts.

For example, Duke Lormo, of the Lormo Duchy, has been interested in joining the trade union ever since the dissolution of the Krissen Empire. The trade union gave him a chance this time around, on the condition that he revoked his dominion's independence, and his own sovereignty, and put the two provinces, the Yiwas and Puljas Provinces, under the trade union's jurisdiction. Only after that would Duke Lormo be made a duke of the trade union with Yiwas Province as his enfeoffed land.

As for the Puljas Province which bordered the Falik Plains, it was to become the dominion of Duke Forde. Mainly because the founder of the Forde Merchant Guild, Duke Forde Morante, and the six other heads of the largest merchant guilds, are credited with the formation of the merchant guild, it stands to reason that his descendants be given some benefits.

As for the six other largest merchant guilds -- with the exception of the Wald Merchant Guild, who had their sights on the weak Mobia Duchy, which was near the Calisto Mountains, the Twinhead Dragon Merchant Guild, the Mayflower Merchant Guild, the Wessia Merchant Guild, the Chikdor Merchant Guild, and the Peterson Merchant Guild, would be targeting the lands of the former Krissen Empire. The Peterson Merchant Guild was prepared to take over the northwestern area of the Redlis Kingdom and set up their dominion there.

Sometimes, situations are beyond the control of man. He didn't have any choice but to accept their conditions. In fact, several influential nobles within the Lormo Duchy were already on bad terms with the duke. Had it not been for the union's mediation, civil war would have broken out long ago. Even though the trade union accepts his participation, and he would lose his status as the head of the duchy, it will be a kind of release for him.

Additionally, the conditions they were offering him benefited him quite a lot. Not only did they give him a loan of 5 million gold Fordes that's interest free for up to ten years, they even sent someone to help him form his own merchant guild so that he can gain observer status in the high council. As long as he payed back the loan, he would also be able to be one of the core members of the council, and his merchant guild would be the eighth largest in the union. However, this was all a ruse, Duke Lormo was a goner. The loan of 5 million gold Fordes was truly an alluring trap. If he didn't pay it back within ten years, Duke Lormo would have to liquidate his assets to pay back the loan according to the regulations of the trade union. In other words, he would be declared bankrupt and his dreams of becoming the eighth member of the high council would be dashed.

There was no way that the seven largest merchant guilds would be willing to further divide their benefits to be given to someone else. Otherwise, there would've been a merchant guild or two that would attain the same status as the big seven over the course of almost 200 years. When Lorist was studying at Dawn Academy, he had heard a rumor about how a merchant guild would be secretly assaulted and ruined upon expanding their businesses beyond the scope of those of the seven largest guilds. Most of the smart ones within the trade union understood that 'rule.'

## Diplomacy

### Andinaq Kingdom

The trade union enforced an embargo on the Andinaq Kingdom. Because, the Andinaq Kingdom beared the legacy of the Krissen Empire, which was the sworn enemy of the trade union for the past 200 years. Even though the empire was gone, the legacy was still there. The Andinaq Kingdom was considered an enemy to the trade union and is therefore under an embargo. This matter was one that the merchants rallied up in solidarity for.

Even though there has already been roughly 30 years of peace, and the fact that the empire has already disintegrated, the people of the trade union still held a grudge.There are no eternal enemies, only eternal profits. Chasing profits is the core of a merchant's being. Actually, the hate for the Andinaq Kingdom was intentionally built up by others. The ones who are actively opposing the Andinaq Kingdom were the Twinhead Dragon Merchant Guild, the Mayflower Merchant Guild, and the Wessia Merchant Guild. The Peterson Merchant Guild was only cooperating with them and carrying out our basic obligations.