The elegant lady paused for a moment before continuing.

"Moreover, we have great confidence in this investment and believe it will soon yield substantial returns. I know that words alone may not allay your concerns, so we are willing to use land as collateral."

Lady Mira's words were clear and well-organized, adding considerable merit to her husband, especially the part about offering land as collateral, which eased Huck's mind.

However, a sense of confusion involuntarily arose in his heart—

Investing in a wine estate is not a business that recoups its costs immediately, so why did the Baroness say it would bring substantial returns soon?

No offense intended.

He merely wanted to know why this family was so confident!

Or perhaps—

They had some other purpose for borrowing this money?

Just as Huck was deliberating on how to tactfully ask his question, his wife Jenny Alton seemed unable to hold back.

She quietly tugged at Huck's sleeve, lowered her voice, and said, in what she thought was a discreet volume, "Darling, did you forget? Prince Colin is planning to acquire a large piece of land in the White Dew District, isn't he? I guess the Devor family's land... wouldn't stay with the bank's funds for too long. I mean, at least this money won't be lost; it might even be recovered with interest soon."

Huck Alton was startled by her words, inwardly thinking, "This is bad!", and quickly cast a glaring look at his wife, his eyes filled with evident reproach and warning.

He indeed had a loose tongue, telling the branch manager the moment he left Dantes's residence and then his wife at home, but he didn't expect his wife to be so indiscreet as to blurt it out!

Although the Devor family was very polite to them, he knew they were not that close!

The Baroness had only been slightly warm to her, and this foolish woman was eager to spill her guts to them!

"Why did you say that out loud!" Huck practically squeezed out the words between his teeth, his voice restrained and tinged with a bit of annoyance.

Jenny was startled by her husband's sudden severity and felt a bit wronged, defending herself in a small voice, "This... it's not a secret, you know. Many people in town are talking about it. What does it matter if I say it or not?"

"Hehe..." A light laugh came from the head of the table.

Huck looked up, only to see Baron Ralph Devor holding a wine glass with a knowing smile on his face.

His deep-set eyes seemed to have seen through everything, and there was also a hint of reassurance.

"Mrs. Alton is right," Ralph said with a friendly smile, gentlemanly and humble, "Indeed, Prince Colin has the intention to invest heavily in the White Dew District, and this is no secret among the nobles. Our Devor family is also aware."

Of course, he wouldn't say that his wife had seen the news in the local newspaper, but there was no need to tell Huck that.

These words, with their explicit and implicit hints, were undoubtedly attempting to create the impression that he was quite familiar with the Colin family.

Anyway, Colin wouldn't notice a small figure like him.

Seeing Baron Ralph's composed and somewhat cunning smile, a realization flashed through Huck's mind like lightning, instantly connecting all the confusion and inconsistencies!

Expanding the wine estate? Two square kilometers of prime land? A massive input of seventy thousand gold coins? Quick and substantial returns?

This guy is not planning to honestly run a wine estate at all!

He's eyeing Prince Colin's plan to acquire land in the White Dew District, intending to buy the land at a low price and then resell it to Prince Colin at a reasonable price, making a huge profit from the difference!

But——

What does this have to do with me?

As the branch manager of the Imperial Royal Bank in the White Dew District, his primary duty was to ensure that every penny the bank lent out could be safely recouped and bring in profits. As for what borrowers did with the money, as long as it wasn't illegal or led to legal trouble, turning the bank's money into bad debts, it wasn't something he needed to overly interfere with.

On the contrary, if Ralph truly intended to use the money to honestly run a wine estate and compete with the vassal state's nobles, who still kept serfs, over whose wine was cheaper and tastier, he would have to cautiously consider whether this baron's mind was sound!

No need to think at all——

Even the Hillfin family's wine estate couldn't beat even the most ordinary baron in the Ryan Kingdom in the market.

Because the farmers in the Ryan Kingdom couldn't be considered humans but crops that grew from the ground. They could grow alongside wheat or grapes, and their entire lives were about doing a single job, with their lords able to move their heads elsewhere if they failed.

Perhaps the reality wasn't as exaggerated as the newspapers portrayed, but the principle was the same.

Looking at Ralph, who was calm and collected, Huck had no doubts that he was a sensible person, and quickly calmed himself down, his mind racing.

Who is Prince Colin? He is one of the most wealthy and powerful princes in the Empire! His wealth is something even the most esteemed families in the Holy City would envy!

Since he decided to make a grand move in the White Dew District, he likely wouldn't mind these "small fish and shrimp" taking a small bite from him.

And since Ralph was a wise person, he surely wouldn't set an exorbitant price like a short-sighted country bumpkin, ruining the whole deal.

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