29: Chapter 29 You call this a "financing press conference"?

Levi felt the lingering warmth of the document in his arms. It bore not only Princess Ella's signature but also the faint heat from her fingertips, pressed down in humiliation.

He turned around, facing the eyes in the mine tunnel that held a mixture of awe, hope, and fear. His voice rang out clearly and steadily, as if the silent confrontation moments ago had never happened.

"Supervisor Angus," he called out the name of the mine's overseer.

A stout, middle-aged dwarf with a face covered in coal dust immediately pushed his way out of the crowd and bowed respectfully. "My Lord, your command."

"Effective immediately, the 'Multi-stage Linked Differential Pump' project is officially launched," Levi's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable force in the damp mine tunnel. "Her Highness Princess Ella, by my side, representing the Imperial Royal Family, has approved the conversion of this quarter's mining tax into a special fund for the mine's upgrade and renovation. This is not only my order but also a 'specially approved infrastructure project' recognized by the Royal Family. All craftsmen participating in this project will receive a thirty percent increase in performance-based wages during the project period and enjoy the highest level of food and medical benefits."

As soon as his words fell, the entire mine tunnel fell into a deathly silence before erupting into thunderous cheers.

"Long live the Lord!"

"Her Highness is wise!"

The fear and despair that had gripped the workers after the cave-in vanished completely from their faces, replaced by a near-fanatical excitement.

They might not understand terms like "linked differential," but they understood "Royal Special Approval," "wage increase," and, more importantly, what this meant: their jobs were not only secure but would also become more rewarding and stable.

Ella's face instantly turned ashen.

Standing beside Levi, she was forced to accept the gratitude and cheers from the miners, feeling like a puppet that had been dressed up and pushed onto a stage.

Every word Levi spoke had skillfully placed her on a moral high ground of "loving the people as her own and acting with great wisdom," making it impossible for her to refute and leaving her with no choice but to acquiesce.

Not only had she used her authority to help Levi divert Imperial tax funds, but now she was being publicly cast as the "Royal Guarantor" of this project.

If the project succeeded, her name would be prominently recorded in the annals of merit, but the greatest beneficiary would be Levi and his Blackstone Territory.

If the project failed... her reputation as the guarantor would be utterly ruined.

Regardless of success or failure, she was now irrevocably tied to Levi's chariot, a glittering yet involuntary cog in his grand scheme.

She could even hear Sir Kane's heavy, angry breathing behind her, but what did it matter?

A sword could not sever this chain of interests woven through open strategy.

Stepping out of the mine, the blinding sunlight made Levi squint slightly.

Ignoring the gaze from Ella behind him that felt hot enough to burn through his back, he walked straight toward Hill, who had been waiting there all along.

In the castle's study, the atmosphere of the emergency technical meeting was far less jubilant than the cheers in the mine.

The air carried a faint scent of ink and old parchment.

Hill, the silver-haired elven Chief Technical Officer, stood before a large drafting table, her expression colder than the rocks deep within the mine.

"My Lord," her slender finger pointed to the design diagram of the pump's core component, which was circled in red ink, "according to my calculations, to withstand the internal stress of 'calamity alloy' under high-temperature smelting and high-speed operation, at least three percent 'star-silver ore' must be added as a stabilizer at the connection points of the gears and bearings. Otherwise, the entire system will fail due to metal fatigue in less than a hundred cycles."

Levi frowned.

Star-silver ore, a rare magical metal with excellent conductivity, was typically used as ink for high-level magical scrolls or as a catalyst in alchemy. It was expensive.

"How much is left in our inventory?"

"Almost none," Hill's reply was resolute. "The original inventory of the Ironhoof Territory had long been sold off and squandered by that wastrel baron. Our own stockpile was exhausted last month to rush a batch of enchanted tools. This morning, I sent people to contact all our regular suppliers, including the capital's 'Golden Anvil Guild' and the largest mineral trader in the northern lands, 'Ironforge.'"

She paused, a hint of confusion entering her cool tone.

"But their responses were surprisingly uniform. Supply cut off. No matter how high a price we offered, they refused to sell even an ounce of star-silver ore to the Blackstone Territory and declined to give any reason."

Levi's knuckles tapped silently on the desk, emitting a dull thud.

The study was eerily quiet, with only this monotonous tapping echoing.

This was anything but simple.

Behind commercial actions always lay profit.

The only reason to refuse a lucrative order was pressure from a party they dared not offend—or a greater threat that made them abandon immediate gains.

Within the past two days, all suppliers, in unison, had unilaterally cut off supply.

This was no coincidence. It was a meticulously planned, precise strangulation targeting the Blackstone Territory.

Someone wanted to seize him by the throat, pulling the rug out from under him just as he had sketched a grand blueprint and filled everyone with hope.

Who? Competitors? Local nobles coveting his smelting technology? Or perhaps...

Levi's eyes suddenly sharpened.

He stopped tapping and stood up.

The source had to be uncovered immediately. Any passive waiting was tantamount to sitting ducks.

"Evelyn," he called toward the door.

Almost the moment his voice fell, the study door opened silently. The succubus in a black suit skirt walked in, holding a stack of freshly organized documents.

"Prepare three crates of 'Blackstone Spirits,' the finest original brew," Levi's pace was unhurried, but each word was exceptionally clear. "Deliver them to the 'Rusty Anchor Tavern,' to a man named Yuri. Tell him this is the deposit. I want him to find out who is behind the blockade of our star-silver ore supply before nightfall. I need names, motives, and their entire next plan."

A flicker of understanding passed through Evelyn's purple eyes.

Yuri, an information broker in the Blackstone City underworld—a greedy, cunning, yet exceptionally well-informed local snake.

The Lord choosing to bypass all official channels and directly activate this deeply buried piece meant the situation had reached a point where unconventional methods were necessary.

"Understood," she asked no further questions and turned to carry out the order.

Meanwhile, in her own room, Ella learned about the supply cut-off from Sir Kane.

"I knew it!" She slammed the table, the humiliation on her face replaced by a flash of vindictive satisfaction. "What advanced management model? It's nothing but a castle in the air! He can't even maintain the most basic supply chain; his commercial credibility is completely bankrupt! He never had the ability to complete that project. Everything before was just to trick me into signing that document! Kane, prepare the horses. We're going to confront him now. I will revoke my authorization in front of everyone!"

In her view, this was the perfect opportunity to expose Levi's deception and regain the initiative.

However, when the furious Ella barged into Levi's study with Sir Kane, the scene before her made her freeze.

The expected image of him being overwhelmed and panicked was completely absent.

Levi was bent over a fresh sheet of paper, holding a charcoal pencil, intently drawing something.

His expression was calm, even carrying a hint of the unique pleasure a designer feels during creation, as if the supply crisis that could bankrupt any lord were merely a breeze outside the window.

Ella's gaze fell on the drawing.

It wasn't a mechanical design or a fortification blueprint. It was a strange site layout plan.

Clear lines divided it into different areas, with some terms she didn't understand labeled in the common tongue.

"Investor Reception Area," "Product Display Area," "Signing Platform"...

What was this? What was he doing? Had he gone mad?

Just as Ella's mind was thrown into chaos by immense confusion and absurdity, the study door was knocked on again.

Evelyn walked in, followed by a scrawny, shifty-looking man in ill-fitting leather clothes, reeking of cheap ale and sewers.

It was the information broker, Yuri.

As soon as he entered, his shifty eyes darted around. When they fell upon the golden-haired, noble princess in the room, he visibly shrank back.

Levi set down the charcoal pencil and motioned for Yuri to come forward.

"Speak," he uttered only one word.

"Heh heh, Lord Byron, your spirits... pack quite a punch," Yuri rubbed his hands together, offering an ingratiating smile before lowering his voice and speaking rapidly. "It's clear. All the suppliers received direct orders from the main House Byron. The issuer is your elder brother, Lord Karl Byron. The order is simple: implement a comprehensive economic stranglehold on the Blackstone Territory, cutting off all material supplies."

Yuri swallowed, seeming to feel a twinge of fear about what he was about to say next. "And... it's confirmed. Lord Karl himself is leading the family's 'Audit Knights,' fifty strong, all elites. They're already on the road. Under the banner of auditing your illegal seizure of Ironhoof Territory assets, they will arrive at the gates of Blackstone Territory in at most... three days."

The air in the room instantly froze.

Ella's heart clenched violently.

The main House Byron!

Karl Byron!

That was a ruthless figure known throughout the entire kingdom for his cold and iron-fisted methods!

This was no longer a commercial blockade. This was the cruelest form of internal family reckoning!

A war destined to run with blood!

She instinctively looked at Levi, expecting to see terror, despair, or any reaction a normal person should have.

Yet, on Levi's face, there remained only that unfathomable calm.

After hearing the intelligence, he merely gave a slight nod, as if Yuri had reported not an impending disaster but some trivial matter like "afternoon tea snacks are ready."

He picked up the freshly completed site layout plan from the desk and handed it to Evelyn beside him.

On the drawing, the block labeled "Investor Reception Area" had been heavily traced over with charcoal, making it stand out conspicuously.

His voice, without a ripple of emotion, rang clearly in the deathly silent study, reaching everyone's ears.

"Issue the order: cancel all military alert."

"Prepare to hold the Blackstone Territory's first 'New Project Financing Presentation.'"