After Victor left, Alvan quickly led his men to change the locks inside and outside the warehouse.
The guards who originally belonged to the Castros were also dismissed, and the underground level and several damaged areas were sealed off.
Since the Golden Scale Merchant Guild was unwilling to investigate further, Celine had no intention of forcing open the secrets behind it right now.
At least until she figured out what connection existed between the Green Shade Merchant Guild and the city center, it was best to keep this place as it was.
Alvan stood in front of the warehouse door, looking at the newly re-hung rose emblem, silent for a long time.
The emblem had already faded, with several obvious dents along its edges. Hanging on the gate of the northern district warehouse, it looked somewhat worn.
But no matter what, it had ultimately returned to its original position.
Alvan slowly withdrew his gaze and bowed solemnly to Celine.
“Thank you for today.”
“We were both just getting what we needed,” Celine said, looking at the rows of warehouses situated inside. “Besides, taking it back is only the first step. There is no cargo inside, no convoy, and no personnel we can immediately deploy. It's a bit too early to celebrate.”
The joy on Alvan's face faded slightly.
He understood, of course.
An empty warehouse only proved that the Rosalinds had not completely withdrawn from the Northern Route competition; it could not restore a family that had been in decline for years to the capacity of organizing a caravan.
“Madam is waiting for you at the manor,” Alvan said. “The Golden Scale Merchant Guild's formal ruling has already been sent ahead.”
Celine nodded and did not remain in the warehouse district any longer.
By the time she returned to the Rosalind manor, evening was drawing near.
The curtains in the study were not fully drawn, and the setting sun spilled through the gaps, spreading a layer of dim, golden light across the desk.
Leora sat behind the desk. In front of her lay the breach of contract ruling sent by the Golden Scale Merchant Guild, along with a newly transcribed contract.
When Celine pushed the door open and walked in, Leora had just finished reading the last page.
“Have a seat.”
Leora pushed the ruling to one side of the desk, her voice somewhat low and raspy.
“The Golden Scale Merchant Guild has officially terminated the warehouse handover. The Castros have lost their management qualifications, and the warehouse has been returned to the Rosalinds.”
She looked at Celine. “It seems you succeeded.”
Celine sat down across from her and said modestly, “It was just good luck.”
Leora let out a soft chuckle and picked up her teacup from the desk.
“Luck brings opportunities. But when an opportunity falls in front of you, whether you can recognize it and seize it in time depends on your own capability.”
Having lived for so many years, she understood the difference between the two very well.
If Celine had returned a few hours later, today's outcome might have been entirely different.
Leora watched her for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Did Victor try to recruit you?”
Celine was not surprised. Alvan had been on the scene at the time, so there was naturally no need to hide such a thing.
“Yes.”
“What terms did he offer?”
“Status, convoys, funding, and the profits from the Northern Route.”
Leora's fingers tightened slightly, and she slowly set down her teacup.
These things happened to be exactly what the current Rosalinds could not provide.
“It sounds like more than what I can offer you.”
“It certainly looks that way,” Celine said, leaning back against her chair, her tone calm. “But if I were to join them now, I would have to play by their rules and only take whatever portion of the profits they are willing to share.”
“But the Rosalinds are different.”
Leora looked up at her. “How so?”
“You have nothing left to lose.”
The study fell silent for a moment.
Alvan had just walked in from outside, and when he heard this, his steps faltered for a second.
Leora did not get angry. Instead, she let out a low chuckle. “You certainly speak directly.”
Her smile quickly faded as she pushed the new contract toward Celine.
“I've written in all the conditions you requested before.”
Celine opened the contract and checked it line by line; it was exactly as she had proposed, down to the last detail.
Furthermore, Leora's signature was already at the end of the contract, alongside two blank spaces for seals.
One belonged to the Rosalind family, and the other was for the Northern Route Management Seal Elena had left behind.
Leora took out the family seal, dipped it in dark red ink, and pressed it solemnly onto the end of the contract.
The bright red rose coat of arms slowly appeared on the paper.
“Starting today, the Rosalinds will formally register with the Golden Scale Merchant Guild, naming you as the family's recommended Northern Route partner agent.”
“Not only will the net profits generated from the Northern Route be split sixty-forty, but the warehouse, the materials left behind by the old caravan, and everything else the family can still mobilize on the Northern Route will be left to your arrangement.”
“This is the full extent of the sincerity the Rosalinds can offer right now.”
Celine re-examined the contract to ensure Leora had not left any restrictions or loopholes in the wording before neatly signing her name.
Immediately afterward, she reached into her pocket and retrieved the management seal from her Radiant Ring.
Since she had secured the position of agent, this management seal naturally belonged to her as well.
The heavy, old seal rested in her palm. Celine pressed the management seal into the ink pad and then onto the other blank space.
The two marks appeared side by side at the end of the contract.
One new, one old.
It was as if the Rosalinds' Northern Route, which had been severed for decades, was finally reconnected.
【Obtained Official Identity: Rosalind Family Northern Route Partner Agent】
The notification that appeared before her eyes quickly vanished.
Celine closed the contract and smiled slightly.
“Here's to a successful partnership.”
Leora stared at the two marks on the paper and slowly let out a breath.
“Likewise.”
Only then did Alvan step forward, placing several ledgers he was carrying onto the desk.
At the very top lay a ring of newly duplicated keys.
In addition to the keys for the main gate, side door, and storage rooms of the North Gate warehouse, there was also a darker, slender copper key.
“This is the key to the iron cabinet on the east side of the family archives,” Alvan explained. “Inside are the caravan rosters, old route maps, station records, and lists of merchants and local forces that once collaborated with the Rosalinds before the Northern Route was disrupted.”
“Madam has already instructed that you may consult them at any time.”
Celine picked up the ring of keys. This was exactly what she needed.
These materials would allow her to understand exactly how the Rosalinds had operated the trade route decades ago, and what salvageable assets they had left behind in the north.
Leora added, “Starting today, the North Gate warehouse is also at your disposal. Alvan will also compile a complete list of the family's existing carriages, horses, former retainers, and remaining funds.”
“As long as it concerns the Northern Route, you may issue orders directly without needing my approval for everything.”
Alvan glanced at Leora, but ultimately lowered his head.
“Yes.”
From this moment on, Alvan would also have to follow Celine's directives regarding Northern Route affairs.
It seemed Leora had indeed staked all of the Rosalinds' remaining bargaining chips on this partnership.
Celine opened the first ledger Alvan had brought.
After scanning just a few pages, the accounts were even worse than she had anticipated.
The family's current available funds were barely enough to maintain the manor and the expenses of a few servants.
The old caravan had long since disbanded, and most of the skilled drivers and guards had gone to other merchant guilds.
On the former collaboration list, half of the names had already been crossed out.
As for the remaining ones, they either had not interacted for years or only sent polite letters during festivals.
As for carriages and pack beasts, the records left in the ledgers were pitifully scarce.
Although the warehouse had been reclaimed, it was so empty that not even an extra wooden chest could be found inside.
Celine flipped back two pages and couldn't help but look up.
“This is everything the Rosalinds can still mobilize on the Northern Route?”
Alvan's expression was somewhat awkward.
“Currently... yes.”
“There are still some former family retainers, but we haven't been in touch for years, and we're not sure if they're willing to return.”
Celine looked down again, staring at the pitifully thin list.
No wonder Leora had only hesitated for a brief moment when she agreed to the sixty-forty split.
If it had been Celine, she probably would have agreed even faster.
Still, having fewer things had its advantages.
At least when rebuilding the caravan, she wouldn't have to waste energy dealing with a bunch of old-timers bossing everyone around based on seniority.
Celine closed the ledger and put away the keys.
“Starting tomorrow, publicly recruit people in the name of the North Gate warehouse.”
Alvan immediately asked, “What kind of people do we need to recruit?”
“Drivers, carriage repairers, beast tamers, accountants, Caravan Physicians, and guards willing to participate in the Northern Route trial run.”
Celine spoke quickly.
Her past understanding of caravans was not particularly deep; what had truly allowed her to see how a team should operate was actually her experience in the Mist-Dwelling Forest.
She paused, then added, “Don't be in a hurry to promise long-term contracts. Tell them that everyone must pass an evaluation.”
The Rosalinds could no longer afford to feed a bunch of freeloaders.
Rather than relying on the family's past reputation to recruit a group of sentimental former retainers, she preferred to see for herself how much capability these people actually had left.
Leora did not interfere, only asking, “What about funding?”
“First, use the warehouse to apply for a line of credit from the Golden Scale Merchant Guild, but don't sign a loan contract just yet.”
Alvan hesitated. “The Castros control many of the lending channels in the city. The terms we can get might not be very favorable.”
“That's why we ask first, without rushing to borrow.”
Celine glanced at the balance in the ledger. “Once the recruitment results and the trial run rules are all finalized, we'll calculate the actual deficit.”
Once the recruitment notice was posted, there would soon be an answer to just how much influence the Rosalinds still commanded.
As for those who did not want them to rise again, they wouldn't keep her waiting for long either.
Celine stood up, packing away the contract along with the ledgers.
The last bit of the setting sun outside the window had already sunk, and the entire study gradually darkened.
Alvan lit the lamp beside the desk. The dim, golden light fell upon the newly signed contract, where the two different rose seals pressed tightly against each other.
Rate on N.U.
