Building A Business Empire From Scratch In Another World-Chapter 209: The Council Of Nobles

Two weeks had passed since the Morningstar Group introduced its innovative products, yet Astheria's capital still pulsed with the same excitement as when they first arrived.

From sunrise to sunset, the streets around every Morningstar store were alive with activity. Carriages filled the roads, merchants shouted to attract customers, and crowds of eager citizens packed the neighborhoods.

The sound of coins clinking together had become the heartbeat of the city, creating an unmistakable rhythm that resonated through each alley.

Day after day, thousands of Stormheart Blenders, Emberheart Stoves, Frostborne Vaults, and Tideweave Spinners were snatched up before lunchtime.

With each hour that passed, the Morningstar logo gleamed more brightly; its golden sun emblem was as well-known to the people as the royal flag.

However, beneath this bustling commerce, envy simmered among the nobility, particularly those from the lower and middle classes.

Watching a commoner rise to success while their own fortunes shrank was a bitter pill for many to swallow.

In a private hall located in the Wulleamp District, banners from twenty prestigious families hung from opulent walls, remnants of past glories. The air was thick with a heady mix of wine, ambition, and stung pride.

A round table dominated the center of the room, its polished surface catching the light like a mirror.

Gathered around it were men and women adorned in velvet and jewels: minor lords, viscounts, baronesses, and wealthy merchants who had prospered through wealth rather than nobility.

This wasn't just a meeting; it was a gathering fueled by jealousy.

Soft whispers floated through the air like smoke wrapping around candles.

"He's siphoning half our wealth!"

"His stores have outshone ours! Even royal markets can't compete."

"And he won't share his designs with noble guilds! It's scandalous!"

The murmurs fell silent the moment the door swung open.

Felix Morningstar stepped into the room.

He entered with a calm confidence, his pristine white suit sparkling under the sunlight filtering through the stained glass.

No entourage or guards trailed him, just a delicate silver pocket watch resting lightly in his palm.

As he approached the table, whispers resumed among the nobles, now laced with hostility and doubt.

"My Lord Morningstar," Baron Rynford said, his politeness strained as he fiddled with his ruby ring. "We appreciate your willingness to join us."

Felix nodded courteously. "I understand this meeting is about trade and the public good. I'm always keen to discuss such topics."

"Of course, of course." The baron motioned to the empty chair opposite him. "Please, take a seat."

Felix sat down, straightening his posture and maintaining an unreadable expression.

His gaze swept the room, absorbing every face—some radiated ambition, others glared with resentment, and a few seemed to size him up with calculated intent.

Then silence descended upon them, heavy as a fog. It was Baron Rynford who broke the stillness first.

"Let's not beat around the bush," he began, folding his hands dramatically. "Your company's success has been nothing short of extraordinary. However, many of us feel your methods are, shall we say, unfair."

Felix raised an eyebrow. "Unfair?"

"Yes," chimed in another nobleman, a slender man with silver hair and sharp features.

"You've overwhelmed the market with affordable products for the masses while leaving traditional businesses in ruin. You dominate trade routes, control supply chains, and refuse to collaborate with anyone else. You hoard innovation as if it were a treasure! Is this how a responsible businessman acts?"

Several nobles nodded in vigorous agreement.

"And let's not overlook," interjected a voice from the back of the room, "the disorder surrounding your properties! Do you remember that incident near the city? Are we really expected to believe your business fosters prosperity when it brings chaos right to our doorsteps?"

Felix sat quietly, his fingers lightly resting on the table as he absorbed the weight of their accusations and self-righteousness.

When they paused for a breath, he finally spoke. "Are you done?" The tension in the room became palpable.

"Excuse me?" Baron Rynford replied, taken aback. Leaning forward slightly, Felix maintained a calm yet assertive tone. "You accuse me of monopolizing trade and hurting your profits.

But let me ask you, when was the last time any of you created something that truly benefited the community?" A few nobles fidgeted in their seats.

"You increase taxes," Felix continued relentlessly. "You stockpile grain and take advantage of laborers struggling to feed their families! Yet when I offer fair wages and tools that enhance their lives, you label it as greed?"

The ensuing silence was almost deafening.

His tone sharpened, yet his expression remained impassive.

"For generations, you've prospered at the expense of others while I'm merely trying to provide them with something better: opportunity, dignity... choice."

Baron Rynford's face turned a deep shade of red with fury. "How dare you lecture us? You think one invention elevates you?"

Felix allowed a slight smile to break through. "Not quite, but it certainly makes me more valuable than most of you."

A few nobles stifled amusement while others glared furiously. "Your words are bold," remarked Lady Arwen, her keen gaze slicing through the dimly lit chamber.

Draped in rich sapphire silk, she leaned forward, intrigued but skeptical. "But do you genuinely believe you can transform the city all by yourself? You are just one man.

Protection and allies are crucial." "True," Felix replied calmly, his voice unwavering.

"But alliances built on greed dissolve faster than stone eroded by swift waters. I prioritize results over connections."

A wave of whispers rippled through the room, with some nobles exchanging quiet remarks while others shot him icy glares.

Felix remained unfazed, having made his stance clear. Standing tall, he adjusted his coat purposefully.

"If this council is truly committed to fairness, then you should practice what you preach," he proclaimed, surveying the table like a general ready for battle.

"Until then..." he paused for dramatic effect, "....I have a city to run." With that, he turned decisively and made his way to the exit.

"Arrogant fool," Lord Durn spat as soon as Felix left the hall, slamming his fist against the table in exasperation. "Does he think he can insult us and walk away without consequences?"

Baron Rynford leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Let him savor this fleeting victory. The higher he rises, the more devastating his fall will be."

Lady Arwen swirled her wine in contemplation, her face revealing nothing. "He's smart, perhaps too clever for his own good. That's exactly what makes him a threat."

Across from them sat a quieter noble, modestly dressed in a gray coat, who glanced toward a shadowy corner where a cloaked figure lurked, their face hidden in darkness.

After a moment's hesitation, he leaned in closer and whispered urgently, "Tell your master... the council won't forget this affront." The figure nodded in silence.

A faint symbol, the mark of the Black Thorn, shimmered momentarily on his glove before fading away. Within moments, the envoy slipped out into the corridor.

Outside, the bells of Astheria rang out at noon,a lively harmony echoing through streets filled with laughter and chatter, blissfully unaware of the silent pact that had just been forged within those walls.

As Felix stepped into the warmth of sunlight, a subtle smile curled at the corners of his lips.

He had noticed enough cautious glances in that room to recognize which ones hid venom behind their courteous smiles.

He breathed out gently, whispering to himself with a firm determination, "Let them plot."

The wind carried away his words, merging them with the sounds of the lively streets and the jingle of coins, a reminder that life was moving forward without pause.

At this moment, the Morningstar name still shone brilliantly over Astheria like a second sun, but just out of sight, dangers loomed, ready to attack at any time.