The next day, Arthas returned to Lordaeron. As a prince, he still had to keep up appearances.
The main force of the Alliance had arrived at Southshore, and the celebratory military parade would eventually be held in Lordaeron. After the troops finished regrouping, they would come to Lordaeron, returning to their respective kingdoms only after the parade. This kind of ceremonial parade was intended to boost morale and serve as a display of strength.
In the palace, many nobles came to converse with Arthas. As a rising prince, Arthas was undoubtedly the most outstanding. Moreover, his control over a unique method of obtaining pearls—a high-value product—had left his pockets overflowing with wealth. Coupled with the upcoming announcement of his betrothal to the princess of Kul Tiras, the trend of Lordaeron being the strongest kingdom would likely continue for decades.
Arthas found this socializing somewhat tiresome. In the past, he would have been forced to bicker with them, as he occasionally needed the help of these nobles. But the situation was different now; these nobles were swarming like sharks that had scented blood. The war had impoverished them, and the royal family could not bear the financial debt alone; these nobles would also have to bleed some wealth. Consequently, everyone was extremely desperate to find ways to make money and recover their losses.
"I have already handed all financial matters to my Chief Financial Officer. If you have needs, you can find her; she is my spokesperson," Arthas said with a smile. "Gentlemen, I still have matters to attend to. We shall talk another time."
Only after seeing Arthas leave did those nobles finally vent their frustrations.
"Damn it, it's that green-skinned Goblin! I really don't want to see her!"
"She's a vampire! Last time she bought my timber, she actually used pearls as collateral and didn't give me a single copper! I want money, not pearls!"
"Aren't pearls good?"
"Those were the pearls that Dalaran didn't want!"
"...Those still have high value. If you don't want them, why not sell them to me?"
"In your dreams!"
Omiya's talent was utilized to its fullest, especially when Arthas proposed installment payments, adding a bit extra each time as interest. When using the remaining portion to develop fleets and factories, Omiya's eyes practically sparkled. Although installments would have to be repaid eventually, if one only had to pay back ten gold coins out of a hundred and could invest the remaining ninety to earn double the profit, then the principal was already recovered. This was using other people's money to generate more money!
Arthas's ideas made Omiya incredibly excited, and she immediately summoned the Goblins under her command to begin research. These Goblins had all been bought by her, signing lifelong slave contracts. They received wages, but they had to serve her for life. Under the incentive of percentage-based bonuses, the Goblins' money-making frenzy was pushed to the limit.
The bustling Newborn Territory port had also completed construction, with a large number of ships docking there every day. Artisans were busy, employing cranes for loading and unloading goods, operating based on a blueprint of modernized processes. It was much faster than traditional manual loading and unloading; time was money. As a result, the port's cargo throughput increased significantly, allowing for even more capital to be earned.
Arthas did not interfere in the business and trade matters, appearing only when his presence was occasionally required. Those were times when trade relations and routes were being established with other kingdoms; as a prince, Arthas's involvement was much more effective than Omiya's. Status was a symbol, and rank among the nobility was very important.
He arrived at Ashvane Manor, his aunt's private estate, which even Duke Ashvane himself could not enter. It was quite a joke that a man could not enter his own wife's manor.
His aunt was here nursing her pregnancy and occasionally mentoring Omiya. She possessed over a decade of experience in trade routes, and she passed this knowledge to Omiya for Arthas's sake. After all, her nephew-husband had many things to attend to, and finance was a major matter that had to be kept firmly in hand. Therefore, using trustworthy people was of the utmost importance.
When he reached the garden, he happened to see his sister Jaina leading some young noble ladies in yoga practice. Her current status was a priestess of the Life Sect, serving the Goddess of Life. The Goddess of Life could bestow power upon her followers, and the most devout could obtain an extension of their lifespan, which was a supreme blessing.
Even King Terenas no longer governed Jaina, allowing her to develop as she pleased. As for the marriage proposals and inquiries from other kings, he rejected them all. His daughter's future as a priestess was limitless. Although he had never heard of the Goddess of Life before, being able to grant longevity was inherently a good thing. Regarding the territory of the Kingdom of Alterac, he had considered Arthas's suggestion but ultimately decided to occupy a portion and divide the rest equally among the other five kingdoms.
Arthas leaned against a stone pillar, taking out tools for tailoring. In truth, it was just a matter of waiting for a progress bar. High-quality magic robes could be sold for a good price and also increased his experience. Even if they weren't sold for money, giving them to the Mages under his command could offset part of their wages; either way, he wouldn't lose. His eyes watched those young girls in bikinis breaking a sweat, their bodies jumping to the rhythmic beat of a gramophone. The breath of youth blew toward him, making him feel a bit restless.
The deflowered Vanessa and Illucia were among them, swaying their bodies along with Jaina. This fitness routine provided them with ample exercise. According to mature women, the healthier the body, the easier it was to conceive and the smoother the childbirth would be.
Although they were still very young, after being deflowered, they couldn't help but imagine the scene of becoming pregnant. Affection had turned into love, and their hearts were filled with it, making them long to bear children for the man they loved.
Jaina's fair, pale skin was covered in a thin layer of sweat. Her two buttock cheeks looked exceptionally pert in the moisture, and the flowing sweat made her look even more healthy and youthful. Her full breasts seemed to have grown a size larger, the soft flesh jumping up and down with the rhythm, appearing as if they might leap out of the thin fabric at any second. Between her legs, the two thin pieces of fabric faintly revealed a charming crevice, pink and tender, making one unable to resist wanting to explore further.
The noble girls participating in the fitness routine were all dressed similarly. The more conservative ones wore hot pants and tank tops, also exposing large areas of pale skin. Their small feet stepped on soft yoga mats, wantonly shedding the sweat of youth and blooming their beauty to the extreme.