Chapter 729 — The Young Man from the North
Blade of Dawn · Page 2 of 2
Strangers coming to call on him was no surprise. As the owner of Codd Household Know-How, a firm of growing renown, and as the leader of the Kalor region's merchants' association, he had a constant stream of visitors, and among them were never lacking brave young men full of dreams. His Majesty Gao Yang's new order seemed to have brought a vitality to the whole land; among the vast crowds it was always the young who were most courageous, carrying their novel ideas and seeking every sort of opportunity across this swiftly changing land—and at Codd's, there was opportunity beyond doubt.
But most of the time, brave young men were only brave. They lacked knowledge and experience, so many of the ingenious notions they held could not in fact be put to use. Even so, Codd would still receive these young people as far as he could. From the standpoint of a merchant's interests, Codd Household Know-How had to cultivate the image of a firm that embraced innovation and drew talent—only so could gifted people continue to be recruited. And from the standpoint of personal feeling, those who clutched novel ideas and dared to challenge the odds always made Codd think of himself: of his own reckless first venture in trade when he was young, and of the passion for challenge that had been rekindled in him over the past two years.
He simply had not expected that a stranger from the north would also come knocking... That young man must have made careful inquiries after arriving here.
The partner he had scheduled to discuss business with had not yet arrived; there was no harm in seeing the young man.
"Let him in," Codd nodded. "Tell him in advance—he has twenty minutes."
"Yes, Father."
His eldest son Parr withdrew from the room, and a moment later a golden-haired young man in a blue coat appeared before Codd.
By force of habit, Codd first took in the young man's dress and bearing.
A fairly respectable coat of woolen cloth, worn-looking already but clean and neat and well cared for; a gentle, courteous smile, with an air of habitual modesty, not the least trace of a superior manner or of aristocratic refinement.
He should be a townsman of middling or better family, well brought up; perhaps he had once served a noble, or perhaps his occupation required him to deal often with those above his station. His means had plainly been enough to afford a ticket on the Highlander—a ticket for the middle cabin.
"Good day to you, sir. I am very glad to meet you, Mr. Codd," the young man said with a smile, a flicker of excitement showing on his face. "I come from Barron. You may call me Film..."
"And I am glad to meet you too, Mr. Film. Please close the door," Codd nodded, gesturing with his chin toward the chair reserved for guests. "Make yourself at home."
Film hastily shut the door and then seated himself in the tall-backed chair with its soft cushion. He heard the famous great merchant ask: "Mr. Film, I know little of the north. And Barron is..."
"Oh, it is a town near Saint Sunil—not very well known," Film said, keeping his smile. Having been taught by his father since childhood and having seen something of the world in the old royal capital, he well understood the importance of keeping a smile; yet he was young after all, and so his nervous excitement—