"What are your ns, Lady Eliza? Do you need me to purchase more farnd?" Mki asked from the side.


    He had rushed over to Saint Grace Nunnery with Lawrence after hearing the news, wanting to see what Eliza intended to do.


    Eliza shook her head and replied, “No, don''t bother buying any. If they want to buy it, let them. We can''t beat them on this front."


    Hearing that, Mki felt a sense of relief and thought, ''Ourdy truly is wise."


    But Lawrence didn''t understand and probed, "Hm? Why? If you let them buy it all, what will you do?"


    Mki warmly exined on Eliza''s behalf, "Powerful forces back the farnd and manors near Hasen City. The tangled interests are asplex as those in the imperial court. Every manor is likely tied to a government official-more than likely, a civil official. And who do civil officials align themselves with Naturally, no one other than the Duke of Mowbay."


    As soon as Lawrence heard that, he understood and thought, ''Her Grace''s father is the top-r


    Most of those civil officials work under him.


    top-ranking civil official


    Although the Duke''s estate had taken a hit recently, even getting chastised by the young king, chopping off a few branches didn''t topple


    the tree.


    Unless it were uprooted entirely, it wouldn''t fall so easily.


    the civil officials under the Duke wouldn''t leave his side just like that.


    And th


    With just a word from him, the officials backing those manors would never agree to sell theirnd to Eliza.


    Those civil officials are full of dirty tricks!" Lawrence eximed.


    At this point, Lawrence stood fully on Eliza''s side and thought, ''She''s such a kind, generous woman, and she has so many precious herbs.


    "Who couldpare with her?"


    He even helped her scold that whole faction of civil officials.


    But soon after, he couldn''t help feeling worried again and asked, "Then what will you do? Judging by the Duke''s estate, they clearly n to get into herb cultivation too. If they buy up all the farnd, can Your Grace really beat them with just the fields


    you have?"


    Eliza chuckled and replied, "Why wouldn''t I be able to? Hasen City isn''t the only ce with farnd. Just because they won''t sell here doesn''t mean others won''t elsewhere."


    Besides, she had already picked two perfect locations where no one couldpete with her.


    Lawrence suddenly caught on, his eyes lighting up as he asked, "Are you talking about Plutonville and Noganlul?"


    But


    as soon as he said it, he frowned and added, "But those ces are so far away?"


    It took seven or eight days to reach Plutonville from Hasen City, and about ten days to get to Noganlul,


    Lawrence wondered, Won''t that be too much of a hassle to go all the way out there to buy farnd for herb cultivation?


    "It is a bit far, but distancees with its own advantages, Eliza said with a gentle smile


    If she operated only in Hasen City, then everything she did would be under the Duke''s constant watch.


    But in Plutonville and Noganlul, she could act freely, Setting things up there wouldpletely escape the Duke''s surveince.


    Of course,


    that didn''t mean she had to go there herself.


    Eliza definately needed to remain in Hasen City-at Saint Grace Nummery


    First, she couldn''t go wherever she pleased, and second, she had to stay visible.


    She needed to use all her movements in Hasen City to keep the Duke''s estate focused on her.


    That way, no one would notice what was happening elsewhere.


    Once the time came, she would select someone to go to Plutonville and Noganlul in her ce.


    That would be her trump card


    Lawrence thought about it for a while and eventually understood Eliza''s n


    He raised his brows in admiration and praised. That''s a brilliant move, Your Grace."


    Mki chuckled and added, "Given ourdy''s reputation in Plutonville and Noganlul, things will go even more smoothly over there


    And with Eliza''s n centered around using medicine and agriculture to solidify her status as the Holy Lady, starting directly in those two repons was the most fitting arrangement..


    Seeing that Mki understood her intentions, Eliza said. The only problem is that I don''t have the right person for the job at the moment. I''ll have to trouble you, Mr. Padi, to keep an eye out. It''s best we find someone suitable as soon as possible."


    Growing medicinal herbs took time.


    If they dyed too long, and something went wrong. Plutonville and Noganlul wouldn''t be able to supply herbs in time.


    Mki immediately nodded. "Don''t worry, Lady Eliza. Tve made a note of it."


    And so


    this matter was entrusted to Mki.


    Their discussion had nearly wrapped up by the time Eliza finished her final acupuncture stroke. She withdrew the needle slowly and exhaled in a calm, steady breath


    "Alright, that''s the end of today''s third technique, Lawrence said.


    Thank you, Lord Lanon," Eliza replied.


    She put away the needle she had been holding, opened her medicine box, and ced it inside.


    Off to the side, Lawrence happened to catch a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye. He let out a curious sound and asked, "Huh? Do you have another set of needles? Why aren''t you using those... hmm?"


    The needle pouch looked fairly new. Lawrence was just about to ask why she didn''t use it when he suddenly noticed something on the pouch and wondered, "Was Spirit embroidered on it?''


    Just as he leaned in to get a better look, Eliza quickly snapped the lid of the medicine box shut with a loud ck.


    "Ah, those needles aren''t quite right. They weren''t crafted properly. I n to get them reforged in a few days, so I didn''t use them," she Exined.


    "Wait, hold on-did I just see the word "Spirit on that pouch?" Lawrence probed.


    "What Spirit character? No way. You must''ve seen it wrong, Lord Larson," Eliza replied nervously, clearly trying to deny it