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Therefore, this port is known as "Diamond Port," a name acknowledged by all sapient beings on the Mainland. It truly is a place where even the air seems to turn into diamonds. If not for the unfavorable land-based geographical location of "Diamond Port" for unifying the entire territory of the commercial alliance, it should have been the permanent capital of the alliance.

The control of "Diamond Port" lies in the hands of nineteen massive commercial families, referred to as the "Nineteen Emblems." These families, or rather merchant guilds, are financial titans whose wealth rivals entire nations and have far-reaching connections. A single decision by one of these families could shape financial trends for decades, surpassing the impact of some small and medium-sized countries.

Even ordinary merchants have opportunities to participate in the operations of this vast commercial system. After all, commercial status differs from noble titles. In the midst of repeated speculations, there are always fortunate souls who ride the wave of opportunity, while others may lose everything. Thus, the so-called "Nineteen Emblems" have changed countless times over the centuries, with only a handful remaining steadfast. Unlike the noble system, in the business world, merely suppressing and attacking newcomers would only lead to the stagnation of the entire market. Therefore, after several lessons, large merchant guilds jointly established a high-end business club named "White Stone," which absorbs the most promising merchant groups and forces from the Free Commercial Alliance. Through various means, it coordinates the interests of all parties, protecting the interests of large merchant guilds to the greatest extent while continuously nurturing newcomers and creating opportunities, ensuring that the commercial alliance constantly has vibrant new blood. It can be said that the flourishing of the commercial alliance over the past century is directly related to the existence of this club.

The name "White Stone" comes from the club's permanent venue, "White Stone Castle."

This is an ancient castle standing on the cliffs by the sea at "Diamond Port." The majestic, pure white stone structure has stood for nearly two millennia. Thanks to the excellent craftsmanship of the dwarves and the protection and maintenance by successive owners, it has not fallen into ruin. Instead, it has shed its veneer over time, gradually revealing a solemn and elegant demeanor akin to a temple, standing out as particularly precious in this city filled with money and desire.

At this moment, it is the annual grand gathering of the club, with wealthy merchants from all over gathering together.

Some might think that a gathering of merchants would be filled with the stench of money, with conversations revolving around wealth. However, in reality, regardless of who they are or their profession, the influence of time is immense. After centuries of refinement, even the most mercenary merchants have accumulated a sense of etiquette akin to nobility, or perhaps hypocrisy. To an outsider, the people in this castle, in attire, demeanor, or manners, would seem the epitome of nobility, and moreover, those with a long history and deep roots.

Representatives from about fifty of the most influential or promising merchant guilds have gathered in this castle. Over the course of ten days, they engage in various activities—negotiating, probing, allying, or merging. Behind the surface of prosperity and friendliness, undercurrents surge endlessly. If these exchanges were to be translated into future financial fluctuations, every word spoken would be worth more than a standard gold brick.

Today, however, representatives from several major merchant guilds in the club have canceled their scheduled plans due to an unexpected piece of news and have gathered together, seemingly waiting for something.

During the wait, a balding old man with a white beard suddenly looked up and asked a middle-aged man with a mustache across the table, "Sir Sima, are you absolutely certain about the identity of the visitor? You know that the Antuo Guild is backed by the Holy Light Temple, and the Maqi family has recently been getting very close to the Orc King. If this is a trap set by them, it's not impossible."

The middle-aged man referred to as Sima smiled and replied, "Mr. Kaisler, I guarantee with my reputation that the lady is indeed the legendary person. I have sent my subordinates operating in the north to verify her identity. Her appearance is no secret and is very easy to confirm. Moreover, I have specifically invited three archmages to test her, and they all assured me that the girl's holy magic is purer and more profound than that of the four Grand Prelates of the temple they have seen before. Therefore, I can confirm that her identity is absolutely genuine."

"That's good," another white-haired old man interjected. "The situation on the Mainland has become increasingly chaotic recently, and the internal strife within our 'Nineteen Emblems' has intensified as a result. The pro-orc Maqi family and their allies have risen suddenly, while families with major trade relations in the eastern or southern Mainland have been ambiguous in their stance. We, who originally focused on trade with the four sacred human kingdoms, are on the verge of collapse. The Antuo family, those temple lapdogs, still intend to bind us tightly to their sinking ship. If we don't act now, we'll be powerless in the future. So, although this meeting is sudden, it is an important opportunity for us and must be taken seriously."

The others nodded in agreement. These individuals represent large merchant guilds that originally focused their operations in the western human kingdoms of the Mainland. Due to the successive victories of the orcs, their original businesses have undergone significant changes.

For most merchants, they do not resist changes in national regimes. If it were merely a civil war within the human world, it would be an opportunity for merchants to prosper. Unfortunately, this war was initiated by the orcs. Although these merchants do not have much racial consciousness in their hearts, unlike the Maqi family, which has long been connected with the Lion Tribe and has transferred most of its assets to orc territory, they do not dare to openly switch sides while the entire Mainland is watching this war. Otherwise, they would inevitably face internal and external attacks. Moreover, even if they were willing to side with the orcs, it is uncertain whether the orcs would trust them. At the very least, the current Orc King would not abandon the Maqi family, with whom he has cooperated for many years, to accept them. The vast market of the new territories has long been the price for the Maqi family to provide the Orc King with a steady stream of supplies and intelligence from behind the scenes.