Nothing happened and you and the Williams family received invitations to go to dinner with the Sullivan family.

After two days of doing odd jobs around the harbor and the nearby marketplace, you gained quite enough money to help support yourself at least. However, you know that you needed more in order to support Brittany, Rain and the children you put in their bellies. Speaking of Rain, she too came to help you with your odd jobs to gain money for herself, which also helped you financially in a way too in case she actually ended up pregnant for real.

And that is something that is already happening within her belly despite your lack of knowledge about it.

So after the long tiring day, you and Rain returned to your and her rooms respectively to rest for the rest of the day. And while that appeared to be the case for Miss Blue, that is not a case for you because not long after you take a nap. Someone comes knocking on your door.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Upon hearing the knocking sounds on the door, you go and open the door and found a maid with long brunette hair and ample bosoms in maid's outfit who is most likely working for the Sullivan family stands before you.

"Gentlemen, I am here to inform you that Master Sullivan invited you and the rest of the Williams family for dinner this evening." The brunette maid said as she's standing before you.

"But I thought we will not have audiences with them until in the next few days?" You asked the maid back.

"From what I know, Master Sullivan only told me that it is concerned the recent events that had transpired." The maid said before leaving to do her chores or report back to her superior.

So later at the evening, you dressed up your best and go to meet Elijah and the members of the Williams family before heading into the Sullivan family's manor. Once inside, the servants lead you and the others to the dining room.

There, you found Patrick Sullivan, a man in black formal suit is sitting at the head of the table and he appeared to be around the same age as you and Mr. Williams.

Or perhaps this man is actually a few years older than you.

Patrick Sullivan…

One of the most influential people in this city…

This man is stocky, muscular, and has dark reddish hair and a large reddish mustache. A slightly snub nose, a large forehead, old scars on the knuckles and near the right ear... Probably, the details of the biography of Patrick Sullivan unknown to you were distinguished by danger...

The look of his gray eyes is attentive and seems to exert some kind of psychological pressure on the interlocutor... The awareness of wealth and power seems to permeate his entire appearance and every word he says.

You also notice on the index finger of Patrick Sullivan's left hand - an elegant and obviously very expensive ring in the form of a black snake biting its own tail...

On his left is his wife who appeared to be a Korean woman with long black hair in formal black dress who appeared to be slightly younger than him, most likely in her late 30's or maybe even just recently turned 40. Next to his wife are his daughter, who clearly took the appearance after her mother and appeared to be a few years older than Brittany, and his sons, who are clearly are twins with black hair like their mother and most likely are just 10 years old. And just like their parents, they are wearing formal attires for this occasion.

"Mr. Sullivan, your guests have arrived." The African-American butler, who is standing right next to the head of the Sullivan family, said to him.

"Have them seated and serve them appetizers." Patrick said as he's turning to look at his butler, who simply nodded as a response.

Then, the butler claps his hands a few times and the servants quickly take you, Elijah and the members of the Williams family to your and their seats. Once seated, more servants entered the dining room to serve the appetizers.

And once the servants placed the wooden baskets full of appetizers down, they are revealed to be baskets full of mixture of boiled dumplings, boiled sausages, some pieces of breads and cups full of dipping sauces.

"Thank you for welcoming us and having us, Mr. Sullivan." Edward said as he's grabbing a piece of bread and dip it into sauce.

"Don't thanked me yet, Mr. Williams. After all, we have more discuss about... the recent developments. And they are... quite urgent. Really urgent! Which is why I finally summoned you and your family here to have dinner with us." Patrick said as he's eating the small sausage with a fork.

"I... I am certain we can sorted things out somehow..." Edward said with a bit of uncertainty in his voice.

"I already have things figured out after thinking for the last few days. So you have nothing to worry about." Patrick said before he's dipping another small sausage into the sauce.

"Oh really? May I know what it is?" Edward said as he turned to look at the head of the Sullivan family with great interest.

"It is our only solution but... the people of Port Williams will have to propose to be annexed into the Orange Kingdom on their own." Patrick said as he's dipping a piece of bread into the sauce.

"But that will take a very long time! Many generations even! Plus, the only way that can happened is when the Orange Kingdom becomes a democratic state in the future!" Edward said as his face displayed that he is quite upset at such a solution because it is taken too long.

"It is the only choice we have left now. But I can assured you. Time waited for no ones and eventually, things will changed. Either for the better or for the worse. So we can only do our best to shape the path that we are walking on will lead to the better outcome." Patrick said before he takes a bite of his bread.

"... fine... we have no other options left anyway. But still, what will make them voted to join the Orange Kingdom in the far future anyway?" Edward asked as he turned to look down at the appetizers on his plate.

"Do you know of those radicals who live in Jackson Fortress? If left unchecked, they and their extremist beliefs could be used as a common threat for both Port Williams and the Orange Kingdom to fight together." Patrick said grimly as he's grabbing another piece of bread and bite it.

"But that means... a lot of people will suffered and died!" Mrs. Williams said, clearly not happy with the idea that her relative came up with.

"I wished there are other ways, Teresa. But your former citizens chose this on their own. They have to bear the consequence of the decision they made, even if it took generations to happen." Patrick said grimly, clearly does not like such an option either.

"Are you really going to agree to this, dear?" Teresa, wife of Edward Williams the Third, asked her husband that is he serious about this.

"... we have no other choice, Teresa..." Edward said as he;s closing his eyes, accepting the reality of the situation.

Teresa only exhaled as she's looking down at her appetizers with a sad look on her face. And despite that this situation is not related to you, you cannot helped but feeling a bit bad for the parents of Brittany since the solution that is found will not be able to be executed immediately. But then again, such thing is part of the old world that you came from as well.

"Now, with that out of the way. I have something else to discuss with you, Mr. Williams." Patrick said as he;s using a fork to pick up another small sausage.

"What is it, Mr. Sullivan?" Edward asked him, wondering what is it that he wanted to discuss with.

"Due to the recent developments, things have been quite shaky when it comes to my businesses that are related to Port Williams." Patrick said before he takes a bite of his small sausage.

"Ooh... and... you wanted my help to deal with that, am I correct?" Edward asked him back despite knowing the answer already.

"Not exactly. I have the merchants affiliated with my businesses taken care of that already. What I really wanted to talk about is the trust between us. I needed to make sure all merchants affiliated with my family and their employees can trusted you again. And they needed more than my words. They needed to see your actions and possibly, your contributions." Patrick said as he's chewing his food in his mouth.

"I am all ears, Mr. Sullivan." Edward said, confident that he can do anything to regain Mr. Sullivan and all of his associates' trusts.

"Very well then, Mr. Williams, you have been a reliable partner for our family for many years... Now, you have problems, and they arose because of your own mistakes... But The Sullivans always protected their interests... And their partners... Let's go to my office, I will tell you the details of the situation... Let's not tire the beautiful ladies and our other guests with boring conversations... We will both soon return to the common meal..." - the look of gray eyes and the booming bass voice of the owner of the mansion seem to leave not even the slightest opportunity for objections.