A maid brought Charles some cheese, but he didn't eat it.
Instead, he asked Howard, "Duke of Lagusa, tell me, what makes an alliance with you worthwhile?"
Howard responded with a gentle smile, "Inside the Fran Kingdom, there are two major trade hubs: the northern Champagne trading node and the southern Bordeaux node. However, since the Champagne area fell into the hands of the Oli Kingdom, its trade revenue has been controlled by them, leaving very little profit for the Fran Kingdom. I won't betray my friends, so I won't promise to help you fight against the Oli Kingdom."
"But I can tell you about the vast opportunities in the wealthy Mediterranean. Once you ascend to the throne, you can order your maritime fleets to trade at the Lagusa node. Just like the profits from Champagne's trade hinge on who controls the area, the same applies to Lagusa."
