The Aftermath (1)
Jeron lay prostrate on the ground, his body trembling.
He put on a grand display, acting as if he were deeply moved by the Guardian Dragon's grace and was offering his genuine, heartfelt gratitude.
That was an easy job.
It had taken a long time to steer the situation to this point, but framing the sniper shot as the Guardian Dragon's divine protection was child's play.
When Jeron stood up and surveyed his surroundings, everyone looked utterly shell-shocked.
Even his own vassals stood frozen with their mouths agape, so it was easy to guess just how stunned Count Renkai and Viscount Rebion must be.
Jeron turned to Count Renkai and asked, "My Lord Count! Please deliver your verdict!"
"Ah... Ah? Y-Yes, of course," the Count stammered, momentarily losing his composure.
"This is... this is undeniably your victory!"
"Hooray!"
The moment the official verdict left the Count's mouth, cheers erupted from the Farrow vassals.
As for the Rebion camp?
They could not even bring themselves to move.
Viscount Rebion's obese frame shivered violently, his face drenched in a thick sheen of sweat that poured down his neck.
His vassals were in no better state.
Despite the mild weather, they were sweating profusely, and several of them collapsed to the ground, looking as devastated as refugees who had just lost their homeland.
What they had just witnessed was simply that shocking.
Quickly regaining his composure, Count Renkai asked, "I am truly astonished, brother! In all my years, I have never witnessed such a sight. Was that truly the protection of the Guardian Dragon?"
"Yes, brother. It was undoubtedly his divine protection."
"I understand there have been quite a few territory wars in this barony before. Why did this protection never manifest until now?"
"The moment I inherited the title, I felt the Guardian Dragon's presence dwell within me. It seems I have found favor in his eyes."
"I see! The favor of the Guardian Dragon!"
"However, this protection cannot be felt outside our territory. It only activated because the Viscount launched an invasion into our lands."
"Haha, is that so?"
The Count laughed, though he looked somewhat disappointed.
If such divine protection could be invoked outside the fief, it would have been an invaluable asset in future wars.
Jeron had deliberately set strict boundaries.
If he overused this "divine protection," the truth would eventually come to light.
If he was caught, not only would his victory in the territory war be nullified, but he could also be executed for deceiving the crown.
"This was a battle you were destined to win," the Count praised Jeron endlessly.
Having received a lavish reception and a precious "relic" as a gift, the Count was now entirely biased in Jeron's favor.
While the Farrow camp enjoyed their warm conversation, the Viscount waddled forward, his face flushed red with rage as he screamed, "I object!"
"Hmm? Did I mishear you?"
The Count cleaned his ear with a finger.
It was unthinkable to object to a verdict delivered by a Royal Envoy acting on the King's direct authority.
However, the Viscount was so blinded by fury that he could no longer judge the situation rationally.
"My Lord! How can this be considered a territory war? A hole appeared in the head of a Great Knight before we even clashed! He must have used some cowardly trickery!"
"An objection... you say?"
"Yes! I object!"
Is this madman insane? Objecting to the Royal Envoy's verdict!
This isn't just losing a territory war anymore—our entire house could be executed!
Horrified by the Viscount's lunatic outburst, the Rebion vassals scrambled to salvage the situation.
"Oh, My Lord Count! Our Lord is merely out of his mind with shock! This all happened so suddenly that he is not in his right state of mind. We beg for your understanding!"
"Indeed! The Viscount has been suffering from the heat lately, and his judgment is temporarily clouded!"
"We shall take our leave now!"
Compared to the half-crazed Viscount Rebion, his vassals were desperate.
But Count Renkai was not about to let this slide.
"Hold on."
He raised his hand, his face tight with genuine anger.
The atmosphere instantly froze.
"Viscount, let me ask you one more time. Do you truly object to the verdict of the Royal Envoy, who carries the King's mandate? Answer with a simple yes or no."
"I...! Mmph!"
The vassals quickly muffled the fat noble's mouth.
Viscount Rebion's eyes were rolled back, and he seemed entirely incapable of rational thought.
Yet, he possessed surprising strength, flinging off the vassals holding him down.
His pent-up fury erupted all at once.
"Aaaaargh! *Cough!*"
Though the Viscount seemed to be regaining his senses, he could barely stand.
"I... accept the verdict."
*Thud.*
With those final words, the Viscount collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.
Only then did the Rebion vassals breathe a sigh of relief.
The Count looked genuinely disappointed.
If the Viscount had uttered one more wrong word, the royal court would have dispatched an army. Combined with the forces of the insulted Renkai and Farrow houses, the Rebion family would have been wiped off the map.
"Tsk. A greedy pig who doesn't know his place. Vassals of Rebion, listen well."
"Yes, My Lord!"
The vassals bit their lips and stood at rigid attention.
They knew their lord had made a catastrophic blunder, and if the Count chose to press the issue, they would not escape unscathed.
"Baron Farrow forewarned that the Guardian Dragon's protection would manifest, and so it did. You invaded the Farrow territory, and you have paid the price. When you spoke of objecting to the terms you previously agreed upon, I was prepared to annihilate the Rebion house."
"..."
"However, since Viscount Rebion has ultimately accepted the verdict, I shall not impose further punishment. Fulfill the terms of the contract exactly as written. If you attempt any underhanded tricks, you will be dealt with by royal decree. Do not ignore my warning."
"We obey your command!"
The Rebion vassals dragged their unconscious, heavy lord away and quickly retreated.
With that, the territory war was officially over.
Jeron watched the retreating backs of the Rebion forces, a smirk playing on his lips.
The money was well spent. The Count went all out to back me up.
Jeron turned around, his face bright with a smile.
"Brother! Let us return to the castle! I shall have a feast prepared for you tonight!"
"Does that mean we are drinking?"
"Of course! How could we not?"
The alcohol-loving Count was not about to miss this opportunity.
Jeron had drunk so much the previous night that he had blacked out, but on a day like today, he was willing to drink until his liver gave out.
Viscount Rebion had a terrible nightmare.
He dreamed that he had staked almost his entire territory, save for the capital, in a war against a mere baron, only to lose everything.
The thought was so horrifying that he flailed his arms and jolted awake.
"No! Aaaagh!"
"My Lord! Are you awake?"
"Ugh... Sir Decella? Why am I lying here?"
Viscount Rebion suffered a brief moment of cognitive dissonance.
The shocking outcome of the territory war had caused him to reject reality, blurring his memory of the event.
Sir Decella, the chief of staff, wore a grim expression.
"Do you not remember? We lost the territory war, and the verdict has been officially declared by royal mandate."
"What...?!"
Only then did the Viscount fully snap back to reality.
The dream he had just had was not a mere nightmare, but the harsh reality of his future.
If things continued like this, the fall of House Rebion was guaranteed.
"*Blegh!*"
The sheer stress caused the Viscount to vomit a mouthful of blood.
He thrashed about in panic, still struggling to accept the truth.
"I lost to that brat? How does that make any sense?"
"It seems the dragon's protection was real."
"Nonsense! How could such a thing exist?"
"A hole suddenly appeared in his head. It was nothing short of divine punishment. You saw it with your own eyes, did you not?"
"That... that was surely black magic!"
"It is already settled by royal decree, My Lord. Pull yourself together! If you keep this up, our entire house will be executed!"
Under Decella's urgent persuasion, the Viscount finally realized how close he had come to losing his life.
The weight of reality began to sink in.
"I cannot let us fall like this. We must smuggle out the population and the treasury."
"The Baron's soldiers and administrators have already been dispatched. Royal knights are accompanying them, so that will be difficult."
"Then we are finished!"
"You must look to the future! We still have half of our silver mine, and the Great War is fast approaching. We can make up for our losses by earning merits then."
"Ugh..."
The Viscount groaned.
Having vomited blood from sheer rage, his stomach was in knots.
He finally began to analyze the situation objectively.
The Royal Envoy was entirely on Jeron Farrow's side. If they made a wrong move now, they would be ruined. The same would happen if they failed to fulfill the contract.
No matter how he looked at it, there was no easy way out.
"Jeron Farrow, you bastard...! *Blegh!*"
Inside the lord's castle of the Farrow Barony.
While Viscount Rebion was shaving years off his life in a fit of rage, the Barony was in a festive mood.
News of the victory in the territory war had already spread among the populace.
Jeron returned to the castle like a conquering hero.
As soon as he arrived, he began issuing orders in the great hall.
First, he dispatched officials to take control of the two cities won from the Rebion territory.
Count Renkai showed his favor once again by assigning royal knights to accompany them, preventing the Rebion family from causing any trouble.
Although the royal knights accompanying the envoy did not hold administrative power, harming them would be branded as treason.
Second, Jeron ordered the commencement of the formal administrative transition.
Finally, he covertly ordered the Dark Moon to monitor the borders and ensure no population or wealth was being smuggled out of the acquired lands.
This was a crucial step.
He could not afford to be careless just because they had won the war.
Only by securing the land, the people, and the wealth intact could the contract be considered fully executed.
If Viscount Rebion attempted to smuggle out what was rightfully Jeron's, it would give Jeron the perfect pretext to crush the rest of the Rebion territory.
I almost hope he tries it.
Jeron secretly hoped the blinded Viscount would make a foolish move.
If he did, the Farrow family could absorb the remaining cities of the Rebion Viscounty.
Of course, whether things would play out that way remained to be seen.
Once all the orders were issued, the Count, who had been sitting quietly, stood up.
"Is everything settled?"
"Yes, My Lord Count."
The Count's voice was solemn.
Though he had been friendly and casual with Jeron in private, the moment he assumed his official role, his presence commanded absolute authority.
Count Renkai drew a golden scroll from his breast pocket.
"Baron Jeron Farrow, receive the royal decree!"
"I, Jeron Farrow, humbly receive His Majesty's command!"
Clearing his throat, Count Renkai read the decree aloud.
Let it be known to Baron Farrow, the shield of the North and a true loyalist of the kingdom. The Farrow family has long defended the northern borders against barbarians and monsters, and has recently secured the frontier by forging a peace treaty with our long-standing barbarian foes. In recognition of the Farrow family's enduring loyalty and the Baron's recent achievements, we hereby bestow upon him the title of Viscount.
"...!"
Jeron was inwardly startled as he knelt.
He had expected the promotion to take some time, but the administrative speed of this kingdom was surprisingly fast.
"I, Jeron Farrow, shall dedicate my life to the safety of the royal family and the prosperity of the kingdom! Long live the King!"
Jeron had officially ascended to the rank of Viscount.