The Aftermath (2)
The entire territory was swept up in a festive mood.
Although they hadn't officially declared a festival yet, it seemed they would have to release a massive amount of funds to throw one within a few days.
Before that, Jeron enjoyed a banquet first with Count Renkai and the vassals of the territory.
The start, of course, was strong whiskey.
The Count seemed to have taken a liking to Earth's whiskey, emptying his glass with hearty gusto.
"Come, come, brother! You have truly gone through much. Let this older brother pour you a glass."
"Thank you, brother! All of this is thanks to you."
"What did I even do? I merely followed His Majesty the King's strict command to judge fairly, that is all."
"Regardless, I am deeply grateful."
"It was only natural, so think nothing of it. Let us drink up!"
Jeron downed the whiskey in one shot.
He felt a burning sensation searing down his throat.
Three glasses in rapid succession.
By this point, even Jeron could only shake his head in amazement at the Count's display.
He is a true glutton for drink!
Looking at the Count, it wasn't just enjoying alcohol; it was outright binge drinking.
Jeron thought the man's body wouldn't be able to take it, but apparently, it wasn't at that level yet.
Though he felt like dying in the morning, he recovered by evening and found himself subtly looking forward to the alcohol. Seeing this, he wondered if he was a true Korean at heart.
The atmosphere reached its peak.
Since Count Renkai was a thoroughly political noble, the conversation at the drinking table naturally gravitated toward politics.
"Now that you have become an influential noble, you will draw the attention of the capital."
"An influential noble? Aren't you overestimating this younger brother too much?"
"Hmm? From the very beginning, your fief was essentially at the level of a viscounty. Now that you have taken two of the Viscounty's cities whole, it is only right that you possess considerable power. And look at the connections you built in the capital. It is no different from the emergence of a new political faction."
Count Renkai's words were not wrong.
The moment Jeron went up to the capital, the balance of power could shift.
The Farrow family had begun trading with the barbarians and had seized half of the silver mine previously owned by Viscount Rebion.
Before long, immense capital would accumulate, and it was certain that various parts of the territory would be developed.
Mr. Kang and his daughter alone were a tremendous help, and if a few more verified survivors crossed over, the territory's power would expand even further.
Jeron could clearly picture the future in his mind, but at this moment, it was right to remain humble.
"Now that the territory war is over, I plan to subjugate the monsters. We must secure the trade routes, after all."
"You said the Red Orcs were the problem, correct?"
"Yes, brother."
"Once the subjugation is complete, write a formal report! I will make sure it is reflected in the personnel evaluations."
"I am truly grateful."
"Hahaha! There is no distance between you and me, so why speak of such things?"
"..."
Jeron showed a brief, awkward expression but quickly hid it with a smile.
He truly could not read the Count's inner thoughts.
Did he genuinely think of Jeron as a younger brother, or was he wearing a political mask?
Regardless, since he had established this level of intimacy—even if it was with the help of bribes—he would be able to receive a lot of help in the future.
"Brother, starting tomorrow, manage the territory thoroughly. That fellow Rebion is visibly greedy. Even if something happens, it will be a major incident. If any unfortunate event occurs, collect the evidence thoroughly. We can use that as a pretext to cast Viscount Rebion out entirely."
"Would that be possible?"
"We must make it possible. If it means eliminating one faction of the Second Prince in the north, we can join hands with the Fourth Prince's faction and purge Rebion."
"I-I see."
It was a truly bloodthirsty world of nobility.
Currently, the Second Prince's faction and the Fourth Prince's faction, whose power was relatively weaker compared to the Crown Prince's faction, were holding hands.
However, politics was about joining hands according to necessity, so if they could reduce the power of the Second Prince's faction, the Fourth Prince would surely agree.
Count Renkai spoke of purging a family as if it were nothing, but medieval politics was far more ruthless than modern times.
"Brother, I will go relieve myself for a moment."
"Go ahead! I shall be savoring this thing called whiskey."
Jeron stepped out onto the terrace and drank some honey water.
"Phew, he is a dreadfully heavy drinker."
Jeron took a moment to soothe his intoxication.
He did this because he thought he might end up groggy for days if he didn't pace himself.
While resting, Jeron summoned Sir Leila.
She had also had some alcohol today, and because of that, her face was slightly flushed.
Nevertheless, seeing her standing at attention made him think that Sir Leila was indeed a born knight.
"Sir Leila, did you hear what the Count said earlier?"
"If you mean the part about evidence being important, yes, I heard."
"Surely Dark Moon is establishing a presence in the Rebion Viscounty as well?"
"Yes, we have branches throughout the entire northern region."
Dark Moon was managed exclusively by Sir Leila.
Since Jeron was the lord and had to focus on developing the territory while traveling back and forth to Earth, he did not have the leisure to pay attention to Dark Moon.
Because the fiercely loyal Sir Leila took full charge of Dark Moon, he could summon and use them whenever necessary.
"Viscount Rebion will definitely play tricks. There is a high probability he will smuggle assets out of the cities being handed over this time."
"Shall I issue a surveillance order?"
"Yes, utilize all Dark Moon forces stationed near the Rebion territory to monitor Viscount Rebion and his subordinate vassals. If there is evidence, we must catch them and hold them accountable."
"I will instruct them immediately."
While the Farrow territory was boiling with excitement, the Rebion territory would be the exact opposite.
Even if Jeron were in Viscount Rebion's shoes, he would try to move the wealth accumulated in each city somehow, so they had to catch the evidence.
This territory war involved a royal decree.
The King himself had issued the command and even dispatched a Royal Inspector. If Viscount Rebion played tricks during the process of implementing the contract after the territory war, it would serve as grounds to annihilate his family.
Since the Viscounty's cities had fallen into their hands by contract, they could not tolerate any outflow of wealth.
Receiving Jeron's command, Sir Leila left the lord's castle even as the sun was setting.
***
Parean, a western city of the Rebion Viscounty.
Baronet Bankers, the chief administrator of Parean, was so shocked by the news that had just arrived that he could not even react properly.
"We lost?!"
"Yes! Because of that, it is said that the Lord has collapsed."
"Heh, does that make any sense?"
"The Royal Inspector handed down the judgment, so it could not be refuted."
At the messenger's words, Bankers' eyes shook aimlessly.
It was because it was something he utterly could not believe.
For Baron Farrow to win!
He was also well aware of the contents of the contract.
Both sides had planned the territory war, staking the very survival of their families.
They had entered into a contract close to a gamble, one where the family would fall if they lost.
However, no one in the Rebion family had thought they would lose this battle.
Who was Commander Burcain?
He was a knight with unrivaled skill in swordsmanship.
The title of the best sword in the north was not won by gambling.
The shock of hearing that such a man as Burcain had died was immense.
Bankers' entire body trembled.
"Damn it! What did the Lord instruct?"
"He ordered us to move the gold bars from the secret warehouse to the lord's castle as quickly as possible."
"Other than that?"
"He said that even because of the Royal Inspector, it is impossible to move the residents of the territory."
"Ha! Isn't this practically ruin!"
The Rebion family had collapsed overnight.
Having lost this much territory, recovery would be extremely difficult.
Of course, it wasn't that there was absolutely no chance for the Rebion family to rise again.
The Rebion main castle was reasonably well-developed, self-sufficiency was possible through the great plains, and half of the silver mine still remained.
Since a great war would break out soon, if they could somehow achieve merit, they could bribe the capital to expand their territory.
Having finished his thoughts, Bankers realized that securing funds was more important than anything else.
Starting with the gold bars!
Just before Bankers' command could be handed down, a messenger rushed in and reported.
"Baronet, the takeover team from the Farrow territory has arrived."
"What?! Already?!"
"Seeing that they even brought administrators and royal knights, they seem determined!"
"Heh!"
It was a truly swift movement.
How could the takeover troops arrive as soon as the territory war ended?
This was impossible unless Baron Farrow had planned it in advance.
Bankers decided to move even more cautiously.
Moving the gold bars from the secret warehouse will be safer at dawn. Since the royal command has been handed down, moving the residents will be difficult.
Soon, the person in charge of the takeover made his appearance.
Blond hair falling to his shoulders, and a face that looked as if it had been sculpted with utmost care.
He was clearly an outstanding knight, but because of his appearance, his skills were overshadowed—it was Sir Garcia.
"Kyaah! Sir Garcia! You are so handsome!"
"Hahaha! Ladies, I am indeed that Garcia."
"Can we go on a date?!"
"It is the duty of this Garcia to spread this beauty far and wide. Ladies! Dates are always welcome. However! Only those under twenty-five need apply! Woohahaha!"
"..."
Sir Garcia was a famous womanizer in the Farrow territory.
To the point where even the Rebion territory had suffered damage because of this man.
How could one forget that boasting voice?
Behind Sir Garcia followed civil officials and royal knights.
What is this? This unpleasant feeling?
The maids frowned every time they saw Bankers' face, but immediately turned their heads toward Garcia.
If Baron Farrow had sent Garcia to get under Bankers' skin, it was a highly successful appointment.
Garcia, who had been flirting with the maids, waved his hand as if he had only just noticed the Baronet.
"Oh! Baronet Bankers, it has been a while. Have you been well?"
"...I have been well. This is quite unexpected. For you to come as the person in charge of the takeover."
"Hahaha! Doesn't it mean my lord evaluates this Garcia that highly?"
"Or is it to seduce the women and disturb the minds of our vassals?"
"Hahaha!"
At that moment.
Sir Garcia's laughter stopped abruptly.
He slowly approached Bankers and spat out words that sounded chillingly bloodthirsty.
"You had better recognize your situation and abandon any thoughts of playing tricks from the very start. Unless you want your limbs severed and your blood fed to the residents of this territory."