Episode 1041. This has never happened before.
At the explanation of the chief of staff, Earl Colin Strong exclaimed.
“Amazing, amazing. Shouldn’t that be enough to give him the title of viscount, no matter how wild he is?”
Then the royal clerk, Baron Patrick Durend, intervened.
“In order to minimize opposition from the northern nobility, we decided to bestow a fief instead of a high title.”
The chief of staff said helplessly.
“It is also a good way to increase your title after you have achieved success in Hirhera. Sir Elio doesn’t seem obsessed with titles or fiefs, so it should be fine.”
“Then what?”
Earl Colin Strong did not speak of any further titles.
It was because he was not Elio’s guardian, and he had no reason to stand up for the interests of the person he saw for the first time today.
4 pm.
A welcome ceremony and a harvesting ceremony were held by the vice general, Earl Colin Strong, who had led the palace’s support troops.
Unlike the welcome ceremony that led to a banquet, the Bongjak ceremony was simple.
It ended with Duke Escatos bestowing Slash Land to Elio as a baron and fief on behalf of the king.
At the banquet that followed, the high-ranking nobles did not show much interest in the number of barons who were trampled.
The main characters of the banquet were the enemy, the Duke of Escatos, and the newly appointed deputy general, Earl Colin Strong.
Marquis Bernardo, the general, approached Elio, who was standing awkwardly in a corner.
“Congratulations.”
“thank you.”
Elio showed his disdain with a shy face.
Marquis Bernardo casually stood beside him.
“It’s a title that doesn’t match your merits, but that’s why they said it was replaced with a fief. It’s only possible during times of war that the baron received the fief. It means that the cracks in the ice wall are important.”
“okay. By the way, where is Slash Land?”
“It is in the northwest of my territory. It’s very large for a barony. In terms of area, it’s bigger than the Viscounty’s territory.”
“Is there even a village?”
“There are seven villages.”
“Is that a lot?”
Elio suddenly remembered Enarque, where there was a treatment center.
Thinking that there are seven such villages, I feel suddenly rich.
“Slash Land is located in a snowfield, so there are not many people. There are many places where the population of the village does not exceed 100 people. Still, it’s up to the lord to do it. You should be able to run it without too much trouble.”
Elio’s expression darkened when he said that he was not rich and the population was small.
I liked it more than getting a good job, but I don’t think that’s the case.
“I’m telling you this because you said it was an operation.... What should I do if I collect taxes and dedicate it to the top?”
“In northern territories that are far from the ice wall, they pay taxes to the royal palace. However, the area close to the ice wall is exempt from tax, and Slash Land is such a place. It’s such a barren place that it’s urgent to live. So everything in Slash Land belongs to you.”
“...”
Elio tilted his head.
I don’t know if it’s good or bad that Slash Land is tax-free because it’s a place where you can live in a hurry.
“But if something happens to the kingdom, you have to support it as the lord of Slash Land. It’s a basic duty given to lords. Keep in mind that you can claim your rights only when you do your duty.”
“Ah yes. I have one more question.”
“Something?”
“Can I sell Slash Land?”
Then Marquis Bernardo looked at Elio with an absurd face.
Every lesser noble’s dream is to own an estate, and you ask if you can sell that precious estate as soon as you get it?
“Are you serious?”
As the Marquis frowned, Elio hurriedly made an excuse.
“I’m just curious. I was wondering if it was possible to buy or sell the estate. Territory is, after all, land.”
“aha!”
Elio looked at Baron Ashley Nelson with new eyes.
I thought only the face was pretty, but the hair was also quite outstanding.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I think you have a pretty good head. I’ve never thought about it that way.”
“Whoops. I’m grateful, but it’s actually a common thing for the lords of the empire. That’s why lords want to keep excellent knights by their side. That’s why he gave his vassals nearby territories. Right now, even Slash Land is in contact with Marquis Bernardo’s estate.”
“Are high-ranking nobles like Marquis Bernardo concerned about that?”
“I don’t know how the future will change. I heard that the relationship between the 3 lords of the north is not good right now. If it weren’t for the monsters in the northern snowfields, there would have been many wars between each other.”
“Isn’t it forbidden by the royal family?”
“The Battle of Yeongji often ends before the royal family gets involved. If you go into the compensation process, the royal family can’t help it either.”
“I see.”
Elio vowed, ‘If Futocoa starts a fight, I’ll have to fight the territory right away’.
As he pondered, he heard Baron Ashley Nelson’s voice in his ears.
“So now I have no choice but to act cautiously in Count Putokoa.”
“Can’t we sell the manor?”
“Whoops! Are you thinking of disposing of Slash Land?”
“I have no intention of living in the North.”
“ah! Do you have any plans to advance to the central or southern regions?”
“Someday.”
“That’s right. If you ever come to the central region, please visit Count Nelson.”
“Are you Count Nelson?”
“yes. While the Corvo magic corps stays in the capital, I also live at home.”
“aha. If I remember to go then, I’ll stop by.”
Elio was vaguely confused.
It was because she didn’t know when she would be going to the Empire, and she didn’t have the confidence to remember Baron Ashley Nelson’s invitation until then.
“You will definitely remember.”
Baron Ashley Nelson glanced at Elio’s complexion.
He always left no room this way.
At first, I enjoyed meeting him because I liked it.
But that’s only once or twice.
It’s like that every time we meet, so now I’m like, ‘Do I have no charm as a woman?’ to the point of concern.
Seeing the barracks of Alpha Company in the distance, Baron Ashley Nelson spoke hastily.
“I think sooner or later the Corvo Magic Troops will leave Hirhera.”
“Looks like you got a call from the empire to come back?”
“Yes, there is nothing the Corvo Magic Corps can do here, but the situation in the south seems to be getting worse.”
“If it’s in the south, is it because of the access problem in the great forest?”
“Did you know? It’s not like there’s a war right now, but just having the Corvo Magic Corps deployed in the southern border will make the southern kingdoms nervous.”
“What if the southern kingdoms still reject the Empire’s demands?”
“Because the Empire also needs to show that they are sincere about the Great Forest issue... they may advance as the kingdom that opposes the Empire the most.”
“Are you saying there will be a war?”
“Perhaps.”
“If we can’t close the rift in Hiruhera, the continent will turn upside down, but you’re going to wage a war in the south?”
“The Imperial Council regards the cracks in the ice wall as a problem in the north. On the other hand, the great forest was directly related to the security of the empire.”
Elio shook his head excitedly.
“Has Rodina always been this noisy?”
“That’s not it. The Rift of Sktum (Ice Wall) is new, and the Great Forest is an adventurer’s land that the southern kingdoms have not even looked at. These are all things that have never happened before.”