When I got back to the surface, half of the knights were drunk dead while the other sober. Those who were awake were being vigilant as if they were suspecting any individual that passes through the inn.
"I thought you all would be knocked out"
"Baroness, with all due respect, we are not idiots who would let all of us get drunk in the middle of our job"
"I know"
A few of them started to carry the drunken ones to a vacant room so that they can sleep comfortably.
Based on the knights, it was their way of taking breaks. Half of them would celebrate and drink till they fall asleep while the other half stay wary of the surroundings.
Ivan was still sleeping so I left him be in Emmanuel's care.
Hours later, the innkeeper ask me to come with him.
The knights who were assigned by the empress to protect me went to their protective mode. It then took me five minutes to persuade them somehow.
"Lady... no, Baroness Emond"
I didn't introduced myself yet... I guess Valerie told them my name.
"What you said is true. That we have to depend at someone at some point. We also believe at miss Valerie as her predictions up until now has been correct so far. The weather. The events that are happening in the continent are all within her predictions"
"With that said, I would go with you to confirm whether you are someone we can fully trust or not"
"Me and some of the old ones will go as well"
Two of the chief's children? I thought only one of them will go. Well this is much better for me.
"That is fine with me. Do come to my town at night. If possible, come at night"
In the end, we decided that Averie's group will depart three days after me and the knights depart so that the knights won't find anything suspicious. But Xavier will be coming with me in the form of a cat.
Seeing his ability in front of me is truly perplexing. The ability to transform into anything that he eats, shapeshifting. While his ability is only limited to living creatures, he also has to eat them while they are still alive.
If he wants to transform into a cat, he needs to eat a whole live cat within an hour to be able to take the form of a cat.
'Almas, try to get along with him okay'
-I will try, master.
...
The next day, I came back to the mansion of the Krugers, leaving Ivan in Emmanuel's care once again and half of the knights, those who got drunk yesterday.
In the meeting room, the Krugers were already anxious as they have already lost more than half of the money in their treasury.
"Well, I would like to meet the new viscount. Who is it?"
"No one"
"No one?"
"No one. We have decided to swear allegiance to you"
They all stood from their seats and knelt down on all fours in front of me with their foreheads on the ground.
"We wish to serve under the baroness. That way, we would be able to prove our worth to you"
"Okay. That is fine with me"
They all look up, confused why I accepted their terms so quickly.
I already knew what they would choose. The best option for them was to plead and appease to me so that I will let them work under me.
They are not prideful nor are they stupid enough to escape. At the same time, they value their lives and the luxury they are experiencing.
The chances of an interference from a third party was virtually zero. If they was a fellow transmigrator, predicting what I am doing in a short amount of time would be impossible unless they made a contract with a spirit or they themselves are magicians.
"I said that I accept your plead. I will return three-fourths of the gold I collected. However, I am looking forward for the improvement of the Krugers in the future"
"About that, baroness, may we know who will be the one to lead us?"
"All seven of you"
"Eh?
"I beg your pardon, baroness. Did you just said all of us?"
"Yes I did. Team up to make this territory more prosperous. Now, go back to your seats. We still have a lot of things to discuss"
After some time, I gave them a card that will allow their company to use the roads that goes to the capital. In addition to that, every month, I will be collecting five percent of what they earn. Though it sounds low, it is actually more than enough to pay the salary of all those who are working in the mansion for two or three months.
They also promised to stay away from the evil deeds they are currently doing after I told them that my underlings will be watching them everyday.
Bam!
The door was opened abruptly by a knight from the Krugers mansion.
"Pardon the intrusion but I have urgent news to the baroness! Baroness Emond, news arrive just now that the town under your care was attacked"
Everyone gasp except for me, since I already foresaw this.
The mastermind for the death of my parents was queen Victoria Loate. The one who staged their deaths was Baron Klein. Then, who was the one that executed the dirty work? Naturally, it was someone that has connections to the underworld.
And they, who used the baron to earn cash won't let things go. They must have took the chance that the imperial knights are not in my town right now.
"I am sorry but I have urgent things to do. Anyways, I hoped the Krugers will be able to accomplish what I ordered"
They bowed and gave their goodbyes.
As soon as we got back to the inn, the knights immediately got ready to depart.
"B-baroness...."
"Mother"
"Huh?"
"I hope you call me mother in the future. I won't force you if you don't want to though. So, what do you want to know?"
"They... they say that your town is being attacked. Are you not worried about the people there?"
"I am at the same time, no. I left the town at capable hands. I am sure that whatever it is, they would be able to come up with a way to make a way to ensure everyone's safety"
The journey only took three and a half days. Normally, it would have taken five days to go from the Krugers to my town but was cut by a day and a half thanks to the knights who took less breaks in between.
When I arrived the fight was already over. I went directly to the prison.
There, Uziel and Samuel was there.
"My lady!"
They said simultaneously.
"Report the situation at once. Now"
"Including the civilians...more than two hundred have minor wounds, there are fifty two people with severe wounds, and no one died"
"For now, Samuel go and ensure that the safety of the people are assured. Uziel, go calculate the amount needed to fix everything in the town"
"Yes, my lady!"
The two left with apologetic faces but chose to suppress it and do as I say. They knew that making excuses right now would only waste time when they can do more things for the people.
Emmanuel took Ivan to my mansion as was still asleep. It was normal considering the fact that its midnight.
"My lady"
"What is it, John?"
"I am sorry for not being able to deal with them faster"
"You all were outnumbered. The fact that no one died is a miracle itself so don't push yourself too hard"
In the prison above ground, there were at least a hundred of them.
"I will cut to the chase and ask this: Which one of you is Jay Maxwell?"
"...."
The 'bandits' chose not to say a word and glared at me instead.
"John"
"Yes, my lady?"
"Go back outside and help with the reconstruction. I alone will be enough here"
"...."
"Do you not trust my ability?"
"I do, my lady. Just stay safe"
"I will"
Although I am confident that I can protect myself, I can only take down ten of them at most with my current physical abilities. But that's not important when I have a vampire and spirit with me right now.
'Almas, make them sleep'
-Gladly!
Mushrooms sprouted from the concrete floors. The mushrooms began release spores. The iron bars were then covered with earth.
The prisoners yelled for help as they fell asleep one by one, making a 'thud' sound every time a body would fall down to the floor.
"Xavier, my first job for you would be to transport this people downstairs which leads to the secret prison"
"I thought you can see the future as well"
"Just because I can see the future does not mean I can see everything. I pretty sure that's what Valerie told you, right"
"Yes, she did said something about not being correct all the time"
"See"
I went down in advanced and waited for him to finish transporting the bodies.
"What do you think?"
"I can see that you prepared this place for us"
"Right. Because I will be assigning the prison to you guys. The prison upstairs is connected to the underground prison here which is also connected to my mansion. The doors to my mansion will only open if I order Almas to, but vampires can destroy such things with ease though"
"I have a question"
"Ask away"
"Why was the street here empty? There were houses, but I did not sense any presence inside. The other houses were damaged as well but there were people there"
"That's because the entire street in the surface are for all of you. I already know the number of families in your clan. This street is near the market and is near to the well. The trees that grows in between the houses are perfect for shades"
"How long have you planned this?"
"That I cannot tell you"