Translator: Cinder Translations
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"I need to know what price you would accept to willingly… only accept the honor of a sword-bearing noble while giving up the power of a sword-bearing noble?"
Paul sat in his chair, staring intently at Bryce, gently swirling his wine glass in his right hand as he calmly spoke these words.
The response he received was silence. The First Battalion Commander across from him seemed to be frozen, his eyes unmoving.
Paul tilted his head and asked curiously, "Bryce?"
"Earl, I… I don't understand what you mean," Bryce finally spoke, though his voice was faint, quite contrary to his burly appearance.
"Literally!" Paul replied without hesitation.
The table remained quiet, and Bryce stared at the wine glass in Paul's hand, seemingly lost in thought.
"Earl!" Bryce finally spoke up, "Is this how you treat a loyal subordinate?"
His voice even carried a hint of anger!
What? Did I mess up? Paul's mind was flooded with countless thoughts in an instant—regret, worry, frustration…
Had I underestimated the traditional values of this era? Even someone as selfless as Bryce Alder is not immune to it.
What corrective measures should I take?
Paul extended his left hand, "Bryce, listen to me! I…"
"Earl!" To his surprise, Bryce slammed his fists on the table, causing the cups and plates to clatter. His full armor radiated a fierce aura.
Bryce almost shouted, "You actually think that I would put my own interests above my loyalty to you? How disrespectful! Talking about a 'price,' how demeaning to our honor!"
Huh? Paul's outstretched hand froze.
What did he just say?
"Bryce, I… I don't understand what you mean?"
"Literally!" The First Battalion Commander answered without hesitation.
He continued, "You are the lord of Alden, you are our master. Whether to grant power is up to your words alone. Why would you test my loyalty with a 'price'? Do you think of me as someone who values profit over loyalty?"
The tone was very serious, and his face still carried displeasure.
Paul was astonished, his face filled with disbelief!
From Bryce's words, is it really this simple? Did it go so smoothly?
It seemed that I was worrying needlessly. Why did I go through all this trouble setting up this 'banquet'… ugh, why did I set up this dinner?
Shouldn't the normal process be that the other party makes an offer, and then I counter-offer, and we continue negotiating until we reach a compromise?
After all, this is a sword-bearing noble! In this era of bloodline supremacy, the temptation for non-nobles is immense. With their own title and land, they could rule independently and no one would question them.
Not selling something as valuable as this for a good price is… is… I don't even know what to say.
"Crash!"
The sound of glass shattering broke the restaurant's silence as Paul forcefully threw his wine glass, smashing it into pieces.
"Clang!" Bryce suddenly stood up, his face showing a mix of grievance, frustration, but also a resigned sense of acceptance. He closed his eyes.
The sound of the banquet door opening indicated that someone had arrived.
Ah… it still ended up…
Huh? Wait a minute, I've already followed the Earl's intention, why is it like this?
Realizing this, Bryce opened his eyes again and looked towards the door.
"Gentlemen, is something happening?"
Oh, it's the old butler, Philip.
The butler looked down and saw the broken wine glass.
"Please wait a moment, I'll get a new one right away."
He turned and left, with another servant coming in to clean up the pieces.
"Really, watching too many dramas…"
Bryce said with an awkward smile, self-deprecatingly.
He looked at his lord, who seemed to be genuinely excited, realizing that the glass-throwing was an expression of his agitation.
The Earl apologized, "I was wrong. To use the thoughts of a petty person to gauge a noble knight's integrity… But what do you mean by 'dramas'?"
Bryce, feeling very embarrassed, laughed and waved his hand, "Oh, nothing, nothing. As long as you don't doubt my loyalty, that's all that matters."
With a crisp snap of his fingers, Paul said, "Absolutely can't let an honest man suffer. Bring out the map!"
The remaining food was quickly cleared away, and a large map was placed on the table.
Bryce looked at the map, which was an initial version based on information from previous surveying teams.
The initial map included the territories of Alden, Byerldine, and Emden, though there were many incomplete and blank areas. However, important towns and the roads between them were already marked.
The use of advanced measurement methods had significantly improved its accuracy compared to older maps drawn from estimates.
Paul took a pencil and started making circles and markings on the map.
Speaking of pencils, it was also one of Paul's "great inventions." Using a mix of graphite and clay in certain proportions to create the pencil core, and then wrapping it in wood, it became a writing tool that could be used on paper. Compared to traditional quills that used ink, the pencil's marks were not permanent and could be erased with bread crumbs.
Once introduced, pencils were welcomed by various groups, such as school teachers and students, as well as military officers who could now draw freely on maps without hesitation.
Paul stopped drawing with the pencil and announced loudly, "I have decided to grant you the title of Baron of Bailan Fortress! In the Usurper War, you commanded the army to trap Bailan Fortress, and this title is well-deserved!"
Bailan Fortress? Isn't that where Earl Kent used to live?
Granting a barony based on a former earl's residence? Bryce was excited.
"Additionally," Paul pointed to the map, "the five villages in the Bailan Fortress region, all public farmland managed by the Administrative Council, will also belong to you."
The public farmland managed by the Administrative Council in Emden was actually the former land of the Kent family, and after the Usurper War, the output of these lands was moved to the public treasury.
"Really, Earl?" Bryce asked excitedly. He was familiar with the Bailan Fortress area, and now he would be a large landowner!
Paul confirmed, "Of course it's true! But… don't forget what I said earlier."
Bryce nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes! Earl, I definitely remember."
Although he had gained the land rights, he still had to pay the taxes and follow the laws. In short, aside from the title of Baron of Bailan Fortress, he was still a large landowner under the Administrative Council's jurisdiction.
He knelt on one knee with gratitude, "Thank you for the reward, Earl. My descendants and I will continue to be loyal to you."
Paul smiled and helped him up, "Keep up the good work! You will receive more in the future."
The two sat back at the table, and Paul said, "I'm sure you understand my 'excessive' request."
He was referring to not granting the sword-bearing noble the ruling power.
Recalling their earlier discussion about schools and talent, Bryce nodded heavily.
"My territory cannot have independent kingdoms!" Paul said, clenching his fists. "To be honest, I think the current feudal system—layer upon layer of lords—is inefficient…"
"Shh!" Bryce made a hush gesture, "Sir, don't let this be made public."
Paul mumbled, "We're just discussing privately!"
Bryce, feeling concerned, asked, "Sir, I'm okay with this, but others might not be. What if they are unhappy?"
Paul grinned with a hint of mischief, "That's the second reason I invited you tonight."
Seeing the Earl's mysterious smile, Bryce felt a chill run down his spine.
Paul leaned closer to Bryce, whispering, "This, and this… so and so…"
Bryce's expression grew worse the more he listened.
Before Paul could finish, he cried out, "No! Earl, absolutely not! Please find someone else."
Paul said sternly, "There is no one more suitable than you! You must do this job!"
Bryce, feeling quite pitiful, pleaded, "How about giving the Bailan Fortress barony and its land to someone else? I… I really can't handle it!"
His voice even carried a hint of a sob.
"Stop whining!" Paul was a bit angry. "As a lord, how can I go back on my word? You must accept the reward and do the job well!"
After Paul's carrot-and-stick approach, Bryce reluctantly accepted the order.
…
The First Battalion Commander trudged down the corridor, his legs feeling a bit weak. He reflected on the scene after Paul threw the glass, realizing he had been overly worried.
The Earl was certainly not the kind of person to be harsh and ungrateful.
With the Bailan Fortress barony and the vast land, Bryce felt his social status and wealth had skyrocketed tonight.
But thinking about the task assigned by the Earl made him feel a bit bitter.
(End of the Chapter)
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