Chapter 27: The Loyal York Territory Welcomes a New Lord

A clear sky stretched above, with the Morning Star radiating light and warmth, making people feel somewhat restless.

Sir Pegiraov rode on horseback, still clad in his noble robe.

A person draped in a white robe, face concealed, holding a wooden staff, led his horse.

Beside him, a knight in full armor rode on horseback.

“Today is the most suitable weather for an outing in summer; it will get hotter later,” said the white-robed figure, his voice carrying the clarity of youth.

“Moreover, this summer’s rainfall won’t be lacking. I believe that come autumn, we should have a bountiful harvest.”

“Before that, we can recruit knights and warriors within the territory, organize military preparations, and after the autumn harvest, we can dispatch troops to conquer other territories.”

“The Elbert Family has managed this land for over two hundred years and has done quite well. However, their excessive focus on amassing wealth and balancing power has led to the strongest warriors being sent away.”

“Do you know? My people merely promised those individuals that after Lundex becomes a viscount, besides inheriting knights, he would also confer titles upon four young knights and allow them to join the army to establish their merits. At the appropriate time, he would petition the Grand Duke to grant them noble titles.”

“Simply by returning the power that should have been theirs, we gained their support.”

The white-robed man spoke incessantly, as if discussing work matters with an elder during an outing.

“They were merely suppressed for too long. It wasn’t your promise that moved them, but rather their dissatisfaction with Helvin. They wanted to replace the one above them,” Pegiraov said.

“Yes, your wisdom remains unparalleled,” the white-robed man slightly bowed, praising him.

“This isn’t wisdom, just the inevitable conclusion drawn after piecing together intelligence,” Pegiraov continued, as if instructing a junior.

“The Elbert Family is greedy; they desire larger territories but are unwilling to spend money or let their warriors die. So, at the right time, they target some minor nobles or newly risen nobles.”

“This allows their territory to expand steadily with minimal losses.”

“However, with fewer losses, the consumption of brave ones also decreases. The benefits brought by such expansion aren’t significant, so the rewards for the brave ones won’t be substantial.”

“Of course, most of these brave ones yearn for higher honor, but Elbert cannot provide that.”

“Yet, even without the highest honor, these brave ones can, relying on their own strength as capital, enable their families to reap more benefits.”

“As benefits gradually accumulate, families will grow into clans. For these clans, greater benefits will overshadow the personal honor of the brave ones.”

“The survival of a lord requires extracting the lifeblood of the producers in the territory. Similarly, for these clans to survive, they need to extract blood.”

“They don’t dare to extract blood from the lord, so they start from the bottom, monopolizing resources.”

“Therefore, as a lord, one needs to, at appropriate times, consume some of the brave ones within the territory to ensure that the increase in benefits can meet the needs of the brave ones. Only then can one’s rule remain unthreatened.”

“Moreover, because the consumed group belongs to the vested interests, the commoners will also have the opportunity to become vested interests. Thus, they will help the lord maintain rule.”

“Helvin, as a lord, did quite well. At least he made all the big and small clans within the territory dare not rebel against him.”

“But this was merely absolute military suppression from top to bottom. Once a force capable of challenging Helvin appears, these clans will make choices based on benefits.”

“They weren’t tempted by your promise; they believed that cooperating with you could yield greater benefits.”

The knight on the horse beside them remained silent, merely following Pegiraov’s pace. There wasn’t a single person on either side of the road. They advanced smoothly and could already see the silhouette of York Town.

“I see,” the white-robed man’s voice was filled with surprise.

“Aivas, oh Aivas, there’s no need to pretend to be foolish to please me. You’re a smart person. With your highest-level clairvoyance, you should be the wisest person,” Pegiraov said softly, without much expression.

“What I can see is merely the surface of the present world, while what you speak of is the desire hidden deep within the heart,” the white-robed Aivas humbly said.

“Desire also originates from changes in the external environment. A person who owns a piece of land will hope for a good harvest; a person who owns a house will hope to have a wife; a person who has a wife will hope for a more beautiful woman to become his wife.”

“The environment influences people’s desires, and by mastering the environment people are in, one can naturally understand their desires.”

“Look at what Helvin is doing.”

Aivas slightly turned his head, looking in the direction of York Town.

“Hmm, I see. He’s writing a letter. He called his son over and handed the letter to him,” Aivas described Helvin’s current actions.

“Can you discern his desire?” Pegiraov asked.

Aivas shook his head, “No, I can’t.”

Pegiraov didn’t point out the other’s lie but said:

“He’s a smart person, so he can detect your efforts to win over the clans within his territory. Moreover, he can judge that in less than half a month, his orders can only remain within the fortress. The people aren’t something he can contend with.”

“So, he chose to preserve the family’s seed.”

“His son should be running to the stables now. There should already be a fast horse prepared there.”

“Yes, indeed. He’s heading there. Should someone be sent to intercept and kill him?”

“No, as a noble, I permit the Elbert Family to retain their bloodline,” Pegiraov stopped Aivas.

“This time, I merely want Helvin, who insulted Lundex, and his Mary to pay the price.”

“Hmm, I see his Mary. Oh, that fat pig has already been tied up and thrown in the fortress hall. Her mouth is full of blood; her tongue has been cut off. Truly cruel.”

“It seems he guessed that I’m the one taking action. Then, he probably had those suits of armor taken away by his son as well.”

“Yes, in the stable, two horses are prepared. One of them carries a box, which contains the suits of armor you gave him, enchanted to reduce demonic erosion.”

“Wait, have you already seen his future?” Aivas asked in surprise.

“No, my eyes have long been blind. I can make this judgment only because the ancestors of the Elbert Family were true nobles,” Pegiraov said.

“True nobles?”

“Yes, his ancestors became nobles due to their merits in the previous northern war.”

“Can this also determine his future actions?”

“The bloodline of nobles is deeply rooted, buried for generations, but one day, to restore the honor of the nobility, they will don armor once more,” Pegiraov looked ahead, already seeing the knights loyal to Helvin waiting for them.

“Is this a curse?”

“No, it’s merely pure human greed. For someone who has lived as a noble, how could they endure becoming a commoner?”

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