Chapter 168: |
Chapter 168
But Elmud said what he wanted to say and disappeared.
The two of them kept their mouths shut as they looked at the application forms left in their hands.
It was extremely difficult.
But after a while.
“Ha.”
“Ha. Ha.”
The two burst into laughter.
At the same time, without saying who goes first.
“It just makes me laugh. What about you?”
“Me too.”
The laughter that started small gradually grew bigger.
Roten, who was laughing heartily, signed the application form.
It was the same with Clean.
“Don’t you regret it?”
“I suppose I could. It would be a much more thorny path than serving His Highness Lemarton.”
Loten smiled slyly.
It was a refreshing laugh.
“But it seems like it would be a lot more fun. And it would be rewarding too.”
“I think it would be much more rewarding to serve Raymond than that arrogant smart-aleck, Lemarton.”
Loten looked at Raymond, who was still treating the patient from a distance.
Perhaps, he might regret this choice later.
It will be much more difficult and dangerous.
But…
“If it’s dangerous, we can protect him.”
“Yes?”
“It’s our job as knights to protect our lord. Isn’t that right?”
Clean smiled back.
“Yes, that’s right. As long as this Clean exists, no one will be able to touch you, my lord.”
That day the two lords decided.
That foolishly wonderful person.
‘We will protect you, sir.’
In this way, Raymond won the loyalty of the two lords.
* * *
Raymond was not only focused on restoring the Mephin Estate and Thor Estate.
‘I have to convince the other lords too.’
The problem was that the other lords did not have any serious illnesses, so it was difficult for him to demonstrate his ability as healer to them.
‘We need to take a different approach. Fortunately, we have a plan for the lord of Kunka Estate.’
Kunka Estate.
It was a transportation hub to other important regions.
He was also a nobleman under Lemarton.
Raymond also prepared a way to attack the lord of this Kunka estate.
‘I have to swing the whip. I can’t give carrots to every lord.’
Although Loten and Clean had a heart for their people, there were lords who did not.
The most representative example was the lord of Kunka territory.
‘He is a piece of garbage that is beyond saving.’
So Raymond intended to whip Lord Kunka into submission.
First, he called Lord Kunka.
“What’s the matter? I don’t really have any reawon to go for treatment.”
The lord of Kunka Estate came to see Raymond, nodding.
‘To make this guy the lord of an important territory.’
Raymond clicked his tongue.
It was a personnel failure.
But that is understandable, because Lord Kunka has been thoroughly hiding his wrongdoings.
As the second son of a Marquis, he used his family’s power to hold high positions in the government, but he committed all sorts of corruption and wrongdoings.
The problem was that he was a very cunning man who committed his wrongdoings secretly and left no evidence behind. Not many people knew that he had committed such wrongdoings.
‘I would have never known if it weren’t for the staff member who treated me on the battlefield.’
Eventually, it was the staff member whose injuries worsened and who died.
Before he died, the staff member cursed the lord in front of him so much. He had suffered many things behind his back.
He has committed countless wrongdoings, but the biggest one was switching credits.
During the war, he was able to steal someone else’s achievements and receive the position of lord through those achievements.
But that ends today.
‘It took time to secure clear evidence.’
Evidence of the wrongdoing he committed.
That was the whip Raymond had prepared.
“I didn’t ask you to do this for my business as a healer.”
“Then? I’m busy, so please make it as short as possible.”
As short as possible.
Raymond also wished for it.
‘I didn’t have time to waste on this kind of trash.’
“Disciple.”
The door opened and a black-haired beauty came in.
It was Christine who had just came after settling the Duke’s affairs!
“What’s the matter with you, Princess?”
When she looked at him coldly, Lord Kunka made a stinging face.
Christine made a contemptuous expression and threw the papers down.
“What is this?”
“Look.”
He opened the document and looked like he had met a ghost.
It was a document filled with all the wrongdoings he had made so far!
“Hey, what about this?”
“You’ve forgotten who I am.”
Christine de Raven.
The first princess of the Raven Duke family, the most powerful family in the kingdom.
At the same time, she is currently the most likely successor.
“If the Duke puts his efforts into it, there is no information that cannot be found within the Kingdom of Houston. It is a bit difficult to uncover the truth because the wrongdoings were thoroughly hidden.”
“Thank you for your hard work, disciple.”
Raymond gave a grateful greeting.
Yes, that’s right.
Raymond asked Christine to get him a whip.
‘I originally planned to negotiate by swinging a whip.’
Raymond shook his head.
‘Now that we have this clear evidence, there’s no need to negotiate.’
“Lao, please.”
“Yes, brother.”
Lao appeared, his monocle shining.
With a bunch of knights.
“Okay, wait a minute!”
“Let’s talk about the rest when you get to prison.” Lao said coldly. “You won’t be able to come out forever, so even if you talk slowly, there will be plenty of time.”
In this way, the lord of the Kunka fiefdom was imprisoned, and the authority of the fiefdom naturally passed to Raymond, the delegate and candidate for the feudal lordship.
The passionate sage Mevinson was greatly impressed by Raymond, who had acquired three important territories at once.
“Wow, you are amazing, my lord. How can you be so wise?!”
The wise man was so impressed that he even had tears in his eyes.
‘My lord is not only good, he also has the power to make it happen!’
Mevinson recalled something from the past.
In the past, when people tried to think of policies for the people, they were always frustrated by the tricks of the nobles.
But Raymond was different.
Raymond not only had a brilliant mind, but he also had the power to put it into practice.
‘To be able to serve such a person. This is truly the greatest blessing! For the rest of my life. I will devote all my passion to my master!’
So the wise man was once again enraged, and Raymond made an awkward face.
‘That old man, I feel like he is slowly turning into another Hanson. Is that okay?’
Then Lao asked. “What are you going to do with the other territories now, brother?”
It was good that they had conquered the three lords belonging to the Lemarton faction, but there were still six lords that had not surrendered.
The problem is that it is difficult to approach them like they do now.
‘They are decent lords. They don’t need my help like Roten and Clean, but they haven’t committed any major mistakes either.’
They’re not kind, but moderately greedy.
They are average lords who do not commit any major mistakes.
That’s why it was even more difficult.
If they were evil, they could find their weaknesses and expel them, and if they were kind, they would dig into their hearts for the people, but these people didn’t have that.
‘These people only act for their own benefit. They will never cooperate with me obediently.’
Lao said he thought the same thing. “They all say they will restore the territory on their own without your help. They won’t bow their heads easily.”
“That’s what I think too.”
Mevinson asked, his voice half worried and half expectant.
“Do you have any other good ideas?”
“No, there is no clear solution this time.”
Raymond shook his head.
The strategy that had been used on the previous three lords could not be used on all of them.
“We have to do it differently now.”
“Which is?”
“I will use the direct method.”
Raymond showed his disposition.
It was a commission I received from King Oden!
“I will give them orders as their commissioner. To cooperate with the restoration immediately.”
“…!”
Lao and Mevinson opened their eyes wide.
“But brother? Will they really follow you?”
“Of course they wouldn’t follow along obediently.”
The two of them looked puzzled.
Raymond clenched his fist.
“I will threaten them by citing the power of the feudal lord to punish them. If the lords do not fulfill their duties for the people, the feudal lord have the power to punish them.”
“But aren’t you not a feudal lord yet, brother?”
“But that doesn’t mean I’m powerless, I’m still a delegate.”
“…!”
“Now that Clean and Roten has bowed to me, it will be difficult for them to simply ignore my words.”
Lao understood what Raymond said.
‘Brother has now obtained the loyalty of the two lords. He has also obtained authority over the Kunka territory.’
Including the Ruin Territory, which was originally Raymond’s, he now has four of the ten major territories in the Rafald region.
It could be said that he had come much closer to being a vassal than before.
In this situation, could the remaining lords simply ignore Raymond?
It wasn’t easy.
If Raymond ascends to the throne like this, they will be in great trouble.
“I will offer them both a carrot and a stick, and I will give them a choice. Either follow me, who will be of real help to them as a vassal, or follow princes who will be of no help to them.”
“Older brother.”
“My lord.”
Lao and Mevinson looked at each other with admiration at Raymond’s determined will.
Of course, Raymond’s heart burned inside.
‘Ugh. A head-on confrontation. I’m shaking. This kind of thing doesn’t suit me.’
But Raymond remembered.
‘May I enjoy the wealth and honor of becoming a lord!’
It was a mountain that had to be overcome at least once to achieve that level of wealth and honor.
‘Purchase Skill, King’s Pen!’
The King’s Pen!
As I had seen before, it was a skill that helped him write documents.
This will help since he is not used to writing these types of threatening letters.
However, the effect was much better than expected.
[Skills are revealed!]
[The warmth of the healer lord who cares for the patients and the people and the majesty of the monarch who rebukes his wrongdoing subjects are contained in the letter!]
Raymond looked dumbfounded when he saw the letter he had written.
‘Isn’t this too much?’
The earnest heart for the people and the majesty that rebuked the selfish behavior of lords swept over him.
It was a letter that would make anyone who read it cringe.
‘Let’s send it right away.’
Thus began the struggle between Raymond and the lords.
* * *
The lords, of course, did not budge an inch.
“Huh, do you think anyone would listen to you if you say something like that?”
“Illusions are also a part of nature.”
But that was only on the surface, and the lords began to feel impatient.
‘Damn, Roten and Clean have fallen? What will happen to us if Count Penin really becomes a feudal lord?’
Of course they don’t think that will happen, but you never know what will happen in this world.
‘More than anything, His Majesty the King wishes for the Count Penin to become a prince. After all, if the Count Penin becomes a prince, will His Majesty the Prince protect me?’
There were endless ways for a feudal lord to harass his subordinate lord.
If Raymond succeeds in becoming a prince, they will be in big trouble.
At that moment, both Prince Kairn and Prince Lemarton had a common concern.
When the worst comes, will Prince Kairn and Prince Lemarton protect them?
None of the lords could answer that question.
* * *
Meanwhile, Raymond, who had sent the letter, was trembling with nervousness.
‘Ugh. What if they don’t listen to me till the end?’
They say that if you get scared, you lose, but Raymond was timid by nature so he couldn’t help but get scared.
Raymond felt the need to put more pressure on the lords and took up his pen.
This time, he planned to shake up the people below.
[Skill, the King’s Pen is revealed!]
[The healer Lord’s love for patients and the people is reflected in the sentence!]
Chhhhh, the cringy letter was completed once again.
“Sir Mevinson, please have someone post the letter I wrote in the squares of each territory.”
“Master?”
Mevinson looked surprised when he read Raymond’s writing.
‘This is a letter of comfort to the people of various regions suffering from the damage caused by war!’
It was a famous quote that made his heart flutter just by reading it.
Scholar Mevinson immediately saw how much love for the people was contained in Raymond’s writing.
It was obvious what kind of reaction would occur if this comforting message was hung in each territory.
The suffering of the people of the territory will be met with a flood of criticism from the lords who turn a blind eye to it.
‘As expected, my lord. You are amazing. You must be able to come up with such a plan for the people. It is only loyalty, loyalty, loyalty.’
Of course, Raymond was thinking this to himself.
‘No matter how scared I am, I will never back down! For my wealth and honor!’
While he was working hard like that, he heard a noise that bothered him.
“Your Majesty, this is a message from His Excellency the Duke Raif.”
“Are you busy?”
Raymond frowned.
After Duke Raif accepted him as his disciple, he contacted him often.
There was no special contact.
Even Duke Raif knows that Raymond is not in a position to be taught right now.
It was just a call to say hello.
This is nothing special.
‘How are you?’
‘I am always cheering you on in my heart. Stay strong, my dearest disciple.’
‘…Did I ask you to be too kind?’
Raymond looked dumbfounded.
The reason the Duke Raif did this was because he said that if he didn’t treat him well, he would serve another master.
‘It was truly embarrassing for the world’s best knight to be in such a state of anxiety and contact me like that, but he contacted him too often.’
Now it’s getting a little annoying.
‘I should say I’m busy.’
The moment he was about to say that.
An idea suddenly occurred to Raymond.
‘If we use the Duke Raif, we can put more pressure on the lords.’
Raymond has so far been cautious about using Duke Raif’s power.
Although he became a disciple, it was not wise to abuse his authority.
He should only use Duke Raif’s help only when he needed it the most.
‘But even in this situation, it would be foolish not to use the connections I have.’
In fact, this is when connections are useful.
‘I’m not asking for too much authority.’
Raymond, who came face to face with the Duke through the communication port, said.
-Your face doesn’t look good.
“Oh, no. It’s just… … no, no.”
Raymond shook his head vigorously.
In a way that anyone can see that he is having a difficult time.
The Duke Raif wiggled his eyebrows.
It was the first time he had seen Raymond make that face.
-Is it because of those pathetic lords?
The atmosphere of Duke Raif has become cold.
Of course, Duke Raif also knew about the situation in the Rafald region.
However, since this was a problem that Raymond had to solve himself, he was refraining from intervening first.
But his most precious disciple is suffering like this.
-Just talk. I’ll help you in any way I can.
It was a voice that was infinitely cold and veil-like.
-My life is on your side.