Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales Laurist lifted the curtains and walked into the tent.
Everyone was stunned, then overjoyed …
"M-My lord, why are you here …" Fatty Shi jumped up. He was so emotional that he knocked over the desk in front of him. Brushes, ink, documents, and maps were scattered all over the floor.
Laurist smiled. "I'm here to bring you all home …"
It was a simple sentence, but it made half of the people in the tent tear up. They could not help but sob.
Dolus was one of the old students from Dawn Academy who had volunteered to follow Shred to the north. Laurist had entrusted him with the heavy responsibility of being the captain of the team. From February to September, they had gone through thick and thin with the team for more than seven months. Now that they were trapped here, they could not advance at all. They were anxious and helpless. When they heard Laurist say that he would bring them home, they immediately burst into tears.
Laurist hugged Dolus first, then said to him and everyone else in the tent, "Nothing can stop us from going home. It's been so difficult for everyone to get here. Once we pass the Madras Duchy, we'll be in the north. We can even smash an iron man to pieces, let alone the Ironguards. "
Laurist hugged them one by one. When it was Boffinger's turn, the eyes of the man who had pledged loyalty to Laurist turned red. "My lord, we're useless …"
Laurist interrupted him. "No, you've done very well."
The last one was Shredder. Looking at him, Laurist had mixed feelings. His big belly was gone, and his rosy, round face had become pointy. His cheeks were sunken in, and he no longer looked chubby. There were a few more wrinkles on his forehead, and a few strands of white hair could be seen at the corners of his hair. One could imagine how much pressure he had been under. It had been hard on him.
Laurist opened his arms and hugged Shred tightly. "Brother Shred, you've worked hard …"
Shred sobbed uncontrollably …
After sitting down again, Laurist announced a decision. He would hold a grand banquet the next night, and promote the meritorious members of the team to knights of the family.
Loriste said with a smile, "Originally, we were planning to wait until the caravan reached the north before giving out rewards based on merit, but now that the size of the caravan is so large, it would be unreasonable to not promote the meritorious members to knights of the family and reward them. This time, he would promote a batch of them, and when the caravan returned to the family territory, he would promote another batch. As for the list of meritorious personnel, everyone recommended them and let Knight Shredder organize them. However, we still need to communicate with them beforehand. If there's a better place to go, we won't force them. "
"After tomorrow, the convoy will be reorganized. We'll be very busy. But the effort we put in will be the guarantee for the smooth journey to the Northern Lands. Cheer up, everyone. Although there are many difficulties ahead, these difficulties will not stop us from returning to the North, returning to our home. I'm confident that I can lead everyone back to the Northlands. However, I'm only one person. I'm not a Titan Giant, nor am I a fire-breathing dragon. If we want to bring such a large fleet home, we will need everyone to work together. Please. "
Loriste stood up and bowed deeply to everyone in the tent …
…
It was late at night, and the camp that had been noisy for the whole day slowly calmed down. Under the silver moonlight, countless people fell into a sweet dream.
Only Loriste, Shredder, and Bofinger were left in the tent. Redi boiled a pot of tea for them. Michael retreated and stood guard outside the tent.
"… Your biggest mistake is that you were used by His Highness because of your greed. If you had refused His Highness' request after the battle of Greenfield Plain and led the fleet to the North, I believe no one would want to rob you on the way. I know that on one hand, you did it for my cousin's sake, and on the other hand, you've tasted the sweetness in Gerdos City, so you want to replenish more resources for the fleet. However, you forgot one thing. The more resources you have, the more burden you'll be on the fleet … "
This was Loriste criticizing Shredder.
"Our fleet is like a huge python. Although it's huge, it's very agile. Occasionally eating some rabbits or goats won't affect its agility. However, you forced it to swallow bison, and even swallowed several of them in one go, making it unable to move freely. Under such circumstances, our fleet became the best prey in other people's eyes.
Personality determines fate. Brother Shredder, you're very talented. This was demonstrated in the Sloff Manor. Countess Miranda was full of praise for you. However, your stingy personality is the biggest flaw when you look at the big picture. You just want to keep all the benefits in your hands and don't want to give them up. This is the best way for His Highness to make use of you.
You also made a mistake. You wiped out the nobles of the Andinac Kingdom, which benefited His Highness the most, but you were the scapegoat. You know how surprised I was when I heard that you were the rumored Demon Shredder. Even if those nobles blocked the road and robbed our fleet, you shouldn't have acted on impulse. Think about it, if you didn't hang those captured nobles and instead sent them to the Imperial Capital for His Second Highness to deal with, then it would be His Second Highness' turn to have a headache. He wouldn't even have the chance to plot against our convoy. "
Loriste picked up the silver cup and took a sip of the cold Max.
"I was wrong," Shredder muttered. "In the past, I always felt like I was being used by His Highness. Something was wrong, but I couldn't figure out what it was. Now that you've analyzed it, I understand where I went wrong. Loke, you've changed too. You see further than us now, and you're becoming more and more like a lord. "
Loriste laughed, "I can't help it. People always change. I only felt the pressure after becoming a lord. This was all forced out. Brother Shredder, you don't have to blame yourself too much. As the chief of the fleet, you're the best, but as a guide, you're not qualified. You lose your way easily. But there's nothing you can do about it. Like Bofinger, he's an excellent general, but not a qualified commander. The two of you supported each other and brought the fleet here, and even expanded it to such a large scale. You've already put in a lot of effort and put in a lot of effort. "
"Speaking of which, this is also my fault. If I had set a deadline for you to rush to the north, this situation wouldn't have happened. You did it with good intentions, and to serve the family. That's why you did your best to gather resources and gather the refugees. Now, we just need to bring the fleet and refugees back. In a few years, we'll be able to turn the family's territory into a paradise in this chaotic world. "
"Then what should we do next?" Shredder was in high spirits. Laurist's arrival made him feel as though the burden on his shoulders had been lifted by a large margin. Leading the caravan for the past half a year had already exhausted him physically and mentally. If he had to wait another half a year, he doubted that he would be able to return to the family's territory alive.
"There's no rush." Loriste said, "We've already heard from Redi about the fleet's situation. It's fortunate that you're here, and the fleet hasn't been crushed by the difficulties we're facing. I'm preparing to promote the meritorious members of the fleet to become family knights, and I want to calm the hearts of the people in the fleet. We'll sort out the list at night, and we'll ask for their wishes in the morning. Next, I need to understand the fleet's situation in detail, as well as the Madras Duchy's strength. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you'll never be defeated. This was said by a philosopher a few thousand years ago, and I think it's very reasonable. "
… …
When the second prince heard that the new head of the Norton family had arrived at the fleet, he brought Christie to the fleet's camp the next afternoon.
Loriste placed his right hand on his chest and his left hand behind his back. He lowered his head and bowed, performing a solemn greeting to the second prince. This was the formal greeting for a lower lord to greet a higher lord.
The second prince was very happy, and hugged Loriste after returning the greeting to express his enthusiasm.
Next was Christie. She still remembered Loriste's appearance, but she was not used to the crying little slug of the past. Now, he had grown into a tall, muscular young man, and had even become the new head of the Norton family.
First, she inquired about the family's situation, then recalled the tragic past, and hugged Loriste and cried for a while. Finally, when Loriste teased her about marrying the second prince and having a baby as soon as possible, she flew into a rage out of humiliation and pulled on Loriste's ear, scaring him into begging for mercy.
After a while, everyone officially started the meeting.
The second prince was very straightforward. He pointed out the fleet's predicament in front of Loriste. He believed that the fleet's current food supply could only last for four months at most, and the Andinac Kingdom did not have the spare capacity to support the fleet and take care of the refugees. Once the food supply ran out, the refugees and the fleet would collapse, and the large number of people would cause the recently settled Andinac Kingdom to fall back into chaos and disaster. The second prince requested the owner of the Norton family's fleet, Count Norton, to find a way out for the fleet as soon as possible. He could not watch the tragedy happen, as it would not benefit anyone.
Laurist smiled and politely pointed out that he had only inherited the title of a Baron and was not worthy of the title of an Earl. He then signaled for Redi to return the documents of the second prince's promotion from Baron Norton to an Earl.
Everyone in the tent was stunned. No one expected Loriste to reject the second prince's title. Was he preparing to fall out with the second prince? Or was the Norton family refusing to serve the second prince?
The second prince snapped out of his daze and asked if he had done something wrong, or if the Norton family was prepared to betray the Andinac royal family to the point that the promotion would be rejected?
Loriste said with a straight face, "The pride of the Norton family lies in that oath. Other than the Chrison royal family and the elders of the family, no one will bend their knees for anyone else. The Andinac royal family is the legitimate inheritance of the Chrison royal family, and this is publicly acknowledged. Naturally, the Norton family will not violate the oath, and we will also be loyal to the Andinac royal family. However, the Norton family cannot accept the second prince's title because it would turn the Norton family from a territorial noble to an honorary noble. To us, this is not a promotion, but an insult, so we refuse. "
Shredder was the first to realize what was going on. He gave himself a tight slap on the face. He had made a huge mistake again by accepting the second prince's promotion. If Loriste had not realized it and accepted the title of Earl, the Norton Family would have really gone from a territorial noble family to an honorary one.
Ell and Terman looked at Shredder strangely. Why did he slap himself? Shredder explained to them in a low voice.
Generally speaking, the promotion of a territorial noble must be accompanied by the addition of another territory. The addition of a territory meant that the original territory was added to another territory, and the change of title meant that the original territory was given to another territory. The original territory would then be taken back by the superior lord.
Now that the second prince had been promoted from Baron to Earl, it was just an empty Earl title with no indication of his territory. If Loriste accepted the title of Count, it would legally mean that the original Norton family territory would be taken back by the second prince. The Norton family would have no territory other than the title of Count.
Damn, this guy is so cunning. Other than Shredder who was getting more and more annoyed with the second prince, Ell and Terman's gazes also became unfriendly. Everyone in the tent who had figured it out had a change in their expressions.
The second prince was also dumbfounded. This was indeed an oversight, and not a trap that he had deliberately set. If not for the fact that the Norton family's territory was in the desolate and remote north, the area would be more than enough to divide into two Earls. When he decided to promote the Norton family's title, he did not want to divide the newly integrated kingdom's territory as a conferment. Secondly, he felt that the Norton family's territory was already big enough, and there was no need to add another one. Also, promoting the Norton family's title would make it easier for the Norton family to stir up trouble in the north, and they would be able to oppose the Duke of the North who belonged to the second prince.
However, he did not expect that there would be such a big loophole in this decision. To a territorial noble, this kind of promotion was indeed an insult. Some fierce promotions could even cause the inferior and superior lords to become mortal enemies. Loriste's behavior could already be said to be rather polite and low-key.
The second prince stood up and bowed to Loriste in apology. "This is my oversight. I am very sorry. In order to express my apology, I am willing to give the entire north to the Norton family as compensation …"
Loriste sat rudely and ignored the second prince. He just kept turning the silver cup in his hand.
Behind the second prince, Krisya could not help but stand up as well. "Locke, you are too rude. His Highness has already admitted his mistake and apologized to you. He even gave the entire north to the family as compensation. What more do you want?"
Loriste laughed. "When a girl is of age, she can't be kept at home! Cousin Krisya, please ask the second prince if the north is under the rule of the Andinac Kingdom. "
The tent fell silent. Even Krisya was tongue-tied. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the second prince, waiting for his explanation.
The second prince wanted to slap himself hard like Shredder. He had made a mistake again. Even in his dreams, he dreamed of unifying the former empire and restoring the glory of the Crimson royal family. He subconsciously thought of himself as the crown prince of the empire and promised the north to the Norton family as compensation. However, he had forgotten that the north now belonged to the second prince's Iberian Kingdom, not the Andinac Kingdom that he ruled.
He was so anxious that he was sweating. If word got out that he was using another kingdom's territory as compensation for his own noble's territory, the Andinac Kingdom would definitely become a laughing stock. The second prince's promise would even become an example of empty promises. More importantly, it would cause his biggest supporter, the Norton family, to be alienated from him …
The second prince suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He suddenly thought of a good idea. He smiled and said to everyone in the tent, "Indeed, I am going to give the entire north to the Norton family as compensation …"
The crowd was in an uproar. Krisya exclaimed, "Your Highness, you …"
The second prince waved his hand and said, "I haven't finished speaking. This is only compensation, not a conferment. I have decided to use my prince's territory as a conferment for the Norton family's promotion. As for the north, although it is not under my rule now, I promise that after I destroy the Madras Duchy, if the Norton family controls the entire north, I will confer the title of Grand Duke to the Norton family. The entire north will become the Norton family's hereditary territory. "
Laurist laughed. This second prince was quite quick-witted. With just a few words, he managed to turn around his own mistake. If the Andinac Kingdom destroyed the Madras Duchy, it would be connected to the north. At that time, if the Norton family controlled the entire north, it would naturally fall under the Andinac Kingdom's rule. The second prince's promise of compensation and conferment as Grand Duke of the north would become a reality instead of a joke.
However, Laurist was very curious where the second prince's prince's territory was. It was a territory larger than a count's territory. How could the second prince be willing to use it as a conferment?
Shredder angrily handed over a map and cursed in a low voice as he pointed at a spot on the map. "This prince is too sinister. Be careful, my lord."
Laurist looked down. It turned out to be an isolated island. It was indeed larger than the count's territory, but most of it was mountains and beaches. The farming area was not large. No wonder Shredder was so angry.
Laurist laughed again. "Alright, since the second prince has said so, the Norton family will accept the conferment of the Andinac Royal Family and be promoted to the title of Earl."
The second prince wiped the sweat off his forehead and sat down again. The atmosphere in the tent became harmonious again …
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