Lord: Stripped of My Inheritance from the Start - Chapter 87 - 86: Negotiation
Chapter 87: Chapter 86: Negotiation
Compared to Willie Knight of the Cyan Bamboo Tribe, the leaders of the Purple Fruit Tribe—Jenny and Horn—were clearly much wiser.
They showed no hostility or resistance, especially after Erin returned to them safe and sound. Instead, they warmly invited Ronin into their stockade.
Ronin saw this and knew. ’Looks like I can get the Purple Fruit Tribe to surrender without using force this time.’
This method of subduing an enemy without a fight was the most time- and energy-efficient.
As the tribe’s leaders, Jenny and her husband’s residence was relatively spacious. Though simple, it had all the essentials: a living room, a bedroom, a kitchen, and even two servants.
After some conversation, they gained a basic understanding of each other’s backgrounds.
Jenny Frank’s father was a Viscount of the Orland Empire. After the Empire fractured, he pledged his allegiance to the Tricia Clan. Unfortunately, he had chosen the wrong side. The north was occupied by the Oduin Clan.
The Wushan Clan was ordered to encircle and annihilate the opposing nobles. It was during that conflict that Jenny’s father, Jerwett Frank, was forced to flee into the Forest Land to the north.
In truth, the backgrounds of most Wilderness Tribes were much the same.
Over the years, the fugitive nobles had died off one by one. There were almost no leaders like Jenny left who hailed from a Viscount Clan.
Horn Knight was originally a Professional Knight who followed the Frank Clan. During their repeated flights, he and Jenny developed feelings for each other, eventually becoming husband and wife and having their daughter, Erin.
To carry on the Frank Clan’s bloodline, they both agreed that Erin would take the Frank surname.
That way, if they were ever killed in the tribal wars of annexation, Erin could carry on the Frank Clan’s legacy (even though it had fallen so far as to be almost meaningless).
“I heard from Wodun and Dandy that you wish for Horn and me to lead the Purple Fruit Tribe in submitting to you.”
Inside the simple living room, Jenny’s family sat opposite Ronin. It was clear that even though Horn Knight was her husband, the true decision-maker of the Purple Fruit Tribe was the woman before him.
“If we submit, I wonder, what arrangements would you make for us?”
Jenny’s demeanor was natural and poised, her bearing graceful and proper. As expected of someone educated by a Viscount Clan, her temperament and speech were on another level.
Ronin got straight to the point. “I will grant you legal status. From the moment you swear fealty to me, you will no longer have to worry about being imprisoned or sold into slavery as ’remnants of a defeated faction.’”
As he spoke, he turned to Erin, the little girl with big, blinking eyes sitting beside them. “I hear that Erin awakened her Mana Space on her birthday three months ago, becoming a Basic Level Mage.”
“A Basic Level Mage who has just turned thirteen… It would be too great a pity for such talent to be trapped in this wilderness.”
A Basic Level Mage who had just turned thirteen—Erin’s potential was immense.
Though she was still young, she had already captured Ronin’s attention. In fact, a part of his polite attitude toward Jenny and Horn was due to this exceptionally talented little girl.
“Once you have legal status, Erin can also go out and see the world. If you let her follow me, she is certain to become a powerful Mage in the future.”
Jenny and Horn exchanged a glance, and each saw the thrill in the other’s eyes.
For so many years, they had yearned to live in the outside world, but there had never been a way.
Even when they occasionally managed to sneak out for a look, they had to be extremely careful and avoid interacting with people too much.
The conflicts between the Wilderness Tribes had grown especially fierce over the past two years, and they no longer had the strength to support the Purple Fruit Tribe’s survival.
If nothing unexpected happened, it wouldn’t be long before their tribe was swallowed up by the Grey Soil Tribe or the Black-collar Tribe. At that point, their situation would be even more precarious.
Ronin’s appearance now undoubtedly gave them a second option—and the best one at that.
From Jenny and Horn’s perspective, this young noble had already annexed the Cyan Bamboo Tribe and was about to do the same to the Purple Fruit Tribe. It was inevitable that he would attack the Grey Soil and Black-collar Tribes next, and his chances of success were high.
Moreover, he was a descendant of the Wushan Clan, a noble of the highest rank in the Wushan Territory.
Following him now was undoubtedly an excellent choice.
Jenny suppressed the racing thoughts in her mind and continued her inquiry. “Then, Lord Ronin, what is it that you would require us to do for you?”
Ronin smiled faintly. ’It’s clear she’s mostly agreed.’
“There is much I need you to do; I have no need to hide this from you.”
He said, “The management, construction, defense, and expansion of my territory—I will need your efforts in many areas. And as Intermediate Professionals, you possess considerable combat strength. When necessary, you—and especially you, Horn Knight—I will need you to lead the charge for me.”
Horn nodded to himself. ’This is what a Knight should do.’
“Furthermore, the other members of the Purple Fruit Tribe will recognize me as their lord. You will no longer have the right to command them.”
“As for these people, although they will initially be my captives—my slaves—I can guarantee that I will not sell them. And as long as they work for me for ten years, I will not only grant them a plot of land but also raise their status to Peasant Slaves or Free Tenant Farmers.”
Jenny frowned slightly. “And our status?”
If they were also to be slaves, Jenny found that status somewhat unacceptable. After all, she came from a Viscount Clan.
Ronin smiled slightly and said, “You, Horn Knight, and Erin are naturally not included in this. I will treat you as Free People and will pay you a salary befitting your strength.”
Hearing this, Jenny and Horn exchanged another glance and nodded slightly. They agreed to this arrangement.
The two of them smiled, rose to their feet, and walked before Ronin. Then, they knelt on one knee. “Respected Lord Baron, please accept our fealty.”
Beside them, Erin saw this and was momentarily flustered.
She still hadn’t quite processed what was happening. She had just been thinking about giving him a White Fruit to eat, so why were her parents suddenly performing such a formal ceremony?
Left with no choice, she could only follow their example and kneel on one knee. “Please accept my fealty…”
“Good!”
Ronin laughed. “I accept your fealty, Jenny, Horn Knight, and Erin.”
He stepped forward and helped the three of them to their feet.
“Lord Ronin, I’ll go have Aunt Moyah cook some White Fruits for you.”
Erin was, after all, just a thirteen-year-old child. Once the stiff formality had passed and the atmosphere turned cheerful again, her true nature inevitably resurfaced.
“I’m very curious what these ’White Fruits’ look like. If you can, please bring one for me to see.”
“Of course! I’ll go get them now!”
Erin scurried off toward another room.
Watching their daughter run off so cheerfully, Jenny and Horn couldn’t help but smile in relief. From now on, they could walk openly in the outside world and live there.
“My lord!”
Jenny looked at Ronin, her expression extremely serious. “If you wish to conquer the Grey Soil Tribe, I have a way that might save you a great deal of effort.”
Ronin was startled, looking with some surprise at this ordinary-looking woman who carried the air of a leader. “Please, speak!”
Jenny glanced at Horn, who seemed to understand what she was about to say and gave a slight nod.
But just as she was about to reveal her plan, Erin came skipping back and handed Ronin a white fruit.
“My lord, this is a White Fruit! If you peel it and deep-fry the kernel inside, it’s absolutely delicious!”
Ronin stared at the white “fruit” in his hand, completely stunned.
“This is—!”
’This isn’t a fruit at all. This is clearly…’
Source: Webnovel.com, updated by novlove.com
