Chapter 367 - 261: Investigating the Situation Down South (Part 2)

The place fit her stereotype of a poor, remote backwater in every way, but it also possessed something the Southern Territory lacked.

Although High Cliff Castle was still in its fledgling stage, it was brimming with vigorous life, whereas the Southern Territory was like a pool of stagnant water.

When he was first knighted, she couldn’t understand why he would shun a magnificent castle to run off to a Wilderness full of Half-Beastmen. Now, however, she understood him much better.

Precisely because she understood, no matter how much she wanted to keep Levi by her side, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse him. She just sighed, "Levi, I understand what you’re thinking. I’ll give this matter proper consideration. Your enfeoffed title will remain unchanged. As for the fief, I will compensate you in other ways."

Levi nodded and said no more.

’Liya had been with him from the very beginning. Unlike the Noble Lady Onaya, who only craved his body, this young woman could understand his ambitions.’

"Levi, you should think it over carefully too. You can return to the Southern Territory at any time and receive a rich marquisate," Onaya chimed in at an opportune moment.

The smoldering look in her eyes said it all, but Levi could only pretend not to notice.

The three of them chatted idly for a few more moments. Seeing the sky grow darker, Levi took his leave.

Just before leaving, the Lord glanced back. Onaya was sitting upright in her chair, beaming at him. Liya stood with her hands on her hips, her beautiful eyes also fixed on him. When she saw him turn, she flashed a radiant smile.

Only after the Maid gently closed the door did Levi shake his head and follow her down the corridor.

’Clearly, both mother and daughter were quite fond of him.’

’Well, it made sense. Strictly speaking, he had saved the mother and daughter a few times. The ’hero saving the damsel’ trope might be a cliché, but it was definitely the most effective method.’

’If it didn’t work, one would have to consider whether their looks were just too unremarkable.’

’But clearly, whether in looks or ability, he considered himself top-tier.’

...

At night, Jackal Wolfman Guards in Iron Armor, with Curved Sabers at their waists, meticulously stood watch at the entrance to the High Cliff Castle encampment.

These Jackal Wolfmen could see far even at night, and their keen sense of smell made them the best late-night guards. Thus, they knew their boss was returning from a long way off and quickly opened the Luca.

"Brother-in-law, you’re back?"

Mier was reading a book in the room. He glanced up and asked casually.

Levi flopped directly onto the bed, gave a lazy "Mmm," and kicked both his shoes into a corner.

"So, how’d it go?"

"Nothing much. We just discussed the matter of my reward."

’Normally, he wouldn’t have a say in such matters. But Onaya had her reasons—partly to show her generosity to win over talent, and partly because she craved his body. With Liya adding her support, they had taken the initiative to ask for his opinion.’

"Once we’re back in High Cliff Castle, I’ll be able to make you a Knight," Levi said, rolling over and wrapping himself in his blanket, turning into a large caterpillar.

"Hehe... Brother-in-law, am I really qualified enough for that?"

Hearing this sudden good news, Mier scratched the back of his head, forgot all about his book, and just kept grinning foolishly.

Becoming an Official Knight had been his dream since childhood, a fact made obvious by the ridiculously flashy suit of Plate Armor he had forged for himself.

But now that the dream was suddenly coming true, it felt rather unreal.

The apprentice knights who had come to High Cliff Castle had all dreamed of becoming Official Knights, but in the end, they had all run off with their tails between their legs. Mier knew that becoming an Official Knight was not as easy as one might imagine.

"What does it matter if you’re qualified or not? I’m the one who makes the call," Levi said, glancing at the boy. "Besides, you’ve picked up your fair share of kills following me around. In terms of actual merit, you’ve earned more than enough."

’Although knighting someone was just a matter of him wasting some time on a ceremony, he had no desire to turn the title into a cheap whore that anyone could have.’

’Once you started down that path, it was almost impossible to stop.’

’That was why, even with Mier, he had made him stick by his side and rack up enough military achievements before preparing to grant him the title.’

As for the specific title, Levi hadn’t decided yet.

’Because wantonly granting titles within his own territory was a complete detriment to centralized authority.’

’He could see the signs of this from the recent war between north and south, where King Debei had been powerless. Therefore, he didn’t want to replicate that system.’

’He hadn’t figured out the specifics of what to do yet.’

’In any case, it was still too early to worry about granting titles. There was no rush.’

"By the way, where’s Zat?" Levi asked, realizing he hadn’t seen a single Beastman Barbarian since returning to the camp.

Although it was late—nearly eleven o’clock by the standards of his previous life—High Cliff Castle had learned from his example. Thanks to him being a night owl who often stayed up late, almost everyone there went to bed late as well.

At this time of night, this group of Barbarians should have been either shooting the shit or wrestling.

"They’re on duty at the city gate. It’s a rotation system. Lord Monvert’s shift just ended, so now it’s our turn," Mier said, putting down his book and yawning.

Kolon had a terrifying number of books on weapon and armor manufacturing. He had been completely engrossed these past few days, his mind buzzing with a host of brilliant ideas that he was just waiting to implement back at High Cliff Castle.

"Heh, that’s a good gig," the Lord said, his interest immediately piqued.

Guarding the city gate was a great opportunity to skim a little off the top. For one thing, the City Entrance Tax was a considerable sum of money.

Most of the armies stationed in Kolon had been assigned duties, and High Cliff Castle was no exception.

Usually, this meant patrolling the streets to maintain public order, or guarding the city gates and walls.

Since he didn’t trust that blockhead Zat’s intelligence, Levi decided to go and supervise personally first thing in the morning.

There was no need to collect the City Entrance Tax from the barefoot farmers, but the merchants wouldn’t be escaping his sharp eyes.

Whether in his past life or now, all merchants were crooked to the bone. You could tax them to death, and they would still tearfully rake in a fortune.

Now that he had the chance, he would have to have a "good talk" with them about whether the City Entrance Tax should be collected by the head or by weight.

...

The morning sun rose as the south wind howled.

Lines of Beastman Warriors in their Black Armor patrolled the walls of the Kolon Main Gate, where the banners of High Cliff Castle fluttered in the wind.

At the massive city gate, a dozen or so burly Barbarians were stopping traffic and manning a checkpoint.

Everyone, whether entering or exiting, had to be identified, though those coming in were screened more rigorously.

Barefoot farmers with carts full of cabbages saw that the guards at the gate had been replaced by burly, ferocious-looking Beastman Warriors. They grew anxious, afraid that these new guards would charge an even higher City Entrance Tax than the human soldiers before them.

But when their identities were checked and they were let through without paying, they were filled with disbelief. Then, overjoyed, they were moved to tears with gratitude toward the nobleman who sat lounging in a chair with one leg crossed over the other.

The small amount saved on the City Entrance Tax was enough for him to replace his little daughter’s worn-out linen shoes—the ones her toes were poking through—with a pair of warm sheepskin ones.

The merchants, on the other hand, were all long-faced. Amidst the sneers of the Beastman Warriors, they could only reluctantly hand over the City Entrance Tax, which was calculated based on the approximate value of their goods. In their hearts, they viciously cursed a certain maggot-hearted pig.

Fortunately, even after paying the City Entrance Tax, the value of their goods would still multiply several times over, allowing them to make a fortune.

It was just that merchants valued money above all else. To them, every Gold Coin paid was like having a piece of their own flesh carved off. They would sooner throw a single copper coin into a latrine than give it to someone else.

To be honest, the crisp clinking of Gold Coins being tossed into the wooden coffer made the Lord grin so wide he couldn’t close his mouth.

If anyone were to ask him what happiness was, he would surely say it was the sight of others’ helpless resignation as they were forced to pay up, combined with the fulfilling feeling of watching his personal coffers swell bit by bit.

High Cliff Castle had always been operating at a loss; now, it was finally starting to turn a profit.

Just as it was getting close to lunchtime, the sound of hooves approached from a distant street. It was a Cavalry Team flying a bauhinia flower banner.

The one in the lead was a familiar face—Count Andao.