Chapter 139 of 217

Vol 19 Chapter 8

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ACT 8 Dreams Come True

“It’s an honour to serve you again.”

The estate’s secretaries were never present whenever there was a siege. The person who greeted him with a friendly smile was Berami, the secretary in charge of managing the territory, legal counsel and the budget. The money he had freely scattered before leaving Silvana was still displaying an effect. That money didn’t just have an effect on Berami.

“The residents are also glad that you became the Lord again. After hearing that Ark-nim had applied for a siege, quite of lot of people went to the Shrine of War to pray for your victory. Everybody still remembers your actions while you were the Lord.”

‘It’s more like they remember the gold.’

Anyway, being liked by the estate’s residents wasn’t an unpleasant feeling.

“Did the former Lord have a bad reputation?”

“It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t good either. He was just a normal Lord.”

Berami pushed up his glasses and laughed.

His cynical character hadn’t changed even after 1 year. But he always showed the proper manners to Ark.

That was the power of money.

Anyway, he truly felt like he had recaptured Silvana after seeing Berami’s face.

“Please stay the Lord for a long time.”

“That’s what I intend.”

Ark replied with a smile.

“Would you like to know how the territory changed since you were last here?”

“Of course.”

The competent secretary instantly handed him some files. After he took the papers, an information window appeared.

Currently Owned Territory Information Window <lancel>【Territory】Silvana【Current Lord】Ark【Rating】C【Classification】Small Territory【Number of Residents in Territory】13,040 people【Residents’ Bond】980 (+98)【Residents’ Loyalty】530 (+53)【Territory’s Gross Income】387,000 Gold every 10 days.【Territory’s Current Assets】120,300 gold【Value of the Current Territory】615,250【Territory’s Fame】499,400【Development】46,650【Development Speed】45,950 (▽ Falling)【Commerce】67,570【Civilization】53,360【Armament】31,500 (+945)* Current effects applied to the territory【Shrine of War】 Armament +30%, ‘Maintenance of Peace’ effect</lancel>

<lancel>【Cathedral’s Support】 Resident’s loyalty +10%, Resident’s Bond +10%</lancel>

<lancel>【Mercenary’s Office】The number of mercenaries that can be hired by the estate increases. In addition, if the estate hires mercenaries from the Mercenary’s Office then the costs will be reduced based on the rating (Current rating: A)</lancel>

<lancel>* Current situation of the territory-Peace is being maintained without any problems. (△ Rising)</lancel>

<lancel>-The income of the harvest and the estate is increasing. (△ Rising)</lancel>

<lancel>-Preparations for farmland expansion, reservoir expansion in case of a flood, various facilities expansion, Silver River Bridge construction and various other public works are on stand-by.</lancel>

<lancel>‘Huhuhuhu.’</lancel>

<lancel>He laughed as he saw the information window. When he first became the Lord of Silvana he had no idea how to manage the territory. And he had already decided to sell it to Raiden so he had no interest. But now the situation was different. In order to prepare for being the Lord, he had meticulously read all the information about it. And he had recently became the Lord of Lancel so when he saw the information window about Silvana, he could grasp the situation with just one glance.</lancel>

<lancel>‘Silvana is on a completely different level from Lancel.’</lancel>

<lancel>It was a territory with 15 villages and a population of 13,040 people! When compared to Lancel’s 732 residents, it was a huge estate 20 times Lancel’s size. However, the enormous difference was the income of the estate. It was a surprising income of 387,000 gold for one month, or 10 days in reality! That was 40 times the income from Lancel. It was also a larger income than other territories in Nagaran. While Silvana had a good location, it was most impacted by the Continental Commerce Firm. The sales from the Continental Commerce Firm accounted for 30% of Silvana’s income.</lancel>

<lancel>‘The estate’s income is approximately 400,000 gold while the assets is 120,000 gold…..”</lancel>

<lancel>In other words, it was hard for Raiden to manage the estate. If he invested the income into various projects then it would increase the value of the territory. That’s why the value of the territory was more than 600,000. But Raiden was only resourceful up to there. While the estate was growing steadily, he hadn’t done anything impressive like Ark with the Continental Commerce Firm. That’s why Berami had called him a ‘normal’ Lord.</lancel>

<lancel>“Still, the various numerical figures are quite good. However……”</lancel>

<lancel>“Are you asking about the development speed?”</lancel>

<lancel>Berami questioned quickly.</lancel>

<lancel>That’s right. Silvana’s current development speed was 45,590. It wasn’t low. The problem was that the development speed was currently falling.</lancel>

<lancel>“Is there a particular reason?”</lancel>

<lancel>“Well, I don’t know the details but the Lord has had no time to properly care for the rate of development. After learning about the territory, he had unexpectedly built that Mercenary’s Office and invested a lot of money into it.”</lancel>

<lancel>‘Aha, was it something like that?’</lancel>

<lancel>Ark was able to grasp the situation from Berami’s description. Thanks to the Seutandal conquest war and the lawless port, Raiden hadn’t cared about the management of the estate. Apart from the politics, he left Berami to manage the rest of it. However, it was less efficient than when a Lord managed it so the speed fell. Building the Mercenary’s Office which had no relation to development or production of the estate was also a problem.</lancel>

<lancel>In fact, there had been something Ark was doubtful about before the siege. In Nagaran, NPCs could be hired as mercenaries. The mercenaries could be hired for a siege. However, most territories only hired 200~300 of them. Although they had good skills, the cost of hiring them was quite expensive. Ark had applied for the siege two days before it started. He had wondered how Raiden could hire 600 mercenaries despite his financial difficulties.</lancel>

<lancel>‘It was due to the Mercenary’s Office.’</lancel>

<lancel>When he created the Mercenary’s Office, the number of mercenaries that could be hired increased. Furthermore, when the Lord hired mercenaries then the rating of the office would increase, stronger mercenaries would gather and the degree of loyalty increased. Even the hiring costs were less expensive. For wandering mercenaries, this office was like a token of appreciation. The reason Raiden built the Mercenary’s Office was obvious.</lancel>

<lancel>‘It was probably to hire mercenaries who he would send to Seutandal at a cheaper price.’</lancel>

<lancel>Despite the money piled up in the estate, that money wasn’t the Lord’s personal funds. The money spent hiring the mercenaries was from Raiden’s pockets. In other words, building the office on the estate and hiring mercenaries was to reduce the burden on his wallet.</lancel>

<lancel>‘It was thanks to this that he was able to hire 600 mercenaries despite the lack of time and money.’</lancel>

<lancel>Anyway, Ark found the information about the estate quite satisfactory. He was especially satisfied with the rating of the estate.</lancel>

<lancel>“As you already know, the total income of the territory is 450,000 gold. When the value, income and fame of the estate increases above 600,000, you will be able to apply to the kings of the Three Kingdoms for a promotion.”</lancel>

<lancel>That was Berami’s explanation. Thanks to the Continental Commerce Firm, Silvana’s value had already gone over 600,000. He needed 150,000 more income and 100,000 more fame before the territory could be promote to a B class estate. And a huge bonus was given if the rating of the territory increased. The castle would become more durable and the armoury would also increase. The effects of the Defense Towers during a siege would also be greater. And finally, the Lord’s salary would increase when the estate was promoted. The monthly salary of a Lord was 2% of the territory’s income. However, that salary was applied every time the territory’s rating increased.</lancel>

<lancel>In other words, if the estate’s current income was 400,000 gold then that was what the Lord’s salary would be based on when promoted to a C class estate. With the 2% of the income rule, the monthly salary of a D class estate was 3,000 gold and the Lord would receive 6,000 gold when promoted to a C class estate. And the Lord of a B class estate would receive 9,000 gold. In other words, in one month he could receive a salary of 18,000 gold.</lancel>

<lancel>‘All that effort for 1 year and he had the territory taken away when a B rank promotion was right around the corner……’</lancel>

<lancel>Raiden must be sitting on the floor of his room and crying right now. While he thought about Raiden, the idea of sympathizing with him never even crossed Ark’s mind.</lancel>

<lancel>“Okay. Repair the ceiling and areas that were damaged in the siege. Don’t pay attention to the budget and just restore it to its best possible state. Since there will be no sieges for a month, all projects on stand-by should begin. Our target is to reach a B rating in 3 months.”</lancel>

<lancel>Berami’s eyes opened wide at Ark’s order.</lancel>

<lancel>“As you can see, the current assets are only worth 120,300 gold.”</lancel>

<lancel>“Have you forgotten? We have to pay 30% of the territory’s total income as a tax to the Three Kingdoms. That is 116,100 gold. So the territory’s assets is actually only 4,200 gold. That is enough to maintain the estate. The income for the next month will be barely enough for the repairs but you want us to continue with the projects as well?</lancel>

<lancel>“There’s no need to worry about money for a while.”</lancel>

<lancel>Ark replied with a wicked grin. Ark had a reason for saying that. It was became of the ‘double ledgers’ he previously created. Ark had handed Wolkosu the ‘double ledgers’ and he had diverted some of the earning from the Continental Commerce Firm into it. When he checked with Wolkosu before the siege, the amount had surprisingly reached 1 million gold. Of course, Ark couldn’t embezzle this money directly. The reason Ark had made the ‘double ledgers’ was to prepare for when he regained Silvana again. And when the estate was promoted, the monthly salary of the Lord would increase. In the end, Ark would be the one profiting.</lancel>

<lancel>‘If I pour that 1 million gold into the estate then it will grow in a month!’</lancel>

<lancel>Opportunity would always come to those who are prepared. But Berami didn’t know those details so he still looked uneasy.</lancel>

<lancel>“Is there really a way to have that type of money? If a problem occurs and we can’t offer the tax to the Three Kingdoms…..”</lancel>

<lancel>“I told you not to worry. If I wanted then I could have that money by the end of the day.”</lancel>

<lancel>“I understand. Then I’ll believe in the Lord and order the materials required for the repairs as well as give the command for the projects to resume. At the end of 3 months then it might be possible to promote the estate. No, it will be promoted.”</lancel>

<lancel>“If there are any other projects required for the estate’s development then tell me.”</lancel>

<lancel>Berami replied with a cheerful expression.</lancel>

<lancel>“As expected, the estate becomes lively once Ark-nim returns.”</lancel>

<lancel>“I’m thankful for those words. I thought you might complain since there is a lot of work.”</lancel>

<lancel>“That’s impossible.”</lancel>

<lancel>Berami laughed and was about to walk away when he remembered something.</lancel>

<lancel>“Ah, I just remembered. You have visitors from the Schudenberg Kingdom.”</lancel>

<lancel>“The Schudenberg Kingdom? What do they want?”</lancel>

<lancel>Berami grinned and answered Ark’s question.</lancel>

<lancel>“It is better to ask them directly. Shall I summon them?”</lancel>

<lancel>After a while, three people entered the office. Two of them were knights while the last person was a middle-ages aristocrat were the uniform of the palace.</lancel>

<lancel>“First, congratulations on becoming the Lord of Silvana.”</lancel>

<lancel>“Thank you. But what brings representatives of the Schudenberg Kingdom here……?”</lancel>

<lancel>“Yesterday we heard from the Shrine of War that after a lot of bravery and wisdom, you managed to win the siege and become the Lord of Silvana. His Majesty is very pleased that you’ve raised the fame of Schudenberg Kingdom. After your achievements, he had decided to promote Ark-nim to a Baron.</lancel>

<lancel>‘A Baron?’</lancel>

<lancel>Ark looked astonished by the aristocrat’s words. Not long ago, Ark had become an aristocrat in Schudenberg Kingdom. Once becoming an aristocrat, a user who did more achievements (e.g. killing famous thieves, killing strong monsters that had been troubling the kingdom or gaining a lot of fame) had a chance to be promoted again. Nagaran was an area managed by all three Kingdoms on the continent. So those who became a Lord in Nagaran was granted a temporary title from all Three Kingdoms. However, Ark had become a nobleman in Schudenberg Kingdom before being Silvana’s Lord. Therefore, the King of Schudenberg could be smug in front of the Kings of Bristania and the Sinius Principality. Being granted a barony was his repayment.</lancel>

<lancel>The aristocrat politely handed up a letter from the King. After he received the scroll, there were some heroic sound effects and the information window appeared.</lancel>

<lancel>-You have acquired the ‘Peerage Bestowment Certificate.’</lancel>

<lancel>After received the certificate, you have become a Baron.</lancel>

<lancel>While you are the Lord of Silvana, you have a noble title from the Schudenberg Kingdom. After raising Schudenberg’s fame through your achievements, you have been promoted to a higher status. A nobleman should always been a distinguished role model that can be respected by others. As a noble, people will always be observing your behaviour. You will also have the ear of Schudenberg’s King and other aristocrats. If your behaviour is just and honourable then you will have a chance to reach a higher status. But if they are dishonourable then you can be stripped of your title.</lancel>

<lancel>* As a noble title bonus, all stats will increase by 10.</lancel>

<lancel>* Reputation will increase by 7,500.</lancel>

<lancel>* When completing a quest given by an NPC with a noble title, your status (Honour Knight: 500 people) will allow you to receive the support of the guards.</lancel>

<lancel>* Owning 2 territories has granted you the title of ‘Lord.’</lancel>

<lancel>-You have learnt a new Lord’s skill.</lancel>

<lancel>The title of Lord is given to a person who possessed two or more territories. Once you possess two or more territories, you have the qualification to apply for an audience with the King. You will also have a stronger voice among the upper class citizens.</lancel>

<lancel>This skill will be useful when meeting many upper class residents and aristocrats.</lancel>

<lancel>+ Political Power (Lord Skill): This skill will allow you to take part in nobility meetings about the Kingdom as well as participate in politics.</lancel>

<lancel>When your political power increases, your comments will become more convincing to the King and nobles. Of you manage to persuade a certain amount of nobles and the King, you can even change the laws of Schudenberg Kingdom. In some cases, your opinion will be considered when giving quests to regular users. When your political power increases, your degree of intimacy with nobles will also increase.</lancel>