Chapter 59

If one becomes a viscount, they are given a portion of their parent's territory. In other words, Sora, upon becoming a viscount, would be given a part of the Kleinserdt earldom as a viscount's territory. However, it is only nominal. The parent supervises and instructs to prevent the inexperienced from acting recklessly; that is why the viscount's territory is given from the parent's territory. Even after becoming a viscount, one cannot freely manage the territory.

However, Sora's request removes this restriction. By inviting Chaff, a member of another family, as a consultant, he creates a buffer against interference from the boar lord. As a consultant, not an advisor, sovereignty remains with Sora, the lord of the viscount's territory, and the final decision-making power also belongs to Sora. The management of the territory will be carried out according to Sora's ideas, and even if the boar lord, his parent, interferes, Sora can ignore it by citing Chaff.

Even if Chaff is a nominal consultant, he is a member of the Trainen earldom, and advancing the management of the territory over his head would be a disgrace to the Trainen earldom. Sora, who won the duel, has the upper hand with Chaff, but the boar lord does not.

Sora's request, when seen by a discerning person, reveals one fact: the estrangement between the Kleinserdt family. If they were on good terms, there would be no reason to dislike the parent's supervision in managing the territory.

The Duke of Berze understood this and frowned. No one can retract Sora's request, meaning it will certainly be fulfilled. This would create an autonomous region within the Kleinserdt earldom, and the impact would be significant.

No one knows Sora's political stance. He moved between factions like a bat. Chaff, the consultant, is also a neutral noble. Moreover, the fire bottles and wooden swords Sora displayed in the duel are unique and highly sought after. Some will try to bring Sora into their faction, and among them, there will be less than honorable methods.

The Duke of Berze is in the hands of Sora with the white birch trade, a lifeline. He would need to be a force when necessary.

--No, that's just an excuse. In any case, I will help Lord Sora.

To the Duke of Berze, Sora is the only one who understands him, and vice versa. He understands what Sora is trying to do. The Duke of Berze himself has poured all his energy into the regeneration of his territory since inheriting the title. The Kleinserdt territory will face even greater difficulties. It was only natural for him to lend a hand as a mentor.

The king, harboring bitter thoughts, ordered Chaff to fulfill Sora's request and summoned the Duke of Berze and the Earl of Trainen before leaving the scene. This was the moment the Sora Kleinserdt Viscount's territory, or autonomous region, was established. It was also the moment Sora began to take over the Kleinserdt earldom.

Sora stood up and started walking, urging Chaff to follow.

"There's a lot to do. Don't overwork yourself, consultant."

"I don't understand what's going on at all."

Chaff, unable to keep up with the rapid changes, sighed and put his hand to his forehead. Sora waved to the boar lord with a smile. Few realized it was a declaration of victory and a declaration of war. The boar lord was one of those who did not understand.

"Chaff, you don't need to overthink it."

Sora smiled warmly at Chaff.

"Just lend me a hand."

Changing his warm smile to a mischievous one, Sora continued.

"This is by royal decree, after all."

As Sora and Chaff went to visit Gorge and the guards, the king was in a carriage heading to the palace, facing the Duke of Berze and the Earl of Trainen.

"Berze, what was that all about? Where does your scheme begin?"

The king asked, not hiding his displeasure. The Duke of Berze explained with a troubled expression that he had no involvement.

"Then are you saying that little fox planned everything from the start? Don't be ridiculous."

"Your Majesty, Lord Sora and the Earl of Kleinserdt are different. Considering the content of the victor's rights, it's understandable that they are in conflict."

"Then who orchestrated the conflict?"

"I don't know."

The king glared suspiciously at the Duke of Berze. Unexpectedly, the Earl of Trainen came to his rescue.

"Your Majesty, if the Duke of Berze were the mastermind, he would have handled it more skillfully. Besides, the quick thinking shown in the victor's rights is Sora Kleinserdt's own. There are few who can control him. It's enough to keep an eye on the suspects. The current concern is if the manufacturing methods of the two weapons shown in the duel fall into the wrong hands."

The king reluctantly accepted the Earl of Trainen's reasoning.

"Berze, you warn Sora Kleinserdt. Trainen, order your son to investigate the manufacturing methods."

"Understood."

The Duke of Berze and the Earl of Trainen responded in unison, and the king sighed.

"Truly, having capable vassals is a good thing, but too much of a good thing is as bad as too little."

"I think it's too much of a good thing, but if it were someone incapable, soldiers would not risk their lives."

The Earl of Trainen's defense of Sora surprised the king.

"Trainen, are you siding with Kleinserdt too?"

"The Earl of Kleinserdt and Sora Kleinserdt are different. He is a vessel capable of shouldering the next generation and should not be let go."

The Earl of Trainen stated calmly. His stern face suggested he had not fully come to terms with it. He, like his son, lacked flexible thinking. The duel was so shocking that even he had to acknowledge it.

"…I will keep that in mind."

The king replied quietly.

At the same time, in the grand cathedral of the capital, the outcome of the duel and the content of Sora's request were reported to the four highest-ranking members of the church: the high priest Leul, the high priest's attendant, the cardinal, and the church faction's elder.

"That is the summary of the recent turmoil and its resolution."

The four men, with serious expressions, grunted in unison. They all understood that Sora's goal was to take over the Kleinserdt earldom.

"This is very troublesome."

The cardinal voiced his thoughts.

"The sea salt, rosin, and seafood are painful losses, but above all—"

"—it's the land. The land with its rivers and the sea is too valuable to lose."

The church faction's elder crossed his arms and grunted.

"Just when the Earl of Kleinserdt was about to become a puppet, that little fox ruined it."

"He's only seven, is he really that exceptional?"

The elder nodded to the high priest's attendant.

"He's a clever child, but there's the madman Berze behind him. It's not that simple."

"Is assassination possible?"

The high priest's attendant asked, and the elder and the cardinal shook their heads.

"The son of Trainen is a hostage. If we make a move, the Trainen of Ganzhen will become our enemy."

If they could see this far, they were quite formidable, the elders thought.

The high priest broke the deadlock that was about to set in.

"Sora Kleinserdt is only seven, right?"

Scratching his golden hair, which seemed to shine on its own, the high priest asked. His charismatic presence and voice were inherited from generations of high priests, a testament to the blood of the hero who punished the magic-wielding killer in mythology.

"If he is only seven, there is still time before he inherits the earldom. It would be best if Sora Kleinserdt is deemed unfit to inherit the earldom. There are many ways to achieve this. For example—"

The high priest played with his golden bangs and spoke with thin lips. It was a simple move, powerful because it was legitimate.