The two parties exchanged money for goods in a simple and smooth transaction.
"Countess Ratifa, to be honest, the nobles who made any real gains have probably already returned. If you want to continue trading for Half-Beastman heads, you can wait here in Baltahan.
Most of those who stayed with the Legion have large but low-quality private armies. They’re just there to get by."
Henry didn’t an to offend anyone; he was just telling the truth. It was worth getting on the good side of a great noble from the Northern Territory, even if she was from far away.
Ratifa nodded, indicating she would consider it.
After the countess left, Henry kicked Boman and griped, "Are you incapable of moving when you see a woman? Aren’t you married?"
Boman rubbed his rear and grumbled indignantly, "What? I was just looking. What’s the big deal?"
’A few glances? Your eyes were about to pop out of your head and do a little dance!’
"You two, it’s safe from here on out. You should go on ahead. I’ve got a lot of cargo, so I’ll be slow. Don’t let delay your return to your fiefs."
"Alright, we’ll head out first, then." After bidding Henry farewell, Boman and Fass turned and left with their n.
Henry didn’t linger in Baltahan for long either.
On the road, Henry and Bain continued to chat.
"This deal saved a lot of ti and effort. It spared from having to find buyers myself," Henry said with satisfaction.
A place like Odoche didn’t have enough buyers for all the Half-Beastman heads Henry had on hand.
Even if it did, they wouldn’t be as generous as Ratifa. As far as Henry was concerned, the less haggling, the better.
"Yes, and that Countess Ratifa is quite beautiful," Bain remarked, bringing up her looks out of the blue.
"Hm? Bain, what do you an by that?"
Bain just chuckled and said no more, hoping only to return to his lord’s fief as quickly as possible.
Four days passed in a flash, and Henry successfully arrived at Odoche, the city that was not yet loyal to him.
Looking at the city gate from a distance, Henry asked in confusion, "Bain, take a few cavalryn and see what’s going on. Why is there no one around?"
’Has Count John also left the city?’
And then... Henry realized he had!
Earl John Hoyland was actually at the city gate to welco him, dressed in an imperial robe and accompanied by his Minister of the Imperial Court and his Knights!
’What’s going on? Isn’t this a little too grand?’ Henry spurred his horse onward, rushing over with his key n.
"Earl John Hoyland, thank you for the welco. I’m honored."
John looked at the transford Henry before him, inwardly stunned.
His appearance was the sa, but his aura had changed! That bloodlust, that air of invincibility—it was dazzling.
"Henry, your fa has already spread across the borderlands. Who doesn’t know of your might on the battlefield, sending Half-Beastman heads rolling?
We received word that your forces were spotted in Baltahan and Autongard, so I had my Light Cavalry patrols keep a sharp lookout."
Henry nodded. John’s gesture showed him a great deal of respect.
"Count, let’s go inside and talk... I need to make arrangents for my army. I plan to send so of them back first. You know, I’ve been away from my fief for a long ti, and I don’t know..."
John gave Henry a aningful look and said, "I sent n to watch over your domain. No bandits have troubled it. Co, I’ve ordered a feast. We can eat and talk."
Henry noticed John’s look and the corner of his mouth tilted up slightly as he gave his troops their orders.
Claude and Vasco would lead the army and the spoils of war back ho, while Bain, Philip, and the cavalryn would stay to accompany him.
The group headed for John’s Earl’s Mansion. Revisiting the old place didn’t stir any particular feelings in Henry; he was just imagining what his own castle would look like.
The two entered the banquet hall, and serving girls brought out one dish after another in a display of John’s wealth and extravagance.
It was just a private dinner for the two of them, yet it was so lavish. ’Nobles are all like this,’ he thought. ’Always trying to show off in every way possible, calling it "propriety" for the sake of appearances.’
"John, thank you for helping to watch over my domain."
The two clinked their glasses and drank it all in one go.
"Pedro is dead."
’Pedro is dead. That ans the castle on my fief is finished.’
The faction panel also updated at that mont. ’Is there a delay or sothing? Wait a second. This is...’
Henry ignored whatever it was Tommy had done to cause such a huge change on the panel for now. He had to deal with John first.
Henry shook his head and sighed. "Alas, I regret Baron Pedro’s death. It’s such a sha. He was a competent businessman."
John smiled, cutting off a piece of steak and eating it.
Henry seed to recover from his "grief" quickly. He said with a smile, "Thankfully, Baron Pedro still has a few sons, so his bloodline will at least continue."
The knife and fork in John’s hand paused for a fraction of a second, and he gave Henry a long, hard look.
"They were overco with grief and followed their father."
Having gotten the response he wanted, Henry finally picked up his knife and fork and began to eat. The castle, a fortress built for both offense and defense that cost one hundred and seventy thousand Dinars—or even more—was his!
"Henry, your strength is beyond my imagination. I am not a greedy man. I only need you to help look after my youngest son.
He has now received his charter as a Pioneer Noble. I have provided him with one Attendant, twenty shielded Crossbown, and two hundred serfs. He has chosen land south of your domain, not too close, but not too far."
"Of course. Providing your youngest son with suitable protection is sothing we’ve already discussed."
The rest of their conversation was nothing important, just idle chatter. Henry told John gossip from the academy, and John told Henry about which local lord’s wife had taken a lover.
It was already afternoon when the two finished their al. Henry didn’t stay long, setting out on the road back with Bain and the others. By noon the next day, they had caught up with Claude and his group, who had departed earlier.
They pushed their pace, traveling as fast as they could. Right now, all Henry wanted was to get back to his fief and kick his Housekeeper, Tommy, in the ass.
He had sent Tommy a letter telling him to buy so serfs and shepherd slaves and to establish a Forest Hunting Ground and pastures, but he hadn’t told him to make such a big move.
Tommy had only been a Housekeeper before; he didn’t have much experience in administrative affairs. ’I hope he hasn’t ssed things up.’
Seeing that Henry was distracted, Claude rode up beside him and asked, "Is sothing wrong, my lord?"
"It’s nothing. I’m just worried that Tommy will be exhausted from suddenly having to manage so many people."
Claude smiled and reassured Henry not to worry, explaining that Tommy’s family had served House Chase for generations and that he was very capable—not soone to be underestimated.
Two days later, Henry’s party finally returned to the fief. Without even stopping to rest, Henry went straight to find Tommy to get an update on the situation.
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