Tom ran into Ronin on his way to the Inner Castle.
"My Lord, I’ve brought back all the horses you purchased in Pasture City."
Ronin nodded. "Good work. Let Chahar know, and he can handle the rest. I think I saw Sir Rogner and Sir Krami from the tower. Why did they co with you to Swamp Town?"
"I was just about to report on that, my Lord."
Tom said, "When I went to the horse farm to retrieve the horses, Rogner saw that I was the only Professional Knight in the group, so he and Krami escorted back. They also wanted to take the opportunity to visit Swamp Town for a bit."
He added, "While it’s true that Sir Rogner and Sir Krami enjoy traveling, I have a feeling they have another reason for visiting you."
Ronin thought about it but couldn’t co up with anything. ’Perhaps they really are just here in Swamp Town for a visit.’
"Let’s go. We’ll greet them together."
If it were anyone else visiting, Ronin usually wouldn’t go out to greet them personally.
However, he had a very good impression of both Rogner and Krami. Plus, considering how much help he had received from Viscount Marvin, it was only reasonable to go out and welco them.
"Long ti no see, Rogner, Krami."
Ronin smiled as he walked out of the castle, greeting them warmly.
"Long ti no see, Lord Viscount!"
But it wasn’t just Rogner and Krami who had co. Ronin also saw eight or nine unfamiliar faces who, judging by their attire, looked like Attendant Knights.
Rogner then made an introduction. "This is Gladhart. His father is Sir Suri, the captain of Ironhoof Castle’s fourth Knight Squad."
Ronin had t Sir Suri at a banquet in Pasture City. The man was at the peak of Bronze Level, just one step away from becoming a Silver.
Furthermore, he had danced a few tis with Jenny Hartel, and Viscount Marvin had even asked him what he thought of the girl back then.
"Welco to Swamp Town, Sir Gladhart."
Ronin smiled and extended a hand to shake his, then glanced at the nine unfamiliar faces behind the three. "And these are?"
Rogner said with a smile, "Those are our accompanying Followers and servants."
Ronin gave a slight nod, though he was inwardly surprised.
’Not only did they bring a stranger, Gladhart, but they also brought Followers and servants to Swamp Town. Are they planning on living here?’
Rogner seed to sense Ronin’s confusion. He exchanged a look with Krami and Gladhart, and the three of them knelt on one knee in unison.
The sudden scene startled Ronin. "What are you doing?"
"Lord Ronin, please allow us to follow you, to beco your Knights, to fight for your glory and for your domain!"
This...
Ronin had always considered himself quick-witted, but faced with a scene like this, he couldn’t help but be a little stunned.
He had just been wondering if they had co with so request from Viscount Marvin, but he never imagined the three of them were here to pledge their allegiance to him.
It wasn’t just him who was astonished; even Tom, who had accompanied them the whole way, was shocked.
’Rogner, a scion of the Ironhoof Castle’s Viscount Clan and a young Advanced Level Knight, would choose to follow Ronin?’
In that mont of shock, Tom understood. The Lord Ronin of today was the master of the Wubei Territory, with a much more promising future. His status was far beyond what the Lord of Mountain Forest Town could compare to.
"You... get up first."
Ronin didn’t agree imdiately. Instead, he walked forward and helped the three of them to their feet one by one.
The three of them were a bit puzzled. ’Shouldn’t he be saying sothing like, "I accept your fealty" right now?’
’What does helping us up an? Is he rejecting us?’
"Co, let’s go inside the castle and talk."
Ronin invited the three into the castle. "I need to understand your intentions. At the sa ti, before you follow , you also need to understand a little better."
Rogner, Krami, and Gladhart were different from his other Followers.
The Knights under Ronin’s command were either n who had surrendered to him or commoners who had been promoted to Knighthood; none of them had particularly complicated backgrounds.
But Rogner, Krami, and Gladhart all had families behind them. Even if they swore fealty to Ronin and put his interests first, they wouldn’t completely sever ties with their own clans.
Therefore, there were certain established conventions that Ronin intended to change, and he needed them to understand this beforehand.
The group arrived in the main hall, where servants served the Lord and his guests drinks and fruit.
Ronin took the opportunity to learn about the three of them.
Rogner Ironhoof, 21 years old, an Advanced Level Knight, second son of Viscount Marvin.
Krami Snow, 21 years old, an Interdiate Knight, eldest daughter of Baron Tarren, and Rogner’s fiancée. It was said they would be marrying soon.
Gladhart, 17 years old, a Basic Level Knight, second son of Sir Suri.
Although all three ca from noble families, none of them had the right to inherit their family’s Noble Title or property.
After all, they were either second sons or daughters. According to the rules of succession, it wasn’t their turn.
Thus, their fates were already sealed. They could either stay and help manage their family’s affairs, or they could take so resources and go out to follow another Lord in pursuit of higher status and wealth.
The three of them had chosen the latter.
Wubei Territory was a newly established domain, and its Lord, Ronin, possessed imnse potential, making him a very suitable choice to pledge fealty to.
This was their intention, and perhaps the families behind them shared this sentint as well.
Accept, or refuse?
In truth, Ronin had no intention of refusing.
When he was still the Baron of Mountain Forest Town, having a dozen or so Professional Knights under his command had seed sufficient.
But now he was the Viscount of the Wubei Territory. His domain was bound to grow in the future, with an increasing population and accumulating wealth.
There’s an old saying: "My neighbor stockpiles grain, I stockpile guns; my neighbor becos my granary." The implication is that the neighbor’s Combat Power is lacking.
If Ronin wanted to maintain the stability of his domain and protect its wealth, he would need more Professional Knights or Mages.
After all, Transcendents were the symbol of Power in this world.
But waiting for his subjects to awaken as Extraordinary and then advance from Basic Level to Interdiate, and then to Advanced Level, would take many years. It was too slow.
Under these circumstances, accepting the fealty of outside Transcendents was an unavoidable choice.
Rogner, Krami, and Gladhart were all talented individuals. Ronin had no reason to refuse them.
"I can accept your allegiance."
After understanding everything, Ronin gave them the answer they were hoping for, but then his tone shifted. "However, there are two points I must tell you in advance."
The three of them listened intently. "Please, my Lord."
"First, since you have chosen to follow , I expect you to obey my arrangents and carry out my orders without question."
"That is what a Follower should do."
Rogner said, "Please do not doubt our sincerity!"
"The Lord’s interests are paramount," Krami added in agreent.
Gladhart seed a bit more timid, but he also declared, "We will follow all of your arrangents, my Lord."
Pledging fealty to a Lord and obeying their arrangents was the duty of a Professional Knight.
Since the three of them had chosen to follow soone, they were already prepared to accept commands.
Ronin nodded. "The second point is also quite important. If you follow , I will improve your compensation and raise your status, but for at least the next ten or twenty years, I will not be easily granting you your own territory."
For the ti being, Ronin had no plans to create several Baron’s Domains within his Wubei Territory.
He wanted to have the final say on how the Wubei Territory developed, how its population was managed, and how its land was utilized.
Once he ennobled his Followers as Nobles of the Feudal Territory, then according to the laws of the Kingdom, he would need to consult with these Vassal Lords to implent any policies within their domains.
Although these Vassals would likely comply with his decrees, it would undoubtedly introduce the potential for complications in implenting his policies.
For a long ti to co, his goal was to concentrate power to accomplish great things.
"If you can accept this, then I will accept your allegiance."
Ronin looked at the three of them. "You may take so ti to consider."
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