Reaching an Agreement

Everything unfolded as Gawain had predicted.

News from the south would make the king and nobles nervous, and with a warning from a resurrected ancient, that tension might escalate to a slight panic – but that would be the extent of it.

Those who hadn't experienced the Magic Tide, nor could they imagine it, wouldn't react significantly to mere words. Even if Gawain brought some swords and armor corroded by Elemental Power as proof, it wouldn't prompt them to take higher-level action.

After all, while there weren't many "abnormal natural phenomena" that could corrupt swords and armor with Magic Power, they weren't unheard of. These couldn't serve as conclusive evidence that the Magic Tide was about to return. In fact, even Gawain himself had only made bold conjectures based on data from his memory; he himself wouldn't dare claim the world was ending.

Francis II's response was not wrong. He couldn't put the entire kingdom on wartime footing just because of this sudden news. Even if he wanted to, the cumbersome and outdated feudal system of noble enfeoffment wouldn't allow it. Moreover, even if the Magic Tide were truly coming, preparing the entire nation now would be unwise. The monsters and surging magic from the south were merely signs, not even the vanguard of the Magic Tide. The real Magic Tide might appear months, or even years, later (if it truly intended to appear). Until then, everything would be calm.

Demanding nationwide readiness in a time of peace, without any evidence, might have been possible for the Moen Family in its prime, but the current Second Dynasty… no longer possessed such influence.

Francis II couldn't even command the Duke of the Eastern Province.

A resurrected founding duke might carry significant prestige, but trying to leverage that prestige to interfere with the kingdom's current order was wishful thinking. Gawain was clear on this point; he knew his influence here was like a scepter of flowers – brilliant and beautiful, but powerless. The Cecil Family had lost its foundation; they had no land, no people, no troops, no generals. They had even borrowed the travel expenses to the capital. For the typically pragmatic noble circles, this was an awkward situation.

So, Gawain held back Rebecca, who was about to speak, and looked at the king opposite him. "We have sent word and issued a warning. As for the subsequent specific response, that is your concern."

"We will certainly take your warning seriously," Duchess Victoria Wilde said in a clear, cool voice. "All investigations will commence immediately after this meeting concludes, and you will receive the news at the earliest opportunity."

"Investigations... that's all we can do," Gawain nodded, then changed the subject. "Then let's put this matter aside. Now, let's discuss the private affairs of the Cecil Family."

This time, the atmosphere truly became tense in an instant.

"Relax, don't act like 'the ancestor has crawled out of his coffin demanding the redemption of all the spirit money burned over the years'," Gawain said with a smile, waving his hand. He then realized no one understood his dark humor…

How awkward.

"I know what happened a hundred years ago. To be frank, I also want to kill that unfilial descendant," Gawain's face twitched, and he got straight to the point. "So, I have no intention of overturning the verdict on this matter. I am here only to reclaim some things that rightfully belong to me personally."

Francis II and the several dukes exchanged glances. Everyone's expression showed varying degrees of relief. Gawain had proactively brought up the earth-shattering event from a century ago, which genuinely eased their minds. After all, on such a sensitive topic, whoever initiated the conversation carried a psychological burden that could send one's blood pressure soaring to 200. It was a relief that this living ancestor was so considerate of his descendants.

But after their relief, they became anxious again: what were those personal belongings of Gawain Cecil?

All possessions belonged to the lord – that was the rule among nobles. Everything that once belonged to the Cecil Family, including their fief, vassals, titles, and so on, was the personal property of Gawain Cecil. What did he mean?

Everyone tensed their muscles when no one was looking. Only Francis II looked at Gawain with a calm expression and gave a subtle, imperceptible nod.

"Don't be nervous. Most of what I owned in life has been passed down to my descendants. My unfilial descendants have squandered it, so I can't forcefully take it back," Gawain chuckled. "What I'm referring to are the things that cannot be inherited, such as… my Pioneer Right."

The grand nobles and advisors exchanged bewildered glances. Then, these learned and well-mannered gentlemen and ladies immediately thought of that ancient and sacred Pioneer Decree.

It was a glorious commemoration of the Second Expansion, a testament to humanity's desperate struggle for survival, a declaration of defiance against nature by mortals. To this day, it remained part of the fundamental legal code of the Four Kingdoms – a decree that would never have a chance to take effect again, yet no one dared to repeal it.

The original version of the Pioneer Decree was even inscribed on platinum plates and enshrined in the halls of every human kingdom.

But everyone kept it as a memento! To show off to future generations! To signify their legitimate lineage!

How could it suddenly be in effect again?!

Yet, amidst their astonishment, a hint of genuine relief flickered across everyone's faces. This subtle shift in expression did not escape Gawain's eyes.

So, he also relaxed and began discussing the matter of the Permanent Pioneer Right with those present.

Gawain believed this matter wouldn't be too difficult.

Compared to a living ancestor returning to the mortal world demanding the redemption of spirit money burned centuries ago, and on top of that, seeking back his vast, almost kingdom-within-a-kingdom fief from seven hundred years ago, a mere Permanent Pioneer Right was nothing. While the latter sounded intimidating, it wouldn't affect the vested interests of anyone present. And when their own interests weren't affected, every noble (including the king himself) would be quite amenable.

This was also the result of Gawain's deliberate efforts.

He had been high-profile all the way, spreading all sorts of news. When he entered the capital, he even specifically brought out the banners from seven hundred years ago, displaying an imposing and aggressive demeanor. This was actually to guide everyone's thoughts – making them believe that this living ancestor was here to vindicate the Cecil Family and reclaim all their ancestral lands. Therefore, everyone would devise countermeasures based on this premise and prepare how to engage in verbal sparring to protect their existing interests.

However, Gawain's goal was only the Permanent Pioneer Right.

The difference was essentially like going out to buy a watch. The original price was 860,000, and after a discount, it was 25 – a feeling of getting an incredible bargain.

It even made one suspect if the watch was fake.

But even if the 25-dollar watch was fake, the ancestor was real. If he truly only wanted the Permanent Pioneer Right… then what was there to say?

"Okay, okay, give it, give it, hurry and take your ancestor's Pioneer Right and go reclaim the wilderness, please don't come back.jpg."

If Gawain hadn't made any prior preparations and had proposed the Permanent Pioneer Right from the start, things might not have gone so smoothly. The inherent greed of nobles would have made them want to skim something off even in this situation. But with so much groundwork laid, discussing the Pioneer Right became much easier.

The king and dukes present, without much discussion, unanimously agreed that the Pioneer Right itself should be recognized – recognized or not, it had to be. After all, it wasn't just Ansu that had signed the Pioneer Right. In fact, all the Four Kingdoms at the time, as well as various races and countries bordering the Four Kingdoms, had acknowledged this decree and promised its permanent validity. Among these "common witnesses" were the Elves from the Silver Empire in the far south of the continent…

Those mystical, and long-lived Elves.

Those who averaged over three thousand years of lifespan and were extremely meticulous and honest were notoriously stubborn. The reason the Elves were chosen as one of the witnesses when the Permanent Pioneer Decree was signed was precisely because of this: the monarchs of the four kingdoms, to make the decree appear more solemn and credible, had even specially inscribed an Elvish copy and handed it over to the Silver Empire for safekeeping.

Although everyone knew that the first generation of Expansion Knights couldn't live forever, humans insisted on writing such a decree marked "Permanent," and having a long-lived race as a witness. This was probably a human quirk…

In any case, the Elven representative at the time, muttering "Humans are truly strange," brought that copy back to their country. Then, the Elven Queen happily stamped it with her seal. Seven hundred years passed in the blink of an eye. The Elven Queen, who had just ascended the throne as a young girl back then, was still the Elven Queen…

She clearly remembered the seal she had affixed back then. What if one refused to acknowledge it?

Gawain mentioned that if Ansu didn't acknowledge the Pioneer Right, he would take his entire family and travel halfway across the continent to defect to the Silver Empire. There were plenty of undeveloped areas around the Elven forests, and he knew many of the Elves there. They would surely get along well with the Cecil Family…

If their founding ancestor, feeling ostracized at home, packed up his family and went to live in the trees in a foreign land, would they still have any dignity left?

Therefore, everyone present unanimously agreed that the Pioneer Right should be preserved, but where exactly to pioneer… that was a matter to be discussed.

"There is no uncultivated land left within the kingdom where people can live; every inch of land has its owner," the King's Prime Minister, Aiden Alfred, stood up. This steady man was Francis II's right-hand man and knew the kingdom's situation like the back of his hand. "Outside the kingdom, the border areas with other countries also have very few wastelands. If there are any, they are dead lands devoid of life – like the buffer zone of the Gondor Wasteland. Your Grace, where do you intend to pioneer?"

Gawain waved his hand. "Bring the map."

The map was presented. Gawain frowned slightly upon a glance.

Even though this world had convenient magic, and auxiliary abilities like Eagle Eye, Forest Perception, and Measurement could help people draw maps, the map before him was still crude. There were even significant issues with its scale.

It was practically a doodle compared to the "satellite view" in his mind.

Perhaps it was precisely because magic was too convenient that it had hindered the development of many things?

As Gawain thought this, he completed the comparison with the accurate map in his mind. Then, he pointed to an area on the rough map, "I'll start from here."

It was a mountain range bordering the Gondor Wasteland and the Typhon frontier.

The Dark Mountains.