Banquet

Dark Mountains.

After seeing where Gawain pointed, everyone couldn't help but freeze.

The first to break the silence was Duke Baldwin Franklin of the Western Territory, his eyes wide: "Are... are you sure?"

"Why not?" Gawain smiled. "Is this place already owned by someone?"

"That's not it..." Francis II shook his head. "The entire Dark Mountains region and the areas further south are ownerless, which does meet the requirements of the Pioneer Decree. But that place is not only very close to the Typhon Empire, but it also directly connects to the Gondor Wasteland to the south. It's really..."

The Dark Mountains are part of the southern border of Ansu. Its eastern section extends all the way into the Typhon Empire, while its western section stretches for hundreds of kilometers along Ansu's border before bending slightly south, merging into the corrupted lands of the Gondor Wasteland. In theory, even the strip of plains on the southern side of the Dark Mountains is Ansu territory. However, in reality, the kingdom's control only reached the northern side of the mountains—and even that control was quite limited.

The most significant reason for this was the existence of the Gondor Wasteland.

That land was still shrouded in chaotic Elemental Power and demonic energy. The constantly surging corrupting forces left the land almost barren, and it was filled with toxins lethal to humans.

Although its range was no longer expanding, the occasional toxic dust storms that blew in from the border regions and the monsters that occasionally wandered out posed deadly threats.

Historically, after the Ansu Kingdom stabilized, it had attempted several counter-expansion efforts into the southern territories—they even had plans to reclaim the old lands of Gondor—but all efforts ultimately failed. Purifying the wasteland was exceptionally difficult and fraught with setbacks, with the returns being completely disproportionate to the investment. Early, barely established pioneer outposts were often destroyed by toxic dust storms and monsters before they could yield any output. Therefore, the Ansu Royal Family eventually withdrew all pioneer teams and halted at the north side of the Dark Mountains.

Subsequently, due to the increasing prosperity of the kingdom's northern regions and the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Violet Kingdom, the kingdom's focus shifted further north. Coupled with the "Mist Month Civil War" a century ago, the Cecil Family in the south collapsed overnight, further worsening and reversing the situation in the south. To this day, the entire Dark Mountains and most of the surrounding areas have become indistinguishable from the wasteland.

The scent of the wasteland blowing over the mountains had even corrupted the plains north of the mountains.

But Gawain merely smiled slightly at this: "I've faced worse situations than that. When it comes to political struggles and scheming, I might not be as good as you youngsters, but when it comes to confronting harsh nature, you're definitely no match for me."

Whether it's true or not, let's boast about it as if it is.

Since Gawain himself was so confident, the others present naturally wouldn't worry for him anymore. For the King and the other nobles, whether Gawain Cecil could establish a foothold in the south wasn't their concern at all. Their primary concern was when this hot potato would leave the capital. Since Gawain had actively chosen a desolate place that no one cared about, what else was there to say?

Let's quickly see the old ancestor off!

If not for the need to discuss some details, Francis II would have already prepared carriages for Gawain's family by now...

After settling the most important issue of pioneer rights, Gawain also managed to get Francis II to acknowledge several other "trivial matters."

Firstly, Gawain Cecil's ducal title must be retained, but for now, it would only be a personal honor and not inheritable by any descendants. This would only change if, upon Gawain's subsequent death (indeed), the Cecil Family had truly established vast territories in the south, or if they achieved other merits. At that time, their descendants' titles would be determined based on their land and merits.

This was actually a rather awkward arrangement, a product of the conflict between Gawain Cecil's ducal title and the incident from a century ago. No one dared to strip the title of the Founding Grand Duke, yet they couldn't directly elevate a viscount family to a ducal rank. Thus, this compromise was reached. Frankly speaking, this did not comply with any law enacted since Ansu's founding—but why would you talk logic with someone who crawled out of a coffin?

The old ancestor wasn't even talking about physics with you, and you expect him to talk about reason!?

The phrase "temporarily non-inheritable" was clear to anyone with discerning eyes; it was merely a way to buy time and appease the existing noble system.

In addition, the Ansu Royal Family would fully recognize the complete autonomy of the Cecil Family in the newly developed territories—just as the founding monarch recognized the autonomy of any pioneer territory.

Combined with some fragmented agreements, Gawain ultimately obtained the result he desired.

A kingdom within a kingdom, undisturbed.

In fact, these details had already been decided. When Prince Edmund visited in advance, Gawain had already established contact with the King. Now, in Oak Hall, it was merely a formality.

No one present raised any objections to these terms. After all, the Cecil Family was going to pioneer in a barren land. No matter how much territory they developed, it wouldn't affect the vested interests of any current family. Since there were no conflicts of interest, the nominal conflicts were easily resolved.

Francis II immediately signed the new Pioneer Document, declaring that according to ancient law, the Cecil Family would have the pioneer rights to all lands centered around the Dark Mountains, extending to any neighboring kingdom's fiefs. He also announced that the kingdom would provide necessary support for this pioneering endeavor—including a team of one hundred people comprising various artisans and mage apprentices, as well as the first year's supply of food and cloth for the pioneer territory.

Among them, the artisans and apprentices would serve in the pioneer territory for a full three years. After three years, they could voluntarily choose whether to stay or leave. However, if anyone chose to stay, the Cecil Family would have to "purchase" them from the royal family at a price of thirty Gold Shield Coins per person.

This support wasn't much, but Gawain was already very satisfied. For the Cecil Family, who were currently penniless, this was a much-needed relief.

The gold, silver, and ingots in the Mountain Treasury couldn't be directly turned into food, nor could they become skilled craftsmen. In this era of prolonged peace, where the word "pioneer" had become a distant memory, no one was willing to leave their stable homeland to go and pioneer in a place bordering the Gondor Wasteland. Those one hundred artisans and apprentices would be the most precious wealth.

This could also be seen as Francis II's goodwill towards Gawain, representing the Ansu Royal Family, as thanks for the Founding Grand Duke's acknowledgment of his bloodline.

The transaction was concluded, and everyone was satisfied. After a transaction that pleased both parties, a banquet was indispensable.

Oak Hall was resealed, and a feast was held in the banquet hall on the second floor of the castle. Fine wines and delicacies were laid out on the tables. The King and his most trusted nobles were to celebrate the return of a legendary hero here. Many nobles whose names couldn't be recalled suddenly appeared from who knows where, making the banquet hall incredibly lively.

Those who had newly appeared were nobles who were not qualified to enter Oak Hall but were qualified to know the meeting's outcome immediately. They had been waiting in the lounges throughout Silver Castle for a full half-day. Only when a attendant ran into the banquet hall and rang the bronze bell prepared for the celebration did they appear with smiles on their faces.

This was Rebecca's first time attending such an event. The impoverished young lady had never entered such a magnificent place in her life. Due to the exclusion of the Cecil Family from the entire noble circle, she had rarely attended any decent banquets. The grandest banquet she remembered was her sixteenth birthday, when her father had held a lively celebration for her in the castle, but it had merely featured a long table filled with food.

It was incomparable to the banquet in Silver Castle.

The entire hall was lined with long tables laden with food and wine freely available for the taking. The center of the hall was where the gentlemen and ladies danced, while a gorgeously dressed band played music on a stage at one side of the hall. Mages cast spells in the four corners of the hall, constantly creating beautiful dazzling lights and falling snowflakes in the air—it was incredible in Rebecca's eyes that precious mages were used to create such atmosphere-enhancing illusions.

His Majesty the King... is so rich.

At first, Rebecca tried to maintain a serious and composed demeanor, but soon, her girlish nature overwhelmed her forced composure. She grabbed Gawain's hand and peppered him with questions, while Gawain smiled and regaled her with tales based on his memories and his transmigator's imagination.

Rebecca's unsophisticated behavior did not escape the notice of the seasoned great nobles, but they showed no contempt towards this young lord from the countryside. Perhaps they felt some contempt inwardly, but Gawain Cecil stood by Rebecca's side the entire time. This "guardian" who never left her side forced everyone to restrain their condescending attitudes, at least outwardly maintaining smiles towards Rebecca.

Then, several young men approached to invite Rebecca to dance. Perhaps they thought that with the addition of an ancestral figure to the Cecil Family, there was potential value in getting closer to them. However, Gawain turned them all away.

What a joke. With Rebecca's brain, which has been squeezed by a door, and her stubborn personality, she could barely manage in the southern territories. Dealing with these cunning people in the capital would mean selling off the entire family in an instant!

"Excessive protection doesn't allow children to grow," a gentle male voice came from the side. "Viscountess Rebecca is an adult; you should let her experience more of high society's social circles."

Gawain turned his head and saw Duke Baldwin of the Western Territory standing behind him. Standing with Baldwin was Duchess Victoria Wilde of the Northern Territory.

"I died early and didn't have much experience raising children," Gawain shrugged, saying indifferently.

Baldwin: "..."

Victoria: "..."

"And I think even if I didn't stop her, Rebecca wouldn't have the time to pay attention to others."

Gawain said, pointing to his N+1 great-granddaughter. The young viscountess was currently hunched over a nearby long table, stuffing her face with food...

"Truly... willful," Duke Baldwin said dryly.

Gawain smiled and looked at Victoria Wilde, who stood beside him with a placid expression and remained silent: "Rather than educating my descendants, I have a few questions I'd like to ask this young lady of the Wilde family."