Exiled Nobles Dared to Try a Scam Too?

Whitelaw watched Henry casually tear up the Land Deed, and the young man's face flushed with rage.

What kind of noble is this? How could he have no manners at all? Even if that Land Deed was fake, he couldn't just tear it up like that, could he?!

Henry raised his chin slightly and looked down at the young man, who did not even have a horse. "State your name, exile."

Whitelaw was deeply displeased by Henry's lofty attitude. The word "exile" was like a thorn driven into his heart.

But when he looked at the black mass of armored troops opposite him and the eager Grassland Warriors, he could only force himself to calm down.

Whitelaw struggled to put on a smile. "Whitelaw, a Western Noble."

"Oh, from the west? Why aren't you fishing along the coast? What are you doing here on our Eastern Grasslands?"

Whitelaw raised his head and removed his helmet, his tone nearly pleading. "As a noble, after I introduce myself, you should introduce your identity."

Henry sneered, leaning forward slightly. "Do you take me for an idiot? The Land Deed is obviously fake. The format is wrong, and there are problems with both the seal and signature. Who are you trying to fool? You are accused of illegally occupying land, forging a noble identity, and privately raising an army. Drop your weapons!"

The moment Henry finished speaking, trouble broke out within Whitelaw's own group.

"Didn't you say you had already received the Empire's recognition? You lied to us!"

"We built houses, followed you from the west to the east, and helped you kill Half-Orcs! And in the end, you deceived us with lies!"

More than a dozen veterans glared furiously at Whitelaw, looking as though they wanted to draw their swords and kill him on the spot.

"Your brother died in a Life-and-Death Duel with another man, and your father lost the territory to another Baron because of his debts... We were willing to follow you because we trusted you. But what about you? Huh?!"

The Serfs, meanwhile, silently backed away. Whatever happened, happened. They might as well surrender outright.

Surrounded by the veterans, Whitelaw's face turned deathly pale. He had never imagined things would develop like this.

According to the noble etiquette he had learned from memory, this arrogant stranger of a noble should at least have left him some dignity.

Whitelaw glared at the furious veterans and gritted his teeth. "You idiots! If I hadn't done this, we would all have died without even a place to be buried!"

However, the veterans no longer believed him, which only made Whitelaw even more terrified.

Without supporters, he had no say.

At that moment, Henry addressed the crowd. "You needn't worry. As long as you lay down your weapons, I can guarantee your safety. As for Whitelaw, he will face the punishment of the law."

Henry had no intention of wiping out this "beggars' gang." There was no point; they were not bandits.

A few New Recruits had died while fighting bandits a few days ago, which was entirely acceptable. But in a situation like this, fighting would do the New Recruits no good and would only add one or two unlucky deaths.

Social Charm passive skill triggered: ① Approachable, ③ Same-Sex Favorability

Cunning Rogue Habit passive skill triggered: ① Enemy Fear (Dignity +1), ② Wanderer Affinity

The veterans in Whitelaw's group looked at one another, then finally laid down their weapons.

Bain waved his hand, and Henry's men swiftly stepped forward to bind the veterans, Serfs, and Whitelaw.

Just like that, the conflict was resolved. Did they understand the value of a humanoid succubus? Of course, it also had something to do with the smiles of over three hundred archers and more than forty Grassland Warriors.

They all felt that the Soldiers opposite them looked extremely excited, as if they could not wait to rush over and chop them to death.

Henry looked at the bound Whitelaw and sighed. "Exile, when you were stopped outside, you should have left with those pitifully few Half-Orc heads. Perhaps you could have exchanged them for some spending money."

"Now, you will face my judgment." Henry turned and left, leaving the Soldiers to clean up the aftermath.

Whitelaw was taken back to the castle by Henry and thrown into a sunless dungeon.

The land for which Whitelaw had forged the Land Deed was the territory Henry had named Tishilai Village. Three hundred and ninety-seven Serfs were working there, while Soldiers were also conducting field encampment training.

Under Imperial law, this exiled noble, Whitelaw, had committed crimes on Henry's land. Both his charges and sentence were to be judged by Henry.

Claude, who had remained behind, looked at the veterans and Serfs who had been brought back under guard. "Master, how do you intend to deal with these captives?"

The veterans and Serfs all held their breath nervously, wanting to know what would become of them.

Henry thought for a moment. "How about this? Those of you veterans who are willing to stay can hand over your armor and weapons. That Scrap Metal is worth a little money too. I can give each of you four or five mu of land to become freeholding farmers. Those who don't want to stay can get lost and become mercenaries. That's still better than begging for food behind a useless noble."

The insulted Whitelaw instantly flushed red with rage, but he only dared curse Henry inwardly. How vulgar. Nobles of the grasslands truly lack the elegance of nobles from our west and south!

"Thank you, Lord! Your mercy is so great that even the waves of the sea dare not rise!"

"My lord! Thank you!"

The veterans immediately stripped off their armor and threw it to the ground, their eyes brimming with tears as they thanked Henry for his mercy.

They had originally been freeholding farmers, but the sudden collapse of the Gis Family had left them homeless as well.

Now, they could once again have land of their own to cultivate. They could be people again.

"As for you Serfs... continue being Serfs. Here, no one will casually curse or whip you. Work for two years, and you can become Tenant Farmers."

The Serfs were dumbfounded. Could treatment really be this good? What miserable lives had they been living on the Western Coast Region before this?

Claude was left to arrange the rest. Before long, Henry took Bain and two Veteran Infantrymen and escorted Whitelaw into the dungeon.

In the interrogation chamber of the gloomy dungeon, several torches provided some light, but the room remained dim and oppressive.

Whitelaw was tied to a chair, his face pale, his eyes filled with fear and despair.

There was no negotiation, no communication—nothing like Whitelaw had imagined. Only after he was tied to a chair did he realize what awaited him.

"You can't do this! I'm a noble!"

Smack!

Henry brought down his riding whip, making Whitelaw howl in pain as he sternly demanded to know why he had forged the Land Deed.

Whitelaw kept defending himself, but the evidence was irrefutable. His crimes could not escape punishment.

Henry did not waste any more words. After a brutal "reward," Whitelaw could no longer endure it. His voice trembling, he explained that there had been no nobles here at the time, and he had not had enough men to occupy the place.

Unable to gain the Empire's recognition, he could only try to win over the remaining Soldiers by forging the Land Deed.

Smack!

"Why did you whip me again?!"

"It was a reflex. Got a problem with that?!"