Something's Wrong—We Came Too Early. This Lord Isn't Even Leading Troops to War

As for those Downfallen Nobles, Henry simply wanted to fleece them for money. They had fallen on hard times, but their families' fiefs remained, so they still had a way out. There was no need to bother recruiting them.

There was only one issue Henry needed to deal with now: the castle's renovation and maintenance.

Several months ago, Pedro had boasted to Henry, declaring, "Two thousand men, three months, and I'll give you a castle."

In reality, it had taken a little over four months, but that was still a terrifying construction speed. Now that Henry had been using the castle for more than two months, he had discovered plenty of problems.

The construction schedule had been too rushed. It was just a giant unfinished stone shell. It was not worth 170,000 Denars—it was merely a "Stone Mountain" that enclosed a plot of land.

Ever since moving into the castle, Henry had continuously invested more money into improving the castle itself.

Perhaps if Henry had not made a name for himself in the Zhi Luo Campaign, Pedro might have had the chance to slowly renovate the castle after its completion.

If Henry had not shone so brilliantly in that campaign, there was no way he could have moved into the castle so easily. John would definitely have made him pay dearly, even if he was the King's student.

Unfortunately, once the castle was largely completed, John could not wait to make Pedro's entire family disappear. The Pedro family's immense fortune was all seized by John.

After all, in John's eyes, it was all his money! Every extra Denar Pedro spent pained him!

And so, Henry developed his territory while waiting for an invitation from the legion.

The greatest difference between games and reality was that in games, all it took was a few clicks. In reality, even if you had countless people helping you, there would still be a mountain of trivial matters waiting for you to resolve.

Anyone who had managed a fief knew that when a makeshift operation shifted from pure farming into a combined agricultural and commercial model, all kinds of problems and conflicts would arise—especially public security issues.

Ever since Henry had opened West Lyme to outsiders, the first batch of Lesser Nobles had been manageable, but the mercenaries and small Trade Caravans that followed gave him a massive headache.

It was common for two groups of mercenaries, dozens of men in total, to get into brawls. Bain had to bring men over, beat them all down, arrest them, and fine them.

Once or twice was fine, but constant troublemaking was infuriating!

Henry strengthened the management of mercenaries overnight, established stricter regulations, and issued a new Territory Law.

As those measures were implemented, public security in the territory gradually improved.

"Master, two Downfallen Nobles are about to have another Life-and-Death Duel. It's right outside the tavern, and they want you to serve as a witness."

Exasperated, Henry waved a hand. "Have Bain witness it. I don't have time for that!"

The problem had improved, but not completely. Those Downfallen Nobles still fought and brawled every day. They could start a Life-and-Death Duel over a single cup of wine.

He had found it rather interesting at first, but it was far too time-consuming.

Claude nodded and went out to handle the matter. Tommy, meanwhile, set down the ledger he had been using to tally material consumption and said, "Master, there are too few literate people in the territory. Sometimes even Bain has to help record material management."

"Hmm... How are the Exiled Nobles I told you to keep an eye on some time ago? Are they honest?"

Henry did not intend to delay any longer. At the very least, he needed to recruit a few junior clerks to ease the increasingly heavy accounting workload on Tommy and Claude.

"Four of them are fairly honest. They disbanded their private forces of more than ten men, bought several dozen mu of land, and honestly had their Serfs clear land and farm it. They've been registered already. Starting next year, they'll be paying taxes to us."

Henry nodded and told Tommy to summon them. He planned to reward them with jobs.

Strictly speaking, they were no longer nobles. They were independent farmers under Henry's rule, or rather, small landowners—the influential figures of a small community.

Their former noble status could only grant them a little dignity and prestige. Perhaps their descendants might one day restore their ancestors' glory.

So, if the Lord rewarded them with respectable work, that was a blessing.

The four Exiled Nobles hurried over happily to meet Henry. They wore slightly worn yet luxurious Imperial Robes, and faint anticipation showed on their faces.

Claude and Tommy stood to either side, their eyes betraying a hint of relief.

The Exiled Nobles stepped before Henry one by one and bowed slightly. They demonstrated their abilities in calculation and literature, produced their elementary and secondary school diplomas, and expressed their willingness to become Henry's subordinates and serve him loyally.

Perhaps they might become Honorary Nobles in the future? That would count as preserving their family's honor.

Claude and Tommy looked at the four energetic Exiled Nobles and sneered inwardly.

Foolish Exiled Nobles. Let us show you what clerical work without a single day off all year looks like!

In the days that followed, the Exiled Nobles became clerks. Tommy took charge of one, while Claude took charge of three, and they began working on various tasks.

Some carefully recorded the quantities and types of supplies; others compiled complicated data.

Henry checked in from time to time, making the four of them work with rigor and care, as though they were striving to prove their worth.

Time hurried onward, and West Lyme's first snow arrived as expected. The plains were blanketed in white, serene and peaceful.

The Downfallen Nobles wore the Imperial Robes they would not sell even if they went bankrupt, sitting around the tavern's warm hearth as they sampled wine, snacks, and Desserts.

Wine merchants from Audoh and the surrounding regions had already signed long-term contracts with Henry, supplying the place with an endless stream of beer, Rice Wine, and grape wine.

Groups of two or three mercenaries gathered together miserably, loudly recounting their adventure stories. Their laughter and cheers filled the entire tavern as they tried to draw the attention of the increasingly impoverished Downfallen Nobles.

They could not understand why more than a month had already passed, yet the Lord of West Lyme Fortress, Knight Henry—the Star of the Zhi Luo Campaign—still had made no major move.

Had they known, they would not have come. Now their travel money was gone, and they could only survive in West Lyme by slowly spending their dwindling savings. Some had even begun working odd jobs at the Blacksmith's shop, taverns, and other places.

The Henry whom these Downfallen Nobles and mercenaries, desperate for someone to give them a hand, had been thinking about was currently standing before the thick wooden window in his study, looking out at the scenery.

Snowflakes drifted down in thick flurries, turning heaven and earth into a field of white. It looked so beautiful.

Ailiya draped a bearskin cloak over Henry's shoulders and continuously fed wood into the fireplace to keep the room from becoming too cold.

Looking at Henry's back, Ailiya did not disturb him as he stood lost in thought, because she saw his tightly clenched fist.

Bain and Claude hurried over, unsure why Henry had summoned them so urgently.

"Master!"

Henry said nothing. He pointed at the table, telling them to read for themselves the intelligence reports the Grassland Warrior had sent back over the past several days.

"The Third Army lost?"