Cayo Dalton

Winter has passed and spring has arrived, and the earth has once again burst forth with vibrant life. The scars left by the war have faded from Laite and Huaidun counties.

The joy of a bountiful harvest is most heartwarming. With the spring grains stored away, the lean season is over, and the Mountain Territory is immersed in joy.

In high spirits, Lord Hudson even generously treated his subjects to a serving of white bread, elevating the conscience of the lords to a new level once again.

Even the miserable slaves finally enjoyed a lunch without eating dirt on this day.

It was all the fault of the Northern Nobles; Lord Hudson never used to put dirt in his bread.

Ever since the rumors of Beastfolk eating dirt came about, ten percent salt and dirt have been added to the inferior bread provided to these guys.

The results were excellent; expenses on salt alone in the territory decreased by one-third. Expenses on food rations also decreased significantly.

Incidentally, it also intimidated the people and greatly accelerated the progress of land reclamation. In particular, the few units that were lagging behind were all working hard, fearing that if they continued to lag behind, they would have to live on dirt.

In the end, Lord Hudson was merciful and didn't make everyone eat dirt.

However, those "Bao" who were at the bottom of the land reclamation list did indeed have a hard time. Changing the Bao chief was a basic practice, and they could only receive the lowest share of food rations, and their various welfare benefits were also relegated to the bottom.

The work groups with the slowest progress in the mining area were also affected. The bottom-ranking elimination system was clearly something Lord Hudson had mastered.

In the end, I became the kind of person I hated most.

After all that effort, the results were remarkable.

The mining area's production capacity has been steadily increasing, and the monthly output value on paper has directly exceeded the 15,000 gold coin mark.

Based on this output value, it will still be a long way from paying off the debt.

It's all due to opening up new markets; Lord Hudson, addicted to collecting advance payments, simply can't stop.

The cost of expanding production was a sharp decline in net profit. This was mainly due to intermediaries taking a cut of the profits.

It was all worth it; the concessions directly led to the Mountain Territory becoming the largest iron products trading center in the Southeast Province.

The constant flow of horse-drawn carriages created an atmosphere of prosperity. The booming business greatly boosted the creditors' confidence.

To provide better service to merchants and travelers, Lord Hudson even halted the construction of the manor's buildings, ordering the construction of inns and taverns to be completed as quickly as possible...

Despite the steadily increasing trading volume, Hudson was not happy.

Compensating for lower prices with higher volume is never a good business model.

Compared to the huge profits from producing weapons and equipment, manufacturing these ordinary daily necessities is incomparable.

Even with the addition of supporting service industries, the territory's net income has still decreased by 20% compared to its peak.

Fortunately, it's not a publicly listed company and doesn't need to release financial reports, otherwise its stock price would have plummeted.

Prosperity can mask all crises, and the bustling scene allowed Hudson to successfully cultivate a persona of being wealthy.

As for the debts owed, as long as they don't require real money to pay, they can all be ignored.

Even if someone comes to collect the debt, it's proof that business is booming. As long as the mine isn't completely depleted, this charade can continue.

Their frenzied accumulation of wealth ultimately manifested in the development of their territory.

The slag road, which is under continuous construction, has already been completed for 7 kilometers and is expanding at a rate of 3 kilometers per month.

Without any machinery, relying entirely on manual labor, the speed was only possible thanks to the favorable terrain.

With the repair and widening of the original roads, the main road, which can now accommodate two horse-drawn carriages, has now exceeded eighteen miles in total length.

There were countless branching paths, but they weren't included in the statistics simply because they didn't meet Lord Hudson's high standards.

The results of the land reclamation also far exceeded expectations.

The involution has yielded significant results; the original plan of 20,000 mu has directly increased to 33,000 mu.

The data directly made Lord Hudson abandon his conscience. It proved that procrastination was indeed unacceptable.

Of course, the increase in the labor force in the later period was also one of the reasons for the better-than-expected results.

The only area where no results have been seen is the swamp. Ultimately, the development time was too short, and only a few hundred acres of land were successfully isolated.

In this respect, Hudson was the least in a hurry. Those rows of ditches wouldn't lie; once connected, they would form a water network.

The raised area in the middle was perfect for growing rice, and Hudson even had someone buy the seeds for him.

Although the Alpha Kingdom does not have the custom of eating rice, this does not affect Hudson's decision in the slightest.

If we can't sell it, we'll eat it ourselves; consider it an improvement to everyone's lifestyle. Anyway, judging from the situation in the Mountain Territory, there won't be any food to sell for a long time to come.

Behind every remarkable achievement lies a dark side.

The serfs fared better; although there were some losses, the population still increased slightly, including the unborn children of pregnant women.

The losses among slaves were quite significant, likely due to a lack of experience in managing slaves for the first time; more than 500 slaves were lost in less than two months.

Half of it was swallowed up by swamps.

Most of them died from stupidity. They were careless and lazy when working, and didn't take safety seriously at all.

The supervisors were also very helpless in the face of this situation.

Despite repeated reminders, the language barrier meant it was like talking to a cow, a pig, a mouse, or...

Perhaps because he didn't inherit the intelligence of his second brother, Pigmen's casualty rate directly topped the list.

If you want to make up for the loss, you only need to put the male and female Pigmen together and let them mate freely. A new litter can be added in a few months.

Without a doubt, Hudson, as a legitimate nobleman, would never do something like expanding the Beastfolk population.

A race that's good for nothing but eating is clearly not the kind of labor Lord Hudson needs.

Survival of the fittest is a natural law.

These slave races exist in large numbers within the Orc Empire; they are far from being endangered species that require protection.

The Mountain Territory flourished, and other nobles were not idle either.

Baron Katerley, who had been tricked by Hudson multiple times, finally managed to get some benefit from this.

Benefiting from the increase in business travelers to and from the Mountain Territory, the casinos and entertainment venues in Maple Leaf Territory have also seen a boost in business.

Although it wasn't exactly a huge success, it did manage to make a profit.

The sizzling performances by the exotic beauties are especially captivating, always drawing a lot of attention.

Unfortunately, Baron Katerley had a rule that these women usually only entertained nobles for the night and did not accept business from merchants.

The only exception is the monthly auction, where the highest bidder wins.

This is a classic case of self-inflating prices, yet people still seem to buy into it.

Baron Katerley could have earned more, but Baron Ciss followed suit in Dadir City, stealing away a large number of noble customers.

Before Hudson could do anything, the conflict of interest further strained the relationship between the two.

This kind of money is destined to be short-lived, and if nothing unexpected happens, many more Northern Nobles will follow suit.

Some envious individuals, who lack the means to follow suit, even directly sell women of foreign ethnicities.

These two weren't the only well-developed Northern Nobles. Every region has its own unique characteristics.

Some shrewd nobles have already started selling local specialties from the North. Business isn't booming, but they're still making a profit.

Why fight and kill when you can make money through business?

The days of establishing authority are over; what's needed now is integration. Smart people have already adjusted their mindset.

If this peaceful life continues for another hundred or two hundred years, the label of "Northern Nobles" will probably fade from people's sight, leaving only a folk tale.

Unfortunately, reality is cruel. Just after arranging the spring planting, Hudson received an unexpected letter.

Miss Melissa, who was studying in the Royal Capital, suddenly received a letter informing him that Cayo Dalton had graduated early.

This familiar yet unfamiliar name quickly awakened Hudson's memories.

The lord of Whitton County, Falling Leaf Town, who had been slow to take office, happened to have this name.

This identity alone wouldn't have been enough to move Hudson. He had long since disregarded a mere baron.

The problem is this guy's last name—Dalton.

Hudson used his family connections to find out that this guy was the nephew of the current head of the family Count Pierce, and also his only biological nephew.

If he didn't have a powerful background, he wouldn't have been able to get a name in the Kingdom's mage corps, bask in a few credits, and then land a wealthy fiefdom.

Being born into the right family is a skill that can't be envied.

Although the person is no longer there, the development of Falling Leaf Town is not slow at all.

Even if someone is just a steward in charge of the territory, they can still have a smooth and successful career thanks to the Dalton Family's name.

With his powerful family background and the fact that he is developing within his own sphere of influence, Baron Cayo's position as sheriff of Whitton County is practically a foregone conclusion, unless he is an idiot.

The nobles of Whitton County were far less active than those of Wright County, probably for this reason.

Knowing they couldn't win, no one would dare to step forward and risk incurring the hostility of the future prefect.

Unlike Wright County, which has evolved from a place where many rivals competed for power to one where two dominant forces still exist.

Until the final result is in, no one can say for sure whether Hudson or Ciss will have the last laugh.

From Hudson's perspective, he naturally hoped that this guy would stay in the Royal Capital for a few more years.

With Baron Cayo absent, Hudson is the most dazzling young man among the local nobles.

Those few initially active figures had already been taught a lesson by the Northern Nobles in the previous struggles.

Losers have no voice.

Hudson, the only one who had repeatedly clashed with the Northern Nobles without suffering the harsh realities of society, naturally became their spiritual leader.

This identity held no real power, yet it wielded considerable influence among the local nobility.

The smooth development of the Mountain Territory is also strongly related to this intangible influence.

With its military strength and financial resources, the Mountain Territory is highly regarded even when it goes abroad.

Unfortunately, all of this combined doesn't compare to the surname "Dalton".

It cannot be said that all the native nobles will be drawn over, but it is inevitable that Hudson's influence among the native nobles will be diminished.

Knowing full well that soft power would be weakened, Hudson was powerless to do anything about the instigator.

Hudson immediately threw himself into responding, sending a reply as quickly as possible, arranging a gift, and having someone deliver it as a token of gratitude.

Although members of the Coslo Family are widely distributed, they are mostly concentrated in the lower strata of the aristocratic group, and their penetration into the middle and upper classes is far too weak.

Logically speaking, given Cayo's status, he should have attracted the attention of the family.

But it was Miss Melissa who first informed Hudson of such an important news as graduating early.

Was it that the family members in the capital were deliberately negligent, or were they truly powerless? Hudson was more inclined to believe it was the latter.

Keeping watch on people at the Magic Academy is clearly not something an ordinary person can do. For the Coslo Family, with their limited resources, to even attempt such an endeavor would be suicidal.

If I get caught, I'll become another magic experiment subject.

These seemingly gentle and refined mages are ruthless when it comes to tormenting people. Sneaking around in front of others like that is just asking for trouble.

Letter after letter flew out of the Mountain Territory as if parchment were free.

As the letters were sent out, a bloody storm was brewing in the counties of Huaidun and Laite.

In the Royal Capital, Baron Cayo, having completed his graduation ceremony, was taking one last, wistful look at the campus.

"Young master, it's time to set off."

The butler's words pulled Caio out of his memories.

"Okay, let's go!"

After saying that, Baron Cayo turned and left.

Rather than inheriting the territory, he preferred to become a great magician, to explore the true meaning of life, and to one day transcend the ordinary and become a saint.

Unfortunately, being a mage is a profession that relies heavily on talent. Magic Academy gather magical elites from across the kingdom, but ultimately only a handful are qualified to delve into the subject.

Approaching thirty years old and still unable to become a high-level mage, Kayo's path to becoming a mage has essentially come to an end.

Aristocratic children may have ideals, but they are absolutely not allowed to be detached from reality.

After encountering a bottleneck and being unable to break through it for a long time, Caio had no choice but to change his path.

Mages are far more valuable than knights, but a mere Intermediate Mage is still dispensable to the Dalton Family.

Unless he can become Magus, Caio won't have much say.

Including the current title, there are plenty of young men in the family who are interested. If his uncle weren't the head of the family, this lucrative position would never have fallen to him.

From the moment he entered the carriage, Cayo kept flipping through the documents, which not only contained information about the development of Falling Leaf Town, but also clearly recorded everything that happened in Huaidun and Laite County.

The foundation of the great nobles is incomparable to that of the lesser nobles. Not long after Baron Cayo's caravan left the Royal Capital, Ciss received definite news, and even the route they took was marked.

"Judging from the information, this Baron Cayo is a magic fanatic. I really don't know what the Dalton Family was thinking when they made such a person the lord of Fallen Leaf Territory."

I imagine our Baron Hudson would have something in common with him, after all, they're both wizards!

"Ciss said dismissively."

It wasn't that he was deliberately looking down on people. It's just that even among magicians, there are different levels.

Wild mages like Hudson, who got their positions through sheer luck, are always the most despised.

It would be unfair for any normal person to feel resentful when someone works hard for decades only to end up becoming a mage alongside someone who just benefits from Warcraft talent.

Especially for lucky ones like Hudson, who stumbled upon the Earth Bear's talent, they are even more hated.

Given equal cultivation levels, a traditional mage who diligently cultivates will most likely lose to a wild mage who has gained power through trial and error. Who wouldn't be mentally devastated?

This is especially exciting for students who are expelled from the Magic Academy due to a lack of talent.

It just so happens that Cayo and Hudson are competitors, and if a bit of jealousy is added to their interests, the situation will be even more interesting.

Once the two start arguing, the local nobles will be divided. For the Northern Nobles, that would be a great thing.

"Young Master, this information may not be true. The Dalton Family wants more than just Fallen Leaf Territory; their appetite is far greater."

Whitton County appears peaceful only because Baron Cayo, the main character, is absent, and everyone deliberately restrains their competitive spirit.

If this guy doesn't perform as expected, things might not be so peaceful from now on.

With the competition so fierce now, no matter how capricious the Dalton Family is, they could never elevate a pig to the position of sheriff.

Butler Feren's words made Baron Ciss's face darken.

In this era of great competition, all families continuously allocate resources to their most outstanding offspring.

In peaceful times, it would be one thing for an illegitimate son to be incompetent, but if he possessed extraordinary abilities, it would be a death sentence.

The fact that even illegitimate children can now access resources based on their own abilities is a harbinger of impending trouble.

Against this backdrop, it is clearly illogical for the Dalton Family to waste their valuable resources on a useless person.

"You're right, we shouldn't underestimate anyone."

Although on the surface Hudson's arrival will affect him, the two are not in the same county, so the probability of a conflict breaking out in the short term is not high.

On the contrary, because of the arrival of Cayo, some nobles who were originally suppressed by us will become active again.

It just so happens that Kayo also needs to establish his prestige, and he might take the opportunity to turn his attention to my people in the Northern Frontier region.

The Northern Aristocrats of Whitton County have been impacted, and Dadir City will hardly remain unaffected. If the turmoil escalates, I'm afraid I'll ultimately be the one to confront them.

Ciss said, frowning.

This once again proves that being a boss isn't easy. Even when it's not directly related to them, they're forced to step in and support their underlings.

"Young master, this is probably not a matter of 'maybe,' but rather 'certainly' going to happen."

Upon his arrival, Baron Cayo, possessing only the surname Dalton, found it difficult to suppress the Mountain Baron in terms of prestige.

Rashly provoking internal strife would not only disappoint the nobles who wanted revenge, but also push many originally neutral local nobles to his opposite side.

Unless Baron Cayo can relinquish his claim to the leadership struggle among the local nobles, he will likely find himself with no choice but to confront us, even if he doesn't want to.