The County Governor's Contest

In the Royal Capital, the Bug King that had been escorted there was not immediately sent out to cause trouble, but was instead secretly kept in captivity.

The timing is wrong; summer is almost over. It's clearly not a good time to unleash a locust plague. Raising them for a year until they're plump and strong will definitely have a better effect.

It was indeed a little cruel for the Bug King, though. As an unfortunate captive, he would spend the next year in the mages' laboratories.

There are many methods for artificially accelerating the growth of magical beasts, most of which have side effects. These extreme methods are completely unusable when dealing with contracted magical beasts.

However, it doesn't matter if you use it to deal with the Bug King. There's a long way to go from Bug King to Bug Emperor, and the success rate is pitifully low.

Most Insect Royal Capital die before they even begin their ascension. With humans as their greatest natural enemy, the path to becoming Bug King is never smooth.

In order to cause as much trouble as possible for the enemy, these unfortunate Bug King received special treatment under the special instructions of Caesar III.

Various methods to accelerate the growth of magical beasts were constantly being tried on them. In order to cultivate an even stronger Bug King, the mages were using all sorts of ingenious ideas.

Although the methods were somewhat ruthless, the Alpha Kingdom had no better choice.

If you don't severely damage the enemy and instead bear the losses alone, the gap between the two sides will only widen further as the tide ebbs and flows.

The fire was started by the enemy. If others dare to target the Alpha Kingdom so recklessly, Caesar III will not hesitate to retaliate in kind.

A plan is just a plan; reality must come first. Looking at the loss report in his hand, Caesar III felt a headache coming on.

Due to the locust plague, several major grain-producing provinces in the south have experienced either a significant reduction in production or complete crop failure.

The resulting losses are astronomical. It's obvious that tax revenue from these provinces this year is definitely not going to materialize.

At this critical juncture, even the leader cannot take advantage of the subordinate's misfortune. No matter how tight the finances are, one cannot exhaust the resources to the point of depletion.

Not only will tax revenue disappear, but the grain and fodder that should have been used to support the front lines in Northern Frontier will also be significantly reduced.

The only consolation is that, apart from a few shameless individuals, most lords and nobles did not ask the kingdom for help.

This is enough to prove that the younger brothers are thrifty and hardworking, and can still make a living even in the face of a natural disaster of this magnitude.

In this context, the plea for help from the Northern Aristocrats lords of Huaidun and Leyte counties seemed particularly offensive.

This once again proves that one should not offend one's direct superior. Under normal circumstances, the Governor's Mansion would withhold such unhelpful pleas for help, then embellish them before reporting them upwards.

This situation is special. Count Pierce, who wanted to make things difficult for them, didn't bother to summarize, extract the essence, or artistically process it; he simply sent it directly to the Royal Capital.

In Caesar III's eyes, this naturally aroused strong dislike. When he was stationed in the Northern Frontier, facing the threat of Beastfolk, he could barely understand why he would ask for help every now and then.

But the situation is different now. They've all gone to the south to enjoy their lives, yet they still love to cause trouble. Compared to the behavior of other disaster-stricken nobles, this behavior is undoubtedly a huge loss of face.

It's just that I dislike a group of people, and I find everything they do objectionable. The best option is to stay out of the way; if you do show up, you're just an eyesore.

"Let the respective provinces handle the disaster situation as they see fit!"

"That's what Caesar III said with an expression on his face."

As a monarch, one cannot make decisions based on personal likes and dislikes. However, this attempt at sowing discord was effective, making Caesar III increasingly dislike the sons of the Northern Nobles.

This kind of conflict is inevitable. Even without ancestral grudges, it is hard for anyone to have a good impression of a group that asks for money, food, and supplies every day without expecting anything in return.

It was a minor incident, utterly insignificant to the busy King.

A group of minor nobles seeking help was not a big deal to the princes and ministers.

Even if these people's families pleaded on their behalf, it was not enough to make everyone overturn the King's decision.

The most crucial point is that the phrase "handle at your discretion" can be interpreted in so many ways that it's impossible to find any fault with it.

If it wasn't handled well, it must be because the Governor below didn't understand the King's deeper meaning, and it's definitely not because the great King didn't make proper arrangements.

"Your Majesty, what should be done with those who contributed to the capture of the Bug King?"

"The Duke Newfoundland inquired."

It is clear that in the prime minister's eyes, appeasing these meritorious officials was more important than dealing with the plea for help from a group of minor nobles.

After all, those who can capture the Bug King are the kingdom's top experts, representing the highest combat power in the southern provinces.

"They are all pillars of the nation, and worldly fame and fortune are unlikely to sway them. Let's open up some valuable resources for them to freely exchange!"

If there are other requests, as long as they are not excessive, they can be discussed. The Governor in each region should handle the communication and appeasement efforts to avoid making a fool of themselves.

I think to myself Caesar III said thoughtfully.

When it comes to powerful individuals, the countries of mainland China always prioritize winning them over. Not a single one has ever complained about having too many skilled fighters within their own borders.

One or two experts may not amount to much for a kingdom. But when that number grows to dozens or even hundreds, it can influence the rise and fall of a nation.

For the Alpha Kingdom, which needs to contend with the Beastfolk, the number of top experts is especially important.

These people have played an important role in every major war.

After a busy and happy half month, the sight of a person and a bear was seen in almost every severely affected area.

Beldens has become the wealthiest bear on the Aslant Continent, though it still has a way to go to catch up with the unprecedented bears. This is mainly because the ancestor of the Earth Bear was too powerful, having once wielded a divine artifact and fought against Giant Dragon.

The value of this artifact is truly immeasurable; it certainly cannot be bought with gold coins. Even if you were to acquire a Mountain Territory, it still wouldn't be enough to match its value.

Of course, weapons Evil God the "Blood Moon Horn" don't count. Because of its infamous reputation and universal condemnation, it cannot be used publicly, which greatly diminishes its value.

However, no matter how wealthy Beldens was, it was still a bear after all, and it was Hudson who attracted the attention of the noble ladies.

If he was a potential stock before, he has now transformed into a high-growth stock.

Everyone knew that if they didn't place their bets quickly, they would miss the opportunity.

In fact, for many people, the opportunity has already been missed.

While eradicating the locusts, Hudson took a detour back to his hometown. He learned from Baron Redman that the overall quality of the nobles interested in marrying him had improved significantly.

Ordinary knightly households and most baronial households, knowing they had no hope, automatically withdrew.

Instead, a group of middle-ranking nobles joined the list of candidates, and even collateral branches of large families were included in the list.

It was common in aristocratic circles for noble children to act as backup options for each other before finalizing a marriage proposal.

Baron Redman had a lot of information on noblewomen, and the women's parents also had a lot of information on noblemen.

If you think it's suitable, add it. Find a middleman to test it out. If both sides think it's feasible, then it's a candidate.

Ultimately, the decision depends on family interests, personal wishes, and how the situation develops.

It doesn't matter much for ordinary people to get married; even if they mess it up, things won't get too bad.

But for a scion like Hudson, on whom the family had placed high hopes, his marriage was not only of concern to Baron Redman, but also closely watched by other branches of the family.

The person who probably cares the least is Hudson himself. Even if he's single, he still has two older brothers.

As is customary, before deciding on his marriage, those two single guys should be arranged to marry first.

Hudson, who is still young, can wait. After all, many of the potential partners are still just kids. The so-called "suitability" is merely a matter of suitable family background.

But Nelson and Evola, who are a few years older, will most likely be married within the next year or two. In any case, they will definitely be arranged before Hudson's marriage is finalized, so as not to become a laughing stock.

With the drop in temperature and the desperate hunting efforts of various noble lords, the massive insect plague quickly came to an end.

The infested Bug King, hated by everyone, disappeared from people's sight long ago. Whether it became extinct or secretly hid away, waiting for its time, no one knows.

In short, this ordeal is temporarily over.

Thanks to Beldens, the autumn planting season was saved even in the areas of the province most severely affected by the insect infestation.

The neighboring provinces fared much worse. Although Hudson didn't mind taking Beldens with him, they still missed the optimal time to travel.

Since the locust army was already gone and the autumn planting season had been missed, no one wanted to waste money, so they simply organized a large army of serfs to continue fighting the scattered locusts.

Whether this decision was right or wrong is unknown. But it must be admitted that Beldens did have a talent for business, even more so than Hudson.

At least Hudson would show some consideration, but in front of Lord Bear, it couldn't care less about who was who.

One Silver Coin for one acre of land, if you can accept that, then do it; if you can't reach an agreement, then Lord Bear it, I won't serve you.

Trying to negotiate a package deal? Forget it. Beldens are stubborn bears; they'll take every Silver Coin more, but if you take a Silver Coin less, they'll flip the table.

Even dealing with Hudson was useless; the Lord Bear simply said: If you're not afraid of encountering a bear while walking at night, you can get a 50% discount.

Faced with the shameless bear, none of the nobles dared to ask for a discount in order to avoid being beaten to a pulp.

When they encountered poor people who needed to buy on credit, Hudson would always cover the costs for them. Compared to owing money to Lord Bear, everyone felt it was better to owe money to Baron Hudson, even if it meant incurring a favor.

Adhering to the principle of keeping profits within one's own family, Hudson did not stop Beldens from making money. After all, getting money out of the pockets of aristocrats was extremely difficult.

In comparison, once it went into Beldens' pocket, it was as if it had gone into Lord Hudson's pocket.

The gold coins were piled up like mountains, too many to count! Hudson was in charge of safekeeping them, Beldens only had a number on the books.

While it appeared that Hudson was providing the loans, in reality, Beldens' money was simply being transferred from one hand to the other. Having gained full access to the funds without paying a single penny of interest, Hudson naturally used extremely low interest rates to curry favor.

It's not just about lending; you can use it for investment too. As long as the credit doesn't collapse, this game can go on indefinitely.

Without any prior experience to draw upon, even the smartest bear could never have imagined such a shameless way of playing.

Returning to Beda City, Hudson's experience was different once again.

Although the treatment was the same as last time, top-notch, everyone looked at him with obvious awe.

The confirmed adult Earth Bear directly propelled him to become the top expert in the Southeast Province. At least on the surface, that was the case; whether there were even more powerful figures hidden behind the scenes, Hudson didn't know.

Unlike in the past when there was a queue to enter the Governor's Mansion, this time Count Pierce came to greet them as soon as they entered, showing them great respect.

The previous unpleasantness between the two seemed to have never happened. Hudson was actually happy to see this change.

Deep down, Hudson had already decided that, out of respect for Count Pierce's understanding nature, he would refrain from going clubbing at his grave in the future.

After some pleasantries, Hudson decisively took out a bottle of "Locust Luring Potion" and placed it on the table, saying casually, "Governor Excellency, this is Baron Cayo's alchemical creation."

Judging from the quality, he already possesses six or seven tenths of the skill level. Congratulations to the Dalton Family, a new alchemist is about to be born.

An "alchemist" is not the same as an "alchemy master." The difference between the two is like a chasm. Those with talent can leap across it, while those without talent remain forever in the same place.

Count Pierce could naturally hear the irony in the words.

The addition of a new master alchemist would naturally be a great boon to the Dalton Family. But a mere aspiring alchemist is a joke.

Everyone knows that to become an alchemist, you first have to throw money at it. When you'll see results is anyone's guess, but the path to financial ruin is definitely on the horizon.

"Baron Hudson, what does this mean?"

Count Pierce questioned him sharply.

Giving him face doesn't mean he's afraid. As the master of the Southeast Province, a mere Earth Bear is not enough to make him bow down.

Especially since the bear's owner is still within the rules of the game, the threat he can pose is even smaller.

"Your Excellency, please don't misunderstand. I came with good intentions. You'll understand once you open the potion."

Hudson said calmly.

If this had happened before, Baron Cayo would have chosen to keep the matter of using Locust Luring Potion to his own devices a secret. Even with overwhelming evidence, he wouldn't have come forward.

But things are different now. Hudson, who is now a man of false power, has some leverage in negotiations.

Even if negotiations break down, the Dalton Family wouldn't stoop to murder to silence witnesses. For an adult Earth Bear to carry someone away, Giant Dragon would be needed to intercept it.

Hudson didn't believe the Dalton Family possessed a fully grown Giant Dragon. If they did, they would have been famous throughout the continent long ago.

The moment the bottle cap was opened, Count Pierce's expression changed drastically. His voice trembled as he said, "How is this possible?"

No, there must be some misunderstanding here!

Baron Hudson, you don't suspect Cayo..., do you?

"Your Governor, there is a misunderstanding."

I know nothing about this; I just happened to be passing by to congratulate the Dalton Family on the upcoming addition of an alchemist.

Regarding the Locust Luring Potion, that should naturally be investigated by the Governor's Mansion. I was merely an observer who happened to see some unimportant clues, so I brought them along.

Hudson made a blatant insinuation.

The items were all sent here, naturally in exchange for benefits. If they wanted to the Dalton Family, these items, along with the clues in Hudson's possession, should all be sent to the Royal Capital.

Once this kind of hate-inducing behavior is exposed, the Dalton Family can forget about staying in aristocratic circles. The affected nobles will hurl insults at them for the rest of their lives.

Even if they were to betray their own family for the greater good, no one would believe them. They might even be pinned on the blame for this locust plague.

If their political enemies were ruthless enough to accuse them of colluding with the Church, the Dalton Family could be expelled from the kingdom.

Of course, the probability of such a situation occurring is low. After all, the Dalton Family is an old and prestigious noble family, and the network of connections they possess is far more complex than it appears on the surface.

If handled properly and with a willingness to pay a certain price, it is still possible to suppress the situation.

The accusations are not substantiated and are merely rumors, but they cannot shake their foundations.

And so, it was Hudson's turn to suffer. History is replete with instances of people being killed after their complaints were rejected.

Hudson felt it was best not to risk a fight with a powerful force that was determined to fight to the death, for the sake of his own life.

Moreover, the Mountain Territory is too weak now; even if it defeats the Dalton Family, it won't get much of the spoils.

Hearing the implication, Count Pierce's expression instantly brightened, and he said with a smile, "Baron Hudson is right, it is indeed a misunderstanding."

Kayo's talent is limited; he's only an Intermediate Mage so far. How could he possibly become an alchemist?

"You've come from afar, is it for the reward? Our families have a long history of good relations, and I'll do whatever it takes to resolve this for you."

Upon hearing the phrase "friendly relations throughout the ages," Hudson almost burst out laughing. To put it bluntly, even now, Count Pierce probably wouldn't be able to recall his father's name.

The gap in social standing between the two sides was too great; a small family like the Coslo was simply beneath Count Pierce's notice.

Even now, they are still from two different worlds. The only reason they can sit here and talk calmly is because Count Pierce is unwilling to take any risks.

The main problem is that Count Pierce didn't know exactly how deeply Baron Cayo was involved, or whether he was entangled with the Church.

Compared to the heavy price that would have to be paid if things were exposed, bribing Hudson to keep quiet is clearly a much simpler and more effective method.

"Your Excellency, the unresolved appointment of the governor of Laite County has been hindering the development of the region. As a nobleman, I would like to have the opportunity to share the burden for the kingdom."

Hudson had never been confident in the race for Laite County Sheriff, mainly because he lacked connections in the government.

Hudson did not believe that the Dalton Family would fight for him simply because of the local aristocracy's sense of hometown pride.

"Baron Hudson, you are too late. In fact, the position of sheriff was decided in the Royal Capital long before the fiefdoms were divided last year."

The so-called unresolved matter was actually just a charade deliberately staged by the Grand Duke to train his son.

"I can't help it, "Count Pierce said helplessly.

It wasn't that he didn't want to help; it was simply that the matter was settled. The decision to overthrow the Royal Capital would only be possible if Baron Ciss himself made a mistake.

Designing a son for a Grand Duke is no easy task. Minor mishaps are one thing, but if he were to be deposed outright, Grand Duke Cavadia would certainly intervene.

Hudson wasn't surprised by the answer. He'd seen plenty of bizarre things like this before, and relatively speaking, this was considered quite decent.

Even if it was just a show, they still went through all the procedures. If it weren't for Hudson's sudden emergence, Baron Ciss could have easily risen to power under popular demand.

A typical saying goes, "Three parts hard work, seven parts luck, and the remaining ninety parts depend on your father."

The fact that he was the father of a Grand Duke was enough to erase all of Hudson's efforts. Even though he was now famous and considered by countless nobles in the province to be the most suitable person to serve Laite County, it was of no use.

"I understand, thank you for your advice, Your Excellency!"

What should have been expected has now actually happened. Hudson finds himself unable to face it calmly; ultimately, his previous success has made him overlook the cruel nature of the world.

"The position of prefect is unavoidable, but if you don't want to be subordinate to Baron Ciss, there are still ways to make it work."

The Immortal Wood Romance

Based on your previous achievement in capturing the Bug King, I'm fairly confident I can secure you a viscount position.

However, there's no way to increase your fiefdom. It simply means you'll be given the Salam Mountain Range you currently manage, and that swampy area.