An Unexpected Person

With the start of autumn planting, the problem of insufficient labor force was directly exposed to all the newly promoted lords.

The same problem, when encountered by different lords, will naturally lead to different outcomes.

Local nobles relied on their personal connections to borrow people and livestock from all over the place, and basically completed the autumn plowing smoothly.

The Northern Aristocrats were in a much worse situation. Their families were thousands of miles away, and no matter how much they pleaded for help, it would be beyond their reach. Their companions who had come with them were all too busy to help themselves and could only fend for themselves.

Even though the soldiers were sent to farm, a large amount of land was still forced to be abandoned.

The price of human slaves on the market has skyrocketed. Even wealthy lords like Hudson have been scared away, so poor lords can forget about it.

Even the wealthy can only purchase in small quantities. Large-scale purchasing is no longer a matter of price, but rather that the goods are simply not available on the market.

In the past two years, no major wars have broken out among the countries on the mainland. The slaves currently circulating in the market are only those that slave owners, who are short of money and need funds, have sold off.

Under normal circumstances, noble families would not sell their own slaves, as this could inadvertently expose some of their secrets.

Having learned their lesson from the land being left uncultivated, everyone naturally wanted to find a solution. Some commissioned merchants to purchase livestock, while others set their sights on Beastfolk slaves.

One or two companies don't matter, but when dozens of companies gather, it finally causes a quantitative change.

Seeing their neighbors capturing ordinary slaves, people assumed that Beastfolk slaves had found new buyers, and countless others followed suit, leading to a boom in the slave trade along the border.

The capture of a large number of tribesmen quickly drew the attention of the Beastfolk tribes. Faced with the vicious slave-hunting teams, the small tribes were powerless and could only report the situation up the chain of command.

The report eventually reached Prince Butzwig was on duty at the border.

"Send someone to investigate whether it's a sorcerer who's gone mad, or some Heretical Cult that's up to something again?"

It's no wonder Butzwig thinks that way. In the past, when humans captured slaves, they were always targeting races with high looks and low combat power.

This time it's different. People from tribes like Minotaur, kobolds, Ratmen, Goblins, Pigmen, Goblins have all gone missing in large numbers.

Apart from a few races that have some fighting ability, the rest are the weakest of the weak.

In terms of status, these races are like slaves in the human world, or even worse.

At least slaves could create wealth, while most of the races here were useless except for wasting food.

At least in the eyes of the proud Behemoth Prince Butzwig, the humans were simply collecting scraps by capturing these races.

Deep down, Prince Butzwig secretly despised these guys for being stupid; he could buy much more in the Orc Empire than he would have spent hiring a slave-hunting team.

Who made these races so useless except for being used for magical experiments and Blood Sacrifice to Evil God?

In fact, these races are not good choices for magical materials. The main reason they were chosen is that other races are not easy to deal with.

The magicians' fanaticism for magical experiments doesn't mean they're truly insane. An experiment that consumes hundreds or even thousands of lives would have resulted in countless deaths for any other race.

As for Evil God, that's hard to say. Since they've all become Evil God, nobody knows what their appetites are. Maybe one of the oddballs actually enjoys this kind of thing.

However, most Evil God are fastidious. Compared to these vile races, they prefer beings with pure souls to serve as sacrifices.

Sending troops to protect these tribes? That's wishful thinking. The Orc Empire frequently conducts Great Purge of these trash races, mainly because they reproduce too quickly.

Take the Pigmen as an example. It can reproduce one to three times a year, with each litter consisting of five or six offspring, or more than a dozen.

They are born in large numbers, and their survival rate is surprisingly high, with almost 80% surviving to adulthood.

When there is meat, eat meat; when there is no meat, whole grains are also good; if all else fails, grass on the ground and leaves on the trees can also be eaten.

The cubs reach adulthood in less than two years and then join the breeding army.

Theoretically speaking, a female Pigmen can produce a regiment in her lifetime, and with her offspring and grandchildren, it can form an entire legion.

Similar to these highly prolific species are the Ratmen and Goblins... they all reproduce in large litters, which makes the great Behemoths both despise and envy them.

Without restrictions, they would proliferate in no time. In order to maintain the ecological balance of the Orc Empire, the Five Great Royal Families had to implement family planning for these races.

If the restrictions were ever lifted, it would mean the start of a major invasion to the south. In every major war, these races have always been Orc Empire.

They were issued a wooden stick and they were ready to go to the battlefield; other weapons were a complete waste in their hands.

Weaponry and equipment are also important parameters for judging the combat strength of the Orc Legion. Generally speaking, the more heavily armed they are, the stronger their combat power.

In the Mountain Territory, Hudson was showing his two older brothers around their territory.

The constant hammering and clanging of the mines create the most melodious music; the bustling, energetic pioneers compose the most heartwarming melody.

The two men were practically drooling at the sight. Both were worldly-wise and knew very well that Hudson was preparing to fight tooth and nail for the Salam Mountain Range.

It is currently just a baronial territory, but it may evolve into a viscountial territory in a few decades. The Salam Mountain Range have that potential.

"Hudson, you've really gone all out! Eight thousand acres have been cleared in just six months. If you keep developing at this rate, the arable land in your territory will surpass what your family has managed for a century in less than five years."

Nelson couldn't help but sigh.

I had heard that my younger brother's territory was developing very quickly, but I never expected it to be this fast.

Although pig iron production capacity has not recovered to its peak, the revenue from the mines far exceeds that of the previous lord.

It's not that pig iron production can't be increased, but the profits won't allow it. To earn the high premiums from finished iron products, the pig iron trade must be abandoned.

The high profits from the mines have supported the rapid development of the territory; the only limitation is the shortage of manpower.

If it weren't for this shortcoming, the land reclamation plan might not have been 8,000 mu, but several 8,000 mu.

"This speed is still a bit slow. The continent is already somewhat unstable. Not to mention the conflict between the kingdom and the Church, our old neighbors Beastfolk, are not exactly peaceful either."

Although we are all reluctant to admit it, it is indeed because that old Behemoth Emperor is still alive that we have enjoyed these decades of peace.

Next year will be his 300th birthday, an age rarely seen in Behemoths. Unless he can break through to the Holy Domain before he dies, it will only be a matter of the next two years.

Whether he breaks through before his death or dies directly, a new round of war will break out in the Northern Frontier.

This is both an opportunity for us brothers and a calamity for us.

The family's strength is considered quite good among the lower and middle nobility circles, but looking at the Northern Frontier Battlefield, they are probably destined to be cannon fodder again.

If you don't want to become nothing more than dust and vanish with the wind in the war, then you have no choice but to find a way to increase your strength.

Although they don't know the situation on the front lines, those guys in the Northern Frontier are already starting to prepare for their escape route.

Clearly, they lacked confidence in winning this war. The fervent calls within the kingdom for a northern expedition to reclaim lost territory were likely nothing more than slogans from a group of politicians.

Hudson said meaningfully.

These words were mainly meant for Evola's ears. As the second oldest of the three brothers, he was still unmarried, so it was impossible for him not to be anxious.

Acquiring territory is a low-probability event. If you gain nothing, you can't really rely on your brothers for a living, can you?

This kind of thing is normal in other families, but not in the Coslo Family. There has been no precedent for this in the last hundred years.

If their business fails, they will choose to join a powerful noble family and continue to accumulate capital for the next generation.

His cousin, Knight Adrian, is a case in point. If the previous generation hadn't served the Dalton Family and made enough contributions, he wouldn't have had the chance to inherit the territory of some unfortunate relative.

This approach is suitable for peaceful times, slowly waiting for the Lord of Dawn's favor, but it's not suitable during times of war, especially racial wars involving large-scale Beastfolk invasions.

When it comes to the rise and fall of a kingdom, no noble family can remain unaffected. Even the most powerful noble families have to risk everything.

The glory of the nobility is forged in blood and fire, especially for the nobles of the Alpha Kingdom, whose long-term battles with the Beastfolk have further enhanced its sacredness.

The benefits of this sacredness are not yet apparent to the lower and middle nobility, but for Caesar III, it meant he could disregard the Pope.

The legitimacy of the throne stems from the ancestors' protection of the human race's borders, a fact universally acknowledged by all nations on the continent, regardless of whether the Church recognizes it or not.

To be precise, even the current Church does not dare to deny the legitimacy of Caesar III's throne.

Because in the ancient Bible, which is said to have been written by the Lord of Dawn himself, there is a clear definition of such merits.

Revision is impossible. In a world with gods, anything that relates to the gods is sacred and inviolable.

"Hudson, just say what you want to say! This guy has everything, except a brain."

Nelson said with a helpless expression.

They were born to the same parents, but the difference in their intelligence is truly enormous.

Both brothers ventured out into the world, but the third brother built his own business, while the second brother required his personal guidance.

I thought Evola would be a little affected this time, but it turns out he was completely overthinking it. A carefree person like him clearly wouldn't consider such a level of understanding.

Even though Hudson's hints were very obvious, Evola simply didn't realize that these words were specifically directed at him.

Seeing this, Hudson was also very helpless. Although he remembered his second brother as being quite honest and simple, he never expected him to be this honest and simple.

In the treacherous world of nobility, such honest and simple people are rare these days. Perhaps all the intelligence and talent were concentrated in the eldest son; before I transmigrated, the original owner of this body wasn't doing too well either.

If one were even slightly shrewd, the farce of the Life Essence being switched out wouldn't have occurred.

The next one, Lesur, was even more foolish. He had absolutely no ability, yet he dared to try and break the rules of the game; he was nothing more than a giant baby.

It's too early to tell how the two younger ones are; they probably aren't very bright either. At least, they hadn't shown any intelligence before Hudson left home.

If someone were truly intelligent, even if it were just to please Baron Redman, they would at least put on an act of brotherly affection.

Even if the show fails, it's still a plus, because hypocrisy can make a person more successful in aristocratic circles.

There was only one smart one, but that's normal. Most nobles weren't very bright in their youth; they only matured after experiencing many things.

Evola clearly lacks the harsh realities of life. If he were to suffer more losses and be fooled a few more times, he would probably learn to be more cautious in the face of adversity.

"Let him think about it slowly. These are things he can only figure out on his own. If we help him now, we'll only be harming him."

"I can't help it, "Hudson said helplessly.

Some teammates are simply impossible to carry.

I clearly told him what to do to gain a fiefdom. Unfortunately, Evola went off to worry about Beastfolk invasion.

While having a sense of responsibility is a good thing, the most correct choice is to do the right thing for the right role.

The Beastfolk invasion is clearly a concern for the powerful. For ordinary people following the times, finding ways to improve their own strength is the only viable path.

"You two, that's enough! Your sarcastic remarks make me sound like an idiot. It's just that the Beastfolk are about to invade, and we're preparing in advance."

It's such a small thing.

You lords and their heirs will definitely be going to the battlefield. As for me, a casual knight, whether I participate in the war or not depends on my mood.

If you think I'm in your way or don't want to take me along, just say so. I won't cause you any trouble.

"At worst, I'll just go abroad for a trip and come back after the war is over. Is it really necessary to worry you all like this?"

It was a very powerful explanation, leaving Hudson speechless. Suddenly, he realized that Evola wasn't entirely useless; at least she knew to avoid danger.

As long as people are alive, there is hope. The biggest problem in the Alpha Kingdom is that there are too many noble children.

If a major war were to take place, and most of the nobles in the country were killed, an opportunity would arise.

Perhaps they wouldn't even need to go to the battlefield to inherit the title from some unlucky relative.

Given the Coslo Family's vast network of relatives, it's inevitable that someone in the family line would die out during every major war. Statistically speaking, the probability of inheritance seems greater than the probability of conquering territory from the battlefield.

"No, Evola, I have to apologize to you!"

So you weren't really stupid, you just didn't like to use your brain.

Actually, this plan isn't bad. It's better to have multiple backup plans than to be wiped out in one fell swoop.

Hudson said cautiously.

Deep down, he genuinely supported Evola going into hiding. After all, the Northern Frontier Battlefield was truly dangerous.

In every major war, the Alpha Kingdom could not end its war without losing at least a third of its nobles. In particular, the last major war reduced the number of nobles in the country by a staggering 70%.

There's no need to persuade Nelson; someone with lofty ambitions won't give up easily before experiencing setbacks.

This is a common problem among almost all "talented people." Hudson himself is no exception, and now he also wants to make a name for himself.

After reading the letter in his hand, Qiaomu County Viscount Oran's expression immediately turned serious.

"Is the news accurate? Has the missing Skeleton Lord really reappeared?"

It wasn't that he was naive; he had personally experienced the destructive power of the Skull Society, so he couldn't help but worry.

The last Skull Society rebellion ruined two counties. While Count Pierce's leniency was partly to blame, the main reason was the strength of the Skull Society.

Now, suddenly hearing that the mastermind behind the Skull Society rebellion has appeared in their own territory, it's impossible not to be nervous.

"Viscount, this intelligence was obtained by Knight Florian at the cost of his life. All fifty-seven soldiers who accompanied him also perished at the hands of the enemy."

If Baron Pedro, Knight Torancy, and Knight Rudneff hadn't happened to be passing by with a large entourage on their way back from trading in the Mountain Territory, they probably wouldn't have even received this news.

They also confirmed that the person who made the move wore a mask and possessed immense strength, resembling the legendary Skeleton Lord.

Unfortunately, the enemy was too cunning; upon seeing the large force, they immediately fled without the slightest hesitation.

The middle-aged knight hurriedly explained.

A master capable of killing fifty-seven soldiers and a knight is a rare find in the entire Southeast Province.

Aside from the noble faction, only a few high-ranking members of Heretical Cult organizations remain, and the Skeleton Lord is undoubtedly one of them.

Whether it was a revenge killing or the work of Heretical Cult is no longer important. As long as suspicion points to the Skeleton Lord, it must be treated with utmost care.

"Immediately send someone to report the intelligence we have gathered to the Governor's Mansion, and tell the Governor that the Skull Society are making a comeback."

Order the nobles of the prefecture to be on high alert and guard against any disturbances by the Skull Society. Those Knight's Territory with insufficient strength should, in particular, gather in close proximity to prevent the enemy from taking advantage of the situation.

Viscount Oran immediately gave the order.

Whether it's real or fake, he has to treat it as real.

They had originally planned to organize a patrol team to capture the Skeleton Lord, but after thinking about it, they gave up.

Heretical Cult leaders are not to be trifled with; it would be best to get rid of them. Even if we can't get rid of them, we'll wait for the Governor's Mansion to send someone over.

If you act rashly and push someone too far, you might end up dragging them down with you.

There are far too many negative examples like this, and the cautious Viscount Oran doesn't want to take the risk.

After a pause, he gave the order again, "Now that autumn plowing is over, organize the able-bodied men among the serfs for training."

Send someone to place an order with the Mountain Baron: I want to purchase two thousand spears, five hundred broadswords, two hundred warhammers, two hundred battle axes...

Viscount Oran originally looked down on the junk produced by Hudson, but after being provoked by the emergence of the Skeleton Lord, he suddenly realized that his military strength was insufficient.

The serf soldiers, who had just put down their hoes, were not very good at fighting, but after being armed and trained a little, they were still capable of guarding the castle.