A Useful Person

"These weaklings! These parasites!"

After two hours of arguing in the study, they still couldn't reach an agreement.

Finally, Count Mori told everyone to rest and that they would discuss it further in the assembly hall tomorrow.

As the nobles from various territories left, Count Mori, who had been holding back for half the day, could no longer contain his anger.

He slammed his wine glass onto the table, the silver cup denting inward.

"Has the cold wind of the North Territory taken away their backbone? Damn it. Especially those two, I almost suspect they aren't Count Tucker and Count Jenier's biological sons. Could they be bastards!"

Count Havent, sitting on the other side, appeared unusually calm. Even when he heard his old friend cursing the lords of Heridans and Bankaza, he could only smile helplessly.

"Hadawei~ People change. Don't you always say that nothing stays the same?"

Hearing Count Havent's words, Count Mori let out a heavy snort and leaned back in his chair, falling silent.

"Actually, old friend, you knew this would happen long ago. You just didn't want to admit it. With the departure of our old comrades, the North Territory is no longer the North Territory it used to be. No one likes the wind and sand here, and everyone yearns for the prosperity of the Imperial Capital, especially the new generation of nobles who have studied there."

'Sigh~~~~~~'

Count Mori sighed heavily, grabbed the wine pot beside him, and drank greedily.

"What do we do now~ Hadawei, drinking won't solve the problem."

Count Mori held the wine pot and remained silent for a moment.

"We need an army, we need a lot of funds..."

As he said this, the two looked at each other. Under Havent's confused gaze, Count Mori slowly said, "And a large-scale war."

"Um, I don't mean to interrupt your conversation, but it seems you two have important matters to discuss. Perhaps I should leave? Staying up late affects a young person's development."

Count Mori reached out and tossed him a potion.

"I'm very sorry, little Vent, you can't sleep yet. What comes next concerns you too."

Looking at the mental potion in his hand, Havent felt speechless and wanted to call the police.

"This, I, I didn't think I was that useful."

"Hehehehe~ Drink it if you're sleepy. Since you are part of the North Territory's leadership, there are some things you have to do, whether you want to or not."

Seeing his old man remain silent, Havent resigned himself to his fate.

"Then tell me. I can't do anything too difficult. I'm just a small mage, not a turtle in a wishing well."

A dark cloud drifted by, obscuring most of the bright moon. The guards standing outside the door felt the chill in the air and wrapped their clothes tighter.

"Are you really just going to the Imperial Capital to study? Then you wouldn't need to keep me here specifically. You could have just told me anytime."

Havent looked at the bald old man suspiciously. After interacting with him for a while, Havent had already labeled Count Mori as cunning.

"Hehehehe~ You're not a child anymore. As an heir to a territory, there are many things you don't understand. The Royal Academy in the Imperial Capital is an excellent place. Inside it..."

"Why don't you just say it directly? You're being so indirect that it's making me nervous."

"Alright, I'll be direct, child."

Seeing Havent nod, Count Mori put away his earlier roguish demeanor.

"Before the banquet, we roughly discussed some matters concerning our North Territory and the Church. I don't need to repeat it, do I?"

"No need~ We, the Royalist Faction~"

"Hahahaha, it seems you were listening carefully."

However, seeing that Havent wasn't smiling, Count Mori shrugged and continued, "We mentioned earlier that the Church is developing very well in the South because the Church and local lords have formed a symbiotic relationship. The Church's combatants even directly join the local lords' armies. Some smaller lords only keep their personal guards and a small portion of their troops, handing over the management of public order and education within their territories to local churches established by the Church. In return, or as an exchange, the lords not only receive military support and a share of military expenses but also a large sum of Redemption Gold income."

"This? Hmm? Huh? Then do those southern lords still have autonomy?"

"Autonomy? Hmph~ What an interesting adjective."

Count Mori sneered, his expression filled with disdain.

"Perhaps they do! The Empire is too vast. The North Territory and the South are too far apart. We only see fragments of information in reports. However, if we look at the results, they basically have none. His Majesty has issued some decrees over the years, but they have been poorly executed. This includes economic aid for the North Territory."

Normally, the lords of the central territories were responsible for 30% of the military expenses. The east, facing the sea, had to bear the pressure of attacks from sea races like the Naga and thus provided no support.

The west had to deal with harassment from the Gray Dwarves, Kagla, and the Shaman Tribe, while the southwest had to be prepared for the Lizardmen to emerge from the Black Marsh at any time. They could barely manage to be self-sufficient.

Only the south had no powerful enemies appearing. Although it bordered the Eternal Night Forest, the Elves living deep within the forest were unwilling to interact with humans.

This exceptionally advantageous environment led to the highly developed economy of the southern provinces.

Originally, they were supposed to bear 50% of the military expenses, but this proportion had been declining year by year, and now it was less than 30%.

A significant reason for this situation was that a large number of southern lords refused to pay their military expenses, instead demanding that the Armor Defense Line accept the Church's garrison."

At this point, Count Mori spat fiercely.

"Those spineless cowards, they actually said such things. A bunch of fat pigs raised by the Church.

I bet if the Pope so much as waved his hand, a large number of nobles would be lining up to lick His Majesty Saint Calia's backside after he just finished defecating."

Listening to this gossipy historical topic, which was almost as juicy as catching a mistress, Havent, who had been yawning incessantly, also felt drowsy and his eyes stopped feeling dry.

"What does this have to do with me going to study in the Imperial Capital?"

Count Mori took a sip of honey wine and continued.

"As you just heard, nobles of our North Territory, big and small, all went to the Imperial Capital to study when they were your age. Of course, ostensibly it was for study, but in reality, we were kept there as hostages. This is a rule that has been in place since the founding of the empire."

"What? I'm going to be collateral?"

Upon hearing that he was to be a hostage, Havent shot up from his seat.

"Calm down, calm down. I, your father, even your grandfather, we've all been hostages. It's a necessary procedure, especially when undertaking major tasks. With you in the Imperial Capital, His Majesty will feel much more at ease."

Havent eyed the two suspiciously. This plot, this purpose, this identity... Hiss!!!!!

"You guys aren't planning a rebellion, are you?"

Pfft~~~~ Cough, cough, cough, cough

The wine Count Mori had just drunk was sprayed out.