"If nothing unexpected happens, Bilder will bring back 20,000 to 30,000 people, solving the problems of 70 percent of the families in the three villages."
After the war, women were no longer as important to many noble territories, because the number of women in their territories had exceeded the number of men.
Women who were captured and enslaved while fleeing were especially cheap. They lived very poorly in the noble territories, and caravans could buy them without much effort.
Solving the problem of 70% of the family population Zero Crossing City will make the remaining 30% less serious.
Ryan lay on a deckchair high in the castle, watching the Griffin soar in the sky. His sharp eyes locked onto his prey, and if he wasn't mistaken, a Azure Lion was running in the Mountain Forest Griffin, fiercely driving its prey into a corner.
He turned many questions into data in his mind. In the political strife after the war, Ryan gradually detached himself and watched the nobles fight from a superior position. When his own demands were recognized, he no longer needed to take sides.
But this lack of need is itself a form of taking sides; Ryan is a team.
Although he may not appear to be part of the Noble Circle of the Northwind Province, he is actually the one who has the authority to make the decision.
The power he wields will determine the distribution of wealth among many nobles.
But he did not speak, like a high and mighty Monarch looking down at the heated argument of his civil and military officials.
Entering this political conflict requires an opportunity that will no longer be war, so Ryan doesn't have much to do right now.
News would reach the Frozen Earth Territory from all directions, and although he was lying there, he was actually able to know everything the nobles were doing.
"The first fortress in the Fortress Defense Line will be officially completed in a couple of days. Would you like to go take a look?"
Ryan thought about it, and then became a little anxious.
"Why can't these people get it?!"
"I was worried before that they would kill innocent people and claim credit for it, but now I understand. These ignorant fools don't even want Orcs heads obtained through legitimate means."
For Ryan, politics, economics, and military affairs were all minor matters. Helping those soldiers find their families was just a small part of the job. But sending Bilder to hire a registered adventurer group from the Northern Kingdom's Braveheart Guild was for the sake of the economy, one of the three most important pillars of the nobility.
To increase economic wealth, buying and selling are necessary. Money from trade is the only way for the economy to grow. To achieve this, the first thing to do is to generate traffic, reputation, and a unique trading community specific to the Frozen Earth Territory economy.
During their previous transactions with the Chamber of Commerce, Ryan and Avril gradually realized what the Chamber leaders were worried about.
The customer base is a crucial factor that determines a chamber of commerce's revenue. Ryan's trade products need to be trusted before anyone will buy them.
Should we send him to do what those merchant guilds do, using every means to gain the trust of Mages, other extraordinary beings, and alien races?
This is necessary, but if you want to overtake others by taking shortcuts, simply following the steps and copying other people's answers is not enough.
His economy needs to create a segment of its own audience.
But why can't those damned adventurers get it?
Lord Ryan was very worried. He hoped that the adventurer groups would spread the word that Orcs heads could be exchanged for Gold Coin in Zero Crossing City, so that more people would come to him to get money.
He got free Gold Coin! One Orcs is worth one Gold Coin! Maybe everyone thought the Northern Kingdom's Braveheart Guild during this war, but he really did!
Really?
Ryan rolled over, and the Gold Coin tumbled down. With the first Gold Coin falling, a mountain of Gold Coin instantly engulfed Ryan.
"Waaaaah~"
A hand emerged from the Gold Coin, waving incessantly. Beside her, the Viscountess leaned against him helplessly, letting Lord Ryan hold her.
"Call!"
"I almost suffocated! Are you trying to kill your master?"
Ryan angrily rebuked him and slapped him hard across the face.
"Wow, that's really good at playing."
Ryan tossed a glittering Gold Coin into the swaying mountain ravines; this was his pleasure, and he would reward himself with a Gold Coin each time. There were several female officials in the castle, and they had accumulated considerable wealth thanks to Ryan's rewards over this period of time.
"When Meyers first said he would give me five million Gold Coin, I thought it was too little, but I really didn't expect that when five hundred Gold Coin were delivered, there would be so many."
Ryan lay in the castle, on top of the Gold Coin, greedily eyeing his wealth like Dragons.
"Do you think they'll believe there are too many Orcs and I can't afford to pay them?"
Ryan for a moment, thinking to himself that he still couldn't understand why they would turn a blind eye to the Gold Coin they had obtained for free.
The Viscountess, who was also standing naked on the Gold Coin, hesitated. To be honest, even standing on this mountain of gold, she wasn't sure if Ryan would really exchange an Orcs's head for a Gold Coin.
"That's... a lot of money."
Would a noble Baron accumulate 30,000 to 50,000 Gold Coin in ten years? But if Ryan really wants to do this, the Gold Coin he takes out will probably not be 30,000 to 50,000, but 300,000 to 500,000.
Let alone the ordinary adventurers from the Northlands, even nobles probably wouldn't believe that Ryan would do such a thing.
"How about we think of a way to get Lynn to do it again?"
"No, no, no, it won't work. It's not as effective now. We need to find someone else to do it."
"Damn it, aren't those adventurers supposed to be brave enough to fight Orcs? Why don't they dare come to me to exchange their money?"
Ryan was helpless. He had been waiting for this for a month, and had been sitting on this five million Gold Coin for a hundred months, but he still hadn't heard any news from Zero Crossing City about anyone exchanging Orcs heads for Gold Coin.
" Viscount Hogg has written again. The nobles of Thundercloud County are in an uproar, wanting their offspring to receive a piece of land."
"Even two earls would find it difficult to take over a village, as they would be questioned by a large number of nobles about the legitimacy of their offspring's bloodline as soon as they opened their mouths."
"The war with the Orcs is still ongoing, but it is said that the knights of the two Baron of Northwind County have already engaged in a duel on the battlefield."
The Viscountess spoke of news from afar; after all, as a former noblewoman, she didn't speak with much reverence for the nobles.
"Is it really that ruthless?"
Ryan was surprised, but the question surprised the Viscountess.
She hesitated and said:
"This is a Noble Title, a hereditary Noble Title that can be obtained without any extraordinary merit. As long as you acquire land, your descendants can become nobles."
"Among them are even fifth-rank nobles."
Ryan was surprised by the nobles' commotion; in fact, it was Ryan's shock that the nobles found incomprehensible.
Baron Ryan never showed any greed for the Noble Title that represented those lands from beginning to end.
Even those around him were surprised at this moment.
Everyone shared the same understanding: Baron Ryan was new to the area, still young, and had no children or a large family. This was the only explanation that everyone could think of.
Otherwise, why would no one care about those lands that represent Noble Title, as well as hereditary wealth and power?
The nobles' initial agreement to Ryan's population demands was likely intended to solidify the matter, preventing Ryan from later claiming victory in the war and thus re-entering the fray for a large share.
Does Ryan care? Lying on the mountain of Gold Coin, Ryan seriously pondered this question: Does he care...?
"Huff~ Huff~"
Faint breathing could be heard from Ryan's nostrils. After confirming that her Baron was indeed asleep, the Viscountess quietly stepped back, took Magic Potion, and lay down on the blanket to sleep as well.
She was very tired too.
At the Northern Kingdom's Braveheart Guild, Ryan would indeed exchange Gold Coin for adventurers who brought Orcs heads. It wasn't because he had a lot of money; even if he suddenly received a huge sum of five million, he wouldn't think it was too much. He was lying there simply because it was the first time he had seen such immense wealth. He was an ordinary man, but not a mediocre one.
The real reason for giving out Gold Coin is to get even more Gold Coin Gold Coin. Every gold coin he gives out is a GG fee, and GG will bring him ten or a hundred times the profit.
Thirty to fifty thousand? Thirty to fifty thousand? As time goes by, Ryan will be able to recoup three to five million Gold Coin.
Don't underestimate the spending power of knights. Among the many extraordinary paths, knights may seem to be a group with little spending potential, wearing tattered family heirloom armor and carrying a fire poker all day long. But in reality, knights are not so poor. In fact, they often don't even have to pay for their purchases, which makes them seem more generous.
If an ordinary person aspires to be a knight, they must strive to emulate him in various ways.
Now, in the entire Northwind Province, and even with the two neighboring kingdoms, does the knightly equipment produced by the Frozen Earth Territory really have any rivals?
No, there isn't a single one who can fight.
"What methods are available to mobilize these 'customers'?"
In his sleep, Ryan was quiet, while the Frozen Earth Territory remained ablaze with a vibrant, bustling atmosphere amidst the snow and ice.
The people at the foot of Rhino Horn Mountain are proud; they were the first to follow Lord Ryan. The population of Winter City is even more straightforward.
"Only the strongest fighters are qualified to protect the noble and great Lord Ryan!"
"The weak will be disqualified from serving!"
"Defeat me, you weak challengers! Your arms aren't even as strong as the sticks you use to shove women in the back at night! Or are your thighs as thin as your sticks? Do you really deserve to be my opponents? Hahahaha!"
On the arena platform, a figure was carried by a rubber-woven rope. He was draped in an exquisite, seemingly shimmering fur, and like a ferocious tiger, he mocked the challengers scattered on the ground.
"Today is to celebrate the completion of the first fortress in the Thorny Jungle, but this is Winter City, the land of Gam, where only the strong can cheer and rejoice!"
"Alas! Come on, who else is there!"
The burly man roared wildly, and finally someone outside couldn't stand it anymore. They wrapped their fur tightly around themselves and transformed into a lithe lynx, charging onto the arena platform.
"Hahaha, I know you Epimetheus, trying to become the second Foxskin, but how could you possibly be my match!"
"Damn it!"
The burly man roared, only to be toyed with by the lynx. Outside the arena, Borgeld stared wide-eyed, unwilling to miss this exciting battle. However, seeing the cat-and-mouse scene on the screen, so different from the bloody carnage he had imagined, he was immediately filled with rage.
"Go ahead and hit him! Hit him! What are you doing? You piece of trash!"
"He's so big, couldn't you just kill him?"
Borgeld was anxious and wished she could rush forward herself, but fortunately, a group of people around her held her back.
In the entire Frozen Earth Territory, who can defeat her?
It's considered good if you don't beat someone to a pulp.
"Big Cat! Beat him and this gem is yours!"
Enraged, Borgeld threw a sparkling sapphire. Many people were heartbroken as the gem shattered on the ground, but they quickly turned into madmen.
This item remains highly valuable and possesses magical properties.
"Lord Borgeld, if I were stronger than him, could I obtain it too?"
"That's right! Whoever stands until the end gets it."
——
The arrogant young lady, Lady Borgeld, commander of the Berserk War Bear Legion, has caused trouble again. After revealing all her wealth in Winter City, she caused a stir throughout the city, resulting in 300 people being seriously injured and 1,200 others being slightly injured. More than 20 of them would probably have been rotting by now if they hadn't donned fur to transform into beasts to recover from their injuries. In short, the entire night in Winter City was filled with wails of agony.
Upon hearing this news, Ryan couldn't help but roll off the mountain of gold once again.
How did she come up with that idea?
Ryan coughed twice, widened his eyes, and said, then looked somewhat awkwardly at Avril was slightly angry in front of him.
"I'll go back today. I'm just not comfortable leaving these Gold Coin here."
"But then again, this girl has been a huge help to me."
"I finally know how to play this game."
Yes, games. In games, what's the first thing adventurers do when they open their eyes every day?
Of course, it's about clicking those obsessive-compulsive red dots!
Every day there are new activities, and every day there are upgrades; the key lies in the activities.
How could the Northern Kingdom's Braveheart Guild not have any events?
Winter Limited Time Only – A Hero's Carnival!
"Hehehehe..."
Ryan grabbed Avril.
"Let's go to Zero Crossing City in a couple of days and see what's going on."
"Hissing sound—"
Zero Crossing City.
Pairs of eyes were fixed on the tall warhorse running through the city. No one stopped it from roaming freely in the city, no matter where it went. Even if it broke into the merchant guild and ate the precious food inside, before the merchants could come up to drive it away, someone would already stand in front of it and scatter a handful of copper coins.
"Don't disturb my mount."
"Your?"
"It will be mine soon."
The man proudly raised his head, patted the Knight's Greatsword given to him by Viscount Miles at his waist; he was a distinguished knight.
"Two days from now, Lord Ryan will be visiting Zero Crossing City to inspect his wealth. The Northern Kingdom's Braveheart Guild will be holding Hero Tournament to entertain that esteemed lord."
"But to my surprise, when Lord Ryan heard about it, he said he would give a warhorse to the victorious hero to encourage his great courage, saying that the hero was there to conquer the Dragons and save his people, not just to please him."
"This warhorse comes from the Frozen Earth Territory. It will belong to me, because I will surely achieve final victory."
With a clatter, several more silver coins were tossed down, this time from another knight who reached out to touch his warhorse's mane.
" Valentin, you don't need to pay for my mount."
" Hunter!"
The knight was furious, as if his wife had been insulted, and rushed forward to stop the other man's large hand.
"You are not allowed near my mount!"
"And you've never beaten me!"
Valentin patted the Knight's Greatsword at his waist and looked up.
"You lost to me six times. The first time, Sally belonged to me. The sixth time, this sword belonged to me."
Upon hearing this, the knight named Hunter flared his nostrils and clenched his fists in anger, but calmed down the next moment.
"I will win."
He snorted coldly, said nothing, and turned to leave. So what if it was six times? As long as he won this last time, he would have completely defeated Knight Valentin.
Valentin was puzzled as he watched his confident, defeated opponent leave.
Why is he so confident?
He muttered to himself, then heard the murmurs around him.
There was no way around it; the knights possessed powerful senses, and whenever they appeared, they became the focus of everyone's attention.
" Hunter lost to Valentin Valentine six times, but I heard that last night, Hunter even abandoned Poi at the tavern and rushed to the Northgar blacksmith shop next to the Northern Kingdom's Braveheart Guild to have a Knight's Greatsword made."
"I heard that the order was placed with the apprentice of Master Brock, who forged the Legendary longsword. The other party is also of noble blood, so the sword will definitely receive Master Brock's guidance."
"Huh? That's Poi."
Those around were utterly shocked, recalling the woman in the tavern whose breasts could fill ten glasses of beer, and then the beer was thrown up by the people around them.
Damn, they weren't like this before.
"That's right, Hunter is after this warhorse!"
The man came to his senses, and in that instant, he forgot all about Bo and Yi, his eyes burning as he stared intently at the Northern Warhorse that was eating.
The three essential elements of a knight are armor, a weapon, and a mount, but there's no Poi.
"So this time... will Hunter defeat Valentin Valentine?"
"Definitely. My second uncle's sister-in-law's husband's cousin is on good terms with the uncle of a cook in Valentin Viscount Miles's mansion. I heard that Lord Valentine won against Hunter because he had a weapon given to him by his father-in-law."
From a distance, Valentin could hear clearly that those people had no control over their voices.
"Is that so?"
Valentin recalled their previous duels. Indeed, he always managed to chip several nicks into Hunter's weapon, while Hunter's weapon was no match.
But now the other party has actually bought products from the Frozen Earth Territory. How lucky he is! The blacksmiths around Master Brock of the Frozen Earth Territory just happen to be available.
Looking at the Knight's Greatsword at his waist, he felt that it didn't seem so appealing anymore.
"No way, I want to buy one too!"
"A backup plan is fine too."
Looking at the warhorse beside him, Valentin made up his mind.