Provincial Conference

Provincial Conference

Three days later, at the Governor's Manor in Northwind City, the nobles of the entire Northwind Province had finally gathered.

But the number of them looked rather pitiful.

The nobles of Northwind Province had once been quite lively among themselves, but after this orc invasion, everything had changed.

The dead were certainly regrettable, but the living still laughed and chatted.

Ryan sat in the Zero Crossing Prefecture section, watching the leading counts and viscounts chat amiably. He even retained memories of the man seated in the center.

More precisely, memories of the emblem of two serpents intertwined like vines on the man's scepter.

Count Lacus of the Empire, Master of Flying Serpents and Forests.

He was an imperial count of genuine power, backed by a formidable family. He occupied the warm forests of the South, and it was said that the cultivated farmland alone was enough for millions of people to squander freely.

To Northwind Province, that was simply an unimaginable paradise.

After exchanging pleasantries with the three counts around him for some time, the count representing the Empire finally coughed twice and rose to his feet.

The vast assembly hall immediately fell utterly silent. Everyone looked at Count Lacus as he drew a sheet of snow-white silk from his scepter, densely covered in writing.

"Now that everyone is here, let's get this over with quickly. Northwind Province is damned cold."

No one refuted Count Lacus's disdainful tone. Given the choice, they too would have preferred to remain in the warm South.

Still, his words made them uncomfortable.

"Starting this year, the Empire will revoke all preferential treatment for Northwind Province."

Lacus spoke concisely. The silk actually contained many words, most of them describing the Empire's expectations and support for Northwind Province over the years, but he had summarized it neatly.

"The annual subsidy of one million Gold Coins will be cancelled. At the same time, Northwind Province will pay annual taxes of 1.5 million Gold Coins to the Empire."

"1.5 million?!"

The moment Count Lacus finished speaking, a noble rose furiously to his feet. He was from Cold Mountain County, one of the few nobles fortunate enough to survive, and he was utterly shocked by those words.

"Where is Northwind Province supposed to find 1.5 million Gold Coins?"

Lacus snorted coldly and ignored the baron. His gaze turned toward Viscount Landa, one of Northwind Province's seven prefectural governors. He was certain that this man's outburst had come at the viscount's prompting.

Divided among every noble, 1.5 million Gold Coins was no small sum. Cold Mountain County had suffered the worst devastation from the orcs and could hardly afford it, but they had cleverly dragged everyone in Northwind Province into it.

Sure enough, people soon began speaking up one after another, claiming that Northwind Province was struggling. Forget 1.5 million—even 500,000 was beyond them.

Lacus did not indulge them.

"I am merely informing you that Northwind Province's annual taxes must be submitted from now on."

"As for how you come up with them, that is not a problem for the Empire to consider."

"Furthermore, when the orcs marched south this time, Northwind Province was the only province in the entire Empire that failed to stop them. Across the whole South, many are now wondering whether the Empire has grown old."

"The Empire's honor has been insulted. You committed such a grave mistake, and you still dare to haggle?"

What Lacus said was true. Perhaps the Empire had already half-abandoned Northwind Province, so it had not imposed overly severe punishment for their failure to stop the orc invasion. Count Winter even remained the governor of Northwind Province.

But such matters could not be spoken aloud. Every noble understood that face was important to them.

"Enough."

In the end, Count Winter was the one who stepped forward and said:

"Northwind Province will certainly not disappoint the Empire's trust."

"That would be best."

Count Lacus nodded. Telling these nobles news they already knew was merely a task to him, with no benefit whatsoever.

The next matter, on the other hand, could affect this count's interests.

"Now that you know, sit down. Let us discuss the second matter."

"In the South, the Empire and many great nobles held discussions atop The Church's holy mountain. They intend to implement the Baronet System across the territories of the continent."

"This matter has not yet been fully decided. The Empire also wishes to know what the nobles of each province think."

"As for the Baronet System..."

After the brief introduction, Count Lacus fell silent. The entire assembly hall became frighteningly quiet.

Only after a moment did someone speak.

"Being able to develop the Northlands would naturally be wonderful."

A baron said this with a smile. He had several children. While he was not worried about inheritance, he had previously been quite troubled.

"It is an honor for those Mud Legs to expand territory for the Empire. If you ask me, granting them a Pioneer Knight title would be enough. There is no need to make them nobles."

"They did seize their territories, after all. It would not be right to put it that way, or what would that make our ancestors?"

"That is true. Baronet sounds rather nice, too."

The nobles all smiled like old foxes. Some even addressed each other warmly, praising one another's family crests to the heavens.

But while some rejoiced, others worried.

A noble rose to his feet. He sat at the edge and had no family crest of his own. At that moment, he was both nervous and angry.

"Lord Count Lacus, what does the Empire intend to do with pioneer nobles and Pioneer Knights like us?"

Count Lacus answered calmly as well:

"Pioneer nobles established before this year will undergo an official inspection of their territories. If their territories meet the standards, they will become barons formally enfeoffed by the Empire. If their territories fail to meet the standards, they will become baronets."

"As for Pioneer Knights, so long as they possess territory, they too will become baronets."

"The Empire promised back then that as long as our territories were large enough, we would be enfeoffed as nobles!"

A Pioneer Knight rose to his feet. Beneath his loose robes, many people could see that he was still wearing leather armor. His gaze could not help turning hostile.

This was a gathering of nobles. What was the meaning of dressing like that? Was he trying to lower their standards?

"Knight Qiulin, are you questioning the Empire's decision?"

Count Winter snorted and looked toward the Pioneer Knight. The powerful pressure of a knight forced him back into his seat.

"The Empire did say that back then, but baronets are also members of the nobility. Once you become a baronet, no one will deny that you are a noble when you go out, or they will incur the condemnation of all humanity."

"So strictly speaking, the Empire has not broken its promise."

"As for whether you can become barons, that depends on the size of your territories. You cannot expect that receiving a Pioneer Order automatically makes you a baron. There is no such thing."

"If this had happened in the past, many of you would not merely have failed to become baronets. You yourselves would have become wandering knights and lost your territories."

"This time, the Empire has directly granted every one of you a noble seat."

"How can a baronet be the same as a baron?"

After hearing Lacus's words, someone in the crowd still could not help speaking up.

Some of the more cautious ones continued questioning.

"If we become baronets, then baronets must attach themselves to one of the five ranks of nobility. Which noble will we belong to as baronets?"

"Well..."

Lacus narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone rising.

"By rights, whichever noble granted you the Pioneer Order should become the noble you serve as a baronet. But Northwind Province is too remote. In order to help one another and develop the vast Northlands, the Empire suggests that you choose a noble of the five ranks near your own territory."

"Moreover, the Empire can decide that the first batch of baronets this year will have the right to choose their own noble of the five ranks."

Clearly, the Empire also understood that pioneer territories and neighboring nobles generally had conflicts. To ease such conflicts, baronets could be allowed not to attach themselves to the nearest noble of the five ranks.