Refusal

Amid the many discussions, Ryan could already make out what was being said.

Some barons had already begun discussing how to seize the lands of those future baronets. Others were plotting to turn pioneering nobles who had originally qualified to become barons into baronets, then devour them whole.

The gathering gradually split into two factions. One consisted of the five ranks of nobility. The Baronet System affected them, but because baronets had to be attached to one of the five noble ranks, they stood to gain considerable wealth.

Especially here in Northwind Province, it was equivalent to gathering several territories together, and naturally, the wealth had to flow into the hands of those holding the five noble ranks.

As for the pioneering nobles and knights, some began planning to ensure their territories became baronial territories, while others were despairing and furious.

Would becoming a baronet truly make them nobles? They did not believe it. They only felt that it made them inferior to others.

"Count, what if we refuse the Empire's proposal this time?"

A Pioneer Knight stood up to speak. He represented a considerable number of people.

"If every noble in Northwind Province refuses the Southern Conference's decision, I think it would still have some effect."

Count Lacus spoke with a smile, but the other nobles clearly disagreed.

"What do you mean, every noble in Northwind Province refuses? Knight Willer, don't talk nonsense."

A baron immediately snorted and could not help saying,

"As I see it, everyone in Northwind Province clearly agrees. You Pioneer Knights have not even become nobles yet, and those pioneering nobles still have not fully become nobles either."

"What right do you have to take part in deciding this meeting?"

At those words, quite a few people glared furiously at that baron. That was a slap to the face—they were not Mud Legs.

"Count, after becoming baronets, how can we advance further?"

In the end, these Pioneer Knights began accepting reality. They could not change the outcome, so they could only ask practical questions.

"Well..."

Count Lacus was put in an awkward position as well. The Empire truly had not figured that out. After all, the establishment of the Baronet System was, to a certain extent, meant to solidify the current class structure. Becoming a baronet was more or less the end of the road; climbing any higher would be extremely difficult.

This had originally been meant to restrain powerful great nobles like them, out of concern that they might seek to become dukes. He had not expected these future baronets to still hold out hope.

"The Baronet System is a reward for expanding the Empire's territory. So long as you can open up more land, a baronet can naturally become a baron. It is not impossible to even become a grand duke in the future."

Count Lacus spoke casually. What happened later was not his concern anyway, so he could say whatever he liked.

The Empire could not openly block every path of advancement. This answer reassured many nobles.

The matters that followed were simple: discussing the baronets, determining which pioneering noble territories could become baronial territories, and deciding how to distribute the one and a half million Gold Coins.

Of course, aside from the second matter, which concerned some pioneering nobles and Lacus, the rest would be decided behind closed doors by the nobles of Northwind Province.

As Count Lacus traveled throughout Northwind Province to inspect who could advance from pioneering noble to baron, the other nobles shut themselves away to discuss the other two matters.

Whom should the baronets be attached to?

This question almost had no answer, but one possibility could be ruled out: nearly all Pioneer Knights would never become baronets under a nearby baronial territory.

Over the past twenty or thirty years, there had been little between them besides conflicts of interest. If they now became baronets under the other party's family, would that not be walking into a trap?

One only had to look at Haton. If Little Walter, the nearby Pioneer Knight, became a baronet under Baron Hatton's family, he would likely be devoured clean before long.

That made the choice rather interesting. If a Pioneer Knight wanted to attach himself to a noble, the first thing he wanted was for that noble to support him against his former rivals around his territory.

For instance, Ryan saw Little Walter, who was about his own age, chatting merrily with Baron Roach of Crow Territory. They exchanged meaningful looks, as if they had reached some kind of agreement.

Thanks to Count Lacus's words, these Pioneer Knights still temporarily had the right to choose.

But no one came looking for Ryan.

Not a single one from Zero Crossing Prefecture. They all knew what Frozen Earth Territory was like—though they did not know what it was like now.

In just a few short months, Frozen Earth Territory had become so astonishing and unbelievable that even its neighbor, Baron Hatton, was shocked. Other nobles paid even less attention to it, especially since Ryan had remained outside noble circles ever since coming to Northwind Province.

Just when Ryan thought this had nothing to do with him, he did not expect a Pioneer Knight to set his sights on him.

"Baron Ryan, Black sends his greetings."

A middle-aged Pioneer Knight greeted Ryan with impeccable noble etiquette. In his lowered gaze was a trace of carefully concealed shrewdness.

He had not come with good intentions.

Then again, how could anyone with good intentions seek out the lord of Frozen Earth Territory?

"Knight Black, hello."

Ryan answered with a calm smile, then said,

"Knight Black, do you intend to become a baronet under my family?"

"As you surmised, my knightdom has a small town with a population of three thousand. More than two thousand of them are my slaves. In addition, my knightdom has two small Iron Ore mines and a hunting Mountain Forest."

Black spoke with pride in his tone. This was the accumulation of his family over many years.

Indeed, for a Pioneer Knight, if not for this incident, Knight Black would likely soon have become Baron Black. His family fortune was even far more substantial than Baron Hatton's.

Any baron who heard that a Pioneer Knight with such assets wished to join him would probably be overjoyed.

But Ryan was not fooled. Knight Black belonged to Silver Stream County, the county closest to Winged Gorge in Northwind Province and also the southernmost one. It was considered the most prosperous county, so why would he come seeking support from the lord of Frozen Earth Territory, the poorest land in the farthest north?

Was he going to bring everyone and migrate to Frozen Earth Territory? Impossible. He merely wanted to use Ryan's name to securely occupy his own knightdom.

"With Knight Black's wealth, many barons, and perhaps even viscounts, should be willing to recruit you, no?"

Ryan said with a smile, then continued.

"Knight Black, perhaps you could seek out Viscount Hogg. I imagine he would give you a satisfactory answer."

Ryan could not be bothered to take in these Pioneer Knights. Every one of them thought far too highly of themselves.

Besides, under the Baronet System, barons were qualified to confer baronetcies. Why go far afield when there was an easier option nearby?