Tenfold Leverage, If the Devil Had a Name

"This method is too slow."

Ryan shook his head. The Marquess Governor seated at the head of the table frowned. He did not like Ryan's attitude. If Ryan had smiled and eagerly acted as though he had no objections, the Marquess would have been delighted and might even have taken the initiative to give Ryan a large batch of war resources.

The Hot Spring Marquis was not a man who liked discussing matters with others or listening to their opinions.

Perhaps that was why he had lost the competition to become an elector decades ago.

It had nothing to do with whether he was capable. Clearly, the nobles would not support an elector like that.

"Baron Ryan, I do not believe your territory can support such a large population."

"You are consuming them in the development of your territory. You even make slaves risk freezing to death while building mountain roads and fortresses amid ice and snow. Using this method to consume your excess population is simply too wasteful."

"I will offer you satisfactory compensation."

Hearing the Hot Spring Marquis's words, Ryan was somewhat surprised. This Marquess knew rather too much about him and his territory.

Sure enough, anyone capable of becoming an elector was unquestionably exceptional.

The Empire's system for electing emperors had been perfected for countless years. There were no overlooked fools.

This was the first noble from outside Northwind Province to mention the changes in Frozen Earth Territory. Even Baron Hatton, who spent all day eating, sleeping, and buying maids, did not know such details.

Ryan would not follow the other man's line of thought. In any case, he could not possibly sell people.

He began speaking of time and calculations instead.

"Countless men have died in Hot Spring Province. Even if those women seek seed elsewhere,