The Visitor

A day later.

Victor found Boon. Aside from learning that the team sent north to buy horses would soon return, his father's letters contained only everyday news: either both sides in the council were arguing themselves hoarse over dividing the spoils after the war, or there were too many banquets, leaving the entire council reeking of alcohol and filled with drunken belches. Everyone was tipsy, and nobles somewhere were even throwing drunken tantrums.

They were fairly useless scraps of information. Victor could not find any hidden meaning in them. It seemed his father's situation was quite grim; he could not even send back useful intelligence.

However, the most recent letter mentioned that an honored guest would be visiting the territory. They needed to receive him properly, preserve the family's dignity, and protect the family's interests.

Victor found the wording strange. He immediately reread the earlier letters, and the Calculation Module promptly gave its interpretation. "The Calculation Module concludes that Count Colt's envoy is coming? Why not the king's envoy? Their interests are believed to differ. That makes sense. So Count Colt truly intends to mobilize nobles to head north through territorial exchanges, just as previously predicted? That seems the most likely possibility."

"Number 1, have the Calculation Module suspend all other tasks. Put all computing power into improving Golden Sunflower cultivation techniques and complete it as soon as possible."

"Understood, Victor. The calculation task's completion time has been reduced to thirty hours."

"I wonder whether this optimization can really raise production by another ten percent. Combined with the previous oil-pressing process that improved extraction by ten percent, it should earn at least three hundred more gold coins every year."

Shaking his head, Victor gave up on thinking any further. He would leave these matters to the Beacon Lighthouse to calculate.

Victor turned and boarded a carriage. He was going to Linshui Town to welcome the honored guest.

After the carriage arrived in Linshui Town, it drove straight onto the docks, drawing the attention of passersby.

"Is the Golden Sunflower Family receiving someone? Has the baron himself returned?"

"Probably not. I came from the Capital City myself. The Noble Council is meeting every day; it doesn't look like he could return. Some other great noble is probably coming."

Two merchants whispered among themselves nearby.

Victor sat silently in the carriage, deep in thought. At that moment, a guard knocked on the carriage door. Victor opened his eyes and said, "Come in."

A guard opened the door and said to Victor, "My lord, the ship has arrived."

Victor rose and stepped down from the carriage.

A ship was sailing along the river. Its design differed greatly from ordinary inland merchant vessels. It was clearly an ocean-going ship, with a sharp bow and deep draft.

Victor narrowed his eyes. He had long heard that Count Colt's North York County lay by the sea and possessed one of the rare natural ice-free ports in the north. Rumor also had it that Count Colt had established a fairly formidable navy. Seeing it with his own eyes now, the rumors appeared to be true.

Count Colt's strength truly stood above all others. Throughout the Grand Duchy of Vera, he far surpassed the other nobles and ranked second only to the Ducal House. With this naval force alone, Count Colt could trade directly with the Scorching Sun Islands, bypassing the middlemen of the Grand Duchy of Vera and the East Sea Federation. Northlands warhorses and specialties were highly sought after in the south.

With military strength as a guarantee and sufficient wealth besides, even the Barbarian Allied Forces might not be impossible to deal with. Perhaps the old grand duke's suspicions had not been unfounded. Count Colt was indeed suspect. After all, once a subject possessed the strength to rebel, the ruler would assume he intended to rebel.

While he was thinking, the ship had already docked.

Before long, a group of guards clad in black armor disembarked and lined up neatly along both sides of the ship. Victor's eyelid twitched as he looked at them. That set of black armor was far too familiar. Aside from its coverage being designed for easier movement on foot, its style and materials were exactly like the Iron Knights he had seen on the battlefield.

Soon, a silver-haired young man stepped down from the ship. Victor hurried forward to greet him. "Welcome, Lord Alex Iron Birch."

"Greetings, Lord Victor Golden Sunflower. There is no need to call me lord. We are both knights, so just call me Alex. After all, my elder brother John Iron Birch is the viscount who will inherit the entire Iron Birch Territory."

Victor's eyelid twitched. This man's sourness could be used to make vinegar. It seemed complicated family dynamics were customary among great noble houses. The intelligence had indeed said that Count Colt did not care about the open and covert struggle between his eldest and second sons; he even seemed to look forward to it. As the eldest son, John had been made a viscount by Colt at a young age. Unfortunately, his maternal family was weak, merely from a barony in southern Cornwall County, and his mother had died early. He had a title but no real power. Alex, the second son, was different. His maternal family was a newly elevated viscount house from northern Durham County, and his mother was Count Colt's second wife. Though her family lacked deep foundations, it was powerful. Being local to the Northlands, they had the support of the Northern Frontier nobles. Alex had substance but no title. The two brothers were irreconcilable. To win over the Northern Frontier nobles, John had fashioned himself into a rough northern knight and attracted a group of supporters. Alex, on the other hand, carried himself as a noble in every respect, emphasizing grace and gentility. He enjoyed an excellent reputation and high prestige among nobles throughout the country.

Victor considered the intelligence gathered by the territory. Neither of the two was ordinary. He only hoped their struggle would not drag the Golden Sunflower Territory into it.

Victor said to Alex, "Lord Alex, you jest. I am merely the heir to a barony, while you are the son of Baron Colt. How could my future status possibly compare with yours? You may simply call me Victor."

Alex laughed heartily. "I had heard that Victor Golden Sunflower handled matters without a single flaw and possessed remarkable talent, making him the foremost of the younger generation in the eastern commanderies. The Golden Sunflower Family's hopes of rising to a viscountcy rest upon you."

The two began exchanging polite compliments. After chatting for a while, Victor led Alex into the carriage and headed toward the manor. Their guards followed behind them.

"Victor, you have probably guessed why I came. Baron Wembley must have sent you a letter."

"You jest, my lord. How could we possibly know your purpose?"

"Let us speak plainly, Victor. There is no need to play dumb. I am not asking you to choose a side. I merely want you to cooperate with the Iron Birch Family in battle."

"Lord Alex, the Iron Birch Territory is powerful. Why would you need the strength of a small barony like ours?"

"Do not underestimate the Golden Sunflower Territory. Your population and military strength would firmly place you among the ranks of viscount territories even in the north."

"In the future, we may have to fight hundreds of thousands of Barbarians. Not a shred of strength can be wasted."

"So the Barbarians' southern invasion will basically begin early next year. The first wave will likely number around one hundred thousand, but it may not be impossible for the numbers to double afterward."

"Lord Alex, we are willing to assist Count Colt, but we truly need to obtain some benefits to safeguard our rights."

"Of course. So long as you are willing to exchange territories, there is plenty of land in the north. If you are willing to go, we are prepared to offer five times the land in exchange."

The moment Victor heard this, he felt he should immediately join Count Colt's camp. A fivefold territorial exchange was actually a very good deal. Exchanging that enclave would give them more than four hundred square kilometers of northern territory, increasing their territory by seventy percent at once.

However, he quickly suppressed the impulse. Their enclave might seem somewhat poor by comparison, but it was still eastern land, with a mild climate and four distinct seasons, suitable for growing crops. Northern land could at most grow barley for a single harvest, with half the year covered in snow. Five times was still a little too little.

Alex noticed Victor's hesitation. "I met Lord Wembley in the Capital City, and we discussed this matter. In recent years, aside from Bria County at the far south, which has seen basically no changes, Durham County and North York County have been continuously expanding northward. Their areas have now more than doubled from what they originally were. North York County alone, directly governed by our family, has gained nearly square kilometers of new territory in recent years, while Durham County has been even more aggressive, nearly reaching square kilometers. Yet with the current strength of the Northern Frontier nobles, it is simply inconvenient to develop this land. Therefore, someone proposed to my father that nobles from other parts of the duchy be brought into the Northlands to help develop these lands."

Alex paused before continuing, "We have divided the land according to terrain types. Baron Wembley also mentioned the Golden Sunflower Territory's enclave. I have looked into this place, and I believe it can be exchanged for a coastal grassland-and-forest territory in North York County. You should know that among the northern commanderies, only North York borders the sea. Coastal territories have the best climate and are relatively warmer in winter, making them suitable for construction and migration. Its total area is five hundred and ten square kilometers."

The moment Victor heard that, he nearly slapped the table and agreed on the spot.

But Alex quickly changed the subject. "However, many people think this land is good, especially my elder brother. He wants to split it into several parcels and grant them to his knights. That would be such a waste."

The moment Victor heard that, he understood what he needed to do.

"Lord Alex, the Golden Sunflower Territory is very willing to exchange territories. My father shares this view as well. If you need anything in the future, the Golden Sunflower Territory will follow your lead without hesitation."

Alex finally smiled. "I am also seeking support for the Iron Birch Family. If the Golden Sunflower Territory is willing to take this land, I do not think anyone will divide it up. In the future, simply support my father."

Victor nodded in agreement. Later, within the manor, the two also discussed the domestic situation together. Alex focused on introducing the situation in the Northlands, giving Victor the chance to understand the north.

After that, things became simple. Once their mutually understood cooperation had been settled.

Alex also explained that the enclave would be given to his third brother, Daven. Victor wanted to say that it was too small, but when Alex meaningfully asked about the Green Oak Family's recent situation, Victor understood. It seemed his enclave was merely incidental.

After staying in the Golden Sunflower Territory for two days, Alex continued his journey. He would likely visit all the influential nobles in the east, and there might be many more negotiations ahead before a consensus could be reached. Before leaving, Alex specifically told Victor that the Iron Birch Family would soon send someone to sign the exchange agreement. Once it was signed, they should head north as soon as possible, or someone might get improper ideas.

Victor understood the implication. He knew they were about to become someone else's spear, but since they had accepted the benefits, they had to step up at the crucial moment. After all, the other side had been generous enough.

Over the following days, Victor strengthened military training on one hand while beginning to allocate forces for the journey north on the other.

Fortunately, they had purchased a great deal of military supplies while the market prices were low. With this round of territorial exchanges, supplies—especially cotton cloth—would probably soar in price again.

At the same time, Victor organized an advance party and sent it ahead to North York County. People from the northern merchant caravan served as guides, while Jack led a hundred-man squad carrying some goods to scout the area and gather intelligence in advance.

In some time, the unrest in the east would likely end. The newly trained troops could then be brought to the Northlands to fight some low-intensity battles and gain real combat experience.

Victor was also arranging for the people and supplies from the enclave's two farms to withdraw. Developing the Northlands would require large amounts of manpower and resources, and all of these could be put to use. There was no need to construct the Serf Soldiers' settlement either. Victor intended to bring the newly formed Serf Soldiers unit and all their families north with him.

Therefore, Victor also had the Beacon Lighthouse's Calculation Module devise a migration plan. They were currently in the first stage, proceeding in two steps. First, gather intelligence about the destination, which was why they had dispatched the squad. Second, prepare supplies and redeploy personnel. Everything was progressing smoothly.

Baron Wembley would soon return to the territory. By then, their intelligence would be more complete and the situation clearer. He also had to return to sign the exchange agreement and remain behind to guard the territory, while Victor would personally lead people north.

A week later, Victor stood waiting at the docks with his mother and younger siblings. Baron Wembley was returning home today. It had been a full three months since he had marched out with the troops, and autumn had already arrived.

At least the two little ones missed him greatly. After waiting for a while without seeing anyone, they had begun crying impatiently.

"He's here! The master's ship has arrived!" the lookout in the watchtower shouted.

Irene stroked her younger siblings' heads and said happily, "Don't cry. Father is back."

The two little ones quickly wiped away their tears and ran to their mother, waiting anxiously.

Victor was happy to see this scene. At least in this world, despite being nobles, the warmth of family gave him great comfort. That was why he was willing to charge ahead to protect them.

Before long, Baron Wembley's ship docked smoothly. Those who came out first were all members of his entourage. The ship also carried a great deal of cargo that needed to be unloaded.

Baron Wembley stepped down from the ship under the guidance of several guards. When he saw his family waiting so long on the docks, he smiled and waved to them.

When he reached them, the two little ones cried out, "Father!" and rushed over. The baron bent down and embraced them, soothing them for a while. Then he straightened up, embraced his wife first, and then hugged his eldest daughter.

Then he walked over to Victor and said, "You have worked hard during this time."