Spend! Buy People! Expand the Army! Build a City!

Old Gordon excitedly adjusted his monocle, flames of excitement burning in his eyes. "Lord Baron, I want a sum of five hundred gold coins!"

Faced with his excitement, Raven said cautiously, "Well... I think Eagle Fortress is fine as it is. There's no need for further repairs, and I don't need any new formal wear in the short term either..."

The previous meeting had left a deep impression on Raven. More than half of the five-hundred-gold-coin budget had been spent on superficial projects.

"Not for Eagle Fortress, my lord!" Old Gordon blushed. "It's for... 'reallocating' people. You know, there are simply too few people in Eagle Town at present!"

Nobles really were hypocritical. It was clearly the buying and selling of people, yet they insisted on calling it "reallocation."

Raven had no intention of exposing the truth, though. After all, he was a nobleman himself now. "Do you have a suitable target?"

Old Gordon nodded. "The Fox Family has recently shown an interest in getting rid of excess subjects from their territory."

Raven thought for a moment. "They sent someone during the Succession Ceremony. They were an earl's family, weren't they?"

Old Gordon said, "Your memory is truly enviable. The Fox Family's fief lies southeast of Monen City, and its head, Count Monteril, serves as the governor of Nord Province."

Raven suddenly smiled in realization. "Oh, so it was him!"

It wasn't that Raven was insensitive to the division of power in Nord Province. The problem was that the Fox Family's position was simply too awkward!

Although Count Monteril was nominally the governor of Nord Province, Monen City, the province's most prosperous city, was the Slate Family's fief. Its head, Count Talon Shiva Slate, also controlled the strongest army in Nord Province—or even in the Empire's three northern provinces—the Iron Legion.

In the world of nobles, strength was ultimately what mattered.

The Slate Family's economic strength surpassed theirs, while their military strength was vastly superior. As a result, Count Monteril's orders could not even leave his own fief!

That was why another title of Monteriel was more famous than "governor": the Sour-Faced Fox.

Why did Count Monteril always look sour? Because he couldn't eat the grapes.

But no matter how awkward the Fox Family's position was, it was still a legitimate family of earls with a fief. Raven, in his current position, could not afford to look down on them. "Are you confident?"

"Of course, my lord." Old Gordon spoke with absolute confidence. "Over the past few decades, this kind of 'reallocation' of subjects has developed into a mature industry. Five hundred gold coins will be enough to obtain a thousand subjects, at least half of whom will be able-bodied laborers."

Raven asked, "How long will it take?"

Old Gordon said, "About two or three months."

Raven's fingers tapped against the tabletop.

Two or three months meant September or October. By then, the autumn harvest would be over and winter would soon arrive. Although this would put pressure on Eagle Territory's food supply, it would not interfere with his plan to distribute land the following year.

"I'll give you six hundred gold coins. Make sure you finish everything before the end of October!"

Old Gordon's face lit up with delight. "Yes, my lord!"

Seeing him take away a budget of six hundred gold coins, Eric's heart began to burn with anticipation as well. His small eyes shone brightly. "Lord Raven, I need nine hundred gold coins!"

Raven asked, "Wasn't the equipment issue already settled? What do you need so much money for?"

Eric said, "I was born in the Iron Legion, so I can purchase God-Given Potions that awaken Steel Qi at a lower price. We can give them to Simon, Link, and Gaul. As long as one of them becomes Transcendent, it will be a tremendous expansion of our strength!"

Under Eric's anxious gaze, Raven firmly shook his head. "No."

Simon's loyalty was beyond question, while Gaul and Link had both been tempered by blood and fire.

But a person's ambitions expanded along with their strength and status. Even if they themselves did not want to fight for anything, the people close to them would egg them on and push them toward it.

Once they became Transcendent, wouldn't they at least have to compete for a knightly title?

If Raven refused, it would easily chill their hearts. If he agreed, he would have to provide territory befitting their status as knights. But Raven did not want Eagle Territory, which had only just become somewhat whole, to be torn apart again.

It was better to maintain the status quo.

If he truly wanted them to advance, he would have to wait until he became Transcendent himself and could suppress them through sheer strength!

Seeing Eric's mood sink, Raven asked, "Can you obtain the potions from the Iron Legion?"

"Yes, my lord." Thinking Raven had changed his mind, Eric explained, "Although the Iron Legion is commanded by Count Talon, it is officially part of the Imperial military. Every year, the Empire supplies it with large quantities of potions, and they can rarely use them all, so..."

He did not finish, but Raven already understood completely.

When all was said and done, it came down to four words: reselling military supplies!

Raven asked in a low voice, "Can armor, weapons, or secret military Martial Skills be purchased?"

"I don't know about Martial Skills, but armor and weapons can certainly be bought." Eric thought for a moment. "However, both are sold in large batches. Each purchase must contain at least five or ten sets. Unlike potions, they cannot be bought individually."

This time, not only Raven but even Old Gordon was stunned!

They exchanged a glance, both shaken by the news.

Reselling military supplies had always been a serious crime punishable by decapitation.

Yet the Iron Legion, the strongest army on the Empire's northern frontier, was brazenly buying and selling supplies. Even a straightforward warrior like Eric could find a channel for it.

A glimpse of one part revealed the whole.

It was clear just how corrupt the Imperial army had become!

If the Insar Empire to the north or the Bloody Highlands to the west launched a large-scale invasion, could they really still fight?

The Empire had indeed enjoyed a century of peace, but that did not mean it would remain stable forever.

Extremes would always reverse!

Raven secretly made up his mind. He had to strengthen his own power and the strength of his private soldiers as quickly as possible. That way, whether great upheaval came in the future or not, he would be able to face it calmly.

"Eric, can you buy a God-Given Potion from the Iron Legion that will allow someone to awaken as a mage?"

"That... I'm afraid not." Eric said, "My lord, do you want to become a mage?"

Raven nodded.

Becoming a mage naturally had many advantages—high status, elegance, and nobility. Not only could mages cast all kinds of wondrous spells, they could also create all sorts of expensive and miraculous enchanted items.

But none of those were Raven's reason for choosing to become a mage. The true reason was—

He was afraid of dying!

It was one thing when there was no major battle. But if a large-scale war broke out, as a lower noble, he would be required to lead his troops and charge at the forefront!

Becoming a knight, clad in heavy armor and mounted on a magical beast, leading the charge and taking an enemy general's head amid ten thousand soldiers was indeed exhilarating and impressive—but it was also incredibly dangerous!

On the battlefield, swords had no eyes. No matter how good the armor was, there would always be times when it failed to protect its wearer. It was hardly unusual for a fully armored knight to be beaten to death by a group of peasants with pitchforks.

That was when the advantages of mages became apparent.

They could stand at the rear of the formation without directly engaging the enemy and casually cast a few spells. If they won, the mages had rendered meritorious magical support; if they lost, the army's combat ability was to blame. They were completely blameless.

Once the battle turned unfavorable, they could simply retreat with the rear guard becoming the vanguard. Their survival rate would be sky-high!

What did it mean to be strong? Whoever lived until the end was strong!

"My lord, you can ask Priest Laxus." Eric suggested, "The Church of Light has always been a major seller of God-Given Potions. They should not be lacking in Mage Potions either."

Raven's eyes filled with anticipation. "I'll speak with Laxus about it privately later. Let's continue the meeting."

Having had his proposal rejected, Eric was somewhat dejected.

Raven had no intention of disappointing this retainer of his, though. "I only said that I don't plan to give the God-Given Potions to Simon and the others. I never said I don't plan to spend money on military affairs."

Eric scratched his head. "But apart from that, there really isn't any need to invest a large sum of gold coins at present."

"There is." Raven said decisively, "Now that Shining Gold Town has returned to our hands, it's time to continue expanding the army. The current private soldiers will be promoted into a personal guard platoon under my direct command. Eric, you'll be the commander of my personal guards!"

"After that, recruit three more platoons, commanded by Simon, Gaul, and Link respectively. I want one platoon of Sword and Shield Soldiers, one platoon of crossbowmen, and one platoon of pikemen! In addition, choose twelve people with some talent for horsemanship and form a scout squad!"

The Empire's military system was crude and antiquated: ten men made a squad, a hundred formed a company, a thousand formed a column, and five thousand made up a legion.

By comparison, Raven trusted the vision of the great leader more and chose the Three-Three System. Twelve men made a squad, three squads made a platoon, and three platoons made a company, continuing upward in the same fashion.

Judging from the results of the battle against the bandits, this system had not failed to adapt to the world. Naturally, continuing to expand it was the obvious choice.

Eric's eyes lit up as well. After its test in actual combat, he had become even more convinced of the Three-Three System than Raven.

The Three-Three System was flexible, with a clear chain of command. Units could be broken down or consolidated at any time, making both command and combat clearer and more convenient.

And that was not merely an advantage of the system itself. It also complemented Raven's almost inhumanly strict training!

Before this, Eric had never seen a force place such importance on discipline and obedience. During the two-month training period, more than two-thirds of the time had been spent on formation drills.

It could only be said that methods had to be adapted to local conditions and individual circumstances. The Empire's lax armies could only use crude decimal formations. Only well-trained, highly disciplined forces could bring out the advantages of the Three-Three System.

"Lord Baron, does your personal guard platoon need more men?"

Raven shook his head. "Entering the personal guard platoon is an honor. Considering both morale and combat strength, I do not plan to add anyone this time."

"Understood, my lord. Then, the approximate budget this time..." Eric only had to calculate briefly before laying out the exact figures:

"We need to add a total of one hundred and five men. Accounting for losses, we need to purchase one hundred and twenty sets of Leather Armor, costing approximately sixty gold coins; forty sets of longswords and shields, approximately fifty-five gold coins; thirty spears, one gold coin and fifty silver coins; forty crossbows and five thousand crossbow bolts, estimated at ninety gold coins."

A few seconds later, Old Gordon stopped writing and summarized, "That comes to a total of two hundred and six gold coins and fifty silver coins."

Raven said, "Buy another forty crossbows. In addition, I need one hundred crossbow bolts enchanted with Primary Penetration."

Yorick said, "That will require another two hundred and eighty gold coins."

Everything related to magic was extremely expensive. An ordinary crossbow bolt cost only twenty Copper Coins, while an Enchanted Crossbow Bolt cost a full two Gold Coins—a thousandfold difference!

But this expenditure was absolutely necessary. Ordinary crossbow bolts would struggle to harm Enchanted Armor, but even a knight or warrior with Fourth-Tier battle aura would likely meet a bitter end beneath a volley of thirty-six Enchanted Crossbow Bolts!

"You've all finished stating what you need. Now it's my turn." Raven's expression turned serious. "Old Gordon, starting today, organize people to level at least four acres of land along the upper reaches of the Golden Sand River."

"Build a stone wall around the perimeter, about three meters high, high enough for people to stand guard and keep watch! The interior buildings should mainly use earth and stone, divided into living quarters, a work area, and a warehouse area. The work area must be large enough to accommodate at least ten workshops, each capable of housing at least ten workers!"

Old Gordon asked, "What about the construction period, my lord?"

Raven said, "The sooner, the better!"

"This is practically a small city..." Old Gordon furrowed his brows. "Although the busy farming season has passed, your requirements will certainly require hiring additional workers. Including the cost of materials... I believe it will cost at least four hundred and thirty gold coins."

"I'll give you a budget of six hundred gold coins. Whatever method you use, finish it within a month!" Raven said. "In addition, I need at least ten sets of distillation equipment, as well as large quantities of Baking Soda, Quicklime, roses, grease, and the cheapest liquor!"

Gordon asked while recording everything, "My lord, how much does 'large quantities' mean?"

"Five hundred kilograms of Baking Soda per month, one thousand kilograms of Quicklime per month. As for roses, grease, and liquor, the more the better. I want at least three thousand kilograms of each of the first two. As for the last..." Raven recalled the alcohol content of liquor in this world. "More than one thousand kilograms!"

Old Gordon lowered his head and calculated the figures. After a while, he looked up. "My lord, the other items should be easy enough, but as for the roses..."

"Are they expensive?" Raven asked.

"They're difficult to buy..." Old Gordon said. "Our Eagle Territory is remote, and no one nearby grows flowers on a large scale. There isn't even a flower shop in Shining Gold Town."

"Why don't you discuss it with Lady Denise?"

Raven rubbed his nose.

Denise had previously said that once he reclaimed Shining Gold Town, she would willingly wash his feet. Raven was quite willing to enjoy that pleasure, but he did not want to tie his commercial empire too tightly to Denise.

"Aren't there many merchants in Shining Gold Town? Having them purchase the roses on our behalf shouldn't be difficult, right?"

"Well..." Old Gordon chose his words carefully. "Baron Donald still owes the Shining Gold Town merchants' guild three thousand seven hundred and forty-eight gold coins in unpaid bills. I don't think they'll be willing to accept another commission like this."

"What!?" Raven froze for a moment. He had not expected Donald to leave him such a pleasant surprise.

Of course, "pleasant" needed to be placed in quotation marks. "What on earth did he buy to run up such a huge debt?"

Old Gordon flipped through his notes. "The original loan was actually only nine hundred and thirty-seven gold coins, but Lord Donald promised an annual interest rate of thirty percent. Now that ten years have passed..."

"All right..." Raven drew out his voice helplessly. "Notify them that on the day I officially take over Shining Gold Town again, I'll personally meet with the representatives of the Shining Gold Town merchants' guild to discuss settling the debt and establishing a long-term supply arrangement!"

Old Gordon frowned. "My lord, do you plan to repay this debt immediately?"

Raven shook his head. "Of course we'll repay it, but not all at once. If we fill this hole in one go, we won't be able to do anything else!"

"They're nothing but a bunch of self-interested merchants." Eric said grimly, "Shining Gold Town belongs to my lord. Wherever his army points, they have no choice but to obey!"

Old Gordon was worried. "I also think we shouldn't rush to repay the debt, but powerful nobles stand behind all those merchants. They aren't your subjects. If we use force, they may boycott all commercial exchanges with us, or even move away collectively. That would destroy Shining Gold Town's commercial foundation!"

"Don't worry. I'm not so ignorant of priorities." Raven rubbed his chin. "Spread the word. In two days, I'll officially begin taking over Shining Gold Town."

"When the time comes, I'll naturally have a way to make them more obedient than rabbits!"