Rewards could be divided into two kinds. The first was awarded to the strong themselves. For example, anyone who reached the strength of a Level 7 Warrior or Level 8 Warrior could be granted the title of Baron or Viscount. As nobles, they would also receive lands of their own, though these fiefs were never very large. A Baron's lands were considered quite good if they could support tens of thousands of people, while most Viscounts' lands could support hundreds of thousands. In practice, however, various factors meant the actual populations were far lower than the lands' capacity.
As for higher ranks, rewards for the strong themselves were joined by rewards for their families. After all, Level 8 Warriors could easily live for three hundred years. Aside from rising prodigies who advanced from Level 8 to Level 9 and then to the Saint Realm, many experts of this strength had families of their own.
A Marquis's title was a reward granted to a family.
In Carl's view, this system of rewards was really a form of military merit. Level 7 Warriors and Level 8 Warriors could obtain lands of their own, which were also the beginnings of their families. But if a Level 7 or Level 8 expert died in an accident or of old age, and no one in the family could take their place, the kingdom would reclaim the territory. Nobles whose status depended on a single powerful family member could quickly fall from the Heavenly Palace into the dust.
Families that had truly grown strong, with capable experts among their descendants in addition to their founder, qualified for rewards granted to the family.
For instance, when Carl was a Level 9 Warrior, he was already strong enough to serve as a Duke of the kingdom. He did not even need to remain in Spark Town; he could find an important post in a prefectural or provincial city. When he reached the peak of Level 9, he could choose to serve as the lord of any major city in the kingdom. If he brought his family there, they could become the foundation of that city's City Lord's Mansion.
But such a family's position was insubstantial. If anything happened to him, the family would be reduced to its former state in an instant.
The second kind of reward was a grant to the family. It meant that the family had made an outstanding contribution to the kingdom, something that required at least a Level 9 expert. Once a family received such a reward, even if that Level 9 expert died, the family could not inherit their achievements in full, but it would at least retain the privileges of a Level 8 Warrior.
This not only meant that at least one family member could hold the title of Marquis regardless of their strength, but also that the family would always have someone in an important position in a major prefectural city. The family would enjoy both a high official salary and ample independent sources of income. Even without a Level 8 expert to protect them, their noble title alone was enough to deter ordinary Level 7 experts from interfering.
Carl could have stood aside as the Anlan Kingdom fell. As a Saint Realm expert, he could look down on all Level 9 Warriors. Even if his inaction angered the Resistance Army, all he had to do when a Level 9 expert came in person was reveal a trace of his aura, and they would understand that he had the power to stay out of the fighting.
But for the sake of his plans, Carl had sent two of his children to join the Resistance Army with some of the experts from his territory. He wanted them to gain experience, and he was also laying the groundwork for what came next.
After everyone had sat down and divided up the spoils, the lands that had once belonged to the Anlan Kingdom were swiftly carved up. Once a kingdom of considerable size, Anlan had gradually lost territory over the years, until it was reduced to the minimum size of three provinces.
Although these three provinces were technically spoils of war for the Fenlai Kingdom, in name they belonged to the Resistance Army. The promise made by the Bolin Family was, in reality, a kind of exchange.
They traded lands they could have divided among themselves for Saint Realm techniques, or for resources considered extremely important even by Level 9 experts. Most of the territories acquired in this way would be taken over by people sent by the Bolin Family's trusted followers. Only a small number of the family-aligned forces still held on to their spoils.
City Lord's Mansion.
The entire estate was festooned with decorations. The festivities were even more lavish than the celebration for Lin Taros's breakthrough to Level 8, though this time the arrangements were very low-key. Apart from some of those who had taken part in the war, only their relatives would attend.
The City Lord's Mansion was bustling. The nobles sampled the delicacies and murmured among themselves, making the gathering seem more like a private occasion for networking.
Behind the City Lord's Mansion lay the Taros Family's residence. Unlike the lively mansion out front, the atmosphere within the family residence was tense.
Carl sat in the principal seat. The two people beside him were his blood relatives and the only Level 9 Warriors in the Taros Family: Lin Taros and Colin Taros.
Behind them sat a number of Level 8 experts. There were quite a few of them, and most were not members of the Taros Family but nobles who held real influence in Spark City.
Seeing everyone so tense, as though they were in some abyss, Carl smiled and said, "I invited you all here today because the Taros Family has received a reward and no longer needs to be confined to a single city. I intend to establish a new city."
Most of those present changed expression when they heard Carl speak.
A reward? The Anlan Kingdom had fallen. Who could grant one now?
Several people exchanged glances. They all realized that the Taros family's mainstay had likely taken part in the Resistance Army's struggle in secret.
Their surprise was understandable. Carl had not sent people to fight on a large scale, only moving some Level 8 experts.
Moreover, most of the Level 8 experts Carl could mobilize had been trained by him. The other Level 8 experts who had moved to Spark City had done so, at heart, to escape the turmoil of war.
Among those who looked surprised, quite a few were quick to catch on. A bitter look soon flickered through their eyes. It meant that although they seemed to be sitting here discussing the city's affairs, they had already begun to be pushed out of its center of power.
In their eyes, the Taros Family had three Level 9 experts. With such strength, all they needed to do was raise a sufficiently large army and occupy most of a province to establish a Principality of their own.
Who wouldn't want to share in the founding of a new regime? Having missed this opportunity, many of those present began to weigh their options.
Next time, they couldn't let themselves be left behind so easily.
With three Level 9 Warriors present, and their core interests untouched, the brief meeting proceeded quickly, and a decision was soon reached.
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