The Duty Every Imperial Noble Must Fulfill

Having arranged everything, Chen Changhe told the others to rest.

He left the group with Ma Dexiang, his dozen or so men, and Julia.

"Your Excellency, what are we going to do now?"

Ma Dexiang looked at Chen Changhe with a puzzled expression.

The Northlands lies just ahead.

Why is Chen Changhe wandering around the territory of Bull Fief instead of going to Blackwater Fief to conquer it?

Does he not want Blackwater Fief and want to take advantage of the chaos to seize Bull Fief instead?

Compared to Blackwater Fief, Bull Fief is in a much better situation.

However, attacking another lord's territory without cause is a serious crime in noble circles.

If Lion Count is willing to endorse Chen Changhe.

Out of respect for the Lion Family, perhaps the old fogies of the Noble Council won't say much.

However, Chen Changhe has now almost fallen out with his family.

The Lion Count not to kick his son when he was down was already a sign of consideration for their father-son relationship.

Why would I help him?

Even if they take down the Bull Fief.

Even Chen Changhe couldn't hold out.

She can only benefit others.

"Bull Fief is the closest territory to our Blackwater Fief."

"I heard that banditry was rampant in Lion Fief."

"As the future good neighbor of the Bull Fief, it's my duty to lend him a hand!"

"Helping the local lord eliminate bandits is an obligation that every Imperium noble should fulfill."

Chen Changhe said casually.

In Bull Fief, the bandits who occupy the mountains and forests are outlaw heroes.

But when they arrived at Blackwater Fief...

They will become Chen Changhe's outstanding soldiers.

To be able to become a powerful force in Blackwater Fief today.

Their combat effectiveness must be quite good.

Rather than letting them kill and rob here.

It would be better to capture them all and take them to Blackwater Fief to fight against the Corrupted Creatures.

The nobles of this dimension have an agreement.

It is forbidden to privately recruit subjects from other lords' lands.

However, bandits cannot be considered part of the local populace.

Even if he took all those bandits with him.

The Bull Fief Lord could not utter a single complaint.

"It's such a waste of money to buy slaves!"

Why spend money when you can get something for free?

"Just the few of us?"

Ma Dexiang panicked.

Many of the bandits in Bull Fief were deserters who had run away from the Bull Fief army.

They deal with Corrupted Creatures year after year, and are extremely powerful.

There were even quite a few knights with Fighting Aura mixed in among them.

Although Ma Dexiang is Second-Tier Battle-Qi Knight, his subordinates are just ordinary people.

They were no match for those bandits.

Besides, who knows where they're hiding!

"We? No, to be precise, it was she who did it. All you need to do is cheer and help tie her up."

Chen Changhe pointed at Julia.

He had confidence in Julia.

To be precise, he had enough confidence in the Orks.

As for the location of those bandits...

He'll know as soon as he takes a walk around.

Any disguise or hiding is useless against the Mini-map.

After glancing at Julia, Ma Dexiang nodded silently.

He recalled the terrifying pressure he had previously felt from Julia.

"If it's Miss Julia..."

"There shouldn't be any problem!"

Vasili was once a Centurion in the Bull Fief.

A third-tier Fighting Aura knight.

For over a decade, I have been fighting against Corrupted Creatures.

He possesses formidable strength.

He once fought against First-Tier Chosen One.

Although they didn't defeat their opponent, they weren't defeated either.

Unlike the Tier 3 Fighting Aura Knights in the Imperium interior who rely on Fighting Aura Potions to level up.

Vasili's Fighting Aura was forged through countless battles, sword to sword.

Several months ago, the military camp he was guarding was breached by Corrupted Creatures.

The land beneath the military camp was regularly sprayed with water infused with powdered Corruption Godstone.

This is to drive away Corrupted Creatures and prevent Corrupted Creatures from getting close.

However, they did not expect that the Corruption Godstone procured by the quartermaster were of inferior quality.

The desired expulsion effect was not achieved.

"Those damned nobles!"

Vasili was furious.

It was clearly the responsibility of those nobles.

But when they fought desperately to drive away all the Corrupted Creatures and recapture the camp...

However, he received a punitive order from the Bull Viscount.

Bull Viscount believed that Vasili and his men had neglected their duties, which led to the attack on the camp.

He also ordered that they be fined a year's worth of military pay.

This has really stirred up a hornet's nest.

These people left their families to fight against the dangerous Bull Fief and Corrupted Creatures.

What is the purpose?

Defending the country? For Her Majesty the Empress?

So that the nobles could enjoy fine wine, delicacies, and beautiful women?

Bullshit!

At least he wasn't that great.

All he was doing was earning ten gold coins a month as Centurion.

10 gold coins per month, that's 120 per year.

Over 10 years, that's more than a thousand.

More than 1,000 gold coins are enough for a family to live a decent life.

Over the years, he has supported his wife and children with his military pay.

Perhaps in a few years, when he gets old...

He will return to his hometown, buy some land, and become a landlord.

Of course, the 10 gold coins per month was something from several years ago.

In recent years, including him.

All soldiers in the territory only receive half pay.

"Shameless Bull Viscount! That greedy pig!"

They even said things like the territory's economy was bad and they didn't have money to pay the soldiers.

Nobody knew that the Bull Fief's military pay was collected from lords all over the Imperium?

It wouldn't cost the Bull Fief a single cent.

It's obvious that this pig is jealous of these military salaries and is deliberately delaying payment.

"The Imperium has no shortage of soldiers. If you won't do it, plenty of others will!"

"Stop talking about money all the time. You need to have a broader perspective. If I were you..."

The thought of fighting for the beautiful and captivating Empress makes me want to fight to the death, even if it costs me money!

When talking about Bull Viscount, one cannot help but mention his mistress, Fabian.

Fabian Entenionte, Armiger Knight of the Bull Viscount.

Everyone knows he's a knight, and that title is truly fitting.

Everyone knows that the handsome, dashing, and debonair Fabian Entenionte has a deep connection with the Bull Viscount.

Their relationship was even closer than that of a father and son.

Fabian Entenionth was often seen spending the night at the Viscount's castle, sleeping side by side with the Bull Viscount.

People call Fabian Entenionte—the man behind the Bull Viscount.

It was the man behind this Bull Viscount who orchestrated the slander against their military camp.

He was the quartermaster of the territory, and all supplies for the territory were procured through his hands.

Even if Bull Viscount knew the whole story, he would never pursue his beloved's crimes.

At most, they'll just punish him severely in private.

In addition, he also wanted to save some military funds in this way.

The result was that things went wrong.

This angered Vasili and his men.

They destroyed the military camp, abandoned their posts, and attracted a large number of Corrupted Creatures to occupy it.

They then hid in the mountains and forests, establishing themselves as a band of ruthless bandits.

They relied on their fighting prowess and strict discipline.

They swallowed up several bandit gangs in one fell swoop, becoming the most powerful bandit gang in Bull Fief.