High Expenses

Light-attribute mages indeed had a unique advantage when it came to winning people over. A single Healing Spell could produce immediate results for the injured.

When pain was eased and wounds were treated, who would not feel favorably toward their savior?

Of course, the person Elrond had just treated had been arranged by Luo Ning in advance—a guard injured in yesterday's battle whose wounds had not yet healed.

This meeting proceeded very successfully according to the script Luo Ning had arranged, and his positive image as lord had begun to take shape.

Next, Luo Ning would have Elrond serve as a "country doctor" for a while, visiting every household in Mountain Forest Town and treating those with external injuries.

Although Elrond would surely win the adoration of the people through this, the mage would vigorously promote Luo Ning's benevolence during the treatments, turning this charitable campaign into the lord's policy.

Amid the cheers of the crowd, Luo Ning left the pasture.

He left the rest to Elrond and Chahar. The newly appointed steward's initial plan was to recruit twenty servants.

These twenty servants included one personal valet, one personal maid, four kitchen workers, five general laborers, and nine people responsible for livestock.

When Luo Ning heard Chahar list these positions that morning, he had been shocked. Why did a single castle need so many people?

But after the steward's analysis, he realized that castles were simply like this. Even this many servants was considered few.

In the end, he approved the plan.

After calculating it roughly, Luo Ning found that servants alone would cost him 21 gold coins a year.

Besides that, his guards and the extraordinary individuals around him also needed wages.

Even Macken and Elrond, though he had summoned them, had lives of their own. They could not possibly have to borrow money from him, their lord, just to buy a loaf of bread, could they?

Moreover, as Luo Ning's right-hand men, Macken and Elrond needed reasonable pay to help them establish prestige of their own.

Based on the wage standards Holwart had provided, Luo Ning set the rates for beginner, intermediate, and advanced knights at 30, 60, and 100 copper coins per day.

(Tom was still under observation, so Luo Ning only offered him 20 copper coins a day and promised that once he passed the assessment, his pay would immediately be raised to David's level.)

As for mages, this rare and special extraordinary profession commanded far higher wages than knights of the same rank. The rates for beginner, intermediate, and advanced ranks were set at 50, 100, and 500 copper coins per day respectively.

After all the calculations, the guards and extraordinary individuals under him would cost 103 gold coins a year.

Including the property confiscated from the three knights of Sain Territory, Luo Ning currently had a total of 626 gold coins. Once he considered making the first top-up, his savings would be reduced to just over a hundred.

That was only enough to cover a year's labor expenses.

As for cutting costs...

It was not hard to see that the bulk of the expenses came from the extraordinary individuals and the guards. The latter earned two copper coins a day, leaving little room to cut costs, while the former were even harder to skimp on.

Just imagine it. If an advanced knight outside wanted to seek refuge with Luo Ning, only to learn that Macken earned merely 10 copper coins a day, would that advanced knight still come to him?

Therefore, what Luo Ning should consider was how to make money.

He tapped his forehead, troubled.

"First, I should gain a comprehensive understanding of the territory's resources. I need to inspect the entire territory."

"But before that, I need to recruit an Administrator."

At the mention of an Administrator, Luo Ning thought of Prinster.

If he had not killed that bastard yesterday, perhaps he could have pried some useful information out of him.

"Damn Prinster, damn Sain Territory!"

Clip-clop, clip-clop~

A fast horse galloped over from the distance, drawing Luo Ning's attention.

When he saw the rider's face clearly, he was surprised. "Bob? Didn't I send him and Marseille to deliver the letter? Why is he back?"

His heart skipped a beat. Could something have happened on the road?

Macken called out, "Bob, why are you back?"

Bob arrived before Luo Ning and quickly dismounted.

"My lord, that Knight Phileton from Sain Territory has come with his squire knight?"

Luo Ning was shaken, and his expression changed slightly. "Explain yourself. What happened?"

Bob then recounted how he and Marseille had encountered Phileton on the road and how Phileton had persuaded them to turn back.

"My lord, Marseille is currently accompanying Phileton outside the castle."

Luo Ning glanced behind him. David and Tom were maintaining order over there, while only Macken stood at his side.

However, Phileton had brought only one squire knight. He probably was not here to cause trouble.

If Luo Ning called too many people to accompany him, it would instead make him seem afraid.

"Come on. Let's see what this Phileton wants."

Luo Ning called Macken over and headed off with him, while also instructing Bob, "After you return, you and Marseille should not deliver the letter for now. Wait for my instructions. Also, do not mention this matter to the other guards. Keep it confidential."

"Yes, my lord!" Bob answered earnestly.

Macken had selected him and Marseille for this delivery. Although they were past eighteen years old and unlikely to awaken extraordinary abilities, their quick wits and strong bodies still made them useful.

Now that they had a chance to perform before the lord, they naturally had to seize it.

Before long, Luo Ning returned to the outside of the castle.

From afar, he saw Phileton and his squire standing outside, with Marseille and the two guards at the castle gate beside them.

"Ha ha, Sir Phileton, I didn't expect us to meet again so soon!"

Luo Ning walked over with a smile, speaking naturally and calmly.

Phileton solemnly bowed to Luo Ning. "Good day, my lord Baron. It is truly presumptuous of me to disturb you again."

He did not beat around the bush and directly explained his purpose. "Today, I have brought Lord Resen's letter and wish to discuss a transaction with you, the lord of Mountain Forest Town."

A transaction?

Mountain Forest Town and Sain Territory had a transaction to discuss?

Luo Ning's expression did not change as he said with a smile, "Then please come into the castle with me, Sir, and we can discuss it there."

"I would be delighted."

Phileton spoke unhurriedly. "However, before that, I ask that you forgive me for stopping your messengers. I felt that this might affect our cooperation."

Oh?

Luo Ning's expression shifted. Could this transaction be related to Sain Territory embezzling Mountain Forest Town's taxes?

"It is a small matter."

Luo Ning acted as though he did not mind at all, but he understood that Sain Territory could potentially cut off the roads leading out of Mountain Forest Town.

"Come, Sir. Welcome to my castle."

Phileton followed him, smiling on the surface but inwardly disdainful.

What did Luo Ning mean by "my castle"? Many of the buildings in this castle had been constructed and repaired by Prinster. Before yesterday, Phileton had not needed to wait or report before entering this castle.

In less than a day, it had changed owners.

However, Phileton trusted Resen. Once the Baron returned from Black Python City, he would likely begin planning how to deal with Luo Ning.

Phileton believed that sooner or later, Mountain Forest Town would fall into Sain Territory's hands.

And when that happened, he, Phileton, would likely have a grand manor of his own here.