"Is that the Stantin Duchy up ahead?" Shalong asked, narrowing his eyes at the distant coastline coming into view.
"Yes, Lord Shalong. If we land a little farther ahead, we can reach Count Duoer's fief," replied the friendly-looking, slightly plump middle-aged man standing beside him respectfully.
"Unfortunately, it isn't his fief anymore," Shalong said coldly.
"Yes, yes. Count Duoer is still locked up in a Stantin Duchy prison, and the Stantin Duchy Congress reclaimed his private fief long ago," the middle-aged man immediately replied with an ingratiating smile.
Shalong shifted his gaze and asked, "I hear Congress has reclaimed the private fiefs of every noble in your Stantin Duchy?"
A trace of embarrassment crossed the middle-aged man's face. "Yes, they were all reclaimed last year. So although I called that place Count Duoer's fief, it's really just the land he used to own."
"Why did you agree to it?" Shalong continued, somewhat curious. "Count Andre, a private fief is more important to a noble than his own life. Yet when the Stantin Duchy Congress reclaimed your fiefs, you simply agreed?"
The middle-aged man addressed as Count Andre sighed with a bitter smile. "What could we do if we refused? That fellow Xu Yi forced it through. If we hadn't agreed, the Xinfei Merchant Guild Guard Corps would have come for us."
At Count Andre's mention of the Xinfei Merchant Guild Guard Corps, Shalong's expression grew slightly more serious. After a moment's thought, he asked gravely, "Is the Xinfei Merchant Guild's Guard Corps very strong?"
Count Andre suddenly shuddered slightly, a hint of fear appearing in his eyes. He nodded emphatically. "Very strong. Truly strong! Lord Shalong, forgive my frankness. Although the men you've brought are all elite soldiers... please be extremely careful if you face the Xinfei Merchant Guild Guard