manor?
This word is too sensitive; Jiang Jie can't help but take it seriously!
In this world, the decisive factor in a noble's status is not their title, but their fiefdom.
Whoever has the largest hereditary fiefdom controls the most resources, people, and wealth. There are quite a few barons, viscounts, and even Earl who are impoverished, have lost their fiefdoms, and are less wealthy than a small merchant!
The reward that Duke Jorach wanted was far more valuable than money.
Jiang Jie narrowed his eyes slightly. "You want a fiefdom? The Assassins' League intends to move from the dark world to the light? Do you know that if you really become a duke of the Kingdom of Lordaeron, you will be labeled as belonging to the Kingdom of Lordaeron, Assassins' League will no longer be able to remain neutral!"
"I am me, Assassins' League is the Assassins' League. Marquis Nicholas, don't mix with them. The Assassins' League walks the dark world, but every member of the Alliance lives in the light. Everyone here has an honorable identity, and so do I. By the way, I also believe in the Holy Light and pray devoutly every day, but unfortunately, the Holy Light has never favored me."
Duke Jorach offered a rather unfunny joke, saying calmly, " Ravenholdt Manor is the property of the Ravenholdt family. What does it have to do with the Assassins' League? But don't you think that's too little property for a duke? I have children, and many more to come. I don't want my children to be dukes in name only!"
"Less? I doubt the wealth and real estate secretly controlled by the Assassins' League, or rather the Ravenholdt family, is less than that of any duke."
Jiang Jie said meaningfully, "Besides, the value of your dukedom is far greater than that of most dukes!"
"Your Excellency is joking. No matter how much property the Ravenholdt family owns, can it compare to the vast Lake Lordamere?"
Duke Jorach straightened up, his eyes gleaming as he stared at Jiang Jie: "If the Syndicate and Stromgarde are both wiped out, then the Alterac Mountains, Hillsbrad Foothills, and even the entire Arathi Highlands will become Lordaeron's territory! Lordaeron's territory will expand like never before, and Lordaeron will become the largest human kingdom after the Empire of Arathor. This achievement is enough to earn you a dukedom-level fiefdom, isn't it?"
Jiang Jie was startled, then narrowed his eyes and fell silent.
Duke Jorach is right.
Hillsbrad Foothills are nominally Lordaeron territory, but the Syndicate has been active in the northern region, leaving Lordaeron with little power to manage it.
Arathi Highlands are the territory of the Kingdom of Stromgarde, separated from the outside world by the Thoradin's Wall. But now that King Thoradin is dead, Prince Galin has become a patricide, Danath Trollbane has not yet returned from Outland, and the Kingdom of Stromgarde has no suitable successor, how could Lordaeron possibly let go of this golden opportunity once Stromgarde is breached?
Calia, Uther, and Marquis Lawrence will surely try every means to bring the Arathi Highlands into Lordaeron's territory!
In this way, a large portion of the Lordaeron will fall into the hands of the Kingdom of Lordaeron, making Lordaeron the undisputed number one kingdom, with a territory even larger than Stormwind City, Dalaran, Kul Tiras, and Gilneas combined!
The credit undoubtedly goes to Jiang Jie, but the Assassins' League must be ranked second in merit.
Without a doubt, once this is accomplished, Jiang Jie and Duke Jorach will be the greatest contributors to the expansion of Lordaeron's territory, and the title of duke will be theirs for sure!
To be fair, Duke Jorach's request wasn't excessive.
The problem is...
"Your Grace, which fiefdom do you desire?" Jiang Jie pondered in his heart, knowing that there were some places he absolutely could not give up.
Duke Jorach was clearly prepared. He took out a map, drew a circle at the foot of the mountain west of the Ravenholdt Manor, then looked up at Jiang Jie with a smile and said nothing.
Jiang Jie's face instantly turned icy cold!
The area depicted by Duke Jorach was over ten thousand square kilometers.
It is larger than the entire Fenris Isles combined, and only a quarter the size of Lake Lordamere! In addition to some villages and farms, it also includes Durnholde Keep and Tarren Mill.
Durnholde Keep was alright; it used to be the largest Orcs internment camp, roughly the same size as Barov Castle on Caer Darrow Island. After Thrall conquered it, he used Earthquake to turn the entire castle into ruins, where no one lived. Instead, many elemental creatures inhabited it, and it was off-limits to the living.
Tarren Mill is different.
After Southshore was destroyed twice by the Scourge, Tarren Mill has become the largest human settlement in the entire Hillsbrad Foothills, with a total population exceeding 50,000, even more than Hearthglen. Although the influx of outsiders will gradually decrease as the Undead occupying this area are cleared out, once things stabilize, the population will certainly reach at least 30,000.
A town of 30,000 people is no less than the former Andorhal and Darrowshire. Add to that the surrounding villages and farms, and with such a large fiefdom and so many people, Duke Jorach's appetite is far from small!
There isn't a single city in the entire Hillsbrad Foothills, Tarren Mill is the most likely candidate to become one, and it will become the economic and trade center of the entire Hillsbrad Foothills. Controlling it is equivalent to controlling half of Hillsbrad Foothills, which is no small matter!
"Your Grace, your ambitions are far too great! This matter is probably beyond my authority to decide."
Jiang Jie thought for a moment, then gently shook his head. "Perhaps you should speak with Her Majesty the Queen yourself. However, I think if the Regent finds out about this, he might come with the Holy Hammer of the Silver Hand and all the Paladin to wipe you out!"
Duke Jorach clearly didn't take Jiang Jie's threat to heart, shaking his head with a smile and saying, "Is there anyone in all of Lordaeron who doesn't know about the relationship between the Marquis and Her Majesty the Queen? Is there anything in all of Lordaeron that the Marquis can't decide?"
"Never say such things again, and definitely don't spread them around. Otherwise, even if Uther doesn't come after you, I will."
Jiang Jie thought for a moment, weighed the pros and cons, and suddenly realized that Uther might not object, Marquis Lawrence would definitely agree, and Calia would probably ask for his opinion.
The question is, just how important is the Assassins' League in terms of territorial expansion?
If the Assassins' League doesn't help, Lordaeron will have a hard time not only conquering the Arathi Highlands and Alterac Mountains, but even reclaiming its food supplies will be extremely difficult.
Neither of the two Dreadlord is to be underestimated. After Balnazzar was kicked back into the Twisting Nether, they will certainly be more cautious. Stromgarde is no safe haven either, and the ruins of Alterac City are fraught with danger. Although the two kingdoms have declined, their foundations remain. Countless shadow mages are entrenched around the Alterac Mountains.
They're not so easy to deal with.
Moreover, time is a major issue.
The people of Lordaeron don't have time to wait, so Lordaeron doesn't have time to wait either. The food must be recovered within three months at the latest, or they will go hungry and chaos will ensue!
Duke Jorach had this in mind, which is why he made such an exorbitant demand.
There's something even more terrifying:
If we refuse Duke Jorach today, will the Assassins' League become enemies of Lordaeron?
Today, Jiang Jie witnessed the terrifying power of the Assassins' League.
The small Ravenholdt Manor has more high-ranking professionals than the entire Lordaeron! And that's certainly not all; the Assassins' League has members all over the world.
Once this dark organization unleashes its full power, Lordaeron may not be able to expand its territory for decades or even centuries, and even maintaining its current territory will be a problem.
Upon careful consideration, it seems that I have no choice but to agree.
Moreover, upon careful consideration, Duke Jorach did not make an exorbitant demand.
The territory the Assassins' League is about to help Lordaeron obtain is more than twenty times larger than the Duke Jorach sought!
Even if the Assassins' League only deserved half the credit, it was reasonable for them to receive such a fiefdom.
"I will report your request to Her Majesty the Queen, and I expect a representative to speak with you within three days at the latest. If I'm not mistaken, it will be the Marquis Lawrence himself. As far as I know, the Marquis Lawrence is also one of your major clients?"
Jiang Jie stood up, looked northwest, and said calmly, "People from Aerie Peak have arrived. I should be going too! Lordaeron's current policy is to reward merit. If Your Excellency truly wants what you desire, you'd better not be too slow!"
With a whoosh, the bone dragon soared into the sky.
Jiang Jie leaped up and landed steadily on Nightbane. With his sword slung over his shoulder and hands behind his back, he headed south.
Watching Jiang Jie's departing figure, Duke Jorach's smile vanished, replaced by an unusually solemn expression.
" Nicholas is right. To get what I want, I need to achieve enough! Heh, you're going to Stromgarde? I forgot to tell you, there's a fourth faction in Stromgarde! It's not a fun place there!"
Duke Jorach turned his head to look at the rapidly approaching Wildhammer Gryphon Rider, smiled slightly, and then cast his gaze northwest, towards the Alterac Mountains:
"In one month, the Syndicate will cease to exist!"