Jansen pointed to the map on the wall: "This is the situation around my territory! See that gray area?
That's also territory under my administration! Can you see what's unusual about this?"
Henwil remained silent. He had already recognized the issue days ago.
As a baron's fiefdom, Jansen's territory appeared unusually large.
Most baronial territories in the duchy were typically under fifty square kiloters.
But Baron Jansen's territory spanned over three hundred square kiloters, nearly matching the size of a viscount's fiefdom.
More importantly, that gray area—
the territory under Baron Jansen's administration—was several tis larger than his current domain.
This ant that although Jansen was rely a baron, the land he actually governed approached the scale of an earl's territory.
How many earls were there in the entire duchy?!
Seeing Henwil's silence, Baron Jansen continued: "Originally, this was the duchy's border region—a remote, impoverished area.
But after the War of Six Kings, the duchy acquired so new territories, one of which bordered my land.
For administrative convenience, the duchy temporarily entrusted it to my managent. After the war subsided, production recovered.
Population returned, lands were recultivated, trade routes opened. This territory lies at the tri-border of Ika Kingdom, Worui Duchy, and Ogiro Kingdom.
It has now beco highly prosperous, generating substantial tax revenue for the duchy, making it the wealthiest territory in the entire southwest."
Here, Jansen paused: "Currently, many within the duchy resent and want to carve up this lucrative prize.
The Grand Duke's position is that this region cannot be partitioned, but it's too distant from the duchy's core territories.
The Grand Duke intends to entrust this area to my managent while elevating my nobility rank from baron to viscount.
After negotiations between the Grand Duke and the nobles, they reached a mutually acceptable agreent: I must undertake the Path of Honor."
Henwil knew what the Path of Honor entailed—essentially, visiting every noble in the country.
Demonstrating to the aristocracy that you possess the capability to beco nobility. This was typically a compromise solution when the king issued orders but faced opposition from the noble class.
Plainly speaking, it was a test!
The Path of Honor must be walked alone, without guards.
The nobles visited would present so challenges, though none too difficult.
The risk lay in the journey itself—nobles wouldn't act openly,
but if soone died on the road, it proved they lacked noble destiny, that the gods of fortune hadn't favored them.
Anything could happen along such a long route—assassinations, bandits, harsh environnts...
Basically, anywhere along that extensive journey could beco a burial ground!
After Henwil indicated his understanding of the Path of Honor, Jansen continued: "The other nobles objected to walking the Path, demanding my child undertake it instead.
To prove my descendants can inherit noble honors and shoulder responsibility for this important territory.
My eldest son Orak serves in the military—he cannot go! My second son Kaku isn't combat-proficient—he cannot go either.
Additionally, they're both already adults, and the Path of Honor typically serves as a coming-of-age ceremony, so this falls to my youngest son."
Henwil nodded: "I understand! I'll prepare everything! When do we depart?"
Jansen shook his head: "Not yet! I've already placed my youngest son in a secure location. He's fourteen now, with less than two years remaining.
After his fifteenth birthday next August, preparations will begin, with departure scheduled for early spring the following year.
Six months should suffice to complete the southern duchy circuit before proceeding to the capital to receive the Grand Duke's ennoblent and return with my viscountcy decree!"
Huh?!
This Arluis was exactly my age! Even the sa birth month! What a coincidence!
Jansen turned to face Henwil: "The most dangerous period isn't just during the Path of Honor.
After the new year, you'll need to go to that administered territory to represent in handling affairs—though practically, you won't need to actually do anything.
From next year until year-end, throughout this entire period, you'll face nurous assassination attempts. I need you to endure!
When everything concludes, I'll grant you a knighthood and territory! That is, if you're still alive by then!"
Henwil showed no excitent, calmly asking: "Will I face assassination attempts from professional classes?"
"No! This has been repeatedly confird by the Grand Duke—no professional classes may participate in this affair."
Then what the hell do I have to fear?!
After explaining the situation, Henwil returned to his room.
He wasn't foolish.
Baron Jansen's stated reasons were certainly false, or at least not entirely about territory issues.
This territory was indeed prosperous and valuable, no doubt!
But according to Henwil's knowledge, Baron Jansen's annual territory inco amounted to only twenty thousand gold coins, not accounting for various expenses.
As for that administered territory, all funds needed to be surrendered to the duchy.
These past years, to restore production, the duchy hadn't collected taxes there, instead reinvesting everything into territorial developnt,
yet Jansen spent a full forty thousand gold coins to purchase a substitute.
Although there were differences between the two kingdoms' currencies, they weren't substantial.
Worui Duchy's gold coins had about three-quarters the purchasing power of Billie Kingdom's coins.
The exchange rate between both kingdoms' gold and silver coins generally hovered around 1:60, with minor fluctuations based on coin quality.
Beyond the suspicious nature of Baron Jansen's finances, there was also the matter of his exceptionally strong guards.
From beginning to end, Henwil had detected fifteen professional classes, not even counting Jansen's openly acknowledged twenty-two knights.
Other hidden professional classes Henwil hadn't yet detected, but he certainly wouldn't have found everyone already.
Employing a single professional class cost nearly a thousand gold coins annually.
Such covert protective strength clearly exceeded what a baron should possess.
However, Henwil didn't concern himself with these matters. His task was simply to survive this event.
As for whether he'd take the money and leave or remain as nobility afterward—that could be decided later.
Several days later, Baroness Grace sent Henwil a personal maid specifically to attend to his daily needs.
This sixteen-year-old girl nad Wendy ca from a free commoner family—her father was an artisan, and she had two younger brothers.
To supplent household inco, she could only work at the baron's estate to earn money.
Baroness Grace noticed her honesty and assigned her as Henwil's maid.
Additionally, everyone around Henwil was replaced with entirely new personnel.
This was also part of concealing Henwil's identity, perfecting his disguise as thoroughly as possible.
And so, in his fourteenth year in this world, Henwil finally experienced a comfortable new year celebration.
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