Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire
After much difficulty, Philip and his entourage finally reached the new domain of the Crassus family. As they passed through the village at the base of the castle, he was struck with disbelief.
The rchant who had accompanied him on the journey to search for the Botana tribe in the mountains was equally astonished.
'Why on earth is the Botana tribe here?'
The tall, dark-skinned mbers of the tribe were walking openly through the village, chatting and laughing with the forr residents as if they had already assimilated.
Philip was dumbfounded.
"rchant, what is the aning of this? Aren't those people the Botana tribe you spoke of?"
While the rchant was struggling to find an appropriate response, a familiar Botana tribesman approached Philip and initiated a conversation.
"No way, aren't you Ivan? I was feeling guilty for coming here without informing your trading company, but what a coincidence! We sohow ended up settling here. Haha. It's a great place to live."
Ivan felt dood and clutched his head inwardly. He had planned to claim that he didn't know this Botana tribe, but now that excuse was no longer viable.
Philip's gaze narrowed as he looked at Ivan, expecting an explanation. However, Ivan was at a loss for words.
No, when I was here last ti, there was no ntion of anything like this.
The more one tried to explain in situations like this, the stranger it beca. In the end, Ivan gave up on justifying himself. It seed best to get away from this group and find a way to survive.
He had initially planned to invest in the new lord, having heard rumors that he was the illegitimate son of a duke, hoping to expand his trading company. But now, with things as they were, he reconsidered—perhaps it would be better to establish trade with the newly erging Crassus territory.
The more he thought about it, the more reasonable the idea seed. Ivan surveyed his surroundings. The well-maintained roads and the attire of the townspeople indicated that the territory's economy was in decent shape. His mind gradually leaned toward investing in Crassus.
anwhile, Philip continued to resent the rchant, unaware that Ivan had already lost the opportunity to invest his trading company's resources in the territory. Philip believed he had been deceived by Ivan's claims about an uncertain tribal migration. Even when he saw the trading company falling behind the group, he rely assud it was because of their guilty conscience.
I should never have taken the words of a re rchant so seriously.
As he entertained thoughts unbecoming of a lord, Philip entered the castle.
The mont he stepped inside, an enormous red dragon ca into view. Its vertically slit golden eyes glead nacingly, sending a shiver down his spine.
They actually ride monsters like that?
Feeling intimidated, Philip awkwardly sidestepped to avoid the dragon. He didn't even consider that Damian had deliberately arranged such an intimidating welco.
As he turned, he was t with the sight of a sphinx lying lazily on the ground, adorned with a golden collar. Instinctively avoiding the dragon, Philip had unknowingly walked into the territory of another magical beast.
The sphinx let out a low growl, startling Philip. Nearby, a large feline creature, Miaomiao, licked its sharp claws, fixing its piercing gaze on him. Surrounding them were a dozen gargoyles, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.
Philip, overwheld by the silent intimidation, froze in fear. Though he was the illegitimate son of a duke and had encountered magical beasts before, he had never witnessed such a scene.
Damian approached Philip, greeting him with a composed deanor. His long black hair was tied tightly behind his head, adding to his imposing presence. The black armor he wore—its material unknown—made him appear even more formidable.
From his higher vantage point, Damian extended a hand for a handshake. As Philip took it, he felt a pang of self-doubt. He had never considered himself short or unattractive, yet he suddenly felt insignificant.
"Now, rather than standing around here, let's head inside. We have much to discuss, don't we?"
With that, Philip followed Damian into the castle's office. He wanted to conclude the business swiftly and establish himself as a dignified lord.
Inside, Dominic was already waiting.
"Welco to our territory. I heard you earned great rits in the Northwestern campaign. I look forward to your future accomplishnts on the battlefield."
There was no need to bring up the uncomfortable truth that Philip had only received those rits due to his noble lineage.
"Our family holds the rights to passage, hunting, and judicial authority in this land. Here is the official decree from His Majesty recognizing these rights."
"I understand, but since the territory has now passed into my hands, aren't these rights practically aningless?"
"Well… Are you aware that our family has a non-aggression pact with neighboring territories? If you don't pay a sufficient price, we could always sell these rights to them."
"You wouldn't dare! Selling off rights attached to my territory to another land…"
In negotiations like these, the one who raised their voice first was at a disadvantage.
Damian interjected smoothly, playing the role of the interdiary.
"Of course, selling to another territory should be avoided. As long as you show the appropriate sincerity, that won't be necessary."
Philip frowned. What exactly does 'appropriate sincerity' an?
"If it's just a reasonable gesture of sincerity, I can pay. But if you're exploiting the situation for an unfair profit—"
"Unfair profit?" Dominic scoffed. "We are simply selling our rightful claims. Our family cultivated this land from barren wilderness into what it is today. The forests are rich with ga, and the judicial fines we collect annually are quite profitable. We also collect significant tolls from rchants passing through. Given all this, we are requesting ten years' worth of the current territory's revenue."
Philip's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Ten years' worth of revenue? Just how much is that?"
"Around 200,000 gold should suffice."
"200,000 gold?! That's absurd! Do you know how much money will be needed to develop the territory further?"
"Then we have no choice but to sell to a neighboring lord."
"That would be a sha, Father," Damian chid in. "200,000 gold isn't an unreasonable sum, yet look how he reacts to our generosity. We might as well look elsewhere."
Philip fud. What kind of scoundrels are these?
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