Chapter 202 - 197: Trusteeship Application
The streets of Newly Town were bustling with people.
Even with a large number of able-bodied laborers drafted to work in Minas Tirith, it remained the most prosperous town around the Gray Swamp.
The policies from Mi Port had also been implemented in Newly Town, and for that reason, Velin had made a special trip to the flea market.
In the flea market at the center of town, farmers who had just finished their busy season were using their accumulated credit points to select supplies for the winter.
Newly fired pottery, gloves tanned from wild boar hide, and wild game they had hunted themselves—on the wooden sign for each item, circles and bars were drawn with charcoal to represent the number of credit points.
Velin walked along the gravel road, with old Walker and Ryo following behind him.
Whenever the townspeople saw him, they would stop, place a hand over their chest, and bow respectfully.
Velin, in turn, would smile and nod to each of them.
They had just come from the Origin Association’s mountain research institute.
Another batch of the "Foundation Strengthening Plan" was complete. Ten chosen soldiers, after a half-month adaptation period, would officially attempt to break through to the Level 4 professional threshold under the guidance of Ola and Barrett.
"My Lord," old Walker said, leaning in with his wrinkled face. His back was much straighter than it used to be. "Progress at Minas Tirith is going smoothly. The excavation for the first terrace you planned is nearly finished. Before the first snow next month, the Stone Skin Soft Vines will be able to complete the main structures. The second terrace is already a third of the way done."
He counted on his rough fingers.
"While digging down to the second level, we hit bluestone. It’s incredibly hard—pickaxes just send sparks flying. Several of the Worker Ants have worn their claws down to nubs. Still, at this rate, we’ll definitely have the foundations for all five terraces dug out before the rainy season next year."
Velin listened. This progress was within his expectations.
Seeing that old Walker had finished his report, Ryo, who was standing nearby, quickly spoke up.
"My Lord, over in Mist Spring Valley, after several months of adaptation and adjustment, they can now consistently produce various magical plants and materials from small Magical Beasts, worth about three hundred Golden Suns per month. Should this batch of materials be put directly into storage, or...?"
"Seal it all away. Designate it as a strategic resource."
Velin cut him off. "Prioritize supply for the ’Foundation Strengthening Plan’ and the Origin Association’s research projects."
Velin wasn’t short on money now, but converting resources into actual strength was the most critical task at hand.
Ryo finished his report but didn’t step back. He seemed to want to say something but was hesitant.
Velin noticed his unease, stopped walking, and gave him a questioning look.
"My Lord... I... I’d like to request a long leave of absence."
"Why?" Velin was a little surprised.
"I want to go to the Royal Capital." Ryo’s head drooped even lower. "I want to pursue further studies at the Mage Academy in the Royal Capital. I’ve saved up some money, which should be enough for travel expenses and the first few months of tuition."
"Recently, while completing the tasks you’ve given me, I’ve discovered that I’ve hit the limit of my knowledge. I can’t improve any further through self-study."
Velin looked at the thin but dedicated young man before him and smiled.
He reached out and patted Ryo’s shoulder.
"This is a good thing. I support you."
’By myself, it’s impossible to complete research in every field.’
’I need more people like Ryo, a team that can understand my ideas and execute my projects.’
"I will sponsor you. When you get to the Royal Capital, your mission won’t be just to study."
"You must become a top student and learn the most cutting-edge knowledge."
Ryo nodded vigorously. "Yes, My Lord!"
Everything in the territory was developing in an orderly fashion, which put Velin in a very good mood.
He mounted Nefarian and went to check on that big fellow over at Withering Beach.
The Lord of Gray Swamp, once the overlord of the marshlands, was now pinned to the mudflats by dozens of thick steel cables.
Its regenerative abilities had clearly declined, and its enormous, serpentine pupils had lost their former luster.
Every day, its cloaca was force-fed vast quantities of concoctions by the team led by Valerius. The passage, which should have been tight, was now noticeably slack and blackened...
Several of the research institute members responsible for administering the concoctions began to find it unbearable and proactively requested reassignments.
’Such useless sympathy.’
Just then, a garrison soldier on a fast horse came galloping from the direction of the town’s entrance to report an urgent situation to Velin.
"My Lord! Lady Caroline Channing needs to see you urgently!"
’Caroline?’
’Didn’t she say she was returning to her commerce association’s headquarters?’
Velin was a bit surprised. ’What could she need from me at a time like this?’
When Velin returned to Newly Town, Caroline was already waiting for him.
Her face was tight with tension. Seeing Velin enter, she walked straight over to him.
"Velin, something terrible has happened."
"The great pirate ’Black Sails’ Barbossa, with secret support from the Empire, has finished consolidating all the pirate factions in the southern archipelago."
Velin remained silent, quietly waiting for her to continue.
Caroline’s chest heaved, a clear sign she was struggling to suppress her emotions.
"Worse, they’ve beaten us to it. Through the Empire’s agents in the Duchy Council, they have formally submitted a ’custodianship’ application for the southern archipelago to the Nobles’ Council!"
"What’s the reason?" Velin asked.
"Reason?" Caroline looked as if she’d heard the biggest joke in the world. She pulled a crumpled letter from her clothes and slammed it on the table.
"The reason is ’to help the Duchy eliminate pirates and secure the safety of the shipping lanes’!"
"It’s the logic of thieves! They’re using the very bandits they propped up as an excuse to justifiably steal the Duchy’s territory!"
Velin’s heart sank.
His original plan was to wait until Minas Tirith Port had begun to take shape, then use his allies to win over some nobles and have the Nobles’ Council pass his development bill.
But now, the Empire had just flipped the entire table.
They weren’t playing by the rules at all. Instead, they were exploiting the Duchy’s current weakness, attempting to use high-level political maneuvering to legally seize the archipelago.
Once their ’custodianship’ application was approved by the council, the southern archipelago would legally fall under the control of the Empire’s agents.
All his efforts in the Grey Marsh Territory, all those grand construction plans, could still continue, but it would be no different than having a dagger pressed to his side.
"What is the council’s attitude?"
The question made Caroline’s expression turn even uglier.
"Very bad. Those bastards from the Sea Serpent Commerce Association are running around making a scene, touting the Empire’s power. Many of the inland nobles rely on the Empire for business; they don’t care at all about coastal interests."
"The southern archipelago is mostly small islands inhabited by natives. Only a few ports are held by minor nobles, and they alone can hardly make a stir in the Nobles’ Council."
That was the deadliest part.
The enemy wasn’t just Black Sails Barbossa, but also the cowardly nobles within the Duchy itself.
Velin was silent for a moment.
The Royal Capital—the Duchy’s center of power.
’The timeline has been forced ahead.’
’I have to enter the political chess game in the Royal Capital, defeat the Empire-backed faction head-on, and seize legal ownership of the southern archipelago for myself.’
’I have to go to the Royal Capital myself.’