Chapter 210: Lower-Than-Expected Compensation
"My Lord, you were gone for over twenty days this time. You’re finally back!"
Owington enthusiastically took the Shield and weapon from Duane’s hands.
As the Baron’s personal Male Servant, he was supposed to accompany the Baron at all times.
But at some point, it had become difficult for him to even see the Baron.
He had not accompanied him on the last trip to the Royal Capital, nor on this trip to Thorn Valley.
Owington chalked it up to his own lack of strength.
So, he had recently asked Raymond for a Basic Swordsmanship routine and had been practicing diligently in his spare time.
Duane unbuttoned his coat and lifted Fur Ball out from inside.
Though several days had passed, the little creature still hadn’t opened its eyes. Placed on a chair, it began to whimper uneasily.
"Huh? My Lord, where did you pick up a dog?"
Owington asked in surprise, and as he sized it up, he couldn’t resist reaching out to pet it.
"This isn’t a dog."
Duane smiled. "When it’s fully grown, it will be a Level 2 Demon Beast at least."
"Ah!"
Owington’s outstretched hand shot back like lightning. "My Lord, you’re going to raise it?"
Duane nodded. "Have one of the animal keepers bring over a milk cow in a bit. The little one’s hungry."
Raising a Demon Beast was no easy task. Just providing it with enough food was beyond the means of an ordinary person.
However, in Owington’s opinion, this wouldn’t be a problem for the Baron.
He bowed and said, "My Lord, there’s something I wish to report."
As Owington helped him out of his coat, Duane looked over at him. He was about to ask what it was when he let out a small "huh?"
He sensed the fluctuation of Extraordinary Energy coming from Owington.
"You broke through?" Duane asked, surprised.
Owington froze for a moment, then said with a wry smile, "That was the very thing I wanted to tell you. I didn’t think you’d notice right away."
Though he marveled at the Baron’s keen perception, he was still overjoyed.
"I had a lucky breakthrough while practicing my Swordsmanship more than ten days ago. I’m a Basic-level Warrior now!"
He added, "This way, I’ll be qualified to accompany you the next time you have to travel."
Duane let out a small, wry smile.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t brought Owington along because he thought him too weak; he simply hadn’t seen the need.
However, he supposed it was necessary to have a fixed retinue of male and female servants when visiting the territories of other nobles in the future.
For instance, when Count Kais traveled to the Royal Capital, his retinue of servants numbered in the dozens, if not a hundred.
"Becoming a Basic-level Warrior at twenty-two is a little late, but if you work hard, you might still become a Middle-level or even an Advanced Warrior."
Duane encouraged him, "Go find Mara and have her prepare five bowls of Chrysanthemum Fire Soup for you. Also, get a Combat Techniques manual from Kaelon to study. Consider it your reward."
Owington’s face lit up with ecstasy.
He had reported his breakthrough not just to earn a spot accompanying the Baron, but also with the hope of receiving training resources, just like the members of the Guard Team.
He quickly dropped to one knee. "Thank you, my Lord!"
Duane waved a hand, gesturing for him to rise.
"My Lord."
His maidservant, Jasmine, came in. "Your bath is ready."
Jasmine’s life had improved significantly since she began serving Duane.
Over the past year, her slender figure had filled out, giving her the youthful bloom of an eighteen or nineteen-year-old. She was, however, still a bit timid.
"I’ll be resting in the castle for a while now that I’m back. Jasmine, prepare to teach me the art of tailoring."
"Huh?"
Jasmine was startled. "You... you’re going to learn needlework again?"
Duane grunted in confirmation.
’I still have to practice the Basic Skills. The returns are just too great.’
’Take Basic Riding Skill, for example. Who would have thought that reaching Perfection with it would grant not only the Level 4 Spell, Summon Warhorse, but also the Level 6 Spell, Arcane Resonance?’
’Perfecting the Tailor skill will likely unlock another new Manufacturing Skill.’
Duane went to the bathing chamber. After soaking away his fatigue, he started tending to Fur Ball.
[You patiently gave the Silver-Maned Wolf a warm bath. Basic Breeding Skill Level +3]
[You patiently groomed the Silver-Maned Wolf’s fur. Basic Breeding Skill Level +2]
[You carefully fed the Silver-Maned Wolf. Basic Breeding Skill Level +5]
[Basic Breeding Skill Level has achieved a breakthrough! Now at Mastery (2/400)]
[Attribute Points +0.3]
A look of pleasant surprise appeared on Duane’s face. He hadn’t expected that bathing and grooming Fur Ball would also increase his Skill Level.
’I thought it would take another couple of days. I didn’t expect it to happen so soon.’
Duane allocated his newly acquired attribute points to Spirit, raising his Spirit Attribute to 18.0 and, in one fell swoop, becoming a Level 3 Mage.
’Just one more level, and I’ll be able to use Summon Warhorse.’
’Once I can ride a warhorse, getting around Black Forest Island will be much easier. I’ll be able to head to the Secret Realm to investigate whenever I want.’
’This breakthrough in my Basic Breeding Skill Level has given me a lot of animal husbandry experience.’
’This experience covers rearing Silver-Maned Wolves, treating poultry diseases, and providing postpartum care for livestock.’
’If I put this knowledge into practice, I could easily serve as Black Forest Island’s veterinarian.’
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
Owington knocked on the door. "My Lord, Commander Kaelon and Simone have arrived. They wish to see you."
"Bring them to the study."
After finishing his care of Fur Ball, Duane cradled it in his arms and went to the study.
Kaelon and Simone were quite surprised to see Fur Ball, and they grew gravely concerned when they heard about the terrifying Level 6 Demon Beast on Heavenly Mountain.
The situation on the island seemed relatively safe for now, but external threats were ever-present.
If that incredibly fast Giant Lynx were to attack the town, it would surely cause widespread casualties.
"I’ve already heard about the Medical Sanctuary from Gaius. I’ll head over there with you in a bit."
Duane then turned to Simone and asked with a smile, "How did things go at the Silent Shore?"
Simone said apologetically, "My Lord, I am very sorry. I was unable to protect our interests!"
"It’s not your fault."
Duane shook his head. The initial compensation plan from last year was an outrageous demand to begin with; it was always going to be slashed.
In Duane’s opinion, getting two or three thousand Gold Coins, some Slaves, and a few hundred sets of arms and armor would have been quite a considerable haul.
Simone sighed and presented the document in his hand.
"Freddy and the Akutas Kingdom only agreed to compensate Black Forest Island with 1,000 Gold Coins, 3,000 Slaves, and 100 sets of standard-issue weapons and equipment."
"That little?"
Duane hadn’t expected it to be so low. He froze for a second, then started reading the finalized compensation agreement.
"What happened? How did it end up being so little?"
With a resigned air, Simone recounted what had happened during the negotiations.
Apparently, while the Pruck Kingdom was applying maximum pressure to demand a thirty-five percent share of the Secret Realm’s mining rights, Freddy gradually squeezed the compensation package meant for Black Forest Island.
After all, compensating Black Forest Island meant he had to fork over actual Gold Coins.
The mining rights for the Secret Realm, however, didn’t involve any actual cash. It was an abstract concept.
So, after several rounds of negotiations, Black Forest Island ended up bearing the brunt of the compensation cuts.
"Actually, Freddy isn’t the one who has to provide the final compensation package."
"Then who is?"
Simone said bitterly, "It’s being paid by five noble houses: the Royal Family, Kennedy, Hughes, Smith, and Hassa. It’s essentially their payment for that five-percent share of the Secret Realm’s mining rights."
Duane snorted, tossing the compensation agreement onto the table.
"These bastards really know how to drive a hard bargain!"
Simone said apologetically, "I’m sorry. I protested multiple times at the negotiation table, but it was useless."
"That’s not on you."
’Even if I had gone myself, I probably couldn’t have changed the outcome.’
’The Baron of Black Forest Island still holds too little influence.’
’Even with my partnership with Count Kais, he wouldn’t stick his neck out for me when such huge interests are at stake.’
"Oh, by the way, my Lord."
Simone handed over a letter. "This is a letter for you from Count Caesar."