Lord: Starting from the Pit-Dwelling Courtyard

Chapter 53: Gorubak Castle

Novia sat at a low table at the innermost part of the cave, wearing a gray cloak without coat of arms, the hood pulled up over the back of her neck, clearly having traveled there in haste.

When Ron pushed the door open, he was looking at the map of the southern wasteland drawn by old Hall on the wall. The light from the oil lamp illuminated his profile, making his brow bone, which resembled Devon's, stand out even more.

"Young Master Novia, visiting so late at night without even a greeting."

Novia stood up without exchanging pleasantries.

"Devin has been placed under house arrest."

Ron sat down opposite him and took off his embroidered spring knife, placing it on the table.

The scabbard made a soft sound as it tapped against the stone table.

"Then what."

"De Gea is willing to compensate with 30,000 catties of grain, but Devin cannot come to apologize; my father will not allow it."

Ron didn't respond, but just looked at Novia, waiting for him to continue.

Novia took a deep breath: "If Devon comes, he will die. Even if you don't kill him, he will be killed by the other lords. He's the one who did almost all those shady things. The Degea territory needs him to live, not for his sake, but to prevent internal strife. Devon still has a group of followers, and they've started to stir up trouble after the Battle of the Valley. If Devon dies now, these people will tear open a breach within the territory."

"Then there's no need to talk." Ron picked up the knife from the table, hilt facing outwards, and prepared to get up.

What a joke! He won't be able to eat or sleep if that guy doesn't die.

"Let's change the terms," ​​Novia said in a low voice, "as long as it doesn't exceed my authority."

Ron thought for a moment, then sat down again.

He looked at Novia and suddenly realized that his second son was not quite the same as when he last visited.

Last time he used the cliché of "my father's idea is cooperation and win-win," but this time he's no longer beating around the bush.

"I demand that De Gea's territory supply me with 50,000 catties of volcanic ash every month."

Novia frowned slightly.

Volcanic ash is the core raw material for making volcanic ash limestone mortar. The only natural volcanic ash veins in the Blackthorn Wasteland have outcrops in Ash Canyon, southwest of De Gea territory.

The condition wasn't about food or weapons; it was about making De Gea pay a huge price for something insignificant.

This will inevitably consume a large amount of manpower and resources in De Gea territory, and in the long run, it will inevitably cause incalculable damage to the territory.

Ron didn't want compensation; he wanted long-term suppression, eventually forcing De Gea's territory to rise up in rebellion. But by then, Ashwood's territory would be beyond De Gea's ability to resist.

He already has a new plan for the rapid population growth in the future; the only thing lacking is time.

"Okay!" Novia said, "but I need a promise from you."

"What promise?"

"Do not initiate an attack on De Gea's territory!"

Ron looked at him for a moment, then nodded.

"I will not attack, but you should also stop sending scouts to my side. Next time, I will not only kill the scouts."

Novia was silent for a few moments, then reached out her hand.

The two made a vow with a high five, the sound of their palms echoing briefly in the cave before dissipating.

There was no parchment, no seal, only two hands and an oil lamp.

Such a contract has no binding force in the kingdom's homeland, but in the Blackthorn Wasteland, a high five carries more weight than parchment. Parchment can be torn, and if one of the two hands that have high five breaks the contract, the other will draw a knife.

After finishing their business, Novia got up and fastened her cloak.

"I heard you've taken in a lot of half-goblins?"

Ron asked, "Is there a problem?"

"After all, they're not human; there's no guarantee they won't betray us one day."

Ron couldn't help but laugh and nodded in agreement: "That makes a lot of sense, but often, people are even less reliable than goblins."

Novia was slightly taken aback, then nodded without saying anything more, but those words were deeply etched in her heart.

Ron was standing on the city wall when Novia's cavalry left through the north gate.

The sound of horses' hooves echoed a few times between the curved walls of the barbican before being swallowed up by the night wind of the wilderness.

"Old Hall, do you think he'll keep his promise?"

"No," Old Hall said calmly, standing beside him. "But he won't make a move for now, and that's enough."

Ron nodded.

He was also gambling, betting that Novia could use the volcanic ash mining card to suppress Devon's remnants after returning to De Gea territory, and betting that Lord Ramon could maintain a balance between the two brothers.

As long as the balance remains intact, Ashwood Territory still has time to continue developing.

Do you think my plan is feasible?

Old Hall's eyes lit up at the thought of the plan: "It's entirely feasible. I've already had Moriel make the arrangements, and now we're just waiting for Doron to return."

On a convoy heading to the border, Doron, disguised, suddenly sneezed.

"Who's chirping at me?"

Hearing the noise, Mad squeezed over with concern: "Captain Duolong, what's wrong?"

Duolong waved his hand and said, "It's nothing, it's probably just a nasal allergy!"

The convoy continued on its way, and after a long while, Doron finally asked, "Do you think the lord's matter is reliable?"

Mad immediately understood what Doron was worried about and nodded, saying, "That's reliable. Otherwise, I wouldn't have supported him so quickly after hearing about it."

"Alright then!" Doron nodded, feeling extremely frustrated.

"Why do I always have to deal with all this messy stuff?"

"Lord Fanta is too straightforward, Lord Hilden is not good with words, and Lord Leonardo da Vinci has not yet gained Butler Hall's complete trust. All things considered, the most suitable person to run around outside is you."

Doron sighed: "So, my competence is just because I'm good at flattering?"

Mad smiled without saying a word.

This time, he was sent to the border on orders to be stationed there permanently. He brought all the money from his territory with him, intending to settle in the border city of Gorubakburg, establish a trading company, and build an intelligence network.

Duolong weighed the money bag in his hand; it was heavy, but it was full of copper coins and silver coins.

Twenty gold coins are enough to buy a small manor covering several acres in the heart of the kingdom, or tens of thousands of catties of grain on the border, or to hire a mercenary team of a hundred men to run a trade route.

"I should be careful with my money!" Doron told himself.

Ashwood Territory, Pit Courtyard.

Ron stood in the courtyard, looking up at the square of sky above him, cut into shape by the archway of the cave dwelling.

"Old Hall."

"exist."

"Tell Doron not to be stingy. Spend the money where it's necessary, and bribe the people who need to be bribed. In the wasteland, intelligence is more valuable than food."

Old Hall nodded: "Don't worry, young master, Doron knows what he's doing."

Ron lowered his head, thinking about what unique products he could make to open up the market for Doron, so that it would be easier for him to open the merchant guild in the capital.

However, Gorubak Fortress now has all the local specialties that can be produced in the wasteland. What we need to find are things that Gorubak Fortress doesn't have. As for blue bricks, they sell well in the wasteland, but they don't sell well in Gorubak Fortress, since there is a super large quarry not far from Gorubak Fortress.

"It's something we need to think about carefully!"