Chapter 204: A Family-Like Territory (1)
“…Our territory is the kingdom’s strongest food production area and iron ore source… it develops the best cosmetics in the kingdom… possesses a runestone resource site… and thanks to this incredible production capacity, not a single territory resident went hungry during this drought, making it a place praised by all… with a military force boasting over 400 knights…”
Each claim felt more outrageous than the last.
Food, iron ore, cosmetics, and runestones. Just having one of these would make a territory wealthy, but if all of it came from a single territory, it’s hard even to imagine how much money it would pull in.
I heard that they’re currently raking in enormous amounts of money in real-time.
Plus, they have so much food that nobody is starving, and they have so much money that taxes are barely collected.
It was truly a paradise on earth.
A place everyone dreamed of and wished for. If someone got a bureaucratic position there, life would be nothing short of smooth sailing.
Malron frowned even more. He knew they were frauds, but this exaggeration was over the top.
“Are they asking me to believe this? Sure, the situation is bad right now, but aren’t they underestimating us a bit too much? No rookie, even if they learned a little politics, would believe such nonsense…”
Other students felt the same way. Everyone was making unpleasant expressions when one student raised his hand and exclaimed.
“I can’t believe it! Where on earth does such a territory exist?”
Malron turned to look at that student. He was a friend who consistently scored well.
He was someone who liked to show off and pick fights, so Malron avoided getting close to him.
“Still, it’s nice that he’s stepping up when the situation calls for it. This guy loves to argue; he might just embarrass him. I’ll watch and enjoy from the sidelines.”
Other students shared similar thoughts. If the situation hadn’t been so desperate, they wouldn’t even have shown up to such a ridiculous event.
As the atmosphere grew tense, Claude spoke with a bored expression.
“Huh, you don’t trust my words? I wouldn’t have any reason to lie, would I? I’m just here to help you juniors as a senior of this Academy.”
Claude wasn’t lying. He just exaggerated the good points a bit and concealed the bad ones.
Despite Claude’s unabashed response, the student didn’t back down.
“I somewhat understand the situation in northern Ruthania! I’ve heard that it’s so barren that food conditions are poor and that it suffers from barbarian invasions! I can’t believe that the situation in Penris Territory up north is that good!”
“Is that guy… actually well-studied?”
Though the reasons were different from what the student said, it was indeed hard to claim that Penris had a good situation.
However, it was hard to say that the situation in Penris was good.
The Penris Territory was facing problems everywhere due to a lack of administrative personnel.
But how are we supposed to confirm that? I came here to charm you guys because of that, so what are you going to do? What can you do?
Claude arrogantly lifted his chin and asked.
“Have you seen it for yourself?”
“Pardon?”
“Isn’t it just a rumor? Did you actually come and see?”
“Well, no, but…”
“Tsk tsk tsk, a person who claims to study so diligently believes in mere rumors without seeing it for yourself… Can you really call yourself a scholar who seeks truth and reason to create a better world?”
The student who had asked the question looked aggrieved. Honestly, he hadn’t even confirmed that it was good, so why should he believe it?
Just as he was about to argue back, Claude jumped in first.
“Did you see the supplies I brought? That is the evidence. Even after donating to the Academy, there’s still plenty left. We’re planning to distribute it elsewhere, too. Is there anyone among the Great Lords of the Seiron Kingdom who can casually share that much?”
The murmuring students nodded in agreement with Claude’s words. Malron also thought of the piled-up supplies and felt slightly swayed.
‘Right, unless it’s a great famine, it’s not easy to distribute that much without a care in a time like this. Could it really be… a wealthy territory?’
The student, having run out of things to say, shifted to another argument.
“Fine! I’ll believe that you have a lot of money! But 400 knights? That’s just absurd!”
The other students began to chatter again.
They knew well how many knights ordinary nobles commanded. No matter how powerful Ruthania was, there was a limit to the number of personnel one lord could command.
Moreover, it was said that the Lord of Penris was only a baron before expanding his territory.
Having 400 knights would be a force even for the most powerful nobles in the kingdom. It was not a number a young lord should command.
But Claude just chuckled at that rebuttal.
“I have 50 Guard Knights with me. All of them are formal knights who can use mana.”
“Impossible! I can’t believe it!”
A high-ranking noble of the Seiron Kingdom typically commanded only about 20 knights at most.
In Ruthania, where the number of knights was higher, a count-level territory averaged about 50 knights, and a great lord needed to have over 100.
Especially in the harsh northern territories, the number of knights was known to be a little less.
But to say a Chief Officer has 50 knights as guards? That was utterly ridiculous.
Doubt began to arise again in Malron’s mind and in the minds of the other students.
Noticing the insubordinate looks, Claude snapped his fingers and said to Wendy.
“Tell all the knights to come in.”
Soon after, 50 knights, along with Gillian, entered.
Malron swallowed dryly from the tension upon seeing the knights.
‘Are those… really knights?’
The other students had reactions similar to Malron’s.
‘No matter how I look at it, they seem like mercenaries or bandits…’
‘Aren’t they just dressed up as knights?’
‘I’ve never seen knights who act like that before.’
If you went by their attire, they looked like knights. But the atmosphere was completely different.
There were those sitting cross-legged, shaking their legs, others just nodding their heads nonchalantly, some squatting the moment they entered, and a few looking around as if they were up to no good.
The ones glaring here and there were all sorts of people.
“Some even spit on the floor! What are they doing in the holy Academy?!”
“Disgusting! So vulgar! What kind of knight is that?!”
“They’re complete frauds! No doubt about it!”
As they looked at the knights who didn’t seem to have any sense of knightly dignity, the students cast their suspicious glances again.
Claude grimaced at those knights as well.
“These guys are useless, totally useless. You uncultured swine, what do you think you’re doing here?!”
Gillian also glared at the knights, thinking similar thoughts.
Everyone seemed accustomed to being hit, so no matter how much they were beaten, they only acted lively for a moment; their habits just wouldn’t change.
Since they couldn’t just beat them up here, Gillian had no choice but to threaten with his eyes.
Fortunately, the knights straightened up, albeit with sour expressions.
Claude clicked his tongue at that sight and said to Gillian, “Gillian, show the students the knights’ mana. What are you doing? Hurry up!”
Gillian pursed his lips a few times before gesturing to the knights. Soon, a blue mana started to burst forth from the knights’ swords.
Seeing that spectacle, all the students couldn’t help but gasp in admiration.
“Th-That’s real. They’re all knights. But why are they acting like that…?”
“This can’t be… It’s not even the lord himself, but to have 50 knights supported by the Chief Officer…”
“There must be more knights left in the territory than here! This territory is indeed incredible in military strength!”
Seeing the students’ reactions, Claude urgently called out to the knights.
“Alright, that’s enough! Stop! Our juniors will be shocked. You can stop now. Put it away quickly!”
If someone collapsed and spewed blood, it would genuinely be shocking. They absolutely should not push it.
“How is it? Do you believe it now?”
If you can’t believe after seeing this tremendous force, you’re a fool. Even the curious student quieted down.
What is the greatest dream of scholars?
To become high officials in the royal court or Great Territories and to pursue their dreams and ideals.
An unbelievable opportunity had come before them now.
Malron, having confirmed the knights right in front of him, could no longer contain his excitement.
To maintain that many knights requires not just finances, but proper treatment as well.
He discarded all doubts. With so much evidence, how could one not believe?
“It’s real! There’s no way these aren’t knights! Even if other things are lies, just having food and knights is impressive! This is truly an amazing territory! I want to go! I want to go and work in that paradise-like territory! I want to showcase my abilities! I want to realize my dreams!”
However, as his belief grew, so did his anxiety. In such times, surely there wouldn’t be many positions open, so the competition would be fierce.
“Wh-What should I do? Almost everyone will apply! Everyone is desperate, so they won’t even care about going to other kingdoms…”
The anxiety that if he missed this opportunity, he would live without dreams or hope began to swell.
Looking around, indeed, every student was staring at Claude with excited faces. It was clear that everyone wanted to go to Penris Territory.
Malron didn’t have confidence to beat the other students in competition. So he timidly raised his hand and asked, “U-Um… How many people are you planning to select?”
The other students’ eyes sparkled with anticipation.
From now on, everyone was practically a competitor. To be chosen, they had to do whatever it took to impress that person.
To impress that person, we had to do whatever it took, using any means necessary.
Claude, sensing the atmosphere of everyone glancing around nervously, arrogantly lifted his chin and spoke.
“Anyone who wants to join is welcome.”
“Excuse me?!”
Everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief. Malron asked again, wondering if he had heard wrongly.
“Are you serious? Can everyone who wants to go there really go?”
“Yes, as I mentioned earlier, our Penris Territory is quite vast and has a substantial population. The more management we have, the better.”
“Why do you specifically want to choose us? We lack experience and our abilities haven’t been verified yet. There must be plenty of excellent talents in the Ruthania Kingdom…”
Claude, with a gentle smile in response to Malron’s timid voice, said,
“Did I not mention? I’m also a graduate of the Seiron Academy. I hope my juniors succeed more than those from other academies. As we help each other, being from our academy itself becomes a strength. You all understand what that means, right?”
“Oooh…”
The students admired him. This must be what they heard about connections and relationships. No wonder everyone talked about networking.
Malron, who hadn’t been in the upper ranks, still spoke with uncertainty.
“Still, I feel my abilities are lacking…”
“Oh! Ability doesn’t matter at all! If you don’t know something, just go and get beaten up a lot to learn… No, sincerely go and study hard, and you’ll be fine. Learning on the job is what truly matters. Grades aren’t important!”
“So what is important then?”
“What really matters is an unwavering heart and passion! That’s all I look for! Without that, you might as well be dead!”
In the Penris Territory, if you break under pressure, you’re dead; even without passion, you still die. Claude finally revealed an unvarnished truth.
And the naive students couldn’t help but admire his words once more.
“The Chief Officer is right! It’s in practice that abilities are truly verified!”
“Providing opportunities for all without discrimination! What a great policy!”
“Is this what they call a great territory’s Chief Officer? Your vision is truly different!”
The hall was instantly filled with an enthusiastic atmosphere. Seizing the moment, Claude swiftly distributed contracts to the students.
“Alright, take a look at this and decide. You’ll like the conditions.”
Students were once again stunned as they skimmed through the contracts.
“The compensation is really incredible, isn’t it?”
“They’re even responsible for the living and housing of our families?”
“Truly, the Great Territory is on a whole different level.”
The compensation was significantly higher and the welfare provisions were excellent, incomparable to any territory in the Seiron Kingdom.
Everyone blinked, still in disbelief at whether this was a dream or reality. Malron unconsciously murmured while looking at Claude.
“Why… go this far for new stewards? I’ve never heard of such generous treatment from any territory in my life…”
The other students quietly nodded in agreement.
Being able to work in such a great territory at this point in time felt like nothing short of a miracle.
And the treatment was astounding. Just the compensation alone was much better than a mid-level steward from the Seiron royal family.
Looking at the dazed Malron, Claude replied in a soft voice.
“Our territory’s motto is ‘Like a Family.’”
The students’ faces flushed with emotion.
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