16 Chapter 16: Heading to the Fief

The next day.

Aaron strolled along the castle corridors.

The scene from last night had frightened him a bit.

And the appearance of that black sun, especially that 'worldwide broadcast' ability, made him even more wary.

Although that round of whispers only lasted for a few minutes before it dispersed automatically, it would obviously bring more changes to that world.

He needed to think about it carefully.

"Lord Aaron!"

At this moment, a voice came from behind. It was Viscount Feili Greta.

"Viscount Sir."

Aaron stopped and showed a smile.

"Lord Aaron, you are, indeed, a young talent... with just a few dozen people under your command, you took the castle. Your great deeds are not far from those of the legendary heroes."

Feili's face was full of smiles: "If I had known in advance, I would have pleaded with the King and asked for a title for Lord Aaron. I believe that a baron or even a viscount would not be an issue."

"The size of the title doesn't matter; what matters is the territory and strength."

Aaron shrugged his shoulders: "If there is nothing else, I'll leave first."

He was too lazy to participate in the family's intrigues, let alone become the king's sword.

Looking at Aaron's back, Feili had a playful expression, murmuring to himself: "Aaron Sotos, you're indeed a clever person, refusing to have any contact with me. What a pity, although you think like this, your elder brother is quite foolish..."

As the king's envoy, he naturally had some secret missions.

If he could make the Sotos Family discordant and split with just a few words, that would be best.

A unified Green Forest would not be in the interest of the Kagash Kingdom!

...

After the wedding, when all the guests were present, it was the perfect time for Aaron's enfeoffment ceremony.

Similarly, under the Big Banyan Tree, Theodore bestowed Aaron a piece of land and a young tree, while tapping his shoulders with a sword.

"I swear, I will repay my monarch with loyalty!"

"I swear, I will protect my territory with my sword!"

"I swear, I will observe honor, today and forever!"

...

Aaron, wearing his new knight uniform, swore solemnly. When he stood up, he was a true knight.

As expected, the enfeoffed territory was Hei Shi Manor, the original territory of Wild Bear Saliba, which included a manor, a village, and a large nearby forest.

After completing all this, Aaron took his subordinates directly to Upper Green Forest.

It's worth noting that Maid Tia wanted to stay in the castle, so Aaron granted her wish and gave her some money.

...

Hei Shi Manor.

The manor was huge, equipped with its own mill, brewery, and granary... Saliba's careful arrangement was evident.

And now, all of these belonged to Aaron.

"Sir, after our investigation, there are roughly 500 people in the nearby village, with about 1,000 Ram of cultivated land within the territory."

Behind him, Ba Zhi spoke respectfully.

In the Green Forest, the ram is a unit of land area, equivalent to about five acres.

"This cultivated land area is still too small, and with the existence of a lord, it's inevitable that the people are poor..."

Aaron thought to himself and said casually: "We should eliminate the impact of the war as soon as possible, immediately cultivate the wastelands and replant when possible... This winter, I don't want anyone in my territory to starve to death. For the time being, we can lend some food to the hungry farmers from my private warehouse. They can return it after next year's harvest."

"You are so kind!" Ba Zhi exclaimed.

After all, in this era, it was normal for people to starve to death in winter!

"After all, it's my first year as a lord." Aaron shook his head: "In addition, what's the response from Sanchez and others? If they are willing to come over, I will accept them as free people and grant them one Ram of land each, doubling the amount for the captains!"

His previous small team had integrated well, and bringing them over would provide more manpower. Aaron didn't want to let them go.

"I have contacted them one by one. Beck refused, Green and Sanchez both had intentions to agree, and there are a dozen other households..."

Ba Zhi bowed.

Speaking of which, he was the first free man in this territory.

"Well, with these people, my manor can almost operate... The last thing we need is a clerk or a scholar!"

Aaron nodded, he had prepared for this aspect.

A scholar in the castle should be able to recommend someone to come over, as long as they can read and write and understand simple arithmetic. He couldn't ask for too much.

After finally dealing with these miscellaneous matters, he could now devote all of his energy to exploring the Dream World.

...

Within the manor, knights naturally didn't live in castles.

Such buildings that combined living, defense, and fortress functions were not within the economic strength of a knight.

Saliba had only mobilized his people to build a wooden villa for him.

Now, this naturally belonged to Aaron.

He came to the villa, and there was no lack of maids around him. The local farmers were very willing to send their daughters into the lord's house. Even if there were no benefits, having one less mouth to feed was a good thing.

"By the way, there's a little trouble."

At this moment, outside the villa, a woman in her thirties was waiting anxiously, holding two children.

She was the wife and children of Sir Saliba, now a widow.

"Lady Rita..."

Aaron took a step forward, speaking in a calm tone: "You have not left yet?"

"I have... nowhere else to go."

Lady Rita smiled bitterly, still young and beautiful. She was probably not Saliba's first wife: "I am wondering... Honorable Sir, perhaps you need a housekeeper?"

Aaron recalled that this lady was probably the daughter of another knight.

She couldn't go back now... most likely her father or brothers had also resisted the Sotos Family and died on the battlefield, with their territories completely taken away.

But now, a weak woman was begging and deliberately dressing up, the implications were quite clear.

Aaron shook his head: "I have already chosen a housekeeper. If Lady Rita has nowhere to go, she can become a free citizen on my territory, and I will grant her ten Ram of land. You can hire farmers to cultivate it, and I believe it will be enough to raise your children to adulthood..."

Rita still wanted to say something, as this was clearly not what she wanted, but Aaron waved his hand, unwilling to entangle with this woman.

He had killed her husband, and his family had wiped out her family. Even if there was no malice, she absolutely couldn't be trusted!

If it were before, perhaps he would have kept her and slowly played with her, watching her desperation and ugliness after her plots were exposed.

But now?

He had to focus wholeheartedly on pursuing the extraordinary and the immortal!