Heading to the Fief
The next day.
Alan strolled through the corridors of the castle.
Last night's scene had somewhat scared him.
The appearance of that black sun, especially its 'worldwide broadcast' of mumbling abilities, made him even more apprehensive.
Although the mumbling only lasted for a few minutes and then dissipated on its own, it was evident it would bring more changes to that world.
He needed to think carefully.
"Lord Alan!"
At that moment, a voice came from behind. It was Ferris Grato, the court viscount.
"Viscount, my lord."
Alan stopped and smiled.
"Lord Alan, you are indeed young and promising... You captured the castle with just a handful of people. Such great achievements are akin to legendary heroes.
Ferris's face was filled with smiles: "If I had known earlier, I would have spoken highly of you in front of the king, to get you a title. I believe a baron or even a viscount wouldn't be a problem."
"The size of the title doesn't matter. What's crucial is the fief and strength."
Alan shrugged: "If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."
He wasn't even interested in the family's infighting, let alone becoming the king's blade.
Watching Alan's back, Ferris had a playful expression and muttered to himself, "He doesn't even want to interact with me. This Lord Alan Sothos is indeed a smart man. But sadly, while you think this way, your elder brother is quite foolish…
As the king's special envoy, he naturally had some secret missions.
If a few words could sow discord or even split the Sothos Family, that would be ideal.
A unified Green Forest was not in Kagash Kingdom's interests!
…
After the wedding, while the guests were still around, Alan's investiture ceremony was held.
Just like before, under the great banyan tree, Theodore gifted Alan soil and saplings representing the territory and touched his shoulders with the flat of a sword.
"I swear to repay my lord with loyalty!"
"I swear to guard the territory with my sword!"
"I swear to uphold honor, today and always!"
…
Dressed in a new knight's uniform, Alan solemnly swore. After rising, he officially became a true knight.
And as expected, the fief was the previously decided Blackstone Manor, originally the territory of Wild Bear Sariba, including a manor, a village, and a large surrounding forest.
After completing everything, Alan directly led his subordinates to Upper Green Forest.
It's worth mentioning that the maid Tia wanted to stay in the castle. Alan granted her wish and gave her some money.
…
Blackstone Manor.
The manor was large, with its own mill, brewery, granary… It was evident that Sariba had meticulously arranged it.
And at this time, all of it belonged to Alan.
"My lord, after our investigation, there are about 500 people in the nearby village, and about 1000 lams of cultivated land within the fief."
Behind him, Eight Fingers respectfully reported.
Here, a lam is a unit of land area in Green Forest, roughly equivalent to about five acres.
"The cultivated land area is still too small, coupled with the presence of a lord, the people's poverty is inevitable…"
Alan thought, then casually said, "We should quickly eliminate the impact of the war, immediately cultivate abandoned land, and plant whatever can be replanted... This winter, I don't want anyone starving in my fief. We can temporarily lend some grain to the starving farmers from my personal storeroom, to be returned after the next harvest.
"You are truly generous!" Eight Fingers exclaimed.
After all, in this era, starvation in winter was the norm!
"It's my first year as a lord." Alan shook his head. "Also, what's Sanchez's response? If they are willing to come, I will accept them as free citizens and grant them one lam of land, twice that for captains!"
His previous team had integrated quite well, and Alan didn't want to let them go.
"I have approached them all. Beck refused, but Grimm and Sanchez are willing, as well as a dozen other households…"
Eight Fingers bowed.
Strictly speaking, he was the first free citizen in this fief.
"Hmm, with these people, my manor can almost start operating… Finally, we still need a scribe or scholar!"
Alan nodded. He had already prepared for this.
The castle's scholar should be able to recommend someone. As long as they can read and write, and understand simple calculations, it will suffice. Can't expect too much.
After handling these trivial matters, he could finally devote all his energy to exploring the dream world.
…
Inside the manor, knights certainly didn't live in a castle.
The kind of building that served residential, defensive, and fortress functions wasn't something a knight's finances could afford.
Previously, Sariba had just mobilized the people to build him a wooden villa.
Now, it naturally belonged to Alan.
He came to the villa and found himself not short of maids. The local peasants were happy to send their daughters to the lord's house, even without benefits. It was good to have one less mouth to feed.
"Oh, there's still a small trouble."
Outside the villa stood a woman about thirty, anxiously waiting with two children.
She was the wife and children of Knight Sariba, now a widow.
"Lady Rita…"
Alan stepped forward, his tone calm: "You haven't left yet?"
"I have nowhere to go."
Lady Rita smiled bitterly. She probably wasn't Sariba's first wife, still very young and beautiful: "I was thinking… esteemed knight, perhaps you need a steward?"
Alan recalled that this lady was also the daughter of a knight.
Now with nowhere to go… Most likely, her father or brother also resisted the Sothos Family and died in battle, losing all their land.
But now, a weak woman pleading and dressing up specifically, the meaning was also quite clear.
Alan shook his head: "I already have a steward. If Lady Rita has nowhere to go, you can become a free citizen in my fief. I will allocate you ten lams of land, and you can hire farmers to cultivate it. That should be enough to raise your children until adulthood…"
Rita wanted to say something, which clearly didn't meet her wishes, but Alan waved his hand, unwilling to get entangled.
He had killed her husband. His family had destroyed hers. Even if she truly had no malice, she couldn't be trusted!
If it were before, perhaps he would have kept her, playing until her schemes were exposed and watching her despair.
But at this moment?
One must still wholeheartedly pursue transcendence and immortality!
(End of this chapter)