Ascension from Dual Professions

Chapter 245: Chapter 234: Vision for the Territory, ’Punish’ Jon?

Although the two elders were worldly and knowledgeable, a Territory Seed was far too rare. Even though they felt there was something special about the one in Jon’s hand, they couldn’t figure out what it was.

So, after confirming that it contained no remnants of ancient souls or anything else that could affect one’s mind, Claudio handed it back to Jon.

"Do you know what this seed means?"

"Of course."

Jon put away the seed and gave a slight nod.

"I knew it the moment I got it. It can be used to ’grow’ a territory."

"And that is exactly what I need."

He walked to the window and looked down through the fog-covered glass, watching the young apprentices in the manor bustling about to prepare a banquet celebrating his return. He spoke softly.

"Although Birch Town has thriving commerce and convenient trade, it is ultimately someone else’s land. No matter what I do, I will face unseen restrictions."

"If I want to develop without being constrained by objective factors like resources, manpower, and politics, then having my own independent and autonomous territory is essential."

Then, thinking about everything he had encountered in the Demon Forest Ruins, he added another sentence.

"It’s also to better prepare for the potential chaos and unknown crises of the future."

Hearing Jon’s words, the two elders in the room—immeasurably older than he was—immediately sensed an underlying meaning.

The young man might look calm, but it was clear he’d been rattled to some extent.

The two exchanged a look, and Sutton was the first to speak.

"So, what’s your plan?"

"I must remind you, acquiring a territory is no easy feat. Especially in a nation ruled by nobles, every piece of land has an owner. Unless you plan to climb the social ladder within the system, it will be very difficult for you to legally obtain a territory."

The Old Dwarf shrugged as he spoke.

"But if you go that route, I’m afraid the tedious socializing alone will drain all your energy."

Jon knew the Old Dwarf was speaking the truth. His words were also a test to see whether the decision to "establish a territory" was merely an impulsive one.

But in truth, even before obtaining the [Seed of Primal Nature], he had already been considering how to acquire a territory and had long since had a target in mind.

So, in response to this question, he simply shook his head slightly.

"Of course I have no time to play social games with those nobles, but political maneuvering isn’t the only way to acquire a territory."

"If I want to be truly independent and autonomous, the best choice is to pioneer a new land, giving no one any reason to interfere."

As he spoke, he walked over to his desk, took out a rolled-up scroll, and spread it open.

Sutton and Claudio saw this and came closer, ready to see just where Jon planned to pioneer this new land.

It was a crude map centered on the Harvia Empire, roughly sketching out the borders between the various counties and the locations of the surrounding smaller duchies.

To anyone else, it was an unremarkable map. But in Jon’s eyes, it was covered with undeveloped lands of incredible potential!

After all, on the entire Yino Continent, there were no other players to compete with him. This meant that all the top-tier territories once occupied by major guilds were his for the taking! With such an advantage, he wouldn’t even deign to look at the stale, problem-ridden territories that had been under the long-term rule of nobles.

’If I’m going to choose, I’ll choose the absolute best!’

Surrounding resources, geographic location, development potential, convenient transport... he wanted it all! And there was one place within the Harvia Empire that met every condition.

His fingertip landed on a small, colored patch southwest of Heta County, on the edge of Trulane County, marked as "Bloody Ridge."

"It starts here—"

...

And just as Jon was discussing his plans for site selection and construction with his two mentors, a fierce argument about him was erupting within the Lord’s Mansion in Birch Town.

"Paris Manola! How dare you show such contempt for the majesty of the Empire and the honor of Prince Harvey!"

Cavalry Captain Oudra, now changed into civilian clothes, slammed his hand on the table. His once-handsome face was now twitching in fury, and his voice was as hoarse as a broken bellows.

"That madman! He stripped the armor from Imperial Knights and paraded us through the streets in the cold wind like cattle!"

"This is a naked insult to the Royal Family! You must arrest him at once! Hang him from the city walls! Otherwise—"

"Otherwise, what?"

Paris cut him off coldly. His voice wasn’t loud, but it pierced through Oudra’s roar like a shard of ice.

He sat in the large lord’s chair, leaning back slightly, his fingertips tapping gently on the smooth hardwood armrest.

"Arrest him? Hang him?"

A cold, mirthless smile touched Paris’s lips. His gaze seemed to penetrate the thick walls, landing in the direction of Grent Manor.

"Captain Oudra, what gave you the delusion that I, or Birch Town, possess the power to ’deal with’ Jon?"

"You... What do you mean?"

Oudra choked, struck speechless by his overly calm demeanor.

"The meaning is simple. I can’t do it."

"Can’t do it?!"

Oudra looked as if he had just heard the most ridiculous joke, nearly jumping to his feet.

"You are the leader of the Heta County resistance! The Lord of Birch Town! You command an army! He’s just some..."

"Just some what?"

Paris’s eyes shot up, his sharp gaze like a physical blade locking onto Oudra in an instant.

The aura of a true lord, one forged in blood and fire, erupted from him, so oppressive that the very air in the council hall seemed to stagnate. The other nobles, who had been about to mediate, wisely held their tongues.

"Some person who, by himself, has provided more than half of the front-line support for the Resistance Alliance?"

"Some person who single-handedly broke through the rebel lines, killed three Knights, and cleared the way through the Bolaya River Valley? Or—"

Paris’s voice suddenly rose, tinged with anger.

"The person who, with a single snap of his fingers, subdued ten of you fully-armed, well-equipped ’Imperial Elite Knights,’ trussed you up like bundles of straw, stripped you bare, and dragged you back to be paraded through the streets?!"

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sweeping over the knights whose faces had instantly drained of all color and who subconsciously avoided his eyes. He asked, enunciating every word.

"Captain Oudra, and all you other esteemed ’Envoys’—do you, or do you not, dare to go stand before that Mr. Jon, right now, this very instant, and repeat those ’righteously indignant’ demands you were just roaring at me, clearly, to his face?"

"..."

Dead silence.

Absolute silence descended upon the council hall.

A log in the fireplace let out a loud CRACKLE, the sound exceptionally jarring.

The deep purple hue instantly vanished from Oudra’s face, leaving it deathly pale. His lips trembled and a gurgling sound came from his throat, but he couldn’t force out a single word.

Humiliation, rage, and a deeper, unspeakable fear coiled around his heart like a cold serpent.

’Of course he didn’t dare!’

’That man with the black hair and blue eyes, the man whose gaze was as placid as a frozen abyss!’

’Just recalling that moment—his body completely immobilized by an unseen force, unable to move even a finger, forced to watch helplessly as he was stripped of his armor—was enough to send a chill seeping into his very bones!’

’But... he hadn’t surrendered yet!’

"I... We are Prince Harvey’s Envoys! We represent the Royal Family!"

"Prince Harvey?"

Paris scoffed, the contempt in his laughter unconcealed, completely shattering Oudra’s last pathetic fantasy.

"Captain Oudra, put away your pitiful fantasies."

"I can tell you this unequivocally: even if Prince Harvey himself were here in Birch Town right now, faced with a man like Jon—he would never offend him for the sake of a few idiots like you!"

"Not only would he not offend him, but if His Highness learned you had dared to provoke such a figure, you would be the first ones he’d punish!"

"Oh, right—"

As he said this, Paris seemed to recall something, and his tone became somewhat mocking.

"That Mr. Jon... his two mentors, one a Dwarf Blacksmith Grandmaster and the other an Elf Mage, are also living at Grent Manor."

"..."

This time, even the crackling of the fireplace seemed to vanish.

All the knights, Oudra included, stood frozen in place.

The anger and indignation on their faces were utterly crushed by the naked, ice-cold reality of Paris’s words.

Only now did they realize what kind of enemy their arrogance had earned them.

Seeing this, Paris snorted coldly, then paid the fools no more mind and turned to the others at the meeting.

"Now, for the next item on the agenda—organizing the encirclement of Heta County City."

"Our Lord Nerva Heta’s status is currently unknown, and we absolutely cannot let this opportunity pass..."