Chapter 230 - 10: From Today On, I’m a Lord (Part 3)
Chapter 230: Chapter 10: From Today On, I’m a Lord (Part 3)
Robson raised an eyebrow. He wasn’t sure if the decision for them to go up together was made by the King, the Marquis, or perhaps even Duke Freeman himself.
After all, choosing first certainly came with priority.
However, Robson didn’t dwell on it. He didn’t really have many choices right now anyway. Being able to select a fief in the first batch was a testament to the dual support of both the Marquis and the King.
"Cousin, it’s our turn. Let’s go," Viscount Jeffrey said, smiling at Robson. He clearly hadn’t thought about it as deeply.
Robson nodded and walked with Jeffrey to the map on the central conference table. It was a map of the Northern Three Provinces. Of course, it was now four provinces.
"I’m only here thanks to the fortune of my ancestors. Your contributions far outweigh mine, Cousin. Please, you first!" Jeffrey said magnanimously, gesturing with his hand.
Robson was quite surprised. Although he hadn’t known Jeffrey for long, based on his understanding of his cousin, he wouldn’t have been able to say something like this on his own.
This sentence basically established their respective positions in the hierarchy. As long as they maintained this understanding, there would be few conflicts over precedence in the future.
’It seems the Marquis has placed a capable person by Jeffrey’s side, someone who has taught him a lot.’
"Then I thank you for your deference, Cousin," Robson said with a smile, not refusing any further. He turned his gaze directly to the map.
Robson had already made his decision, but he hadn’t known what Count Sriphine and Earl Uman would be thinking.
After all, Robson couldn’t choose a fief in the same province as them. There were quite a few nobles from the southern factions participating in this land distribution as well.
Those southern nobles would certainly rally around Robson and Jeffrey as their leaders. If Robson were to run off to the same province as the other Counts, everyone would be left dumbfounded.
Robson didn’t even look at Auric Province or Ador Province, instead starting his search within Ehrlich Province.
Ehrlich Province was the smallest of the three major provinces, containing only three counties: Clichy County, Vidoma County, and Sri County.
This was understandable. After all, the southern nobles hadn’t invested much political capital in this round of land distribution.
This land grant was merely a minor interlude in the grand scheme of the war. Once the war was over, even greater spoils would be up for grabs.
Of the three major provinces, Ehrlich Province was the closest to the Demon Beast Mountain Range. To its east lay the Demon Beast Mountain Range, and to its north, the Beastman Empire.
On the map, one fief stood out conspicuously: Affleck City, in the north of Clichy County.
This territory was the largest parcel in all of Ehrlich Province, spanning over 3,200 square kilometers. To its northeast was the second-highest mountain peak in the world, a medium-sized iron mine, a small Magic Crystal mine, and nearly a thousand square kilometers of plains bisected by the Largus River.
A domain of this size was nearly comparable to a small Count’s Domain. Of course, an Earl Clan often held many titles and territories, so a direct comparison of the total was impossible.
Of course, there was a reason such a wealthy territory wasn’t designated as a Count’s Domain: it faced the entire Beastman Empire to the north and the Demon Beast Mountain Range to the east, both regions where war was frequent.
Furthermore, Robson had learned that the Magic Crystal mine was nearly depleted.
However...
For others, being neighbors with the Beastmen might be an unbearable hardship, but for Robson, it was an opportunity he couldn’t have wished for!
Robson still had his Mount & Blade System. If he wanted to make the most of it, enemies were an absolute necessity.
Besides, there were no large-scale Beastman Tribes in this particular area, so they posed no immediate threat to Robson.
The only inconvenience was perhaps that it was a bit far from the Fengman Clan.
But that wasn’t a major problem. Auric Province, the one closest to the Fengman Clan, had already been taken. The remaining options were all more or less the same distance away.
Moreover, the Largus River flowed from the Demon Beast Mountain Range all the way to Fiers Port. That area belonged to the Fiers Family, and while it wasn’t Fengman Clan territory, the Fiers Family were old vassals of the Fengman Clan.
Of course, the river was prone to freezing and was currently frozen over.
"I’ll take this one. Affleck City, north of Clichy County," Robson said.
After Robson spoke, Viscount Jeffrey cast a grateful look in his direction.
It seemed the Edward family had also given Viscount Jeffrey his orders. If Robson hadn’t chosen this place, Jeffrey would have had to take it.
Clearly, Viscount Jeffrey did not want to face the Beastmen directly.
"I once heard you performed many meritorious deeds on the Western Front. It seems the rumors were not false.
Viscount Robertson, are you certain?" Duke Freeman asked, looking at Robson.
Robson nodded.
"Then give your domain a resounding name," Duke Freeman said with a smile, seeming to greatly approve of Robson’s choice.
"Since the main city is Affleck City, why not call it the Affleck Domain?"
...
The partition meeting ended quickly. In reality, not many people were eligible to participate in the first round of division.
Although the meeting was over, people did not disperse. Instead, they began to gather together again.
After all, they would all be neighbors in the future. There was no harm in getting acquainted.
What no one expected was that, for some unknown reason, Count Sriphine had gotten surprisingly close with Viscount Robertson.
"Look at this, Uman. See what you’ve done?"