Lord: I Grind EXP with Warband Panel

Chapter 236: Chapter 15: Earl Kifri

"Well now! Cousin! You really came?" Earl Kifri exclaimed, a smile on his face as he hurried over to Robson.

Robson looked at the newcomer strangely. ’Marquis Oscillate didn’t say anything about him being here, did he?’

Robson did recognize Earl Kifri, though. Valentino had previously explained Marquis Oscillate’s family structure to him during his "tutoring sessions."

This Earl Kifri was originally the youngest son of Earl Lian and loved to cause trouble everywhere as a child. However, Earl Lian and all of Kifri’s older brothers perished during the last Beastman invasion, so the family fell into Earl Kifri’s hands.

When Earl Kifri was young, Marquis Oscillate had sent people to help manage his family’s internal affairs. This was not unusual, as the Edward family was, at the time, the undisputed most powerful clan in the kingdom.

Just when everyone thought Marquis Oscillate was going to launch a major campaign of annexation in the south, he instead returned power to the patriarchs who had come of age, only annexing one major noble family whose line had completely died out.

These families later became Marquis Oscillate’s staunchest supporters and are one of the reasons for the current stability among the southern nobility.

"Cousin Kifri? I didn’t expect to see you here." Seeing the man, Valentino was also a little puzzled. In truth, she wasn’t very familiar with Earl Kifri. She had been studying abroad in the Algeria Kingdom for a long time and rarely returned home.

Whether it was intentional or not on Marquis Oscillate’s part, the sole intersection point for all the factions he had cultivated was the Edward family itself. The Marquis had never encouraged them to deepen their relationships with one another.

"You must be my cousin-in-law, then? I’ve long heard the Marquis speak of your great name. A pleasure, a pleasure." Earl Kifri didn’t linger by Valentino’s side for long, instead extending his hand to Robson.

This sudden move silenced the other nobles present.

"A pleasure, a pleasure..." Robson said with a smile as he shook Earl Kifri’s hand. He racked his brain but couldn’t for the life of him recall any praiseworthy achievements this Earl Kifri had to his name.

"I have long heard that the Harden Clan is full of loyal martyrs and have always wanted to pay a visit. For Earl Kifri to come in person is truly an overwhelming honor," Robson said.

"That’s all in the past. I came this time because I heard you’re about to be enfeoffed, brother-in-law.

Something as big as an enfeoffment, and you didn’t say a word to me? Are we growing distant or what?

Tell your big brother here all about it. I can help, you know..." Earl Kifri slung an arm around Robson’s shoulder, pulling him right out of Valentino’s grasp.

Valentino was a bit dumbfounded, frozen on the spot for a moment, wondering what on earth Earl Kifri was doing here.

Robson wasn’t faring much better. He hadn’t expected to meet this type of person in this world—just like the businessmen he’d met in his past life.

Then again, it was understandable. According to Valentino, Earl Kifri had always loved to "cause trouble" since he was a child.

"Cousin, what are you saying? How could I possibly trouble you with such a small matter?" Fortunately, Robson had met all sorts of people in his past life. He wasn’t flustered by the scene and immediately adjusted his demeanor.

Robson’s reaction actually startled Earl Kifri, who turned back to stare intently at him.

"Ha! Little brother, this is the first time I’ve met someone as interesting as you.

I came this time mainly to deliver the Mage Corps that the Marquis promised you.

Connie! Come over here. This is your future lord!" Earl Kifri said to the Black Robed Mage behind him.

The young Mage stepped forward. She turned out to be a Female Mage, with deathly pale skin, gray hair, and typical Tilian features.

’She wasn’t Robson’s type. She was mainly too short; Robson preferred tall, blonde, wavy-haired, and mature women.’

"This is Connie, a Level 5 Mage, and with her are ten Mage Apprentices. They all specialize in Arrays.

As per your request, she is proficient in Magic Patterns and Arrays, and she’s certified by the Tilia Kingdom Magic Association.

There was nothing we could do. We searched high and low, but we simply couldn’t find any other Sixth-level Mage who was also an expert in Magic Arrays.

She may be one of the Free People, but she was hand-picked by the Marquis himself. Absolutely reliable!" Earl Kifri watched Robson, seeming a little worried that he would refuse the delivery.

"Connie?"

Robson raised an eyebrow. In the Frank Kingdom, the status of the Free People was essentially that of Peasants who could move around freely. The discrimination they faced was hardly any less than that faced by Peasants.

’Earl Kifri must be afraid of that,’ Robson thought, ’which is why he added that last part about her being a candidate personally selected by the Marquis.’

Connie looked at Robson nervously and gave him a very awkward bow. It was clear she was indeed one of the Free People.

Robson responded with a smile.

"I’ll take her. But why would I trouble you to come all this way for something like this, Cousin?" Robson asked, puzzled.

’The Mage Corps could have just come on their own; there was absolutely no need for an Earl to deliver them personally. Besides, Earl Kifri was being far too enthusiastic.’

"Isn’t it because I heard you’re about to be enfeoffed?

Being enfeoffed and developing new land is a big deal! You’re the Marquis’s grandson-in-law, which makes us family. And how can family not help family?" As he spoke, Earl Kifri thumped Robson’s chest with his fist.

Seeing this, the nobles who had never met Earl Kifri were utterly astonished. Those who knew him understood he was an Earl; those who didn’t would have thought he was some kind of rogue from the streets.

"Oh? And how, my lord Earl, do you plan to help me?" Having brought it to this point, Earl Kifri had successfully piqued Robson’s curiosity.

"Developing new land... it’s all about population and food. As it happens, your big brother here recently came into a group of refugees, about five hundred households," Earl Kifri said.

"Such a generous gift... isn’t that a bit much?" Robson asked tentatively.

’A population of five hundred households wasn’t a massive number, but it wasn’t small either. Even for an Earl like Kifri, this would definitely be a painful loss.

In this era, a household consisted of about four to five people. The exact number would depend on Earl Kifri’s character.

Although the Beastman Empire and the Frank Kingdom were at war, the fighting hadn’t yet reached the interior, so there were no refugees. The price of a single Peasant could reach an astonishing two to three Gold Coins.

Of course, to protect the lesser and middle nobility, the kingdom officially prohibited the large-scale buying and selling of people.’

"It’s about mutual aid. I also have a small matter I’d like to ask for Viscount Robson’s help with..."

"I hear... you know how to train soldiers?" In an instant, Earl Kifri’s eyes lit up.

Hearing Earl Kifri’s words, Robson understood. So this was what he was waiting for.

It was no secret that Robson had helped the southern nobles train their armies. With Earl Kifri’s means, it wouldn’t have been difficult to find that out.

According to the noble statutes of the Frank Kingdom, if the leader of a great noble house failed to participate in a kingdom-level war, they would face severe punishment.

The official punishments were a small matter; the most critical consequence was the pressure of public opinion. In an aristocratic society, nobles valued their family’s honor more than their own lives.

’However, Earl Kifri’s appearance was just too coincidental. He didn’t come earlier, he didn’t come later—he showed up right when Robson was having a "pleasant chat" with Viscount Donovan and Viscount Ferno.

Earl Kifri’s arrival had indirectly shown support for Robson, forcing him to owe Kifri a favor that was neither large nor small.

If he had come a step earlier, the favor wouldn’t have been owed. If he had come a step later, Robson would have settled the matter of population himself, and there would have been no need for Earl Kifri at all.

There was definitely one of Earl Kifri’s men in this hall.’

Of course, Robson had no intention of figuring out who this person was. No matter how he looked at it, Earl Kifri had no reason to move against him. Robson’s rise to prominence had only happened in the last two months.

"I know a little. How many soldiers did you want me to lead, Cousin?" Robson asked tentatively.

When Earl Kifri heard this, he knew the deal was more or less sealed.

He had only heard about this matter by chance. After learning of it, he had even inquired with the nobles on the front lines, and the results he received were more or less the same—some of them had even tried it themselves.

However, most of them only knew that such a person existed; they weren’t clear on who it was specifically.

Earl Kifri had immediately thought of Robson. He then sought confirmation and, upon seeing the soldiers following Robson when he returned to his home region, finally made up his mind.

Once the human reinforcements from the south reached the kingdom, Earl Kifri would have to head to the battlefield. Spending some money to get a powerful army was well worth it.

"Five thousand. How about it?" Earl Kifri asked tentatively.

"Five thousand!" Hearing the number, Robson looked at Earl Kifri in disbelief.

"Two thousand, and you provide the rations," Robson replied.

"Four thousand..."

"Three thousand, and I want able-bodied men."

"Viscount Robson, you have to be reasonable. What was your price per soldier before? And what’s the price of a single Peasant now?"

"The past is the past, and now is now. My lord Earl, you know I have my channels."

Hearing this, Earl Kifri fell silent for a long while before nodding.

"Three thousand five hundred. I’ll add a small Priest Corps and a thousand loads of grain."

"Done."