Throne of the North.

Chapter 793 The Manor and Contributions, Freya's Enthusiasm

Frozen soil collar.

Freya felt a different kind of cold once again. His legs were wobbly, a consequence of years of living at sea, and also a painful price he paid for passing through the dimensional gate.

More than 80% of the wealth acquired in Mikragard became the private property of the baron lord, and Freya felt that this business deal was a huge loss.

However, as far as he knew, it was worth it.

The later it got, the less likely there would be. Mikragard was getting colder and colder, especially when he was sailing the raven ship away from that 'sun'. Countless monsters leaped out of the water and struggled, but their movements became slower and slower. He waited for most of the day to get closer before he was horrified to find that the originally flowing seawater had turned into a handful of ice clusters that could be scooped up with a single hand.

Life in the sea would not survive much in such an environment.

After witnessing this scene, Freya no longer wanted to stay in Mikragard, even though there was still a lot of wealth there.

As a businessperson, you must know how to assess the situation and act accordingly.

Moreover, being from another world, he also needs to solidify his foundation in the Frozen Territory before other people from the same world appear.

Even with 20% of his wealth, he could escape the life and starting point of an ordinary farming family in the Frozen Territory. He planned to buy a piece of land and then hire someone to build his family's manor. He had already learned from those knights that the wealthy manors in the Frozen Territory were all centered around mountains, with terraced fields in the south and forests in the north. Every year, they had to pay taxes, and the lord would also send people to supervise the scale of the northern mountains and terraced fields to ensure that there would be no reduction in production.

He decided to first buy the rights to a mountain, and then gradually expand his power by using the common people of the Blue Sea Islands as his base.

After all, a considerable portion of his wealth belongs to the Blue Ocean Islands collective.

This is his unique advantage, and the reason he was able to know about the situation in the Frozen Territory in Mikragard is naturally because of the blessing power he received from the Baron.

This blessing made those powerful knights feel a sense of identification with him and willing to talk to him about these things.

Conversely, the others in Mikragard couldn't even utter a word when facing those knights.

If he didn't make use of his informational advantage, then Freya would be incredibly foolish. He considered himself quite wise, just like the wizards.

As he walked on the wide stone-paved road, people around him would glance at him from time to time. Freya knew why they were doing this, because in the eyes of these commoners of the frozen tundra, his seemingly steady steps made him appear to be swaying.

Fortunately, everyone had a good sense of boundaries. Although Freya's skin was a bit rough, his accessories were still quite expensive, so no one treated him like a beggar and drove him off the most prosperous street in the Frozen Territory.

Upon arriving at the Consul's headquarters, after explaining her purpose, Freya saw the official handling government affairs in front of her take out a new book. When she turned to the first page, she nodded.

"This is the Mikragard roster. Your names haven't been fully tallied yet, but you're obviously lucky to be on the first page."

"But I'm sorry, sir, I don't think you, being a newcomer to the Frozen Territory, have enough gold coins to purchase the right to a mountain peak."

"A mountain peak, with 20 percent of its north side planted with birch trees and 3 percent with ginkgo trees, and terraced fields developed on the south side, is generally priced at 800 gold coins for a complete, already reclaimed mountain peak within the frozen soil territory."

Freya directly described the forests within the tundra territory and stated definitively:

"I can afford it."

The government official was somewhat surprised. He also came from another world and naturally understood that ordinary people could not hide their wealth. When passing through the dimensional gate, every copper coin would be turned over. In theory, all their wealth was used to exchange for a portion of Lord Ryan's grace of saving them.

Compared to the despair of the apocalypse and the hope of a new world, the wealth from that trade was too little. Everyone in the Frozen Territory thought Lord Ryan was merciful enough.

How could the person in front of me be able to retain a portion of their property?

The political official was somewhat surprised, but also realized that the person in front of him was capable.

Only nobles and capable people can retain their wealth after passing through the dimensional gate, and even many nobles become impoverished after arriving here.

Just like him, his family has only recently risen to prominence again, purchasing a mountain peak 16 kilometers from Rhinoceros Horn Mountain to establish a family estate and continue their glory.

"Then, sir, please come with me."

He had no authority to handle this matter. After walking for more than ten minutes in the largest building at the foot of Rhinoceros Horn Mountain with the government official and waiting for two hours, he finally met Aetria.

"Chief Administrator, this person wants to obtain control of the manor."

As he spoke, he handed over the meager amount of information he had about Freya.

"From Mikragard?"

Aetria put down the materials in her hand and looked at Freya.

"It's quite remarkable that you've already acquired the wealth to purchase a manor so soon after arriving in the Frozen Territory. It seems the Baron was right; you people are well-suited to work for the Northern Merchant Guild. How interesting. Those former nobles will probably see you as a thorn in their side."

“However, Mr. Freya, I still need to confirm something with you.”

"Buying a manor isn't just about having money; you also need qualifications. So, I'd like to ask, what contributions have you made to the Frozen Territory, or to the Lord?"

Even in your world.

Freya was surprised and puzzled: why was a qualification required to make a purchase?
"The manor is not just a recognition and a gift from Ryan to those who are unwilling to be ordinary and who have the ability."

"At the same time, those who own manors will also be qualified to become lords. If anyone in the Frozen Territory wants to become a lord, then he must first own a manor."

"That will no longer be a symbol of wealth, but a division of status. No longer commoners, families will be able to have their own knights in the future."

"But all of this was given by Ryan, so every manor owner must make sufficient contributions to the Frozen Territory and to Ryan, so that Ryan can see your loyalty to him."

Aetria looked at Freya and continued:

“Mr. Freya, your desire to own the manor shows that you are not content with mediocrity, and your wealth shows that you have the ability. You have already met the requirements for yourself, but the land belongs to the Frozen Territory.”

"If you want to acquire the land that belongs to the Frozen Territory and to Ryan, you will need to make contributions within the Frozen Territory."

"So, Mr. Freya, what significant contributions have you made?"

"I……"

Freya hesitated, not expecting it to be so complicated, and pondered what contribution he could possibly make that could be considered a contribution by the beautiful woman before him. "As first mate, I helped the Baron navigate the ship and defeat the enemy."

Aetria looked at him, then nodded and said:

"That's part of it, but it's far from enough, Mr. Freya. Did you provide any assistance at the war level during that war?"

Freya thought of those strong knights, but he couldn't even beat one of their legs, so he could only shake his head.

"No, but not long ago, I participated in a war at sea against deep-sea monsters."

Aetria shook her head at this.

"First of all, that war was not your contribution, but an order given by Ryan. It was also a war code that you all had to accept. It was not a contribution, but Ryan's command of you."

"A contribution must be unique and be something you take the initiative to make."

"Furthermore, I also piloted the Raven Ship to search for sunken treasures at sea, helping Lord Ryan acquire a fortune worth over fifty thousand gold coins."

Etrilia agreed with this, because she understood that this was not only Ryan's order, but also a manifestation of the democratic will of the Mikragad children. Otherwise, how could they reap wealth if they were just going through the motions?

"Judging from the wealth recently transported back from Mikragard, Mr. Freya, your contribution is definitely among the top five. This is indeed a remarkable contribution, considering your previous experience in commanding ships..."

“I’m sorry, Mr. Freya, this is still not enough.”

"Not enough?"

"Yes."

"I believe Lord Ryan has seen your loyalty and your contributions. I can tell this from the strength of the apprentice knight you possess. However, the manor belongs to Ryan and also to the Frozen Territory. Your contributions have been very helpful to the development of the Frozen Territory. They could probably... put the Frozen Territory three months ahead of the current Northwind Province."

"What kind of measurement method is this?" Freya thought to himself, though he, being from Mikragard, could understand the description.

Leading the way in development requires a massive economic foundation and a special population.

"I...I don't know of any other contributions I could have made."

Freya shook his head. He had only known Ryan for less than a month, and Ryan was just an ordinary person.

"Then, Your Excellency, I would like to ask, what methods are available to increase contributions?"

"The question is simple."

“What Ryan cares about is the strength and development of the Frozen Territory. If you can research or find ways to help the Frozen Territory’s development and strength in terms of reputation, the contribution will be significant.”

"For example, if you can find a unique type of livestock that can be raised, and it is foreseeable that this livestock will be integrated into every household for many years to come, then that is your pride and your contribution to this land."

"For example, if you can find a special plant, it could be food, a spice, or something with special significance, or even just something that is aesthetically pleasing enough, then it would be a great contribution to Ryan."

"Or, if you are confident in your abilities and want to create a higher level for the Frozen Territory through your own efforts, that would also be a contribution. What I said before about how well you are suited for the Northern Merchant Guild is one way out, but this process is often very long, and the cost of failure is high."

"What the Frozen Territory can never lose is its strong military strength. If you believe you have a talent for combat, then congratulations. This is often the best direction for ordinary people to contribute, because Lord Ryan will grant you enough power so you will never have to lose confidence for training."

"Even if it's legendary, it's not wishful thinking."

"Finally, there is the support of wealth, but I do not recommend you do so, because wealth has its limits. Whether you offer your treasured 100,000 gold coins or a million gold coins to Ryan, the contribution will not be the same, because the contribution to this land is not something that can grow fruit simply by scattering gold coins."

"Money is just a medium, and Ryan has lost interest in it."

As he said this, Aetria couldn't help but purse her lips and twitch her bangs. Ryan himself didn't believe what he was saying.

Freya wasn't dazed; instead, he was seriously considering everything Aetria had said. He would draw inferences from one instance to another. What Aetria said certainly wasn't everything, but whether he could come up with it depended on his own abilities.

"If I want to find these things, what are the ways to do so?"

"For the people of the Frozen Territory, the North is the greatest treasure. Beneath that snow-covered land lies countless riches, including what I have mentioned and what I do not know."

Etrilia didn't mind talking more with this person from Mikragard.

"However, in my opinion, you have forgotten your true strengths."

“Mikragard, that world that only you can currently exist in, the Frozen Territory has no one else to search for its treasures, and once you lose that target, you will also lose this advantage.”

“I admit that the people in your world are quite capable, but as you’ve seen, on the continent of Norris, in the Frozen Territory, sometimes ability isn’t that important.”

Ryan hopes that more of Mikragard's specialties will continue to exist in the Frozen Territory.

“Mikragad is about to die completely, and you don’t have much time left.”

Mikragard was about to die, but Freya felt nothing about the news. He had only known the name of the world where his ancestors had lived for less than a month. Before that, the wizards had never mentioned the name Mikragard to them.

His world consisted only of that blue sea archipelago, which had already been reduced to ashes by the power of the wizards.

What he truly cares about is time.

"Time is money, so I must seize the time and make more contributions. Maybe I will be the first Mikragard to own a manor in the Frozen Territory."

Freya's eyes lit up. After returning to the military camp, she reapplied to go to Mikragard and was not stopped, which was exactly what Ryan had hoped for.

Upon returning to Mikragard, Freya shared what she had learned with her companions in the Blue Sea Islands.

"Our original reserves lie beneath this ocean."

However, the information that Freya had learned gradually leaked out during several exchanges on the Raven Ship, which greatly angered Freya, who angrily searched for who in the Blue Sea Islands had leaked the information.

The result is naturally nothing.

(End of this chapter)