Lord blessed by the elves

Chapter 64 Population
More than a month after Baron Hiddink’s decisive banquet, the atmosphere in the entire southwest of Campnorshire suddenly became tense.

As if by prior arrangement, the lords of various regions led their private armies to conduct large-scale, carpet-style searches of the refugee settlements within their respective territories.

Under such intense pressure, countless panicked refugees, like a frightened herd of beasts, were forced to flee to relatively "safe" areas in order to avoid capture.

The Lion Fang Territory, which has been unusually quiet recently and has not participated in any activities, has become an ideal refuge for refugees, especially since news has spread that its lord, the Lion Knight Reyes, is about to be promoted to baron.

Neighboring nobles who habitually crossed boundaries and operated within the traditional sphere of influence of Lion Fang Territory, upon learning of Reyes' impending promotion, wisely reduced their forces and retreated to the recognized border to avoid unnecessary conflict.

The only one who seemed unconcerned was the Knight of Wolf's Hair Territory, who continued to lead his men on frequent activities on the outskirts of Lion's Tooth Territory, his intentions being self-evident.

During this period, Wilstone twice led militias to forcibly expel his troops from the country.

Now that Kruse has officially issued the order to "recruit" the refugees, Wilstone has a legitimate reason to do so and will never allow Knight Cato or any other outsider to set foot in the Lion's Tooth territory.

According to an unspoken tradition among nobles, the actual administrative area of ​​a territory extends far beyond the precise boundary stated in the investiture document.

The default rule is that an area extending outward from the official boundary by about five times is considered the lord's "zone of influence" or "buffer zone".

Within this region, the lord has the authority to maintain order, collect tolls, and govern on behalf of his superior lord.

Other lords who wish to cultivate wasteland or establish permanent facilities in this area must apply to the superior lord who holds nominal ownership of the area and pay additional taxes.

Therefore, what Wilstone was defending was this gray area that Lion's Tooth Territory should rightfully control, which concerned the territory's actual interests and dignity.

In response to the current situation, the Lion Tooth Territory's militia has been expanded to thirty men, with an additional sixty reservists.

This scale encompassed almost all the able-bodied young men in the territory, making it a truly militaristic endeavor.

In reality, the reserve militia mainly engage in farming on weekdays, and only spend a small amount of time training each week.

Because they specialize in marching and simple formations, their combat effectiveness is far inferior to that of regular militia, but they are more than capable of dealing with ordinary refugees.

Thanks to the previously recovered grain, the territory will not have to worry about food supplies in the short term.

Wilstone also took this opportunity to begin training knights as squires within the militia.

Aiding is one of the best among them, and four people have already cultivated the Qi sense.

Although they are older and can only become apprentice knights at most in their lives, this is already a rare breakthrough.

In this world, knights are not only high-level combatants, but also masters of knowledge. To become a knight's squire, one must at least possess basic literacy skills.

Therefore, every night, Wilstone would also hold a special "literacy class" for the four candidates for squires, including Edin, teaching them words and knowledge by the flickering candlelight.

Kruze silently gazed at the three middle-aged men kneeling before him. They were members of the fifty young men who had participated in the attack on the territory and were subsequently captured.

After three months of reformation, they realized their original mistakes and were absolutely determined to follow the territory.

At least in Lion Tooth Territory, they can still be guaranteed enough to eat.

Now, they and their families have completely submitted and become serfs of the Lion Tooth Territory.

“Cooper.” Kruze’s fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, making a soft, rhythmic sound. “Are you sure the location of that village you mentioned is accurate?”

Having decided to "recruit" them, the most influential displaced people in the surrounding area should naturally be chosen as the primary target. If such a sizable village could serve as a successful example and a "pledge of allegiance," it would undoubtedly greatly deter and attract other smaller displaced groups to join them.

Kruse had already made a preliminary plan to build at least two new villages on his territory in order to more rationally develop and control this ever-expanding land.

“Yes, yes, young master, it’s absolutely true.” Cooper lowered his head even further and answered quickly, “We scattered groups of refugees gather every now and then to exchange supplies such as salt, animal hides, and handicrafts. Usually, the meeting place is chosen near a few larger and stronger villages, within their sphere of influence.”

"Going to the market?" A look of understanding flashed in Kruze's eyes, and he nodded slightly. "I see, that explains everything." He leaned forward slightly, his sharp gaze fixed on Cooper: "Tell me, where was your most recent gathering place?"

【Ding! 】

[Triggering Beginner Quest 7: Population Development]

[Mission Description: The territory is about to be promoted to a baronial domain, its borders are expanding, and all industries need to be developed! Please increase the total population of Lion's Tooth Territory to 1000!]

[Quest Reward: 1 Fairy Insect]

The system notification sound, which hadn't been heard for a long time, rang out again, causing Kruse to pause slightly.

Since completing the quest that rewarded him with the Elf King's monocle, the new beginner quests had been delayed, which puzzled him for quite some time.

Now the mission has finally arrived. Looking back at this series of missions—from initially patrolling the wilderness, cultivating farmland, and breeding elf insects, to now developing the population—this series of missions is interconnected, clearly forcing the territory to develop rapidly along a clear trajectory.

Kruze thought to himself that, if he was right, the last few beginner missions would definitely be related to expanding military equipment and strengthening military power.

"Young Master!" Cooper called out softly when he saw Kruse suddenly fall into deep thought.

"Hmm!" Kruse snapped out of his reverie, refocused his gaze, and made a decision that surprised everyone: "Get ready, we'll go to that market tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Cooper's face instantly filled with bewilderment and astonishment. Then, he suddenly realized what was happening and hurriedly advised, "Young Master! You mustn't! Those refugees hate nobles to the extreme. They see us as plunderers and oppressors. If you go there rashly like this, and your identity is exposed, you will easily find yourself in danger, and the consequences will be unimaginable!"

The steward, Buffet, was also taken aback by this bold decision. He quickly stepped forward and urgently advised, "Young Master, Cooper is absolutely right! This matter needs careful consideration. You are responsible for the future of the entire territory and must not risk your life! Sending a reliable envoy, or having Sir Wilstone lead a team to persuade them, would be the best course of action!"

(End of this chapter)