Wizard: Building a Cultivation Family from Scratch

Not long after the old baron died, Lady Oriana, the head of the family, was having a secret rendezvous in the woods not far from the family cemetery!

Oh……

I never expected that Orianna, who seemed so well-behaved on the surface, would do something like this.

It seems the Roland family is truly beyond saving...

Parker did not reveal his "discovery" on the spot.

After all, Orianna's private hobbies wouldn't have a real impact on him.

On the contrary, it will leave him with a good handle to use against him.

At that moment, Parker felt a sudden improvement in his mood—everything had started to go smoothly since the old baron died.

As long as the plan continues, it will only be a matter of time before I take control of the Roland family!

"It's like this, Oriana..."

The young prospective knight pondered for a moment, then began to recite the words he had rehearsed countless times:

"Since Uncle Cade's death, family affairs have started to get even worse..."

The income from manors and mills, the taxes paid by the people, and the business of caravans.

Oh, and of course, there are the bandits and monsters surrounding the castle...

We don't have enough manpower right now, and it's already difficult to handle these things.

The servants and soldiers in the castle were also complaining about not getting paid.

If this continues, something terrible is about to happen…

Hearing Parker's words, Oriana lowered her head, her face showing guilt and worry.

She knew that what the other person said was true.

Moreover, the actual situation is even more severe.

Although the family has declined for many years, the territory and castle are still there.

Putting aside everything else, the expenses for the 50 professional soldiers in the castle alone amount to a huge sum of money.

In addition, there are maintenance costs for each property, taxes paid to the lord, and salaries for the servants within the castle...

  

All of this made Oriana, the young head of the family, feel somewhat overwhelmed.

Most importantly, most of this money absolutely cannot be saved.

Especially the expenses for those 50 professional sergeants.

Given the Roland family's current situation, if they were to default on the salaries of these soldiers one day, there would be no need for the bandits and wandering knights outside to take action.

These rabid soldiers will personally tear the weakened Roland family to pieces!

Thanks to Parker's "reminder".

Orianna immediately snapped out of her excitement at "touching the extraordinary world."

Yes... even if our ancestor really did have the ability to make himself a wizard.

But how long will that take?

By then, the family will probably have been wiped out long ago.

If that's the case, then what's the point of all this?

Orianna admits that she is fascinated by the legendary "wizards".

But she was, after all, the head of the Roland family and a member of that family.

Therefore, she has an obligation to ensure that the family line continues in her hands!

In fact, Orianna had considered simply letting the "resurrected" Lord Gordon take over as head of the family and lead the family to glory once again.

But after a few days, she realized that it was simply impossible.

Oriana was no fool; on the contrary, she was very intelligent. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so favored by the old Baron.

She had long realized that "that ancestor" no longer possessed the strength of the "legendary knight" he once was.

Although she couldn't quite gauge his exact strength, she was certain he wasn't too powerful.

In this situation, even if Lord Gordon were to actually take over as head of the family, it would probably be of no use.

What's more, his ancestor is now just a skeleton...

How can outsiders believe that he is Gordon Rowland, the legendary knight from a thousand years ago?

It's already a miracle that the church doesn't consider it an undead creature...

You should know that in the Kingdom of Rune, undead creatures are the enemy of all forces!

Seeing Orianna's troubled expression, Parker couldn't help but smile smugly.

He knew he was getting closer and closer to his goal.

"Oriana, you are actually a very remarkable head of the family."

After Uncle Cade passed away, you have been trying to support the entire Roland family.

But deep down you also know that with our current manpower, it's absolutely impossible to do it..."

As Parker observed Orianna's expression, he said:

Think about it!

We are not facing a problem of fiscal expenditure now.

Have you forgotten how Uncle Cade died?

Ever since the 'Blood Moon Crisis' two years ago, those monsters have been acting like they've gone mad!

The ever-growing monsters, desperate bandit gangs and wandering knights, rebel armies, the Brotherhood, the Deadborn, and those wild wizards expelled from the wizarding school!

I swear, in the more than one thousand years of history of the Kingdom of Rune, there has never been a period as dangerous and insane as this!

Hearing Parker's words, Oriana's expression turned even uglier...

"but……"

Seeing that the time was right, Parker suddenly changed the subject:

"I do have a way to help the family get through this crisis."

"What method?"

"Title transfer".

"Title transfer?"

"That's right."

Seeing Orianna's stunned expression, Parker quickly blurted out everything he had prepared:

"According to the laws of the Kingdom of Rune, if a nobleman is found to be unable to fulfill basic obligations such as 'paying taxes,' 'protecting his subjects,' or 'fulfilling military duties,' he will be subject to a penalty of 'taxation.'"

In such cases, with the approval of the principality to which the parties reside and on a voluntary basis, one party may transfer its noble title and territory to the other party, and the receiving party shall pay corresponding compensation.

Although our Kingdom of Rune hasn't seen anything like this for a long time, that doesn't mean the system has been abandoned.

Fortunately, our neighbor, Baron Hoover, seemed willing to help the Rowland family through this difficult time.

Hearing Parker's words, Orianna's face showed a look of shock.

She looked at the other person in disbelief:

"You...you want to sell the family?!"

No! This, how can this be…”

"It's not about selling it; it's about helping the family overcome difficulties in a reasonable way."

Parker explained with a smile:

"Oriana, you have done very well."

But we cannot watch our family continue to decline until it is completely plundered by local bandit gangs or some exiled sorcerer.

Orianna was still reeling from the news.

And for some reason, she instinctively sensed a dangerous aura emanating from the young prospective knight before her...

"No, I can't do that! Uncle Cade won't agree!"

"Cade is dead!"

Seeing Orianna's stubbornness, Parker's eyes twitched involuntarily, and he felt inexplicably irritated.

But he quickly realized he seemed to have lost his composure, so he hurriedly tried to make amends:

"Even if Uncle Cade were still alive, he would have made the same decision."

You probably don't know this yet.

He frequently had private contact with Baron Hoover during his lifetime.

They might be discussing this very issue.

"No, this is impossible..."

Oriana, being young, began to feel a little flustered.

But at that moment, a figure suddenly flashed through her mind—a skeleton with the fire of the soul flickering in its eye sockets.

This calmed her down a little.

"Sorry, Parker."

This is a huge matter; I need to discuss it with someone.

"Discuss it with someone?"

Parker couldn't hold back any longer: "Isn't this what we're discussing right now? Aren't I a member of the Roland family?!"

"No, that's not what I meant..."

Parker glanced instinctively at the woods behind Oriana, his mood growing heavy.

His biggest worry at this moment was that Orianna would be deceived by some unknown nobleman's son in the neighborhood.

It's important to understand that Hoover wasn't the only one eyeing the Roland family's wealth...

And it wasn't that he didn't contact other people.

But of all these nobles, only Hoover was willing to agree to his conditions.

"How about this?"

Parker thought for a moment and said, "Baron Hoover has agreed that if you are willing to give up your title, he can fund your studies at the wizarding school."

As you know, Baron Hoover's eldest son, Daniel, is a second-level wizarding apprentice of the Red Keep School; he can vouch for your admission.