Looking down at the empty street, Allen turned to Tim. "Mister Tim, this street belongs to you now. You can finally put your soldiers to good use."
Tim bowed, overwhelmed with gratitude. Ever since learning Allen intended to grant him Burdock Bastide, Tim had worked tirelessly. He had met with local stronghold leaders and sold 1,000 gold worth of weapons for 1,700 gold Fordes on Allen's behalf.
He then dispatched messengers instructing Knight Gemors to relocate his followers and supplies to the bastide before returning to Allen's side.
Seeing Tim's excitement, Allen laughed softly. He intended to support Tim fully, securing a reliable ally within the Redlis Kingdom.
"Tim, I have also arranged a wife for you," Allen said, unrolling a beastskin map onto the table. "Look here. This is Viscount Tebri's territory, and here is Burdock Bastide. Between them lies Baron Anlar's land. Though Count Cobry executed the male heirs of the Anlar family, we rescued the baron's only surviving daughter from the duke's manor. By marrying her, you will unite Baron Anlar's domain with Burdock Bastide and your father's territory."
Seraphina placed a stack of land deeds on the table. "These are the official deeds for Viscount Tebri's domain, Baron Anlar's territory, and the bastide, recovered from the manor. With these documents and Lord Styles's military backing, the neighboring nobles will recognize you as Viscount Tebri's legitimate heir."
Tim bowed deeply. "Lord Styles, I will follow your arrangements without hesitation. You could have me marry several more wives if it pleases you."
Allen's expression hardened slightly. "The lust of the flesh can ruin even the greatest minds. Political marriage and producing heirs are duties of a noble bloodline but please maintain order and discipline. It is for your own good."
Tim lowered his head, his tone becoming anxious. "My Lord, my funds are severely limited. I am already struggling to maintain my current men, let alone rebuild two ruined domains. The cost of maintaining an army is overwhelming."
Eman stepped forward with a smile. "Mister Tim, come look at the map. With proper management, this land can easily support three full regiments of garrison troops. Near the coast of the viscount's domain, we can construct a port. The eastern region features fertile flatlands and forests ideal for agriculture. The port will drive trade, while the farms will secure your food supply and gain the loyalty of your peasantry."
Eman pointed to Baron Anlar's domain. "The hills and timberlands here will yield valuable lumber and stone. Transporting these raw materials through your port will generate steady revenue. You can also establish a direct trade route with Redbrook City. I recommend partnering with the Valor Merchant Group. We have conducted business with them, and they are reliable."
The Valor Merchant Group was secretly owned by Allen. Hilter had designed this arrangement so that Tim's developing territory would continuously feed profit into Allen's enterprise long after the convoy departed.
Loran, a growth-type Silver ranked summon managing affairs in Redbrook City, had already been instructed by letter to prepare for the incoming trade.
Eman continued, "As for Burdock Bastide, it is already well-developed with a stable population. Its existing economy will easily fund a full garrison regiment. You only need to focus on rebuilding the baron's and viscount's lands. To secure your borders against regional threats, hire trustworthy mercenaries and construct five strategic citadels, garrisoning each with a squad."
Tim looked at Allen in surprise. "Lord Styles, are you truly abandoning Geldos City?"
"Yes," Allen replied. "While Geldos is valuable, it is too far from my domain. Occupying it permanently would eventually draw the wrath of the First Prince and the surrounding lords."
"My Lord, could you not secure a claim through a marriage alliance?" Tim asked. "If the First Prince marches here, we could form a coalition among the local nobles to resist him."
Hilter shook his head. "Mister Tim, the First Prince is an enemy of the Styles Family. He was the true architect behind the destruction of our family's merchant convoy; Count Cobry was merely his tool. My Lord intends to settle that debt in full. If Allen were to accept a domain here, he would be forced to bow and swear fealty to the First Prince as a vassal. That is unacceptable."
Eman and Hilter then outlined four final directives for Tim:
Set the standard agricultural tax at 70% for common citizens, but offer free farmland to the families of garrison soldiers with a reduced tax rate of 40% to encourage enlistment without inflated wage costs.
Sell surplus war supplies from Allen's convoy to neighboring nobles under the Tebri banner, granting Tim a commission to fund his domain's development.
Connect Tim with vetted mercenary groups to guard his new port.
Establish a formal commercial alliance with the Valor Merchant Group.
Tim agreed to every condition, swearing lifelong loyalty to the Styles Family.
A few days later, Arman brought seven envoys from neighboring noble houses to Geldos City.
Hilter presented them with proof of Count Cobry's past crimes as the bandit Redbeard and negotiated the terms of succession.
The noble alliance agreed to recognize Tim as the rightful Viscount Tebri, approve the merger of Baron Anlar's and Viscount Tebri's domains, and confirm Tim's control over Burdock Bastide. In exchange, the Styles Family granted the noble alliance half-ownership of Williamiles Castle and Geldos City, shared alongside Viscount Tim, and returned the ancestral land deeds Cobry had stolen from thirteen local families.
Additionally, the Styles Family agreed to sell a massive reserve of captured weapons and armor to the alliance at a premium price, offsetting the cost of relinquishing the city and castle.
Following the announcement, noble lords poured into Geldos City to buy arms. Seven days later, the formal council convened. It was the nobles' first direct meeting with Allen, who bypassed pleasantries and executed the agreements immediately.
He handed over the land deeds, released captured noble women rescued from Cobry, and transferred half the administrative rights of the city and castle to the alliance.
With the agreements signed, the local lords immediately descended into political infighting over their newly acquired territory, leaving Tim unbothered to expand his domain. Allen also secured a clause requiring the alliance to prioritize his merchant fleet over competing traders in the region.
By this time, Allen's military force comprised three heavy-armored cavalry companies, one archery regiment, two pike infantry regiments, and his elite Knight Legion.
Furthermore, Josk had persuaded the Gold-ranked mercenary Chino Freiyar and several veteran warriors freed from Cobry's dungeons to join Allen's march to the Northlands. Allen appointed Chino commander of a newly formed garrison regiment.
At the start of the second month, Allen prepared to ride ahead to the Northlands with a small advance party consisting of Eman, Patt, Elrod, Seraphina, Bale, Josk, and Loran.
Due to the scale and size of the convoy, it need to prepare for some time before it could leave and continue on it's journey.
Using his accumulated summoning energy, Allen summoned one 2-Star Iron-ranked warrior and six Bronze-ranked warriors.
He placed the Iron-ranked unit in command of the group and dispatched all seven ahead of the main party to scout the road.
Although it might be a bit difficult to explain to Josk and Loran about his summons, but Allen had to bring these two.
Bringing Josk and Loran required careful political balance. Josk was a Gold-ranked marksman with high prestige among the freed prisoners and mercenaries.
And Loran, a 5-Star Silver-ranked knight under Fredrick, was blunt and loyal, holding significant respect as the third-in-command of the knight company.
Allen was tempted to only bring his summons on the journey but Hilter cautioned Allen against taking exclusively summoned warriors. A lord could not openly alienate his subordinates without eroding trust.
To maintain ambiguity, Hilter arranged a solution Allen's newly summoned troops would be dispatched in batches to follow Allen's advance party, providing rear security while keeping the true nature of summons concealed within the shifting ranks.
The convey was very large, and had many soldiers, from adventures and mercenaries hired in Redbrook, to slaves they purchased, and prisoners they freed, and many free men who wanted to join them.
These people haven't spent much time with each other. Only Eman, Patt, Hilter, Serena who helped in registration process has an idea about the soldiers otherwise in this short time, people don't know each other.
Even if new faces appeared during the journey of Lords Party, as long as they answered the predetermined codeword, no body would suspect much.
With his advance scouts deployed and the main convoy under the command of Hilter, Stroud, and Jasper, Allen mounted his horse and set out toward the Northlands.