The Lord Of Blood Hill

Obian asks Henwell curiously what exactly he has prepared and whether he needs any help.

Henwell pulls out a business document. “I have a smuggling route through the Western Federation. Starting from Guardian City, it crosses the Great Wilderness, then the vast grasslands, and finally reaches Tusyat City. “

”From there, the caravan passes through your Mengluoso Territory before arriving near Golden Capital. Each time, the caravan secretly carries a significant amount of extraordinary resources, which are divided into three parts.”

“One part goes to Fred, another is taken by someone I’m cultivating, and the last is picked up when the caravan passes through Mengluoso. “

”Don’t worry about Whistler’s extraordinary supplies in Tusyat City, I’ll arrange for someone to deliver them to him. This batch of extraordinary resources is for you and Pfeiffer. There’s plenty, so if you don’t use it all, you can use it to develop your own strength.”

Pfeiffer is the son Obian had with Vanessa after becoming a noble. He’s now twelve years old, right at the foundational stage of growth.

Henwell continues, “Besides the essential extraordinary resources, the caravan’s normal trade profits amount to six hundred thousand gold coins.”

Obian is surprised. “That much? Is the caravan that large? It must be hard to avoid the kingdom’s inspections!”

Henwell shakes his head. “The caravan isn’t large—just medium-sized. The tricky part is the trade route to the Western Federation. Securing that route and having reliable suppliers there is already very profitable. Plus, the Western Federation has many important goods needed by the eastern kingdoms.”

“I handle the dangerous transport and procurement in the Western Federation. Fred manages transport after entry into your territory, smoothing out all the logistics. You handle sales under the Long Princess’s name. No one from Golden Capital will cause trouble. Fred will persuade the Long Princess’s side; you just need to manage things openly.”

“Of the six hundred thousand gold coins, I’ll take half. You and Fred split the rest. Including profits from the southern fleet’s trade, you’re looking at eight hundred thousand gold coins annually.”

Obian says, “That’s way too much money. I can’t possibly use that much. You have more people and more expenses over there anyway, I’ll just send it all your way.”

Henwell shakes his head. “Father, hear me out first. Next year, you’ll need to invest 250,000 gold coins into the southern fleet. With two trips a year, and you only taking the profits from the first half, that still means about 120,000 gold coins. Right now, you only have a few tens of thousands. I’ll help cover the rest. I’ve hidden 100,000 gold coins in my gift to you this time.”

“My people have already scouted a coal mine and an iron mine within your territory. Next year, they’ll bid to buy the mining rights and set up a smelting plant in your lands. Then there will be workshops and other facilities. “

”The land leases will last ten years, and you’ll get 300,000 gold coins from this. After that, you can collect tens of thousands in taxes every year, plus the profits from your own merchant guild.”

“On paper, your territory will generate 100,000 gold coins annually in fiscal revenue. Add in the trade profits from the Long Princess’s caravan, that’s another hundred thousand or so. The southern fleet’s profits are extremely high but not sustainable long-term. “

”Golden Capital won’t allow it to continue for more than a few years. Even if it does, profits will drop sharply. That kind of money is too conspicuous. As a newly minted noble, it’s not suitable for you to show such income openly. This money can’t be spent outside; it must be used for developing your territory.”

“After my wedding, many countries will hire my construction team to build grand structures. You can use the fleet’s money to hire my team to build facilities in your lands. This won’t attract unwanted attention, everyone’s doing the same. “

”You’ve been to Peace Haven; it makes perfect sense. Roads, irrigation, bridges, and your castle all need funding from the fleet’s earnings. Other nobles won’t resent this since you’re just closing the door and building your own territory. Your foundation is thin, and everyone knows it. Even Baleqi won’t mind.”

“Your territory’s official income will be about 300,000 gold coins a year. You need to spend at least half of that on smoothing relationships, winning over neighboring nobles, gaining the loyalty of Golden Guard Knights’ subordinates. “

”You also need to spend more upward, using every method to climb higher. Even if it means throwing money around, you must carve out a path for promotion.”

“Peace is always precious but never lasts long. Before the next great war arrives, you must work hard to secure a higher position.”

Henwell pauses for a moment and says, “It’s not just about personal strength, you need your own army. That’s where the rest of your territory’s income must go. The weapons produced in my Peace Haven are famous across the kingdoms. Many nobles buy small quantities. I sell top-quality gear for eighty gold coins a set, using the finest materials and craftsmanship.”

“You should spend fifty thousand gold coins each year to purchase five hundred sets of equipment from Peace Haven. If you buy less, it takes too long to accumulate enough. Buy more, and it will raise suspicions. “

”They won’t doubt our connection but will question your intentions, which is definitely not good.”

“As for troops, you recruit your own. You can buy serfs or train the serfs already in your territory. For cavalry, I suggest you talk to Fred. Every year, he gets quite a few slaves from the grasslands. “

”Have him set aside some young and strong ones, those who grew up on horseback are perfect candidates for cavalry. Plus, they have little connection with factions in the Ika Kingdom, so no spies will be embedded.”

“I’ll arrange for some of my officers to join your territory as free men. They’ll help train your army. You just focus on developing within the Golden Guard Knights. When Whistler and Pfeiffer grow up, they’ll command this force. “

”Within five years, you should have an elite private army of three thousand. That number is just right, matching the average size of private armies among Ika nobles and fitting your rank as a viscount. You’ll have three thousand elite standing troops plus many reserve forces who have been weeded out. “

”When necessary, you can easily mobilize tens of thousands. With three thousand elite soldiers at the forefront, ordinary standing regiments of the Ika Kingdom won’t stand a chance.”

Obian listens quietly, taking careful note of every detail in Henwell’s plan.

Learning that Henwell is an Iron Knight yet still chooses to hide his strength, Obian begins to sense his eldest son’s ambition.

Now, with these plans laid out, his suspicions are confirmed.

His eldest son isn’t planning to serve anyone or accept any titles.

Henwell intends to make himself king.

Though King Baleqi treats Obian well, he now understands what must be done.

For the favor he owes Baleqi, Obian can only apologize.

After all, Baleqi isn’t his son!