Chapter 306: Chapter 0306: Lord (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Translator: 549690339

A manor.

“My Lord, you see…”

Ham pointed to an area: “This manor has a hundred serf families with facilities like a mill, a wine cellar, a warehouse, the lord’s villa… there is also this forest nearby, from which you can profit by felling and transporting timber to the capital.”

“Hmm, pretty good!”

Su Lu paced around the manor with his hands clasped behind him.

The manor was not far away from the capital, only a half day’s ride away, which was exactly what he had requested.

Ever since the day he had an audience with His Majesty the King, the lordship and the free land were quickly allocated to him, yet there had been no news about the Dragon Crystal.

According to the laws of the Dragon Kingdom and the Noble Joint Meeting, the lordship title came without a prefix. Only after becoming a hereditary baron could one receive it.

However, he could design his own coat of arms to pass down to future generations.

The study of noble heraldry is a deep and intricate discipline; a true scholar can discern a family’s origins, succession, and even branches from the fine details of their coat of arms.

For example, if there is an engraved longsword, it indicates the family originated from knights, whereas a crown represents ownership of royal blood.

Su Lu didn’t bother with this and used a mysterious symbol instead. The symbol represented the word ‘arrogance’ from the Language of Arrogance. It looked full of a sort of three-dimensional madness and mystique.

“In addition, I need several stewards and will establish a patrol team…”

A lord is not qualified to establish a knight team. That is a power possessed by at least a hereditary baron, and in reality, even the viscounts and barons can seldom afford the expense of a large knight team.

This strongest military force is generally controlled by earls or higher.

“Yes… Although this place is the heart of the kingdom, it needs to guard against thieves and robbers as well… In terms of numbers, I think 10 to 20 people would be appropriate,” Ham replied.

He had originally aimed to become a knight and had learned some knowledge about manor management.

“Oh?” Su Lu was somewhat surprised, and also somewhat pleased. “Go on…”

“In reality, the majority of a first-generation lord’s power comes from himself!” A black iron knight could suppress it all.

Ham thought for a bit and slowly explained: “His servants and power come half from the peasants in his territory and half from the younger sons of the neighboring lords…”

According to Ham’s explanation, Su Lu roughly understood.

Most of these lords are from knight families, but not every generation has knights.

Sometimes, families without an official knight in seat would send their second and third sons to serve nearby black iron knights as squires and grooms.

In reality, they receive training opportunities by serving these official knights and becoming the knight’s attendants.

And the eldest son? They are generally sent to the superior nobility. There are bound to be official knights under the baron who can provide them with better mentorship.

Of course, none of this is relevant to Su Lu.

Because he doesn’t have a lord nor a vassal, he is considered an ‘exception’ among nobility.

Strictly speaking, such families would certainly suffer from the exclusion of mainstream nobility and would have difficulties surviving.

As soon as Su Lu leaves, it wouldn’t take many generations for the family to perish — if he left any descendents, that is.

‘But in reality… I don’t plan to let my lineage inherit my title at all. I’m merely preparing to use this place as the base for the Arrogant School…’ Su Lu thought.

He felt that some people’s expectations were going to be dashed.

He returned to the mansion, his lord’s house. It was very spacious, with many rooms, and a fence around it for defense. Wound around the top was a local specialty plant, iron thorn, a black vine covered in barbs that was extremely tough.

It could be said that the defensive power of the mansion was built to the standard of a fortress.

If they were barons, they would seek to construct a castle with granite and marble, which is the true foundation that can be passed down.

At this moment, in the living room of the mansion, a few temporarily hired peasant women were serving freshly baked bread and large pots of vegetable soup to a dozen scrawny children.

These little ones were the ones Ham had taken in.

He remembered Su Lu’s teachings and planned to spread the Transcendent fire, but struggled to find a way.

Eventually, he used food to gather a group of orphaned street children in Dragon City, planning to teach and nurture them from a young age.

Su Lu didn’t think much of his plan, but things changed after they had their own territory, so he let Ham bring these children back to be slowly raised.

Although it might take a while to shape them, their loyalty was guaranteed.

As for Yoen and Ruff?

According to Ham, Ruff had lost himself in the whirlpool of wealth and power and was probably lured away by some sector.

As for Yoen, this honest man wanted to go home. Although he claimed he would spread the ideology of the Crazy Tutor to broader places, Ham speculated that he was likely planning to find a wife, get married, and pass down the power of the Language of Arrogance as a family secret from generation to generation.

“Haha…”

After learning of this, Su Lu could only scoff.

Indeed, human nature withstands no tests. Once he gave them power and lifted restrictions, these disciples became like wild dogs off their leashes, all running off in different directions.

Ironically, it was Ham, the truly foolish one, who still listened to him.

‘No… I shouldn’t say he’s foolish, but rather… loyal, one of the qualities of a knight,’ Su Lu softly sighed in his heart.

He turned to Ham: “I’ll leave these pupils, and this land, to you.”

“Huh?”

Ham looked up with surprise.

Mentoring the pupils was as expected, but what was the meaning behind the ‘territory’?

“I, in my capacity as a lord, choose you as my successor to inherit this land.”

After all, Su Lu was certain he would leave this world. He had no intention of marrying and having children here.

“No! No! You are my tutor and my lord… this…”

Tears welled up in Ham’s eyes.

Wasn’t his original intention of becoming a wandering knight just to acquire a hereditary title?

And now, his dream was being fulfilled so simply?

“Don’t refuse. This is what you deserve. I will also teach you some techniques that can help you avoid being influenced by ‘illusionary language’ as much as possible…”

Su Lu sneered.

Do they really think the power he gave comes without risks?

Just the four initial ‘seeds of arrogance’ he first constructed were problematic.

Transcendent strength is hard to control in the first place, especially the Language of Arrogance, which originates from a divine being’s ‘mystery’!

Not to mention that this power, obtained through devious channels, is even more prone to go out of control!

However, he could hardly be bothered about what Ruff and Yoen would turn into. As long as they can spread the power, their goal would be achieved.

‘Apart from that, there is the grooming of orthodox Arrogant Wizards!’

Su Lu glanced at the children who were eating and drinking heartily, then suddenly went to the door.

From the road in the far-off sky, he saw a convoy of carriages.