Volume Two: The Iron-Blooded Baron Chapter 118: A Pirate Comes from the Sea (Part Four)

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Mark paused there, stealing a glance at Berion. Seeing that he was listening intently with no sign of displeasure on his face, he continued: "Although our original wooden fort was not large, it could accommodate three to five hundred people at once. Their horses could enter the stables, where we have dedicated staff to feed them; their goods could be placed in our warehouses, where we have staff to watch over them; and these people could rest easy in those clean wooden cabins, which are both comfortable and safe."

"For all of the above, we do not charge much, and the merchants find it acceptable. At the same time, I took the liberty of connecting the lord's residence and the two adjacent wooden cabins to build a large tavern to provide meals for the merchants. These merchants have taken to calling our wooden fort the 'Wooden Fort Inn.'"

"As of yesterday, the Wooden Fort Inn has been in operation for exactly one month, with a net profit of eighteen hundred Denars—an average of sixty Denars per day. This is the daily ledger, my lord. Please have a look."

After Mark placed the ledger before him, Berion pushed it aside and said with a smile: "Mark, there is no need for me to look. I trust you."

Then, Berion said to everyone: "Our steward Mark has done a great job. The wooden fort was just going to waste; it is better to put it to use and earn money. This is not just about the money, but also about improving the impression that passing merchants have of our Nolandburg."

"Once the third phase of the project on Windcloud Peak is completed, these taverns and trading posts can be relocated there. By then, our Nolandburg will no longer be just a castle, but the City of Noland. I look forward to that day. However, for that day to arrive sooner, you must all be like Mark—think independently and come up with ideas."

"Hahaha, as you command, my lord!"
"Yes, we should learn from brother Mark."
"Steward Mark is our role model!"
...

After reviewing everyone's reports, Berion bestowed rewards upon them. Based on their rank and contributions, everyone received a substantial bonus and several precious gifts brought back from Yanweikshuo, which left everyone very happy.

In his previous life, having been a minor leader, Berion understood one truth deeply: achieving success for others is achieving success for oneself. This applies to partners and superiors, and even more so to subordinates. Only when they gain tangible benefits—only when they can afford a house and a car by following you and see a future—will they be willing to work loyally for you.

Exploitation only leads to resistance, lower team efficiency, and a lack of unity, let alone accomplishing anything—it is fortunate if they don't cause trouble.

Precisely for this reason, Berion in this timeline treats his subordinates generously and well, ensuring they do not feel the sting of poverty. Material incentives are the most effective incentives; only on the basis of generous material rewards can one discuss honor and responsibility. Otherwise, if your brothers are struggling to feed their families, who is going to talk to you about honor and duty?

The meeting did not last long. Before nightfall, Berion let everyone go to rest while he took Mark and Iome to inspect the rooms in the castle to see how Riarno had done with the renovations.

Seeing that he was inspecting the renovations without the person in charge of them, everyone understood that the lord must have something to say to Iome, especially since he had been demoted during the meeting.

Mark led Berion and Iome first to Berion’s bedroom. The decor was simple and rustic: the lower part of the walls was covered with three-foot-high wooden boards, and the upper part was coated with a mixture of hay, lime, and mud, painted a creamy yellow.

Currently, the walls only featured simple decorations like coat-of-arms banners and knightly shields painted with his crest. In the future, they might hang some landscape paintings, though in this era, using pigments for art was still in its infancy and not yet mature. Riarno knew a little, but his skills were not yet refined.

Considering that Berion would likely marry within two or three years, Hama and Riarno had installed a large bed in the bedroom and built floor-to-ceiling cabinets along one wall. Besides that, there was only a desk with drawers, intended as a vanity for the future mistress of Nolandburg.

After viewing the bedroom, the three went to the study next door. The study featured a bookshelf covering an entire wall and a custom-made desk tailored to Berion's height. Additionally, there was a reception area with three chairs and a small table for meeting important guests.

Berion asked Mark and Iome to sit down with him in the study. Looking at Iome, he asked: "So? Are you still feeling upset?"

Taken aback by the question, Iome lowered his head in silence for a moment before replying: "Berion, you did the right thing." After speaking, he glanced at Berion and added: "It is I who do not understand the rules, my lord. I should not have addressed you by your name."

Seeing Iome looking dejected, Mark patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile: "You, you are just naive. The lord wants to entrust you with more, but he can't."

Iome shook his head bitterly and replied: "You are right. I have never walked out of the past; I am still that young court guard."

Berion looked thoughtfully out the window and said: "Iome, do you remember our conversation on the road to Nolandburg last winter? After I became a lord, was our relationship that of master and servant, or friends?"

Iome nodded and replied: "I remember. At that time, you told me that as time passed, our friendship would fade, but it would not be a master-servant relationship either; it would be a partnership, working hand-in-hand."

"Yes, working together to achieve something. Look at Nolandburg now: everyone has a livelihood, a place to live, fields to farm, clothes to wear, and food and drink. These are the achievements we have created. Tell me, isn't such a cause worth us working on together?" Berion asked.

"Uh..." Iome’s eyes widened suddenly, and he murmured: "I have always seen myself as your squire, assisting you in managing the soldiers in the territory. I didn't think of it that way."

"To accomplish great things, you must think for yourself and take on more responsibility. In the year I have been a lord, I feel as though my hair has thinned. You think that every day I just eat, drink, and have fun, and the money just rolls in? Managing a territory and making it thrive is not nearly that simple."

"I am tired and weary, but I am fortunate to have the two of you. We have known each other since our youth and trust one another. I feel at ease leaving things in your hands. Mark has done very well, but you, Iome, have disappointed me." Berion said to Iome with a tone of disappointment.

Seeing that Berion was disappointed in him, Iome immediately felt ashamed. He hurriedly said: "My lord, I was wrong. I should not be like this. I should learn from brother Bess how to lead and train troops, and I should not have said what I said earlier."

Then, Iome suddenly stood up, clenched his fists, and said: "I will work hard and win back the position that belongs to me!"

"Sit down!" Berion looked at Iome's foolish behavior and shook his head. "It is good that you want to learn from brother Bess, but don't think about winning back that position. The First Infantry Regiment will definitely be led by him. However, there will be a Second and Third Infantry Regiment in the future, and there are still plenty of positions reserved for you."

Mark and Iome widened their eyes simultaneously and asked in unison: "We are going to form two more infantry regiments?"

Berion nodded and told them: "There are two things I need to tell you separately. I plan to announce them to everyone at the banquet."

"My lord, what are they?" they asked eagerly.

Berion stood up and opened the window to let in the cold air, helping everyone clear their heads, and said: "The first thing is that, because of my contribution in recapturing Maple Manor and wiping out the three major bandit gangs on the south bank of the Karl River, I have been promoted to a Baronet."

"Wow! That's fantastic! My lord, you are the first person in the Tuck family to transcend the knightly class. Sir Oure and Lady Kaelan would surely be proud of you," Mark said excitedly.

Berion waved his hand. "Don't be too happy yet; there is a second thing. The second thing is not good news at all. If things go poorly, Nolandburg might face total destruction." Berion sighed.

"My lord, what is it?" Iome asked urgently.

"Sigh!" Berion sighed. "Remember those Toba pirates who occupied Maple Manor? They have assembled thousands of men, invaded the Bay of Yanweikshuo, surrounded the city of Yanweikshuo, and have been plundering their way up the Karl River."

"These god-damned pirates will surely come to the direct-rule county to seek revenge, especially here, since everyone knows I played a major role in wiping out the pirates at Maple Manor."

After hearing Berion's words, Mark and Iome looked at each other. Mark then asked: "My lord, how long will it take for these pig-born Toba pirates to reach us?"

"At the earliest a week or ten days, and at the latest no more than twenty days. Because in a little over a month, it will start to snow in the North. These pirates, who live in the south, will not stay here for the winter; they will surely want a quick battle to resolve things," Berion replied.

"Then we must prepare for battle immediately. Thousands of pirates—even if only a few hundred come, we will be under tremendous pressure. You know the combat effectiveness of the Toba pirates, my lord, especially since they are coming with revenge in mind this time," Iome said.

Berion nodded and said: "We must prepare in advance. Mark knows that I planned to have him prepare three jars of Salion wine for today's banquet. Everyone should drink a little less; tomorrow morning, we will hold a war preparation meeting."

Berion spoke lightly, but in his heart, he sighed. Since arriving in this alternate world, the past year had been smooth sailing. In this continuous success, he had indeed grown dazed, truly believing he was exceptionally capable and could control many things. But in reality, the true challenges had yet to come. Now that war had broken out between nations and pirates were taking advantage of the chaos, the real test of his capabilities had just begun.

While the three of them were lost in thought in the study, a party that had rushed over from Valombre arrived at the gates of Amondine City before the sun set.

The county guards at the gate saw the demeanor of the visitors and the dozen or so knights dressed in fine chainmail, and they knew these must be important people. He hurriedly stepped forward to salute and respectfully asked: "My lord, where do you come from, and what is your business in Amondine City?"

The knight beside the dignitary did not treat the guard with kindness despite his respect. He raised his riding crop and lashed it across the guard's shoulder. The burning pain made the guard wince, but although he felt resentment in his heart, he dared not say a word.

"Make way! Before you stands Count David. He represents the monarch and has urgent business. If we are delayed for even a moment, we will have your head!" the knight who wielded the whip shouted sternly.

Upon hearing that it was a Count, the guard and his companions quickly moved the barriers at the gate and respectfully let the party pass.

The guard who had been whipped rubbed his painful shoulder and said to his companions: "Don't say it, you boys don't have this kind of luck—to be struck by a whip from a Count's subordinate is a great honor. We've been on duty here for years, and the highest we’ve ever seen is a Viscount."

"Pah!" One of his companions spat on the ground and laughed mockingly: "You pig-born fellow, you really know how to comfort yourself. You got hit, you got hit. You’re good at finding reasons. That great man's subordinate hit you for nothing, and you took it for nothing."

Nolandburg was unaware of the happenings in Amondine. At this moment, Mark and Iome stood behind Berion, looking toward the distant forest. As the sky dimmed, black clouds gathered, signaling the arrival of a great storm.