Volume Two: The Iron-Blooded Baron Chapter 121: Thieves from the Sea (Part Seven)

Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. I, a young man named Guo from Xiangyi, wish my readers and their families happiness, good health, peace, and a joyous Mid-Autumn Festival! Thank you all!

"My lord, please do not be angry. That is not what I meant, I..." Seeing Berion’s mood shift, Mark quickly tried to explain, but Berion stopped him.

Berion stood up, patted Mark on the shoulder, and said, "You were right to do what you did today. If you hadn't reminded me, I wouldn't have realized the impact on production. After all, resources are finite; if one side takes more, the other gets less. If one side claims too much, the other will surely go hungry.

To walk steadily, one needs both legs. If one leg is crippled, the other, no matter how strong, is useless—you remain a cripple all the same. Thank you, brother Mark. In this matter, I was indeed in the wrong, and your warning was timely."

Seeing that Berion not only took his advice to heart but also proactively admitted his mistake, Mark felt at a loss. On the night before he left for Norlandenburg with Berion, his father had told him: "The lord is never wrong. You must always remember this. Even if he does make a mistake, you must protect his face. It is better to take the blame yourself than to let the lord lose face."

Mark had kept his father’s advice in mind, but after much thought, he felt that while his father’s words made sense, they were too pedantic. If one cannot speak their mind or point out errors, should one just watch a major disaster unfold from a good situation? That would certainly be irresponsible and wrong.

It was only after much hesitation that Mark had decided to speak to Berion in this private manner. Although he knew it might cause Berion to dislike him, Mark wanted to say what he believed to be right; after all, he had poured his own heart and soul into Norlandenburg.

Through this conversation, Berion was pleasantly surprised to find that his companion now possessed the ability to think independently, no longer acting merely as one who followed orders.

To gain a foothold in these chaotic times, it is not enough to simply occupy territory and hoard grain and silver. One must have a trustworthy, capable team that can independently handle military and administrative affairs. With such a force, one can not only manage the territory well but also rapidly integrate new lands during expansion.

Ultimately, talent is the foundation. Without Mark, Beth, Hama, Riano, Rochell, Gamlin, and the others, what could he achieve on his own? Most of these talents were self-taught. He could only rely on recruitment, but that was no easy feat, as Norlandenburg was still a small place and he was but a minor lord.

In the long run, talent development is crucial. Once Greyhawk Castle is completed, he intends to establish an administrative school to help Mark cultivate a group of people capable of assisting him in managing civil affairs.

Of course, these plans would have to wait until the invading Toba pirates were defeated. Mark’s words today had a significant impact on Berion’s future development strategy. The focus would be on economic construction—hiding one's strength, developing the economy, stockpiling soldiers, and training qualified military and administrative personnel. Once the timing was right, he could rapidly expand his forces and have enough administrative staff ready to take over after achieving military goals.

To thank Mark, Berion had Bran tell the kitchen to prepare some fine dishes so they could have a few drinks together. Now that Harka’s mother, Jennifer, was in charge of the kitchen, the delicacies on Berion’s table had multiplied, and Mark was always happy to join him.

Mark let go of the unease he felt before their talk, and Berion was in a great mood due to Mark’s wisdom. The two laughed and chatted over drinks just as they had back in the town of Frondo.

Just as they were enjoying themselves, Bran arrived to report that a messenger from Amontin City had arrived with a letter to be delivered to Berion in person. The messenger was none other than Berion’s old acquaintance, Sir Pippin.

Upon hearing this, Berion and Mark quickly stood up, wiped their mouths, and headed to the Great Hall. Jennifer had just finished preparing the coq au vin and was about to serve it, but Bran told her to wait; Berion would be inviting Sir Pippin to dine, and the table would need to be cleared and reset.

When Berion reached the Great Hall, Sir Pippin was looking around, clearly filled with curiosity and shock at the sight of Berion’s castle.

"My dear Sir Pippin, why have you come yourself? Tell me, have you recovered?" Berion greeted him warmly and embraced him.

After their warm embrace, Sir Pippin smiled and said, "My body is fine. It was just a minor wound, nothing of consequence."

With that, Sir Pippin handed the letter to Berion and said solemnly, "People have arrived from Valombre. It is your old superior, Count David, Vice-Commander of the Royal Knights. He has come to preside over your promotion ceremony.

You are to be promoted to a baronet due to your recent glorious military achievements. Therefore, the Count has ordered me to notify you to set off immediately upon receiving this letter and accompany me to Amontin City, where Count David will preside over your investiture. Congratulations!"

"Is that so? I’m a bit overwhelmed. Is this real? I find it hard to believe." Although Berion had long since heard rumors of this, he still feigned surprise in front of Sir Pippin, an older brother-figure who had once held the same rank. He didn't want to make Sir Pippin feel more despondent—it was already unpleasant enough for him to be surpassed by a rising youth, and Berion saw no need to invite further jealousy.

"It is true!" Seeing Berion’s stunned expression, which was exactly as he had expected, Sir Pippin nodded with a smile. Although he felt a twinge of envy, he considered this capable young man, who was respectful to him and had even saved his life, a worthy friend.

Berion said excitedly, "What immense imperial grace! I never imagined that the dream of our House Tuck to ascend the ranks would be fulfilled by a second son like me!"

As he spoke, Berion beckoned Mark over and instructed, "Write a letter to my parents in my name and tell them the news. They will be overjoyed."

Mark cooperated readily, saying, "As you command, my lord. I shall go at once."

Then, Berion grabbed Sir Pippin and said joyfully, "Sir Pippin, I brought a chef back from Yanwicksord who is preparing lunch right now. Come and taste her craft, and let us have a good drink. You have traveled such a long way to bring me this good news; I must treat you to a meal to show my gratitude."

"Hahaha!" Sir Pippin laughed heartily. "Very well, my good brother. I will dine with you, but we must set off immediately after the meal. The Count said Count David has a very tight schedule, and we must not keep him waiting."

"Agreed! Agreed! But even in a hurry, a man must eat." Berion ushered him toward the dining room.

The lunch consisted of coq au vin, honey-glazed roast goose, beef and radish soup, and some pastries made by Jennifer. Sir Pippin ate his fill, praising the meal repeatedly. After the feast, he patted his belly, which had grown fuller during his convalescence, and said to Berion with a smile, "You truly know how to enjoy life. I thought everyone from a low-ranking knightly family like us was a country bumpkin like me, but after seeing your castle and eating your private banquet, I realize that people are different."

"Hahaha!" Berion replied with a chuckle, "Brother Pippin, if you like it, you can come often. Stay for a few days each month and enjoy three meals a day."

Sir Pippin grinned, "I cannot compare with you. Viscount Merry has tasked me with drilling those useless county troops as penance. Aside from being exhausting, it is incredibly frustrating."

Seeing that he was about to complain about the duties assigned by Viscount Merry, Berion quickly had Bran bring out a gift to change the subject. After all, listening to a colleague complain about their direct superior could be detrimental if it got out.

The gift Berion prepared for Sir Pippin was an exquisite set of polychrome pottery wine vessels. Hama and his craftsmen had improved the production process, and these wares were now becoming increasingly refined, reaching a level of artistry Berion had seen in his previous life. As a gift, no one in this era could fail to appreciate them.

Indeed, when Sir Pippin opened the box and saw the exquisite pottery, he was struck with amazement. He picked up a wine cup, examined it with delight, and clicked his tongue in wonder.

"Brother Berion, you have given me such a precious gift; I am truly flattered." Sir Pippin placed the cup back into the box and said with a smile.

Berion signaled for Bran to place the set on the table and said to Sir Pippin, "Brother Pippin, these are polychrome pottery pieces made here in Norlandenburg. They are already being sold in Yanwicksord. The set I gave you is from a batch with superior craftsmanship, so please keep it and use it. If you truly like them, just recommend them to your friends."

Sir Pippin was even more surprised, but after a moment, he shook his head and said, "So that’s it. I wondered how you managed to build a castle in just a year. It turns out you have this lucrative tool."

Berion smiled and replied, "Currently, the sales are entrusted to the Amontin Chamber of Commerce. We only handle the production, and the lion’s share of the profit is taken by those greedy merchants.

The reason I could build this castle is mainly due to the substantial spoils seized when we wiped out the three bandit gangs, combined with the labor of captives and recruited refugees. That is how I managed to build such a small castle. After all, I am a lord now. Other lords have castles, and it would hardly be appropriate for me to have only a wooden watchtower."

Sir Pippin nodded, believing Berion’s explanation. After all, relying solely on selling pottery couldn't possibly generate that much wealth; the spoils of war must have been the primary source.

"Though your castle is not large, it is sufficient and befits your status as a baronet. Once you have more money in a few years, you can expand it," Sir Pippin said.

Berion nodded in agreement, "Indeed. With this castle and the title of baronet, hahaha, finding a wife will be no problem."

"Hahaha!" Sir Pippin laughed along at Berion’s remark about finding a wife.

After they finished their meal and rested for a while, Berion took Bran and Harka, and ordered Oromi to lead five cavalrymen to accompany them. They then set off for Amontin City with Sir Pippin.

The weather had already turned cold, so Berion had them bring a carriage and thickened tents. Since they couldn't reach Amontin City in half a day, they would certainly need to camp on the road, and it was better to be well-prepared. Additionally, the carriage was loaded with many more gifts.

As Vice-Commander of the Royal Knights, Count David was someone Berion had seen many times before. Though they had little interaction, Berion understood the Count’s way of handling matters well. After serving in the court for so many years, everyone was familiar with the temperaments of these leaders of the Royal Guard.

Although Count David was not particularly greedy for money, his long tenure in a subordinate position made him especially sensitive to the respect shown to him by those below him. Like many deputy leaders Berion had encountered in his past life, even though he was a subordinate, if you treated him as one, he would surely give you a cold look and likely trip you up in secret.

That was precisely why Berion had personally led Mark and the others to prepare the gifts while Sir Pippin was resting. His goal was to make this Vice-Commander feel unprecedented respect. Only then could he establish a connection with him. A confidant of the monarch like Count David might not hold the same real power as a Minister of War or a Minister of Security, but because he was more trusted by the monarch, he could play a crucial role at critical moments.

Moreover, Count David was also Viscount Merry’s teacher. If he could win him over, his already good relationship with Viscount Merry could be further strengthened.

In his youth, he had despised such dirty dealings, but now that he had taken on the responsibility of managing his own affairs, he had to learn to skillfully employ these subtle tactics.