King

78: Chapter 77, The Unsuccessful Show of Power_1 78: Chapter 77, The Unsuccessful Show of Power_1 “What’s the matter?

Why are you all looking so glum?

Who are you putting on that show for?”
Baron Hudson asked irritably.

Having just welcomed a wave of refugees, Baron Hudson, who was pleased with the increased labor force, suddenly noticed that his subordinates’ mood was off.

Subordinates should behave like subordinates.

It’s utterly unacceptable to act out in front of a superior.

What if news of it got out?

Wouldn’t people say he lacks control over his men?

Seeing Baron Hudson’s anger, Tom, who was closest to him, quickly composed himself and replied, “My lord, we can’t continue with the task you assigned us!

We don’t know who leaked the news, but numerous nobles came out to seize people.

Soldiers are stationed everywhere, grabbing any refugees they see.

We encountered several blockades on the road.

It was only thanks to your reputation that we got through.”
Upon hearing this response, Hudson didn’t know what to say.

Even though he realized that this kind of activity wouldn’t last long without people rushing to snatch up the business.

But to directly rush with soldiers to seize people, this was just too much…

Forget it, the more he spoke, the more distraught he would get.

Who asked him to constantly look at everyone else’s earnings?

Now that his neighbors had caught on and started playing the same game of seizing people with their soldiers, there was no longer any chance of leading more people to his side.

Not detaining his subordinates, even letting them bring back the people they had fooled, was clearly a favor to Hudson.

In the circle of nobility, face was given mutually.

Since others had given face to him, Hudson could not refuse their favor.

Including all those who had been persuaded, the population of Hudson’s territory had exceeded six thousand.

Although overall, he was still facing the problem of labor shortage, the development of his territory was finally on the right track.

Compared to his peers, his territorial development was indeed fast.

Especially the guys who came from the Northern Border; while their people were still halfway, their territories had become deserted regions.

He really didn’t know how they would thank their neighbors when they arrived in their desolate territory.

Unconsciously, Hudson realized that he had dug a deep pit between the native nobility and the Northern aristocracy, which was no less powerful than the mine laid by Earl Piers.

Cutting off someone’s financial resources was like killing their parents.

Merely by persuasion, there would inevitably be some people who would find it hard to leave their homeland, choosing to hold on and wait for the arrival of their new Lord.

But their peers did too well, going directly with soldiers to seize people, not even leaving roots of leeks.

It could be said that every one of them who stole people with soldiers was now on the opposite side of the Northern aristocracy who had moved south.

Affected by their peers, Hudson was getting somewhat puzzled with this world.

Were they afraid that the Northern aristocracy wouldn’t find out, or did they think they wouldn’t dare to retaliate?

Offending people so recklessly wasn’t the right way to demonstrate some leverage.

Reason told Hudson that there must be someone manipulating all this behind the scenes.

Combining the prior actions of the Governor’s Mansion, Hudson had reason to believe this was Earl Piers’ doing.

Though the Alpha Kingdom hasn’t explicitly regulated the ownership of serfs under a deceased Lord without an heir, everyone defaults it to the new Lord.

Unwritten rules are still rules.

No one in the Southeastern Province would dare to wreak havoc without the consent of the superior.

Taking food from the tiger’s mouth, the Northern aristocracy played Dalton Family hard.

If they didn’t fight back, wouldn’t they seem incapable?

Laying traps and burying landmines were covert operations.

On the surface, the Dalton Family also needed to respond, showing everyone that they were the top authority in the Southeastern Province.

Among the nobles assigned to Wharton and Layton Counties, quite a few had worked for the Dalton Family.

Although nominally they had severed ties, their covert connections would certainly remain.

It seemed reasonable that a younger brother would take revenge for the humiliation of an elder.

Perhaps it was an independent decision, or perhaps it was instigated by Earl Piers, in any case, the blame would ultimately fall on the Dalton family.

The elder brother could handle the responsibility, but the punishment would still hit the involved parties.

Unless the northern aristocracy were extraordinarily powerful and could suppress the Dalton family, any counterattack would only target the active underlings.

Having thought it through, Hudson eventually decided to keep a low profile for a while.

Regardless of how the sides played their games, as a pawn, it was better to be as inconspicuous as possible.

Hudson immediately called for pen and paper to notify his clan.

He couldn’t risk having survived so far, only for his family members to pull him under.

The main issue was to remind Knight Adrian not to get too caught up in the excitement, especially if it threatened to drag the family into a storm.

As for Adrian himself, he was closely associated with Earl Piers, bearing the indelible mark of the Dalton family.

He couldn’t escape, he may have even have a part in the current plot to abduct someone.

On the upside, working with the senior crew had its benefits.

As long as they didn’t overstep their boundaries or violate any prohibitions, even if a problem arose, someone would cover for them.

In the Southeastern Province, the Dalton family had a considerable influence, and as long as one didn’t act recklessly, danger could generally be avoided.

At worst during a showdown, they’d just be caught and ruthlessly beaten, losing some face in the process.

As long as one handled things properly, even a beating could prove one’s loyalty to the leader, and with some luck, even gain some compensation.

As for the two peers from Wharton County, they had just inherited their titles and were impoverished.

They could only keep their territories operating with the help of their relatives.

Even if they wanted to cause trouble, they lacked the means.

Not to mention leading troops to abduct someone, they’d worry about how to feed their own people, even if more were sent to them.

…

After a long journey, the Northern nobles finally arrived at Southeastern Province’s administrative center, and the Dalton family’s home turf – Bera City.

As expected, their troops were stopped at the city gate.

Soldiers on the Continent of Aslante, whether elite or ragtag, had very lax discipline.

When in their own territory, soldiers could just about avoid causing trouble.

As guests, however, there was typically a free-for-all.

All outside forces were treated with great caution, as if a menacing dragon.

Despite their recent entry into the ranks of Southeastern Province nobles, to the local people, they remained outsiders.

After a brief standoff at the city gate, the nobles in the group came forward, seemingly to exert pressure.

“The Governor has decreed that no military unit can enter Bera City without orders from the Governor’s Mansion!

Since it seems you’re from the Northern Border, you may not know Bera City’s rules.

Understand it or not, we will not pursue this issue,” said a middle-aged military officer with an air of righteousness.

His disdainful expression made it clear that he had very little respect for these northern nobles.

Most were initially only seeking an explanation, not meaning to cause trouble.

However, this provocation from the middle-aged officer managed to instantly rile the northern nobles.

But their anger quickly subsided.

They were not fools; knowing the officer had intended to provoke them, they naturally refused to take the bait.

If they initiated a fight here over such a trivial matter, no matter how justified, they would end up in the wrong.

Then, a young man around 27 or 28 years old stepped forward to challenge the middle-aged officer, “We are all nobles of the kingdom.

We have come to the Southeastern province by orders of the king, and we wish to visit Governor Piers.

Do you dare to stop us?

Are you disrespecting both His Majesty the King and the Governor?”