Capítulo 25: Establishing Authority, Day of Reckoninh

The talk afterward leaned more towards the numerous forces within the kingdom, along with mysterious organizations lingering around the Mystyr Kingdom. Nemhil explained that the Mystyr Kingdom was located in the Great Western Terrain, specifically the Hyre Complex, where the Mystyr Kingdom, along with thousands of kingdoms and even empires resided.

These mysterious organizations scattered their branches across numerous places, and their range of intelligence was unimaginably vast. When Fredrinn asked her about the size of this world, she merely shook her head in resignation.

To put it into perspective, the Mystyr Kingdom was the size of a continent, while the Hyre Complex contained hundreds of thousands of kingdoms of the same size, not to mention the dominant empires, which usually had hundreds of kingdoms as their subordinates, with a territory of over a thousand continents in size.

Of course, the term kingdoms and empires were merely generalized statements. In reality, there are many different systems created across the vast land, such as pure feudal, pure bureaucracy, and a mix of both. There are many more systems of governance, which truly intrigued him.

Hyre Complex is approximately the size of a million continents. As for the Great Western Terrain, it has over 128 complexes, and considering that the size of the Hyre Complex was relatively small compared to other complexes, it could be said that the Great Western Terrain was the size of over a billion continents!

Unfortunately, Nemhil said that the Royal Archives did not have any further information. The map was limited to the Western Great Terrains. At this, Fredrinn felt like it was normal.

It's already remarkable to garner information two levels above their reach. This record proved that the existence of the land beyond the Western Great Terrain existed and was hypothetically divided into 5 terrains. West, East, South, North, and Middle.

"The records were bought by the founder from the Fert, a mysterious organization famous for its wide reach of intelligence. It said that the founder took out at least dozens of Gold-level scriptures to trade for a mere copy of the Western Great Terrain map."

Fredrinn was somewhat impressed. Few would be willing to do such a risky maneuver, but the founder did not hesitate at all. The founder's ambition and talent were most definitely high!

For a small kingdom in a small complex, many were stuck in their own perspective, unwilling to step out of it. The founder understood that this would only stagnate himself. Thus, he decisively went out to explore the wider world.

However, all these things are of no importance at the current moment. Fredrinn watched as the graceful figure of Nemhil nimbly picked up a book. She faced him solemnly as she opened it.

"As you know, my territory was right beside the border shared by two dominant forces. It also adjacents with the Western Forest of Greenwood Forest and the Dryland. The nearest lords are Count Yeldon, who resides in the Pertlyn Fort, and Count Herlby, a man who proves his worth through experiments and is acknowledged by the king for his groundbreaking, bizarre inventions. Fortunately, the latter was relatively far, over a thousand kilometers away. Besides, he was too preoccupied with his experiments when the heirs held a banquet to gather their supporters; thus, instead of an enemy, he could pretty well be a potential ally."

Looking at her thick book filled with pure personal thoughts and notes, Fredrinn couldn't help but be impressed. It reminded him of his school days back in his previous life, how those girls tried to fill the blank sheet as if their lives were dependent on it, willing to use pretty much half of their allowance to buy fancy utilities to perfect their glorified sketches.

Can't say he's unimpressed. After all, their notes are quite pleasant to the eyes. That he couldn't refute.

"You sure prepared a lot."

"There are too many enemies. I have to gather as much intelligence I can with the little manpower I had to ensure my preparations are sufficient should they oppose me."

Nemhil's lithe fingers turned the pages while occasionally describing the situations. There are a lot of things, and it took them over half a day before they finished their rendezvous. Fortunately, they are knights, so a sleepless night barely affects their efficiency.

The day after was also filled with meetings. However, it was tilted more toward the discussion of several new policies implemented by Fredrinn. The report was redundantly pleasant, weirdly enough. They are filled with so many praises that he feels like he is paying a bunch of bootlickers.

Truthfully, Nemhil could easily create these policies. But it's a shame that she lacked references, along with the unfavorable circumstances that keep grating her soul.

Afterward, Fredrinn and Nemhil, along with a few of her knights, set off to take the Litel Trading Site under their control. Nemhil also brought along a solemn, cold middle-aged man with sharp brown eyes.

"Greetings, Lord Fredrinn. This humble one is Grett, and I was trusted by my Lady to be a financial advisor for the last two months."

Fredrinn smiled, "Since Lady Nemhil trusted you, then I should too. The fact that you can keep the economy afloat despite the crisis was commendable. I hope we can work well with each other."

Grett's heart jumped as the godlike Fredrinn acknowledged his deeds. He was somewhat ashamed. So old, yet still so excited about praises. Still, he quickly showed a smile as he bowed, "I only fulfill my duty. It is Lord Fredrinn who solved the crisis of my townsmen. We are eternally grateful."

After a few pleasantries, the group entered a carriage. It only took about ten hours before the walls of Litel Trading Site gradually appeared.

They swiftly entered the core area of the site through the secret route. From there, Grett and Nemhil swiftly handled everything professionally. With Grett's seasonal expertise in finance and Nemhil's top-notch intelligence, in just a few hours, they finally finished the conversion of ownership.

Fredrinn was shocked. So fast? No need to report to the officials?

Leisurely sitting in the luxurious main hall, Nemhil explained coyly, "My Lord, you really give me a treasure pot. The Litel Trading Site is actually a small organization, not a property! It was built here to accommodate the activities of its members. The three late viscounts were simply the leaders of this organization. Thus, to gain the ownership of this site, it was excessively simple."

"So... You could simply take over by proclaiming yourself as its leader?"

"Yes!"

Fredrinn blinked. Considering the lengths the three viscounts did to create this site, he thought it was already verified as a property by the government. Turns out, it was an illegal site.

When he coerced the late Reinns, the man had revealed everything. From the lines that webbed the interests of this site, to the involvement of the Grand Knight Pernil Ulthra, who was famous for his pettiness.

When Nemhil heard of this, she nodded in understanding, "When a property was verified by the officials proportionate to the income, the tax imposed on it may vary. The gathering of commodities and numerous vendors and merchants, not to mention the profits from the tourists across the kingdom, would surely be heavily taxed by the officials. A site of this caliber would have to pay 15% of its annual income as tax!"

"To remain elusive from the officials, significant backing was mandatory. It seems like one of the three viscounts had a backing of such a figure."

At this, Nemhil smiled. Pernil Ulthra is a Grand Knight, but what about Fredrinn? Even as someone who used to be a princess, she had never seen anyone who could force the clouds to make way with a mere fist.

Afterward, Nemhil went to the busiest area of the site and made an announcement. The merchants and the vendors were surprised, but since it didn't affect them much, they easily accepted the new leader.

Besides, Nemhil was more pleasant to look at, compared to those greasy viscounts. More importantly, they only care about their own interests and benefits, and no one really cares about the three viscounts.

Fredrinn watched from the shadow the whole time. Let the professionals handle their issues.

Thus, after ensuring that everything was taken care of, Fredrinn and Nemhil left. Grett, along with her few knights, would be the one overseeing the site. They only have to receive the monthly tax from the vendors. As for nurturing their own business, it could be done after the war has concluded.

As soon as they got back, Nemhil went into full swing as she prepared her people for the upcoming clash. What she had treated as an impending demise has turned into a forge to temper her knights.

In a flash, the day of reckoning was before them. Fredrinn and Nemhil stood at the utmost front, a form of acknowledgment from her and her people, while the knights solemnly stood before the massive ravine that served as a separation between two forces known by the people as the Ravine of the Continent.

"My Lord, it would be a pity if we do not take advantage of this free training ground. You wouldn't mind, right?"

Asked by the sly Nemhil, Fredrinn merely smiled somewhat helplessly. This heroine was quite sly. Her noble features, after being liberated from doom by his presence, were fresh and endearing.

"Do whatever you want, my Lady. I'll be overseeing the fight."

Nemhil stared at his sharp features for a moment. After a while, she slowly turned to face her knights, and her soft features hardened.

"My people, are you ready?"

"Yes!"

Her speeches for these past few days were enough for these knights; thus, she did not say much. But their solemn faces were enough to tell the gravity of the situation.

"Viscountess Nemhil... She's quite a beauty."

Across the ravine, the Outcast leisurely walked towards the border. They were filled with all sorts of ornaments and looked savage and barbaric. In Fredrinn's eyes, they were no different from orcs in a certain franchise.

"Look at those bulging chests! Hehe... I really couldn't wait!"

"That battle armor truly accentuated her baby-bearing figure... I would not stop until I filled her with billions of my sperms!"

The Outcast was atrocious, and they had no intention of hiding their thoughts. The leader of the bunch, a two-meter man with a massive machete, licked his lips.

"Nemhil! Surrender and bear my men's lust! I could guarantee that you would only remember sex after a few days. At least it could put you out of your misery!"

On the other side, Nemhil's knights trembled. Their faces were contorted in pure rage, and their eyes bulged out like madmen. Some even had to vent by stomping the ground, turning the boots into shredded pieces.

"How dare you!?"

"Fucking hooligans! I'll skin you alive!"

Fredrinn watched coldly. The Outcast Faction represented the man's evil desires, where they ran their thoughts unrestrained. They were no different from those shameless men who had given up upholding morals and openly harassed women on the internet.

He unintentionally stepped forward to block off the view of Nemhil. The viscountess stopped shivering as she began to focus on him instead.

"Don't worry, my Lady. Everything will be over."

Nemhil, despite her fear, put up a brave front, "You think I'm afraid of those hooligans?! Hmph! I'll show them the sharp tip of my sword."

Fredrinn smiled, but he shook his head. A cruel battlefield such as this was not something she could partake in. As a former princess, she definitely upheld the so-called honor and refused to revert to underhanded methods.

She's a fighter who has been taught to be honorable, but Fredrinn is a fighter who has been taught to kill, and in some circumstances, he did so in the most gruesome, painful way.

These outcasts would molest her if she fought them head-on, occasionally groping her chest and backside and gradually wearing her down. In the end, she would succumb to their tricks and meet a fate worse than death.

Such underhanded tactics have become the norm to handle female fighters on equal standing. Even a woman would do it to another woman if it concerns her survival.

"What a world we're living in, huh?"

Fredrinn watched as the outcasts laid down a massive platform made out of logs that served as a bridge between two territories, and from there, the battle ensued.

"I'll tear you apart with my bare teeth!!!"