บท 6: Mystic Valley
While everyone looked fervent and full of desire for war, Jennifer had a scowl on her face as she asked, "But father, my brothers and I don't have our own territory and the main territories in our duchy have already been distributed among uncles..."
"Where the father plans to send us?"
Now that Jennifer mentioned such an issue, everyone was also curious to know which territories would be distributed, after all, this could involve their own territories and they wouldn't be satisfied if suddenly the command was passed on to his nephews to manage while they competed with each other.
The duke looked at his daughter and then looked at his family, he was aware of her thoughts but didn't care. Before answering it, he looked back at the Crimson Duchy's topography in the projection.
"It is true that the main territories have already been distributed, but in their places all cities are built as military fortresses and there are no trading cities..."
At the same time, the duke pointed with his right hand towards the south of the realm in the projection and continued, "The entire southern part of the Vita Continent is separated from the endless sea by large rocky plateaus, so this area is ruled out..."
His arm moved to the eastern region of the duchy depicted in the projection as he said, "From the eastern area to the southeastern area of our duchy is the border with the Duchy Russell. At the intersection of these two areas will be where Jennifer will be developing as create a fully commercial city with the support of her third aunt and sixth aunt by opening up trade routes to cooperate with the Duchy Russell..."
The duke paused and looked at his third sister sitting a few chairs away next to his younger sister Suelen and asked, "Is it ok for you, third sister?"
Although Makai couldn't see who the duke was looking at due to them being sitting on the same side of the table, he still looked at his third aunt and sixth aunt as they were sitting on the right side of the table, right next to his seventh aunt, Suelen, almost facing him.
His third aunt is Denise Collins. She is a very charming woman wearing a long blue silk dress. Her pale white skin emphasizes her long, curly blue hair. Her blue eyes looked pure as she said, "First brother, I've spent many years managing the eastern territory and lately there hasn't been much progress. It will be my pleasure to accompany niece Jennifer on this new adventure."
"Hmm." The duke nodded in satisfaction and looked at his sixth sister sitting between his third and seventh sisters and asked the same question, "Is it ok for you, sixth sister?"
Janine Collins, Makai's sixth aunt, she has straight, long black hair. Wears a long white silk dress and looked like a gentle woman with a pleasant voice as she agreed, "As the third sister said, my southeastern territory doesn't see progress for a long time. Cooperating with niece Jennifer will be the path to new changes."
"Very well. As you all agree, it is decided."
The duke nodded in satisfaction and turned his eyes to Jennifer, "When this council is over, you must go to the military barracks and select a 100 Bronze Knights Cavalry to be your personal guard. Make the necessary arrangements to leave tomorrow morning."
"I will follow Father's arrangements." Jennifer didn't look very excited and was indifferent as she agreed with her father.
Seeing his daughter's indifference, Duke Marvin was aware that Jennifer has no interest in administration and is very similar to her cousin Sabrina who is only interested in military matters. This is also the reason why he assigned her to the borders with Duchy Russell, as she needs a quiet place with less risk of provoking a war in order to develop her administrative skills. Also, he has some friendship with Duke Simon Russell and their cooperation could be the smoothest with Denise and Janine's support.
Looking again at the projection on the wall, he pointed with his right hand to the west on the map and continued, "To the west is the border with the Anubis Kingdom, where the Jackals reside..."
"Since Haoran's forces invaded our Vita Continent and showed strong prejudice against other races, we humans are no longer well regarded by them..."
"We also don't know what they are planning in recent years after many races were expelled from their former territories to take refuge in the Black Dragon Empire west of the Anubis Kingdom..."
"Although the Jackals were unaffected by the War of the Kings, they appear to be cooperating with the Barbarians of the Conan Kingdom to their north which also borders the northwest of our realm and rises bordering the Gusman Kingdom to the southwestern borders of the Empire Avalon..."
"As there have been rumors that the Avalon Empire is preparing to attack the Conan Kingdom, they seem to have reached some sort of agreement with the Anubis Kingdom and we don't know if this is good or bad for us..."
"Either way, there has never been any hostility between us and we can still cooperate..."
"Both the Conan Kingdom and the Anubis Kingdom are rich in ores, but their technology are very backward and the lack of good equipment greatly reduces their strength..."
"Jason, you will go west and, like your sister Jennifer, you will create a city from scratch where she will be entirely focused on economic development by opening up trade routes to cooperate with the Jackals..."
"If they refuse, you must convince them that this is to prepare for the war against the Avalon Empire and the possible invasion of abyssal forces..."
"I believe they will not refuse, as we are also trading what they most covet, runic equipment, as they have no Knights in the way of a Sage among them to forge such equipment..."
"However, equipment traded should be at most one-star equipment inscribed with advanced runes, as it would be foolish to provide superior equipment..."
"Fourth brother, I hope you will grant a part of the western territory where there are no cities nearby and cooperate with Jason..."
"Can you accept that?"
The duke asked in a serious tone as he leaned forward from the table and watched a strong black-haired man wearing silver armor sitting next to Elmer, not far from Makai.
Durval Collins looked calmly at Jason, then looked back at his older brother and nodded as he said, "There is indeed an area suitable for creating some trading cities on the borders of the western territory with the Anubis Kingdom..."
"It won't be a problem to hand it over to nephew Jason and help him with his builds and negotiations with the Jackals."
Before the duke could say anything, Jason spoke first with a small smile, "Then I'll be in the care of the fourth uncle."
Marvin nodded in satisfaction and continued, "Very well. You will also go to the military barracks after this council to select your personal escort of 100 Bronze Knights and depart tomorrow morning with your fourth uncle..."
"However, Jackals are an unpredictable race and they represent a much higher risk of cooperation than the Duchy Russell... You can also select 10 Elite Cavalry to be your personal guard."
"As the father wishes." Unlike Jennifer, Jason looked excited as he couldn't hide the glint of anticipation in his eyes and his smiling face.
Hearing that Jason could take 10 Elite Cavalry, no one objected and not even Jeniffer was displeased when she thought it was reasonable, like her father said, cooperating with Jackals poses a much greater threat than cooperating with Duchy Russell.
In the Starfall Kingdom, all Elite Cavalry are Silver Knights.
Dispatching 10 Elite Cavalry just shows how powerful the current Collins family is. It is worth mentioning that at the time when Marvin Collins was just a Baron and debuted in the War of Kings, he was still a Silver Knight. However, the current he could send 10 Silver Knights casually as personal guards for one of his children.
Although it seems that this realm is only one level above the Bronze Knight Realm, the difference between the two was like comparing the distance between heaven and earth. Many Knights could spend tens of years or even a lifetime and never achieve a breakthrough into the Realm of a Silver Knight, as they mostly rely on talents to break through their bottlenecks in Mastery in path of a Knight they have chosen to follow.
After pointing to the north of the duchy, the duke continued, "I don't need to say much about the northern area, as that's where we border the Barth family's Duchy..."
After a pause in his words, Duke Marvin looked at his eldest son as he continued, "Ferdinand, you will be heading to the northern border and will cooperate with the Barth family..."
"You must know what that means, right?"
Upon being stared at by his father and hearing the deep tone of his question, Ferdinand felt great pressure as he understood its meaning and quickly replied, "I understand..."
"I know that I will have an advantage over my younger brothers in administering a territory with the cooperation of my Barth family... Father, don't worry, I'll take advantage of this relationship to develop the biggest trading city in our duchy within 3 years."
Ferdinand seemed confident when he said these words and everyone in the Collins family did not doubt them, as all they are aware that, Vanessa Barht, Duke Marvin's first wife and Ferdinand's mother, is also the third daughter of Duke Reynard Barth.
As the grandson of Duke Reynard Barth and son of Duke Marvin, Ferdinand had a far superior advantage in developing his territory and the Barth family would be more than happy to assist him with such cooperation.
After all, it was not without reason that there were political marriages in the aristocracy. This has always been the main reason, why two aristocratic families get married with the aim of depending on each other to increase their earnings and other interests through cooperation.
Although families of dukes belonging to different parties are prohibited from coexisting in the same territory and from cooperating with each other, they are not prevented from marrying. In addition, invisibly, there were factions formed between the nobles of both parties to cooperate in decision-making when summoned to the Councils of the Royal Court in matters involving the politics of the kingdom, for example, such as influencing the voting power to decide which military duchy could provide support to the left-wing party duchy when they were at risk of attack by foreign forces as they have been in their many years of history.
If the duchies of the left party were hostile to the right party, who would protect their borders when necessary? While they could be forced by the royal family when necessary, could they do their best to protect a territory that doesn't belong to them? Clearly, left-wing party duchies seek to be on the good side of military duchies and political marriage is the best solution. After all, at some point, they might need them to protect their borders against foreign forces.
Ferdinand being the representative to cooperate and supply military equipment, is like a pie falling from the sky for a large family belonging to the left party like the Barth family.
If Ferdinand could inherit the title of Hereditary Duke, it would be even better for the Barth family and, most likely, they will spare no effort for Ferdinand to develop the greatest trading city within the Crimson Duchy.
Although Jason and Jennifer seemed indifferent, they still felt wronged. However, when they think that Ferdinand is the eldest son and also has the third name of another duke family like the Barth family, they know their father's decision makes sense.
Also, before this family council took place, Jason and Jennifer already knew that their chances of being their father's heir were slim, however, now it looks like they still had a chance, as long as they played their roles as excellent administrators. Although difficult, there was still some hope, as receiving financial support from a big family does not determine your skills and qualifications.
Come to think of it, both Jason and Jennifer had nonchalant faces when they heard their father's next words.
Seeing the confidence in his son's eyes as he said he would create the greatest trading city in the duchy within three years, Duke Marvin nodded in satisfaction. He also believes that his son was not saying empty words and that he is the most likely to be his heir.
His eyes turned to a strong man who appeared to be middle-aged, with short black hair, black eyes, and a small black beard wearing a set of silver armor topped with a standard red cloak that represents the Collins family.
This man is Vlad Collins, the Duke's second brother and Makai's second uncle. He is a strong general charged with protecting the duchy's northern borders.
Upon noticing his older brother's gaze being directed towards him, before the Duke Marvin opened his mouth, he took the lead when he said, "Big brother doesn't need to ask..."
Vlad's black eyes were bright as he continued, "I already have a good piece of territory in mind that will be perfect for nephew Ferdinand to develop and I will do my best to help him... By the way, I always wanted to develop commercial cities. Now that I have that opportunity... Just thinking about the taverns, the wines, and the women makes my blood boil. hahaha..."
Hearing such words, many of the men seated at the table had knowing smiles, but the women had contemptuous eyes.
Makai had a strange look on his face as he thought, "Unexpectedly, this second uncle who appears to be a fierce general, also has that side..."
Having such thoughts, Makai strangely looked at his uncles and aunts. All men are very similar with their short black hair, robust bodies, and full of muscles. Despite looking like middle-aged men, many were well past their hundreds of years.
When every Knight crosses a new realm, it was as if they were given a new lease of life, as each advancement could increase their lifespans by at least 100 years.
Unlike his uncles who had similar physical bodies, his aunts are different. In addition to their figures showing no signs of aging and only the charm of a mature woman being clearly perceived, they stand out mainly for the color of their hair. Denise has long curly blue hair. Janine has long straight black hair. Suelen has short blonde hair. Each with its own charm.
As Makai looked at his aunts, unbeknownst to him, he found himself looking at the large pair of white melons threatening to rip open his Aunt Suelen's black bra and he couldn't help but swallow hard. At the same time, an antenna was quickly erected in his pants, so strong he was struggling to control it.
As if noticing someone looking at her, Suelen, with her sixth sense that only women have, looked at his nephew Makai only to see him swallow saliva as his gaze was fixed on her breasts.
She couldn't help but be surprised, but very quickly, she felt amused as a small teasing smile formed on her face and she winked mischievously at Makai and turned her eyes to her older brother who had already started talking.
When his aunt Suelen caught him looking at her big pair of white melons, Makai felt embarrassed, but when he saw that teasing smile and the way she winked with a suggestive gesture, his heart started pounding as he got nervous and excited at the same time.
Although he was a single man on Earth, Makai had the pleasure of proving the charm of many mature women. He had to admit, before he transmigrated into this world, he was a horny man. Now that he had transmigrated into a fantasy world where the aristocracy seemed to have an open relationship to carnal pleasures, he had some expectations, especially with the idea of having many wives.
At that moment, he was attracted by the duke's voice that rang in his ears snapping him out of his wild thoughts.
After seeing how his second brother Vlad remains the same, drawn to wine and women, Duke Marvin waved a helpless little smile as he looked again at the projection on the wall and pointed to the northeastern region of the duchy.
His tone sounded more solemn and heavy as he said, "In the northeast region, separated by highlands, is the border with the Principality of Sirius, ruled by the 7th Prince Sirius Kaiser..."
"Between our Duchy and the Principality of Sirius, everyone knows that there is only one road that separates us, the Blackrock Valley."
When the duke said that, he paused and his gaze quickly wandered to everyone seated at the table.
Collins family members couldn't help but guess. All three of the eldest sons had already been assigned to their territories and only Makai was left.
When the duke mentioned the northeastern region of the duchy, they already suspected that Makai would be sent there and they couldn't help feeling sorry as there was almost no chance of him getting a cooperation with the Principality of Sirius, which is ruled by a prince of the royal family.
"A young man without a third name is still a bastard after all..."
Many had this thought.
However, the duke's next words were even more unexpected.
"Once they receive our Letter of Petition and understand our intentions to start following the methods of the left-wing party, the Royal family will surely reinforce this passage that isolates us from their core territory and can even use it as the starting point to start a war against us..."
"However, don't forget about Mystic Valley. My intention is to send Makai to create and develop their territory there."
Everyone was too shocked to utter a single word.
At the same time, they simultaneously looked at Makai with their eyes filled with pity.
Watching your pity-filled eyes as they stared at him, Makai soon understood the reason when a great deal of information about the Mystic Valley emerged into his mind.
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