Howard pondered deeply.

Hof, true to his nickname “The Viper”, was unguarded in his speech, even revealing the dishonorable act of sending an assassin to murder Mibo.

Such audacity was characteristic of a man with his reputation.

Reflecting on Hof’s words, Howard realized something Mibo hadn’t told him: before the assassination attempt, Mibo had first planned to unlawfully strip Hof of his title.

Weighing his words carefully, Howard addressed Hof, “Hof, we are nobles, and our actions must consider honor. Sending an assassin to kill Mibo is a dishonorable act. Where is your knightly spirit? Your noble integrity?”

Hof, draining his wine glass, his eyes turning fierce, retorted venomously, “Hmph, old Mibo wanted to take my territory, which is as good as wanting my life. He sought my life first, so I targeted his. How does this violate the spirit of knighthood?”

Howard shook his head.

“Hof, this is sophistry. Territory is territory, life is life. Even if Mibo had stripped you of your baronetcy, you would still have your fortune and life. But if your plot to assassinate Mibo had succeeded, he would have lost everything.”

Hof’s patience was wearing thin, his tone tinged with arrogance.

“So, Howard, are you saying you’re ready to become my enemy?”

Howard inhaled sharply, standing up defiantly, and said with an unwavering gaze, “Hof, consider your current situation carefully! If you don’t align with me, do you think you can still sit securely in this position?”

Hof’s expression turned grave upon hearing these words, pondering the underlying implications of Howard’s statement.

But Howard, truly angered, did not wait for Hof’s response and promptly left the lord’s hall with Nora.

As Howard and Nora made their way to the entrance of Castle Gajasu, they engaged in sporadic conversation.

Nora remarked that Hof was extraordinary, brazenly admitting to the assassination of a noble.

Either Hof was recklessly bold, or he possessed some real capability.

Howard’s eyes cooled slightly as he walked forward, saying to Nora, “No, Hof may appear to be a man of action, but in reality, he’s an impulsive fool with no foresight.”

After leaving Castle Gajasu, Howard and Nora set off for Wislot.

Wislot was a city within the Earldom of Nok, ruled by Count Mibo.

The earldom comprised four baronial territories.

One was directly controlled by Count Mibo, centered around Jackson Castle.

Another was the Gokasu Barony, under the rule of Baron Hof.

The third was Wislot City, governed by the Mayor of Portwan.

The fourth was the Fernsouth Barony, overseen by Howard.

Intriguingly, among these four territories, three were castles focused on military strategy.

It’s no wonder people often said that the minds of Nok’s people were never far from thoughts of war.

Out of these lands, only one was a city, and this city bore a significant economic role for Count Mibo.

Given such a structure, Count Mibo paid special attention to the Mayor of Wislot City.

Unlike the noble path followed by Howard and his company, the mayor was an elected position.

For instance, when a city was newly established, the superior lord would directly appoint someone as the first mayor.

Subsequent terms, however, were determined through elections.

The role of a mayor wasn’t hereditary and differed from the path of nobility.

Mayors didn’t have powerful conscripted armies; their strength lay in their financial resources.

In the eyes of a lord, they were a primary source of tax revenue.

In the afternoon, Howard and Nora made their way into Wislot City.

Unlike the barren villages or the militarily fortified castles, Wislot City struck its visitors with an immediate sense of chaotic opportunity.

The villages, with their sparse foot traffic, formed a scenic yet isolated part of the borderlands.

Due to their limited developmental capacity, these scattered hamlets rarely attracted merchants or those seeking fortunes.

Castles saw a slightly higher volume of people, but this was more a matter of geographical advantage than choice.

Originally built to guard strategic passes, castles often didn’t attract visitors so much as they intercepted them – people had to pass through these fortresses and then move on, rather than actively seeking them out for opportunities.

Cities, however, were a different world altogether, brimming with a sense that streets were paved with gold.

It seemed as though upon entering the city, wealth was just within one’s grasp.

Wealthy individuals rode high-stepping horses, their silk garments and cravats made of fine silk scarves spoke volumes of their affluence.

Their horsemanship was poor, Howard observed, thinking that even if they rode into battle, they would likely end up falling off their mounts.

Yet, the key point was not their riding skills, but the fact that these non-nobles possessed the means to afford horses!

A clear distinction was evident: ordinary villagers could neither afford to buy horses nor bear the cost of maintaining them.

For the nobility, renowned for their martial prowess, owning a warhorse was a commonplace affair.

But these wealthy individuals, lacking noble titles, showcased their surplus wealth through the ownership of their horses.

This was a vivid testament to the economic disparity and social structure within the city, painting a picture of a society where wealth, not lineage, defined one’s status and power.

Howard met with Mayor Portwan, who was seated in his office, silently sipping water.

Curious about the mayor’s choice of drink, Howard initiated a casual conversation before getting down to business.

“Mr. Portwan, I assume you are not poor. Why opt for plain water instead of fine wine?”

Mayor Portwan replied, “Lord Howard, I can indeed afford fine wines. However, I have a personal habit. I prefer not to drink alcohol when I’m about to engage in intense discussions. Alcohol tends to cloud my judgment on important matters.”

Hearing this, Howard realized that Mayor Portwan was a man of schemes.

Although Howard’s visit was ostensibly a friendly gesture to strengthen ties, Portwan seemed convinced that Howard had come to discuss serious matters.

Engaging in conversation with Mayor Portwan required caution.

However, having recently encountered several barons and even the Earl Mibo himself, Howard was no stranger to challenging situations and did not feel intimidated by Portwan’s insight.

Nodding in acknowledgment, Howard said, “You indeed have a keen eye, Mayor, to see through my intentions so clearly.”

Howard then broached the subject of Hof with Mayor Portwan.

Initially, Portwan vehemently denied any involvement in Count Mibo’s conspiracy against Baron Hof.

It wasn’t until Howard mentioned seeing Portwan’s name on the document he had signed that the mayor finally conceded.

Portwan’s stance was to assist Count Mibo in pressuring Baron Hof.

If Hof refused to comply, they planned to provoke a war against him and seize his title, displaying a particularly hardline attitude.

Howard feigned innocence and said to Portwan, “Ah, then I must extend my congratulations to you, Lord Portwan.”

Portwan, puzzled, responded, “Congratulations? For what?”

With wide eyes, mirroring the innocence of a child, Howard explained, “Congratulations on acquiring the Gokasu Barony! Think about it, my lord. By staunchly supporting Earl Mibo, he will surely be pleased with you. If Earl Mibo is satisfied, wouldn’t he reward you with Hof’s territory once it’s seized?”

Upon hearing this, Portwan’s eyes narrowed as if a sudden realization struck him.

Then, with a tinge of nervousness, he said, “No, it won’t be like that. I am not a noble. Even if I were to take over Castle Gajasu, I wouldn’t be able to rule it. If I, a non-noble, were to forcefully govern the Gokasu Barony, it would lead to many negative consequences. I couldn’t bear that. Besides, Earl Mibo, desiring the military strength and tribute of the Gokasu Barony, would certainly not entrust its management to me.”

In this world, there are three statuses above that of a commoner: the royal nobility, the merchant mayor, and the clergy.

Each of these statuses is restricted to ruling their respective domains.

As per the standards of nobility, Portwan is a commoner and thus incapable of governing a castle, a structure reserved for nobles.

Even if Portwan were given Castle Gajasu, the castle would suffer a significant decline in power due to the onslaught of adverse effects that would inevitably follow.

No matter how dedicated Portwan might be in his service, it was impossible for him to receive the Gokasu Barony as a reward.

Previously, Portwan had overlooked this critical point.

Howard’s reminder hit him like a bolt from the blue, sending cold sweat down his spine as he awoke from his delusion.

Suddenly feeling parched, Portwan quickly grabbed a cup from the table and took a sip of water.

Howard glanced back at Nora, who offered him a faint smile.

This issue was something they had discussed earlier, and revealing it to Portwan had indeed caused a significant emotional stir, disrupting his composure. 𝑖𝘦.𝒸𝘰𝘮

Regaining his posture, Portwan addressed Howard with due politeness, “I apologize, Lord Howard. I was blinded by greed and forgot about the crucial issue of status. You have caught me in a foolish moment.”

Howard waved his hand dismissively, his demeanor as serene as a passing cloud, “It’s of no consequence.”

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