“Or are you perhaps seeking a Barony?” Victor asked, an idea dangling in the air between them like a ripe fruit.
Leo’s thoughts raced as he processed the unexpected proposition. ‘A Barony?’ he wondered as a smile spread underneath his mask.
The notion hadn’t even brushed the edges of his mind until this very moment, yet the allure of such status was undeniably tempting.
While the system did not allow for him to join any faction officially, becoming a noble was a whole another deal.
While he had not confirmed with the system administrator if he could or could not accept the role of a Baron, he felt excited by the thought of becoming the lord of a land.
‘But is it allowed?’ Leo wondered, as the second this thought entered his mind, a system notification blasted in front of him.
[ System Notification – Does player ‘TheBoss’ wish to spend 2MP to find out if his special class is permitted to take up a noble title or not?
Yes
The system notification asked, as Leo silently chose ‘Yes’.
[ System Administrator Response – Yes, player ‘TheBoss’ is allowed to accept a nobility title within the Unity Empire ]
A system response notified Leo that he was indeed allowed to accept a nobility title, as Leo felt very excited about the prospect of becoming a noble.
He had walked into this conversation hoping for a hefty contract, something that would affirm his worth in gold and silver, but a nobility title… that was a different game altogether.
It was a leap from mere financial gain to a permanent stake in the realm’s fabric. The surprise of it was thrilling, and a calculating part of Leo couldn’t help but be excited about the broader implications.
“Well, East Duke, while a Barony wasn’t what I initially had in mind, I must admit the prospect holds a certain appeal,” Leo responded carefully, his tone measured to convey interest without seeming too eager.
Victor’s eyes lit up, a predatory glint of satisfaction flickering through them as he sensed Leo’s interest. “I thought it might,” he said with a smirk.
“You see, son, a man of your… unique capabilities should not merely be compensated. He should be invested in, rooted in the land he serves. A Baron in my Duchy isn’t just a title; it’s a statement, a declaration of trust and power.” Victor bullshitted, as although he offered Leo a Barony, he wasn’t being 100% faithful with his words and offer either.
Unaware of the intentions of the other party Leo nodded, his mind still whirling with the rapid ascent his fortunes seemed to be taking.
‘From a mercenary to potentially a Baron… the stakes are higher than I imagined, but so are the opportunities’ Leo thought, as he did not seem to suspect anything beyond the unconventional offer.
“I appreciate your confidence in me, East Duke. I believe I can serve your interests well, and a Barony would certainly provide the necessary influence and resources to do so effectively,” Leo said, his voice steady, projecting the assurance he hoped would seal this unprecedented deal.
Victor leaned back, a satisfied expression creasing his features. “Excellent! I’ll have my people draft the necessary documents. We’ll need to formalize this quickly, ideally before the end of the Grand Tournament. After all, there’s no time like the present to solidify such promising alliances.”
Victor appeared overly enthusiastic while saying this, as it was now that Leo started to feel skeptical about his offer.
“As for your duties and the scope of your authority, we will detail that in the coming days. But rest assured, you will have ample opportunity to deploy your… special skills,” Victor added, a hint of sarcasm underlying his words.
Leo couldn’t help but feel goosebumps down his spine, as the game seemed to have changed completely for him. If what Victor was offering now came true, then he was to transform from being a common player doing quests to a Lord managing a territory and carrying out hidden missions for the Duke.
As Victor signaled for an aide to approach and whispered some instructions in his ears to begin the process of formalizing the offer, Leo allowed himself a moment to scrutinize the offer that sounded too good to be true.
Unlike Cervantez, who was well-versed with the geography of the land and knew exactly which baronies were worth administering and which were not, Leo had no idea about such stuff.
When becoming a lord it was extremely important to choose the correct land to become a Baron of, and while Leo agreed to the East Duke’s offer, he was not cautious enough to specify as to which Barony he was to get.
Being the sly man that he was, Victor offered Leo Barony instead of a mercenary contract for the specific reason of scamming him, as within his region he had a Barony called the ‘CrestHill Barony’ which was currently in complete shambles.
Overrun by bandits and rebel groups, it was a Barony merchants seldom passed by and the overall tax revenue it generated did not even cross a million gold coins a year.
By assigning such a Barony to Leo, Victor was to save more money than paying him a mercenary contract while also gaining a loyal slave and a regional administrator for free.
Under such circumstances, if Leo somehow magically transformed the Barony into a proper liveable land, Victor planned on seizing it back in the next 2-5 years.
But if he failed to do so and also failed to carry out the ‘side’ missions assigned to him during his tenure as Baron, then Victor planned to cast him aside, citing poor administration as the official reason.
Either way, he stood to lose nothing from this deal and was hence very satisfied with its terms.