Chapter 170: Punishment Cannot Be Reduced!

{Information II: Your five official knight subordinates, having been nurtured by your abundant resources and tempered by this war, will today gradually breakthrough into the Grand Knight realm!

{Information III: The iron ore you purchased from Baron Pat has, after this period of exploration, been assessed with four viable mining directions.

However, only the two central directions lead directly to the main iron vein.

The left and right ones are merely branches, and will be exhausted after two or three months of mining.

{Information IV: Autumn is approaching, and border territories are on the verge of harvest, while barbarian tribes, like sharks scenting blood, have begun roaming the kingdom's borders.

A group of over a thousand goblins has drifted and lurked near Baron Cain's territory.

Because Baron Cain's entire expeditionary force was annihilated, and he himself failed to return.

Upon learning this news, the goblin band plans to launch an attack on Baron Cain's territory this afternoon.

{Information V: As the culprit responsible for the tribe's army returning empty-handed this time,

you, Lord of Stormhold, Baron Gervas, have already drawn the attention of many tribal members.

Especially the tribal heirs, who recounted your cruelty after kidnapping them.

You constantly threatened to cut off their fingers and ears and noses—your reputation among the tribes has become utterly rotten!

{Information VI: Catherine has been at the Hernade family for several days and has finally received the royal court mage from the capital.

Under the court mage's Blood Truth incantation, Catherine was confirmed as true Hernade bloodline.

And Catherine finally learned the secret of her lineage.

It turned out that Catherine's mother was the illegitimate daughter of Duke Hernade, but interference from schemers prevented her mother from ever being known to the duke.

Last year, by chance, Duke Hernade revisited his old haunts and recalled a noble lady he once had an affair with.

He later learned the noble lady had long since died, leaving behind a daughter of unknown paternity who had married far into the southern frontier.

Only then did Hernade realize the noble lady's daughter might well be his own.

Through extensive searches, he found Catherine!

This morning, Gervas woke naturally from sleep.

The daily information refreshed on schedule.

Upon hearing today's information, Gervas was both startled and delighted.

He had long yearned for the reward of his fief.

As a true-born transplant from Huaguo, Gervas carried within him the deep-rooted Huaguo obsession with land.

Now, as a noble lord, land was the very foundation of his existence.

More expansive land meant greater output of resources, more serfs to feed, and more soldiers to raise.

Thus, land was unquestionably the most vital element of a noble's foundation.

But this good news carried a troubling twist.

What was this scribe thinking? Trying to stir up trouble?

Instantly, Gervas lost all sleepiness and pulled the cord beside his bed to rise.

Still, today's information at the end carried immense weight.

Catherine was truly of ducal blood.

That meant she could now soar straight to the heavens?

Too bad Fario died too soon—otherwise, he'd have suffered greatly in the future.

Pata!

The bedroom door opened, and the voluptuous—no, the graceful—servant Carolyne entered gracefully.

"Good morning, Baron!"}

Carrying a copper basin, the young servant Carolyne curtsied sweetly to Gervas.

Her voice was soft and sweet; no one would guess that half a year ago she was famously fiery-tempered.

Of course, one must admit: the power of the baron title is truly immense.

Not only have your subordinates all walked with heads high and spirits bold,

even Carolyne the servant has grown more radiant and alluring.

"Carolyne, good morning to you too," Gervas replied with the detached composure of a noble lord.

The more he maintained this demeanor now, the brighter Carolyne's beautiful eyes became.

Not for any other reason.

This was the true mark of a capable man.

Carolyne began carefully attending to Gervas's washing and dressing.

During this process, her ample bosom repeatedly pressed against Gervas.

Gervas did not know whether Carolyne intended it, but given her devoted attitude now, he chose not to rebuke her for taking advantage.

"My Lord Gervas, when the Tulip Trading Company's caravan departed yesterday, Steward John had already entrusted them with the news of your promotion to baron!"}

"Lord Andru and Lady Mary will surely be delighted and honored by this!"}

"I believe my father will be happy—I'm certain of that—but my stepmother? She'd be lucky if she didn't lose her appetite from rage!"}

"Hehehe! That's fine too—who deserves it more than you, My Lord Gervas, after how badly Lady Mary treated you?"}

Good heavens! Gervas exclaimed inwardly.

Your personal maid, betraying your former master like this—is that proper?

Before Gervas could question her, the servant continued sweetly, "After Lady Mary sold me to My Lord Gervas, I became your property!"}

"My entire being now belongs to My Lord Gervas!"}

"And I swear by the God of Glory: I, Carolyne, will never betray My Lord Gervas in this life!"}

Good heavens! Gervas exclaimed again.

"Carolyne, for your diligence, I reward you with this necklace—and I'll reduce today's daily punishment by one slap!"}

The necklace had been taken from the tribal heirs.

They likely acquired it from southwestern noble families; worth roughly two or three gold coins.

Gervas had stored it in his space ring all along.

The sweet servant's eyes nearly melted at the sight.

"Thank you, my lord's grace!"}

"But my lord, I accept the necklace as reward—but please do not reduce the daily punishment. After all… after all, if you lessen it, what if I don't learn deeply enough and make another mistake?"}

What if?

Papatapata!

Then the punishment shall be doubled.

Amidst the waves of motion, Gervas asked: "Carolyne, have you remembered now?"}

"My lord, I… I remember!"}

That damned sweet voice.

Gervas dared not linger—he hurried straight to the dining hall.

As agreed, before the 'mistress' was found to suppress her, Carolyne the little temptress was not to be fed.

…}

"My lord, according to the report from the mining master hired from Ironwolf City, he has identified four directions highly likely to be the main iron veins."}

"However, due to limited underground passages, we cannot mine them simultaneously—you must now decide which direction to pursue!"}

At the dining table, old John reported on the estate's various matters.

The latest progress on the iron mine was undoubtedly the most important.

Fortunately, Gervas had already learned the true direction of the main vein from the information.

"Old John, I will personally select the mining direction later."}

"But first, you must prepare for something more urgent: the emissary from Eagle City will arrive at Stormhold this morning—here to grant my fief reward!"}

"The fief reward has finally come? Very good, my lord! I shall begin preparations at once!"}

Hearing the fief reward was finally arriving, old John's wrinkled face broke into an unprecedented smile.