Chapter 171: Storm Domain's Sucker?

"Clerk Neo, look, ahead is the Storm Domain, rumored to have seen three nobles die within ten years! Tsk tsk, truly unexpected; it looks quite prosperous."

Neo nodded. "It seems this Viscount Gervas does have some ability, managing this land of death so well. However..."

Neo shifted his tone. "However, this fellow offended Minister Weilade, didn't you all know?"

"What? He offended Minister Weilade? Is that true?"

"Minister Weilade's son was sentenced to hanging, you all know that, right?"

"Clerk Neo, we all heard about this. It seems Minister Weilade's my lord's son made a grave mistake during this expedition, so he was sentenced to hanging..." the subordinates answered cautiously, somewhat reserved.

"That's right. Let me tell you, I heard it was because of this Baron Gervas's testimony that Minister Weilade's son's crime was confirmed, and then he was sentenced to hanging!"

"Your Excellency Clerk, what do you mean?"

"My meaning is simple: can we find a way to teach this young noble a lesson while also gaining some benefits?!"

"I think Minister Weilade my lord must also want to deal with this young noble right now, but he cannot act directly, otherwise others will deem it a revenge for an opportunity!" Neo whispered.

Several subordinates' eyes lit up; they were not particularly interested in helping Minister Weilade teach the young noble a lesson.

After all, if they really did this, Minister Weilade would not look favorably upon them, these little ants.

But the phrase "gain some benefits" sparked their interest.

"Clerk Neo, what should we do?"

"Just watch my actions when the time comes!"

"Your Excellencies, welcome to the Storm Domain. I am John, the butler of the Storm Domain, specially assigned by my lord Gervas to receive you all!"

At the castle gate, old John, having been notified by the guards in advance, personally welcomed Neo and his party.

To show welcome, a red carpet was even laid out on the ground.

Originally, with the status of a clerk, one certainly could not receive such treatment.

But since this concerned the land grant for his own my lord's territory, to ensure a good omen and smooth proceedings, old John certainly would not be stingy or negligent about this.

However, facing old John's enthusiasm, Clerk Neo and the group did not really accept it.

The crowd merely nodded lightly, offering no further expression.

Old John paused in surprise, but at this moment, he had not yet realized the severity of the situation.

He simply assumed the few of them had not seen any tribute.

Because any noble who has dealt with officials under the Governor's Office knows this.

Some greedy envoys are like this before they get their money.

So, he continued inviting everyone into the castle, then arranged for them to be seated in the guest reception dining hall.

At this moment, the dining hall was prepared with abundant delicacies; not only were there meat soups and roasted meats, but even lobster and fresh sea fish, delicacies rarely eaten in other places, were present.

"Your Excellencies, please do not be polite. You have traveled far and endured hardship on the road; these delicacies were specially prepared by our Storm Domain to entertain you all!"

Several assistants beside Neo could not stop swallowing saliva upon seeing this.

Originally, they thought this mission was to go to this border region, with no profit to be gained.

But who would have thought they could encounter such a good thing.

They had also heard of that fresh sea fish and the big lobster.

In Eagle City, those were seafood only true nobles could taste.

Their value was several silver coins, or even dozens of silver coins.

A flicker of desire also flashed in Neo's eyes, but he forcibly suppressed his expression.

He spoke indifferently, "Not bad, then we won't be polite!"

Immediately, at his signal, everyone quickly started eating.

Seeing this, old John frowned, but he still temporarily withdrew from the dining hall, not disturbing these people.

"Butler my lord, these fellows are really too impolite!"

Having exited the dining hall, the servant beside old John immediately could not hold back.

Although old John was dissatisfied with the attitude of these envoys, he was after all an experienced butler.

For the sake of his own my lord, he did not mind enduring some anger.

"Go fetch the money bags I prepared earlier. Oh, and add some copper coins to a few of the money bags!"

"This... you want to add copper coins too?"

"Go if I tell you to go! Don't ruin my lord's great matter!" Seeing the male servant's unwilling face, old John immediately warned aloud.

"Yes, Butler my lord!" the male servant replied gloomily, not daring to delay any further.

Not long after, the few people in the dining hall were full of wine and food, comfortably holding their bellies.

Seeing the servants temporarily leave, several assistants chuckled secretly: "Clerk Neo, this seafood is truly delicious; this is the most delicious lunch I have tasted in twenty years!"

"Haha, yes, Clerk Neo, truly unexpected; the Storm Domain actually has such strength!"

"It is good to have this strength; only then can we get more benefits next. Continue to be cold towards them later; since we encountered such a sucker, if we don't squeeze out more, we would be letting down our own trip!"

"No problem! Clerk Neo, we will listen to you!"

"Your Excellencies, were you satisfied with the reception just now?"

Learning that the few had finished their meal, old John returned to the dining hall.

"It certainly cannot compare to Eagle City, but in this countryside place, it is passable!" Neo spoke indifferently.

Upon hearing this, the servants' eyes could almost spit fire.

Old John was not angered, but continued immediately: "Your Excellencies, you should have rested enough by now? Then, I wonder if the matter of my lord granting the land can be announced?"

"Hmm, we have rested enough, but... I wonder if the butler knows some rules?" Neo spoke indifferently.

Old John understood immediately, waving his hand at the servant beside him, and the servant promptly delivered more than a dozen bulging money bags before these envoy members.

Several assistants behind Neo took the money bags, feeling their bulging fullness and weight, and instantly beamed with joy.

In the past, they had received many benefits, but a bag so full of money was truly a first.

This amount must be at least several hundred copper coins?

That was indeed the case; each of these assistants' money bags held three hundred copper coins, three times the normal "rule."

And Neo's share was even greater, with five gleaming silver coins placed atop the full pile of copper coins.

The total value amounted to eight silver coins, equivalent to a month's salary for him.

"Scribe Neo, is it acceptable now?"

Because the money bags had been deliberately left slightly open, Neo saw everything clearly.

He showed a slightly satisfied expression, "Very well, since you understand the rules, I shall now proclaim the decree of reward!"

Of course, do not think Neo was content with merely eight silver coins.

For this was only the beginning.

The reason nobles could do nothing against such a mere scribe, at most a petty official holding the honorary title of a minor knight,

was that during the process of granting fiefs, there remained one crucial step firmly controlled by the scribe.