Chapter 514: The Grant Decree Arrives!

After inspecting Weilade's assets, Gervas decided to maintain the status quo.

Although the servants in the manor had fled, the serfs at the farmland outside the city had not.

First, they were of low status and had no money.

Second, as serfs, they were property, not free people, so even if the entire Weilade family were purged, they would not be targeted.

Of course, these serfs only knew how to farm and raise livestock; to restore this enterprise to operation, someone needed to manage it.

Eagle City was at least five days' journey from Storm Domain; Gervas could not manage it personally.

Old John certainly could not come either.

"Ronil! Weilade was executed by the kingdom—do you harbor thoughts of revenge?"

"Also, you know Weilade had past grievances with me—do you intend to seek revenge for Weilade too?"

Thud!

Ronil was so terrified he collapsed to his knees.

"Lord Gervas, I dare not! Although I truly feel… sorrow over Weilade's death!"

"But Weilade colluded with beastmen—I know no crime is more despicable than this!"

"So I am only worried the kingdom might hang me too; I never once thought of avenging Weilade… my lord."

"As for seeking revenge against Lord Gervas—I wouldn't dare even if I had a hundred lives!"

Gervas carefully observed Ronil's demeanor and found no sign of deception.

He nodded in satisfaction: "Ronil, I have two options for you!"

"First, I'll give you five gold coins as a reward—you leave immediately."

"Second, you stay on as estate steward and manage all of Weilade's assets in Eagle City!"

"And I'll raise your salary by thirty percent over what Weilade paid you."

Although Ronil was Weilade's steward, as he himself said, Weilade was convicted by the kingdom—on charges of treason.

If he still dared show loyalty to Weilade and seek revenge, the kingdom wouldn't spare him.

So Gervas judged Ronil still usable.

At least for now, during this transitional period.

Later, Gervas would send a group of serfs to manage the manor and the shops.

With that, all other laborers would be his own people, leaving Ronil powerless to cause trouble.

If Ronil works diligently from now on, Gervas wouldn't mind keeping him on.

But if he harbors other intentions, Gervas would not be merciful.

Besides, with the intelligence system, he had no need to fear Ronil's betrayal—he trusted the system would issue a warning.

Upon hearing Gervas's words, Ronil trembled all over.

"Th-this… th-this…"

"What? Are you unwilling?"

Ronil immediately exclaimed: "No… no, Lord Gervas, I accept! I accept!"

It was no wonder Ronil was so excited; as he said, he truly feared the kingdom would come for him.

Even if the kingdom ignored a lowly worm like him, after the estate handover, nobles within the city would surely eye him.

As Weilade's steward, he owned over a hundred gold coins' worth of property in the city.

To a great noble like Gervas, this meant nothing—but to minor nobles and officials, it was a feast.

If lucky, he might flee with a portion of his wealth.

If unlucky, they might cut the roots to kill the plant.

So if Gervas would take him in, even if his salary were reduced, he'd still accept.

With a count's protection, no one in Eagle City would dare touch him.

"Enough! Since you accept, then rise!"

"Yes! Thank you, Lord Gervas, for your grace!"

"Hmm? Still not changing your address?"

"Yes, Lord Gervas!"

…

Time turned to the next day.

No sooner had Gervas opened his eyes than he heard good news from Dingding's daily intelligence report.

The imperial grant decree had finally arrived.

But the decree's contents made Gervas ponder deeply.

"Gervas, are you up? Good news—the grant decree's here!"

Before Gervas could think further, Mil's voice rang from outside the door.

Gervas and his party had checked into the manor the night before.

So Mil's shouts in the corridor were clearly audible to Gervas.

"Really? Mil, I'm coming!"

Hearing this, Gervas feigned surprise and prepared to rise and wash up.

Ten minutes later, Gervas finally stepped out of his room.

Mil and the others, who had been pacing anxiously at the staircase, perked up instantly.

"Gervas, you're finally ready—hurry, I can't wait to see where the granted lands are!"

Gervas, you're finally well—hurry, I can hardly wait to see where the granted lands are!

"That's right! I wonder if His Majesty will be generous and grant us more land!"

Gervas heard this and recalled the intelligence reports.

One of them specifically concerned their territory.

So, they were clearly overestimating things.

Land was precious to the King, especially now that expansion was growing ever harder.

Thus, the King had granted only the bare minimum of land, sufficient to match their viscount rank.

As for the terrain of the territory, it was neither good nor bad—mostly forested hills, with only a small portion of flat ground.

So, they wouldn't get a single advantage out of it.

Of course, Gervas certainly wouldn't tell them this now.

"Fine! Then let's go see it! Gentlemen, let's set out!!" Gervas wasted no time.

Thus, Gervas and Mil and the others hurried to the Department of Civil Affairs.

They didn't need to ask; the sheer presence of the count's carriage drew a clerk from the Department of Civil Affairs forward with caution.

Once the purpose was clarified, the clerk promptly led Gervas and the others into a spacious hall within the Department.

This hall was clearly meant for hosting high nobility—not only vast in area, but also extravagantly decorated.

"Respected Lord Count, and esteemed Lord Viscounts, please wait here a moment; I shall immediately notify the Cabinet Official!"

After ushering them into the reception hall, the clerk promptly took his leave and hurried away.

After roughly four or five minutes, a commotion sounded outside the door.

Just as Gervas and the others assumed it was the Cabinet Official arriving, they soon realized it was not.

It was Carteri Duke Lieshi, whom they had met once in the capital.

"It's him! That fellow who only got his title because of his family!"

Mil and the others immediately began whispering among themselves.

As for Gervas's ennoblement, they accepted it wholeheartedly.

But Carteri Duke Lieshi's earldom—Mil and the others all felt it was unjust.

After all, they themselves had fought tooth and nail just to earn the chance to be promoted from baron to viscount.

Yet Carteri had leapt straight to the rank of Kingdom Earl without lifting a finger.

Of course, who could blame him—he was a scion of the Lieshi family.

As Carteri finally stepped into the hall, Mil and the others instantly fell silent.

"Oh? Isn't that Lord Gervas? What a coincidence!"

Carteri entered the hall, chin raised, glancing around—and when he spotted Gervas, his eyes flickered with a hint of amusement.