- Fantasy Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence
- FLDI Chapter 94
Chapter 94: The Sensation in Loren City
Outside Eagle Ridge.
A large entourage arrived in grand fashion.
“Is that Eagle Ridge ahead?”
“Quite unexpected, isn’t it?”
Seeing the golden rice fields and the neatly arranged, densely packed buildings, Frank Corrado was a bit surprised.
When he received Marquis Lehmann’s request to verify the situation, he had already been somewhat taken aback.
He was well aware of the chaotic state of the Northern Province at this time.
That someone had achieved the merits required for baronial promotion amidst such turmoil was astonishing enough.
And when Thor Dresrosa’s details arrived, he was even more surprised.
That this pioneer knight had only been a pioneer lord in the Northern Province for a year.
In just one year, he had already earned the merits needed for a baronial title.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen anything like this in the Northern Province.
But once he learned that Thor was a scion of the Dresrosa family, he found it more understandable.
Yet that understanding vanished when he saw Eagle Ridge in person. He couldn’t help but be shocked again. Eagle Ridge, in such a state, didn’t look like it had been developed for just a year. Even lords who had been pioneering for more than three years rarely reached this scale.
Even as a descendant of Dresrosa, this was quite remarkable.
Given the current situation, the kingdom’s assessment might already meet the necessary requirements.
While he was still marveling at this, Thor and his entourage—Steve, Perlos, and others—had arrived to greet them within Eagle Ridge.
“Officer Franz! Inspector Frank Corrado, welcome to both of you.”
Thor smiled as he dismounted his horse and offered a knightly greeting to the two men.
“Lord Thor, you’re too kind!”
“We’ll be imposing on you for a few days.”
Frank Corrado replied with a smile, showing no sign of arrogance toward Thor.
Although he was a kingdom inspector and a noble, he dared not underestimate pioneering nobles.
Two of the three dukes of the Tulip Kingdom had risen from pioneering lords.
Not to mention that Marquis Lehmann himself was once a pioneering lord.
“Inspector, you honor me with your words!”
“A banquet has been prepared at the castle.”
Thor nodded with a smile and led the two of them into Eagle Ridge.
As they entered, Frank Corrado became even more aware of the unique energy within Eagle Ridge.
Having served as a kingdom inspector in the Northern Province for five years, he had seen many territories, but none were as vibrant and full of life as Eagle Ridge.
Along the way, whether they were serfs, knights, or free citizens, all greeted Thor with respect.
Frank Corrado could clearly see the admiration on their faces for their lord, Thor.
It was a level of devotion one only saw in the most loyal of knightly retainers.
Yet, here in Eagle Ridge, everyone was like that.
Even the serfs, who would normally be indifferent, displayed the same enthusiasm.
It was incredible.
Frank Corrado’s assessment of Thor rose even higher.
The banquet began.
Plate after plate of fine food was brought out.
Frank Corrado and Thor conversed, their smiles never fading.
Night gradually passed.
The following day arrived.
Accompanied by Perlos, Frank Corrado began verifying the details of the war.
It wasn’t a complicated task.
Especially since the battle with the minotaurs had been so significant, it made verification even easier.
In less than three days, Frank Corrado had completed the investigation.
At Eagle Castle.
“My goddess of life, Lord Thor, I must say, I am astounded.”
“That was a herd of thousands of minotaurs, including thirteen second-tier minotaurs. Even Marquis Lehmann’s Eagle Knights might have had trouble with them, but you managed to defeat them.”
“Any other cowardly fools would have fled by now.”
Frank Corrado spoke with genuine admiration.
No one knew just how shocked he had been after verifying the battle.
A herd of thousands of minotaurs was enough to overwhelm 99% of the noble lords in the Northern Province.
And yet, they had been defeated.
It was nothing short of a miracle.
“Viscount Frank Corrado, it was mostly luck.”
“Besides, this is the land the kingdom entrusted to us. As its lord, I must take responsibility for the land and its people. No matter how slim the chances, I couldn’t abandon them.”
Thor smiled and shook his head, speaking with sincerity.
“Well said!”
“Lord Thor, you are indeed a worthy lord, and I believe you will make an excellent baron.”
“The baronial conferment ceremony will take place in Loren City in fifteen days. You’ll need to arrive three days beforehand.”
Frank Corrado nodded and spoke earnestly to Thor.
“Thank you!”
“I will make sure to arrive early.”
Thor nodded in return, feeling a surge of excitement as he responded with seriousness.
“Until we meet again, Lord Thor.”
Frank Corrado waved before departing with his entourage from Eagle Ridge.
Thor and his men watched them leave until they disappeared from sight.
“My lord!”
“Sir!”
Steve, Raine, and Perlos spoke up, their eyes also filled with excitement.
“Prepare everything. Make sure Eagle Ridge doesn’t need any additional supplies. Raine, handle any pending matters, and in three days, we’ll head to Loren City.”
“Steve, reassign personnel to guard the iron mines, and Perlos, you’ll manage Eagle Ridge’s affairs. If anything comes up, contact Baron Papé or the other two barons.”
Thor’s heart was pounding. After a full year, he had finally reached this point. How could he not be excited?
The excitement even seeped into his words.
Yet, despite the thrill, Thor swiftly made the necessary arrangements.
The war was over.
In the past few days, many matters at Eagle Ridge had been settled.
Now it was time to resume production.
Steve was the perfect person to handle that.
As for Perlos, being a senior knight, he was responsible for training the fledgling knight corps and ensuring the security of Eagle Ridge.
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
The three men quickly responded.
They didn’t have much objection to this.
Even though Steve and Perlos had the desire to accompany Thor to Loren City, they understood that the territory was Thor’s most important concern. As senior knights, they couldn’t leave their posts at this time.
Eagle Ridge began its preparations.
Three days later.
Thor set off in grand fashion with Raine and twenty full-fledged knights.
Their destination: Loren City.
Seven days later.
Frank Corrado returned to Loren City.
The news was quickly reported to Marquis Lehmann.
“Oh, what a surprise. The descendants of Dresrosa never cease to amaze,” he mused.
“Pass the word. You can release the news now,” Marquis Lehmann instructed a nearby knight.
“Yes!”
The knight responded promptly and quickly left.
Soon after.
An astonishing piece of news spread throughout Loren City.
After three years, Marquis Lehmann would once again personally conduct a conferment ceremony.
The Northern Province would see the rise of a new baron.
The news spread like a whirlwind.
At that moment, Loren City was already crowded, filled with people due to the chaos in the Northern Province and the flight of many pioneering lords.
The city had become somewhat cramped.
Worse still was the oppressive atmosphere in the air.
The loss of lands, the orc threat—these crises weighed heavily on many, leaving them breathless.
This news, like a magical crystal cannon exploding on the surface of a calm lake, created massive waves of shock.
After all, while most people were fleeing and losing their lands, someone was being conferred the title of baron. How could this not be shocking?
“My gods, hasn’t the kingdom’s assessment process even begun yet?”
“Goddess of Life, did I mishear?”
“My goddess, this!”
“Could it be due to military merit?”
“But a baron’s merits require 100 points, and a second-tier orc is only worth 10 points. How could that be possible?”
Voices filled with astonishment and disbelief rang out among the people.
In total, the Northern Province had produced over fifty barons, many of whom had earned their titles through military merit. But that was in the past. It had been three years since a new baron was last created in the Northern Province.
Even the kingdom’s assessments had failed to meet the necessary requirements.
Now, a new baron had suddenly emerged, and it left people in awe.
Amid these reactions, more news quickly spread.
This time, it was about the battle in the Maine River Valley.
And when this news was shared, even more people were left wide-eyed in disbelief.
A tribe of second-tier minotaurs—no, not just any tribe, but the remnants of a third-tier minotaur tribe—had been wiped out by a pioneering lord.
“How… how did they do that?”
“I want to know too! Can anyone explain this to me?”
“How did they pull it off? I heard the one being conferred is Thor Dresrosa, a descendant of the Dresrosa family.”
“Thor Dresrosa? A Dresrosa descendant? This… this!”
“Those damn upper nobles! Not only do they control the kingdom’s most fertile lands, now they’re taking our opportunities too!”
“Hahaha, Monte, are you trying to make me laugh to death? Take your opportunity? Isn’t your land still in the hands of those filthy green goblins?”
“Hahaha, green goblins? No way, no way, is someone really losing to green goblins?”
“Bahaha!”
“Robert, you’re asking for trouble!”
“Hahaha, what if I am? Do you dare face me on the dueling stage?”
“Oh wait, I forgot—your noble title was revoked this year, wasn’t it? Seems like you’re not even eligible anymore!”
“Hahaha!”
The news swept through Loren City like a whirlwind, turning the entire city into a hub of excitement.
And for the first time, the name Thor Dresrosa echoed throughout the city.
A baron.
The first baron in three years.
And he was a descendant of the Dresrosa family.
Even some noble lords who hadn’t fled the Northern Province began paying attention to this name.
“Thor Dresrosa?”
“Tonno would certainly want to hear this news.”
In a tavern, a middle-aged man chuckled softly.
Elsewhere.
In a room, a young man frowned.
“Dresrosa!”
“What good fortune!”
“Has Marquis Lehmann agreed to our proposal?”
The young man spoke and then turned to his attendant knight, his tone stern.
“Yes, sir. Marquis Lehmann has agreed, but you must ensure the orc tribes within 500 miles west of Autumn Leaf Territory are cleared within three months.”
The attendant knight replied respectfully.
“Five hundred miles, huh?”
“I understand.”
“Go inform Marquis Lehmann that we accept.”
The young man hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded in agreement.
The range of 500 miles was vast, but if he could accomplish this, he would surely qualify for the title of baron as well.
As a newly arrived pioneering lord in the Northern Province—and a member of a marquis family, sent here by his elder brother—he had no desire to slowly build up his territory.
“Yes, sir!”
The attendant knight responded and swiftly left.
Meanwhile, the whirlwind of news continued to rage across Loren City.
Some were amazed, some sighed.
Some were envious.
And some were resentful.
The imminent rise of a new baron had stirred the entire city.
Marquis Lehmann paid no mind to the commotion.
In comparison, the turmoil in the Northern Province was a much more pressing concern.
Fortunately, the situation in the Northern Province involved orc raids rather than a full-scale war, which gave many pioneering lords—and even noble lords—a chance to earn military merit. The situation hadn’t spiraled out of control.
After all, compared to an orc war, these raids weren’t as lethal.
Normally, the kingdom could suppress them, and during this process, some military merit could be gained.
In the kingdom, the only way to advance in noble rank was through military merit.
Earning the title of baron required 100 points, viscount 1,000 points, and earl 10,000 points.
Merit, even for viscounts, was a huge incentive, let alone for barons and pioneering lords.
Any opportunity for merit was something that no pioneering lord with strength would pass up.
Some might even actively participate.
And while they were purging the orcs, they wouldn’t mind cleaning out a few rival pioneering lords along the way.
(End of chapter)