- Fantasy Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence
- FLDI Chapter 165
Rachos was different from Raine, Pelos, and Steve. Rachos operated more like an affiliate than a subordinate. Though he referred to Thor as “my lord,” there was no strict hierarchy between them. In theory, Rachos was qualified to become a pioneer knight himself.
Thor was highly satisfied with this man.
The Eagle Chamber of Commerce was almost entirely Rachos’ creation. Even now, he was tirelessly working to expand its influence. Remarkably, despite having ample opportunity, Rachos hadn’t once requested to become a pioneer lord.
Thor believed Rachos still desired that status. After all, becoming a pioneer lord was the best way to gain a title of nobility. With this in mind, Thor decided to give Rachos the chance—a real opportunity to earn a title.
This wasn’t ancient China.
In ancient China, splitting profits or power could result in dire consequences. But in this medieval feudal era, granting subordinates nobility and lordship was the most effective and straightforward way to inspire loyalty.
Thor had no reservations about this. Even if Rachos became a pioneer lord, the essence of the relationship wouldn’t change. The core operations of the Eagle Chamber of Commerce remained firmly in Thor’s control.
“Sir!” Rachos trembled, his voice quivering with excitement as he heard Thor’s decision. He had indeed hoped for this opportunity, but his loyalty to Thor and the gratitude for everything Thor had done kept him from voicing his desire.
Yet Thor had taken the initiative to propose it.
“Do well!” Thor said earnestly, his gaze steady. “Rachos, I look forward to the day you become a baron.”
“Yes, my lord!” Rachos responded reverently, his voice louder than usual.
“Go!” Thor waved him off with a smile. “I’ll be returning to the territory soon. If there’s anything urgent, you can always come back to the Eagle Territory.”
“Yes!” Rachos answered and withdrew, elated. As he left, Thor fell into a brief moment of thought, planning his next moves.
When Pelos entered the room to inform him that preparations were complete, Thor’s mind snapped back to the present. With Anna’s help in organizing, they set out to return to the eastern lands.
Before leaving, Thor sent a letter to Tono to inform him of his departure.
The group traveled steadily, and seven days later, they returned to the Eagle Territory.
Compared to when Thor had left, little had changed. The golden wheat fields had been harvested, and slaves were now tilling the soil in preparation for next year’s planting. Smiles adorned every face. Even the slaves in the Eagle Territory were living lives unimaginable elsewhere, while the freemen enjoyed even better conditions.
Life here offered hope.
Slaves could aspire to become freemen, and freemen could dream of their children becoming knights. Even the slightest chance filled people with optimism. For knights, the path to greater achievements was clear—acquire enough merit points, and social mobility was within reach.
It was as if they were living in paradise.
“My lord!”
“Master!”
“Sir!”
“Lord Thor!”
As Thor’s group entered the town, people from all walks of life—knights, freemen, even slaves—bowed respectfully. This display of genuine loyalty and admiration did not go unnoticed by Avela, the elf maiden traveling with them. Her bright eyes sparkled with curiosity as she observed Thor, wondering what kind of person could inspire such heartfelt devotion.
Thor noticed her gaze but didn’t dwell on it. He led the group back to the castle, instructed Anna to arrange accommodations for Avela, and then retired to the study. There, he summoned the administrative officers of the Eagle Town to discuss recent developments.
In the month Thor had been away, significant changes had occurred. The Eagle Territory had absorbed three baronies—those of Baron Gratton, Baron Valmy, and Baron Saatchi—nearly doubling its size and population.
The territory now boasted six towns and a population exceeding 50,000. While this growth was impressive, integrating the new territories would take time. Reform efforts were still in their infancy, and fully absorbing these areas would require at least six months.
Thor, however, wasn’t in a hurry. His focus lay on long-term planning for the entire territory, particularly the frontier development project described by Cowit, one of his officers.
“Cowit, how is the progress?” Thor asked, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk.
Cowit, now deeply tanned and exuding the scent of earth, beamed with pride. “My lord, we should be able to complete it in four months. The Eagle River has already been extended by one-third.”
“Well done!” Thor praised but frowned slightly. “Four months is still too long. I’ll assign you an additional 5,000 slaves, 3,000 goblin slaves, and deploy 30 knights and 50 squires. Can it be done in three months?”
Cowit’s eyes lit up. “Yes, my lord! With such support, I can guarantee it’ll be done in two months.”
“Good!” Thor nodded. “If you complete it in two months, I’ll reward you with 500 merit points.”
“Thank you, my lord!” Cowit replied, visibly moved.
Hearing Thor’s words, Cowit’s eyes lit up.
Even though the merit system had recently been upgraded, 500 merit points remained an enormous reward—enough to secure his child a place in the fledgling Falcon Knights.
Such an outcome thrilled him beyond measure.
“Alright,” Thor continued. “That will be all for now. Make sure to manage those three new territories properly, and report anything important promptly.”
Thor nodded and gestured for the others to leave.
“Yes!” The officials bowed and retreated.
Left alone in the room, Thor began working through the accumulated paperwork from the Eagle Territory. It wasn’t until night fell that he finally stopped.
“Ah!” Thor exhaled deeply, stretching to ease his fatigue.
“It seems I’ll need to appoint a steward,” he muttered with a sigh and a shake of his head.
With the addition of three more territories, the workload in the Eagle Territory had significantly increased. Even with over a dozen administrators sharing the responsibilities, there was still no single person consolidating all the tasks, leading to numerous issues ultimately landing on Thor’s desk.
And that didn’t even include matters concerning the Eagle Chamber of Commerce. At this rate, Thor wouldn’t be able to leave his study for anything else.
But finding a steward—or, more accurately, a chief administrative officer—was a tricky task. Talents like that were rare everywhere, even among the most powerful noble families.
Hubs Merchant Guild wouldn’t have such individuals for sale, and appealing to his father would take far too long—at least three months for the back-and-forth, possibly longer. Thor didn’t have that kind of time to wait.
Knock, knock.
Thor tapped his fingers rhythmically on the desk, lost in thought. Moments later, his expression brightened.
“Perhaps I can select someone from the people my father assigned to me,” he murmured. His gaze drifted toward the three newly acquired territories, and his thoughts crystallized.
“Someone, come!” Thor called out.
A maid quickly entered the room. “Master?”
“Sophia, notify Cowit, Monken, and Joseph to come to the castle tomorrow,” Thor instructed. “As for Cowit, leave him out for now. Ask Raymond to come instead.”
Thor had already narrowed his choices to four candidates: Cowit, Monken, Joseph, and Raymond—his most trusted and capable subordinates. However, since Cowit was currently overseeing the Eagle River project, Thor decided to temporarily exclude him and focus on the other three.
There would still be opportunities for Cowit later. Thor had already formulated a plan.
Instead of establishing a traditional steward like his father or other nobles, Thor intended to create a Chief Administrative Officer position. This officer would not hold a lifetime appointment but would rotate periodically, ensuring accountability and fresh perspectives. This system would also keep the other administrators motivated by offering a clear path to advancement.
Of course, the specifics still needed refinement. After all, this world wasn’t the same as the one Thor had come from, and not everything could be copied directly. However, this was something that could evolve gradually—refinements could be made as the system was implemented.
“Yes, Master!” Sophia replied respectfully before retreating to carry out Thor’s orders.
Thor’s instructions were quickly conveyed, and the three selected administrators received the summons.
—-
The Third Day
The three administrators—Monken, Joseph, and Raymond—returned to the castle, each filled with curiosity about why Thor had called for them. As it happened, they were currently overseeing the three new frontier territories, a deliberate arrangement by Thor. Being the most competent among the fifteen administrators, they were tasked with stabilizing the new territories, and they had excelled in doing so. In just one month, all three territories had reached a basic level of stability.
Inside the study, Thor was reviewing documents when a knock on the door interrupted him.
Knock, knock.
“Come in,” Thor said, setting aside his work.
The door opened, and the three administrators entered.
“My lord!” They bowed deeply, their respect for Thor evident.
Thor’s accomplishments had left them awestruck. In less than two years, their lord had transformed the pioneer territory into a sprawling domain. As officials of the Dressrosa family, they knew well that even many viscount families, some with histories spanning three or four centuries, couldn’t boast of such achievements.
“You’re here,” Thor said, his tone calm. “I’ve summoned you because I plan to establish a Chief Administrative Officer position in the Eagle Territory. You three are the most qualified candidates, and I want to give you the opportunity. What do you think?”
The three froze momentarily, stunned. Then their breathing grew heavier as the significance of Thor’s words sank in.
“Oh, and the Chief Administrative Officer will earn 30 merit points per month,” Thor added, almost as an afterthought.
That single sentence heightened their excitement further.
Since arriving in the Eagle Territory, they had come to understand the value of merit points. Fifty points could grant a freeman’s child entry into the Preparatory Knights, while their current rate of five points per month required nearly a year of flawless service to accumulate such an amount. Any mistakes would result in deductions, potentially stretching that timeline even further.
But with 30 merit points per month, they could earn enough to secure their children’s futures in just two months. Such an opportunity was irresistible.
(End of Chapter)