- Fantasy Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence
- FLDI Chapter 119
**Chapter 119: A Community of Interests, Further Integrating the Maine Alliance**
Doubt lingered in the hearts of the three dukes as they studied the mysterious Titan-scripted parchments. Unable to decipher them, they could only wonder about their significance.
Their attention soon shifted, however, as the Tulip Kingdom’s defenses faced yet another wave of orc attacks. This time, the orcs were even stronger, with the presence of a fifth-tier orc tribe. Fortunately, the kingdom had provided ample support, including eight Sky Knights and numerous Earth Knights. With nearly sixty percent of the kingdom’s visible strength concentrated here, the defensive line held firm despite the increased threat.
With the defenses stabilized, the Northern Province regained a semblance of order. Marquis Layman and others began clearing out the orc remnants from the northern region, and within two weeks, the majority of the invading orc tribes were annihilated. Only a few minor tribes managed to escape, their numbers too small to pose a threat.
After five long months, the turmoil in the Northern Province began to subside. While there were still minor orc incursions at the northern defensive line, and occasional infiltrations, they were significantly less severe. This newfound stability brought relief to the remaining pioneers and even the elite noble lords of the region, who had feared that a full-blown orc war was imminent.
For Thor, this development was a positive one. It meant he could now proceed with his plans to return home. However, before departing, he needed to finalize both his development projects and the Maine Alliance.
On the home front, the aftermath of the Minotaur conflict and the newly acquired lands required development, and the spoils of the conflict needed to be processed. Back in the West, Thor devoted his full attention to restructuring his territory.
Over the past months, with an influx of resources, personnel, and goblin laborers, the development of Eagle Territory had accelerated rapidly, almost visibly transforming before his eyes.
Simultaneously, Thor sought to consolidate the Maine Alliance. Through the Minotaur conflict and subsequent campaigns, he had increasingly brought the alliance under his influence.
Although the alliance members were willing to follow his lead, he recognized that to maintain cohesion, he needed to establish common interests that would bind them all together.
The emerging trade routes in the West presented the perfect opportunity to align everyone’s interests. Just as he had shared profits with Rachios Assad, he could offer similar benefits to the pioneers in the Maine Valley.
By integrating their interests with his own, he could secure their loyalty while bolstering the security of his trade routes.
This plan required meticulous preparation. Not only would the noble lords contribute valuable resources from their territories, but they could also provide armed support, further strengthening the trade routes. After discussing the proposal with his brother and Barbros, both were in full agreement.
After months of preparation, Thor finalized his plans, ready to return home as soon as they were set in motion. From his castle, Thor laid down his pen and turned to his attendant.
“Karine, please make five copies of this letter, and have Perlos arrange for them to be delivered to each of the barons.”
“Yes, my lord.” Karine responded promptly and left to carry out his orders. Moments later, five knights departed the castle, each carrying a letter to a different pioneer lord.
The following day, the barons, despite their curiosity, promptly heeded Thor’s summons. By the third day, they had all arrived at Eagle Castle, though their curiosity grew as they noticed the presence of each other.
“Baron Pape, do you have any idea why Lord Thor summoned us here?” Baron Sache asked, glancing toward Pape Lawrence.
“Indeed, Baron Pape, do you know anything?” inquired Baron Valmy.
The other barons turned to Pape, who had had more contact with Thor and might hold some answers.
“I’m as much in the dark as the rest of you,” Pape responded with a wry smile. “I have no idea either.”
The others were taken aback. None of them had anticipated that Pape himself would be unaware of the purpose behind the invitation.
As they pondered this, Karine entered the room. “Lords, please follow me.”
They nodded, setting aside their curiosity as they followed her into the castle and into a meeting chamber where Thor awaited them.
“Lord Thor!” they greeted him, bowing respectfully.
“Gentlemen, I hope my sudden invitation hasn’t inconvenienced you,” Thor greeted them with a smile.
“Not at all, Lord Thor. It’s our honor to be here,” Baron Sache replied with a smile.
“Indeed, you’re being too modest!”
The others nodded in agreement.
“I’ve called you here to discuss the business of our trade consortium,” Thor began, shaking his head with a smile, opting to be direct. “As you know, I’ve established a consortium, and we’ve already decided to expand into the western part of the Northern Province. Compared to the east, the west is far more prosperous, offering much greater profit potential.”
“Of course, that’s not the main reason I brought you here today. I want to know if any of you might be interested in joining.”
Thor’s words had barely left his mouth when the five barons exchanged glances, breathing a bit more heavily, and one or two of them widened their eyes in surprise.
“Thor, did you just say…?” Baron Valmy spoke up, a flush of excitement coloring his face.
The others were equally taken aback. A trade consortium was no small opportunity, especially one that was about to expand into the western regions. It was akin to a fortune falling from the sky.
“Thor, are you serious?” asked Baron Joz Anubi, eyeing Thor intently.
“This is no joke,” Thor replied, his expression becoming more serious. “I’m offering a 24% share to be divided among those who join. You’ll have the chance to invest based on your own capacity. For instance, five percent for a Grand Knight, half a percent for a Formal Knight, and a tenth of a percent for an Apprentice Knight. What do you think?”
Thor had already planned this, having previously agreed with Barbros, Rachios, and Tonno to allocate 3% each, while he retained 15%. Altogether, that was 24% set aside for the Maine Alliance barons.
Hearing this, the five barons were visibly excited but also fell into quiet contemplation.
After a moment, Joz Anubi broke the silence. “Thor, I can provide one Grand Knight, two Formal Knights, and ten Apprentice Knights. Would a seven percent stake suffice?”
“That would be more than fair,” Thor nodded, slightly surprised by Joze’s boldness.
“I’ll contribute four Formal Knights and twenty Apprentice Knights,” said Baron Graton. “I’d ask for a four percent share.”
“A Grand Knight, four Formal Knights, and ten Apprentice Knights,” declared Baron Pape, gritting his teeth. “I’d like an eight percent share.”
Pape’s offer surprised everyone, including Thor.
“Thor, I hope this is acceptable?” Baron Pape asked, his request clear as he made it known that he himself would act as the Grand Knight.
“Absolutely,” Thor replied with a smile, understanding that Baron Pape had likely begun to transfer his responsibilities to his eldest son and could now offer himself as a resource.
Seeing this, Barons Valmy and Sache hesitated. Unlike Baron Pape, they didn’t have suitable heirs to leave their territories to and couldn’t afford to abandon their lands entirely for the consortium.
In the end, Baron Valmy offered four Formal Knights and ten Apprentice Knights for a three percent share, while Baron Sache contributed two Formal Knights and ten Apprentice Knights, securing a two percent share.
With the 24% share fully distributed, the consortium’s composition had become even more robust: Rachios held 5%, Barbros held 9%, Tonno held 12%, Thor retained 50%, and the remaining barons received shares as follows: Pape at 8%, Joz Anubi at 7%, Graton at 4%, Valmy at 3%, and Sache at 2%.
*(End of Chapter)*