- Fantasy Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence
- FLDI Chapter 144
Outside of Eagle’s Reach, Thor soon spotted Tono and his entourage in the distance. This time, Tono had traveled light, accompanied by only twenty riders, their worn expressions hinting at a swift and exhausting journey.
As they noticed Thor and his group approaching, Tono and his men slowed their pace and dismounted.
“Brother!” Thor stepped forward to greet him.
“Thor!” Tono returned the greeting with a warm smile.
The two brothers embraced briefly, and then, under Thor’s guidance, the group made their way into the town.
“Thor, your development here is truly astonishing!” Tono remarked as he observed the rows of buildings, the busy inhabitants, and the expanse of farmland stretching beyond the town limits.
Having spent over a decade in the Northern Province, Tono was no stranger to land development, but the speed and scale of progress Thor had achieved in under two years surpassed anything he’d seen.
“Brother, you’re too kind!” Thor replied with a modest smile.
“No, really. I’ve seen the territories of several marquises’ heirs, and few have developed as quickly as this,” Tono said, his tone earnest.
Thor merely smiled in response, and soon, their conversation turned to other matters.
“Thor, when you were home, how was our father?” Tono asked, his voice softened with nostalgia.
“Father is well,” Thor replied with a smile. “In fact, there may be a pleasant surprise in a few years.”
“A surprise?” Tono looked intrigued.
“You’ll find out soon enough, Brother,” Thor replied mysteriously.
“Ha! I look forward to it, then,” Tono chuckled.
Once they reached the castle, Thor led Tono directly to the study instead of starting with a banquet as they usually did. After dismissing everyone else, Thor turned to his brother.
“How’s the situation?”
Tono’s expression grew serious, his brow furrowing as he responded, “Unfortunately, it’s not looking good.”
“What’s wrong?” Thor’s face clouded with concern. He hadn’t expected much from Tono’s attempt to rally other members of House Dressrosa, but Tono’s response suggested something more troubling.
“Did you receive a message from Father on your way back?” Tono asked.
“A message?” Thor looked puzzled, momentarily at a loss.
“Yes, Father sent a message ten days ago, saying that a Divine Revelation might soon occur in the Northern Province. He asked if I wanted to consider withdrawing, as the family would cover the Redemption Fee if I did. Did you not receive this?”
“Oh, that! Father told me in person, but I declined the offer,” Thor replied, smiling as he recalled their conversation.
Tono’s eyes widened. “Thor, do you truly understand what a Divine Revelation entails? Every time one has occurred, it’s unleashed a devastating upheaval across the continent. A hundred years ago, one happened in the Southern Moon Province, and over 200,000 people perished. Sixty-eight years ago, another struck the Fiery Kingdom, with a death toll surpassing 400,000.”
“If a Divine Revelation were to happen here in the Northern Province, the consequences would be unimaginable. It’s not something our strength, or even the strength of House Dressrosa, could withstand,” Tono said, his voice tight with urgency, his concern evident.
The message about the Divine Revelation had left Tono deeply unsettled. Giving up his territory and the hard-won progress he had achieved over more than ten years was a prospect he loathed. Yet, the threat of the Revelation loomed, impossible to ignore.
In fact, many of the stronger nobles in the region had already begun preparations to withdraw, and even the two most powerful pioneers in the Western Territories were making plans to leave. This alone spoke volumes about the gravity of the situation.
“I know. Father already explained it to me,” Thor said calmly. “I’ve even reviewed the records.”
“I believe we’re not in as much danger as it seems. According to the historical records, there have been a total of 103 instances of Divine Revelations. Out of these, only 73 were severe. Most of those severe cases happened because no one saw them coming. In the other 30 cases, there was minimal damage because the kingdoms identified and responded early.”
“Doesn’t that suggest that as long as a Revelation is detected in time, the worst can be avoided? After all, in the thousands of years since, there hasn’t been a single documented instance of a true god descending.”
Thor’s tone was calm, and his argument left Tono speechless.
“Then…” Tono stammered, struggling to find the right words, his mind racing with mixed emotions—relief, worry, and a glimmer of hope.
Finally, after a long silence, he exhaled deeply and regarded Thor with a newfound respect.
“To be honest, Thor, you’re a bit too daring. Are you certain you want to stay?” Tono asked, though his voice held less hesitation.
“Yes, I’m certain. This place holds my future. Even if there’s only a slight chance of success, I’ll stay,” Thor replied earnestly. There was much he couldn’t reveal, but he could convey his resolve. Ultimately, his true confidence came from his “Daily Intelligence System,” which had so far given no warnings of imminent danger.
Tono observed him for a moment, then nodded slowly. “Understood. You’re right, Thor. Our future is here. It’s not something we should abandon so easily.”
“I’ll stay too,” Tono said, his expression resolute.
Just as Thor had said, their future lay here. To abandon it would mean throwing away everything they had worked for, and they might never have the chance to rebuild it. Even with the Redemption Fee, preserving a title without land would still set them back immensely.
“Brother…”
Thor glanced at Tono in surprise. He hadn’t expected his elder brother would also be willing to stay.
“Thor, don’t look so shocked. If even a newly appointed pioneer knight like you has the courage to stay, then why wouldn’t I?”
“And besides, I’ve already sent your nephew back to the family, so even if something happens, I have nothing to worry about,” Tono said with a smile.
Thor chuckled and shook his head. It was clear his brother wasn’t making this decision on impulse, and Thor admired Tono’s sense of responsibility and caution in the face of such a serious threat.
The looming threat of a Divine Revelation was certainly no trivial matter, especially for someone like Tono, who didn’t have the foresight that Thor’s daily intelligence system provided.
As he considered this, a question suddenly came to Thor’s mind.
“Brother, you mentioned that the more powerful lords in the western region have already started to withdraw. Is that really true?” he asked, his eyes fixed on Tono.
Tono nodded in confirmation. “Yes, it’s already happening. From what I’ve gathered, Lords Spencer and Campbell have begun preparations to leave. Several other heirs of the marquis families are also making plans to withdraw.”
As Tono continued, Thor sank into thought. Clearly, their family wasn’t the only one aware of the potential for disaster. Other powerful families seemed to have some understanding of the situation, either through knowledge of the Divine Revelation or the ancient parchments they had managed to interpret.
It was easy to imagine that the news was quietly spreading among the more prominent landholders. Yet for the smaller, lower-ranking pioneering lords, such rumors were likely out of reach, as the most powerful lords worked to keep their intentions hidden.
Thor could almost be certain that more noble families beyond those Tono mentioned were considering withdrawal. The threat of a Divine Revelation was simply too great to ignore, and even those who’d seen a pattern of safety in the records would think twice before risking everything.
Perhaps retreat was indeed the only viable option for many.
“We may be luckier than we thought,” Thor remarked with a quiet smile as his thoughts settled.
“Lucky?” Tono blinked, puzzled.
“Rayne said that the expansion of the Eagle Commerce Guild had encountered obstacles, didn’t he?” Thor explained with a lighthearted smile. “Most of those obstacles come from those powerful pioneer lords, right?”
“Indeed!” Tono agreed, though his face twisted with frustration as he recalled the difficulties. “Those lords have been outrageous, setting up checkpoints all over the Northern Province and levying taxes. For goods worth a hundred gold coins, they’re demanding fifty or even seventy or eighty coins in taxes alone!”
But then Tono’s expression froze mid-sentence. His eyes widened as the realization dawned on him, and he instinctively opened his mouth to speak.
However, Thor continued, beating him to the punch. “At the moment, only the top-ranking nobles know about the Divine Revelation, right? Likely only those at the very top are choosing to leave—and they’re doing so quietly, so as not to draw too much attention. After all, a large-scale departure would hardly minimize their losses.”
“Brother, have you noticed the steady decline in the Commerce Guild’s revenue over the past month?” Thor asked thoughtfully.
Tono’s eyes lit up as he grasped the implication. He had been aware of the Guild’s drop in income, but he’d attributed it to the interference from the major nobles. Now, with Thor’s insight, the pieces clicked into place.
“Brother, just send someone to check if those checkpoints are still in place, and to find out exactly how many noble lords are planning to leave.”
“This could be a huge opportunity for us. Perhaps House Dressrosa can seize this moment to truly establish itself as the leading power among pioneer lords in the Northern Province.”
Thor’s eyes glinted with ambition. He had initially assumed that solving the Commerce Guild’s obstacles would be next to impossible in the short term. The interference of these nobles, driven by their own interests, seemed insurmountable. Even sharing a portion of the profits with them might not have satisfied such powerful lords.
But now, fate had presented them with a perfect opening. The Divine Revelation threat was causing exactly the kind of disruption that would weaken his opponents. With many of the top nobles in the western region pulling out, there was little that could hinder the Guild’s expansion.
If only a few noble lords remained, they would be no match for the Guild, and there would be no risk of offending a united coalition. In such a chaotic time, it wouldn’t even be out of place if another one or two territories vanished entirely.
“Very well,” Tono said, his excitement growing. “I’ll return at once and investigate. Within three days, I’ll bring you information on which noble lords are making moves, or have already done so.”
Thor nodded, pleased with his brother’s enthusiasm. “Good! I’m sure this is the moment we’ve been waiting for. If we play this right, our family could become the reigning power among the pioneers.”
Thor knew this could be a pivotal moment. If they capitalized on the timing of the Divine Revelation, House Dressrosa could reach heights they had only dreamed of. Not only would it elevate the family, but it would also create opportunities for Tono himself to expand his own lands and power.
Tono’s ambitions, already high after recent expansions, grew even bolder.