- Fantasy Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence
- FLDI Chapter 147
All eyes converged on Thor, their gazes intertwining as he fell into a brief contemplation before speaking slowly.
“Are you all familiar with the term ‘Divine Reckoning’?”
Thor’s voice was soft, yet his words left everyone in the room momentarily stunned.
Joz Anubi’s pupils contracted sharply.
“Divine Reckoning?”
“Lord Thor, are you referring to the reckoning caused by divine intervention?” Baron Pape asked, his initial confusion giving way to a look of shock.
The other lords exchanged glances, their hearts filled with unease.
“Lord Thor, what are you trying to say?” Baron Gratton couldn’t help but ask.
“Gentlemen, you may recall the sheepskin scrolls recovered during the recent purge,” Thor began. “During my visit home, my father, Count Engel, deciphered them and discovered that the Northern Province is on the verge of a Divine Reckoning event.”
Thor’s calm delivery was met with an immediate uproar.
“Lord Thor!”
“Clatter!”
“Are… are you serious?”
The lords shot to their feet, some knocking their chairs to the ground in their panic. Their faces were filled with alarm.
As knights, they were no strangers to the concept of Divine Reckoning, especially given the catastrophic event that occurred decades ago in the Southern Moon Province.
The mere thought of such an event sent shivers down their spines.
“Lord Thor is correct. The Northern Province is indeed on the brink of a Divine Reckoning,” Joz Anubi said, breaking his silence with a sigh.
“Lord Joz!”
His sudden statement drew everyone’s gaze to him, their expressions filled with shock.
“Seven days ago, I received confirmation from my family. The information is unlikely to be false,” Joz said with a grave expression.
“This…”
“Damn it!”
“How could this happen?”
The confirmation left the remaining lords in even greater disarray.
“Gentlemen, there’s no need to panic. The kingdom is likely aware of the situation and will take measures to prevent a full-scale event. It might not affect us directly,” Thor said, his voice steady amidst the turmoil. “I called you here to inform you and allow you to prepare if you wish to leave.”
“Lord Thor, Divine Reckoning is not so easily contained,” Baron Valmi said, his voice trembling as he recalled the devastation in the Southern Moon Province.
“That’s right, Lord Thor. Divine Reckoning is beyond what we can handle,” Lord Satchi added, unable to hide his unease.
Thor remained silent, allowing the lords to make their own decisions.
Even for those bound by contracts, such as Barons Pape, Valmi, and Gratton, he would not force their hand.
“Take your time to consider. There’s no rush,” Thor said after a moment. “If you decide to leave, I won’t stop you. I can even purchase your assets.”
The lords exchanged glances, astonished by Thor’s words.
“Lord Thor, are you planning to stay?” Joz Anubi asked, his tone filled with doubt.
All eyes turned back to Thor.
“Yes,” Thor replied with a nod. “I’ve invested too much here. I trust the kingdom can handle this.”
Thor’s words left the lords conflicted.
Thor wasn’t the only one who had poured effort into his land—abandoning their territories wasn’t an easy choice.
But the threat of Divine Reckoning was no trivial matter.
After a long silence, someone finally spoke.
“Thank you for informing us, Lord Thor. What terms are you offering for the purchases?” Baron Valmi asked, his tone tinged with resignation.
“For every thousand residents, I can offer 500 gold coins. Mines will be valued based on their annual output, and territories will also be purchased at one year’s worth of their production value. What do you think, Baron Valmi?” Thor proposed after a brief pause.
Thor had no intention of purchasing shares from those leaving the Eagle Trade Association; instead, he planned to reclaim them outright. Over the past months, these lords had reaped considerable profits thanks to the association. Once they left, they held little value for him.
The offered rates were fair and calculated to encourage acceptance.
“That’s acceptable, Lord Thor,” Baron Valmi replied, bowing his head.
“Count me in as well,” Lord Satchi said, his face etched with reluctant resignation.
The remaining three lords remained silent before Baron Gratton finally sighed.
“Include me as well, Lord Thor. Thank you for your care thus far. May the Goddess of Life bless you,” he said.
With that, three of the lords decided to leave.
Only Baron Pape and Joz Anubi remained.
“Lord Thor, I hope your decision proves to be the right one,” Baron Pape said with a sigh. “I’ve lived here for over a decade. I can’t bear to leave now.”
“Lord Thor, if you’re staying, I’ll stay too,” Joz Anubi said after a moment of internal struggle.
Seeing Thor’s resolve solidified his own decision.
“It seems everyone has made their choice,” Thor said. “Baron Gratton, Baron Valmi, Lord Satchi—prepare for the transition. I’ll send Pelos and Rachos to assist with the handover.”
“Thank you,” the three lords replied, bowing slightly before departing.
With only three people remaining in the room, Thor turned to the others.
“Since you’ve chosen to stay, have a look at this,” Thor said, signaling to Karin.
The maid entered, handing the documents Rachos had prepared to Baron Pape and Joz Anubi.
“What’s this?”
The two lords glanced at the papers, their expressions quickly shifting as they read.
Their eyes lit up upon seeing the detailed plans for the Eagle Trade Association’s future.
The outlined strategy highlighted immense potential profits, leaving both men visibly excited.
Thor spoke again, his tone calm but decisive.
“Many high-ranking nobles have already started withdrawing after learning of the Divine Reckoning. This is our chance. If we act decisively, the Eagle Trade Association’s annual revenue could rise from 30,000 gold coins to 100,000—or even more.
“To achieve this, I plan to redistribute shares. I’ll contribute 8%, Rachos will add 2%, and each of you will provide 1%. My brother Tono will contribute 2%, Bablus 1%, and the shares from departing lords will add up to 9%. This will allow the Eagle Trade Association to expand even further.”
Hearing this, Joz Anubi and Baron Pape couldn’t hide their excitement.
Profits exceeding 100,000 gold coins were a tantalizing prospect.
Even with reduced shares, their income would increase dramatically.
For a moment, they were lost in the vision of earning thousands—or even tens of thousands—of gold coins annually.
“Lord Thor!”
“I agree with this plan!”
Joz Anubi spoke decisively, voicing his approval.
“Lord Thor, I agree as well!” Baron Pape nodded in agreement.
“Good!”
“Then it’s settled!” Thor said with satisfaction. “In a few days, we should receive a reply from my second brother.
“As for new members, you may consider recommending suitable individuals from your own families. However, any recommended pioneering lord must at least be capable of bringing one grand knight into the fold.”
Thor added this after a brief moment of thought.
“Thank you, Lord Thor!”
Baron Pape’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. He hadn’t anticipated being allowed to recommend pioneering lords for the expansion.
This, of course, was Thor’s deliberate move. He planned to select new members predominantly from his own family. Allowing others to recommend candidates would balance the representation and prevent any suspicion of favoritism toward the Dresrosa family.
The group then discussed various follow-up matters.
As for the three departing lords, their exit garnered little attention. No one saw fit to dwell on the matter.
As evening fell and the castle darkened, a banquet began.
This time, only Baron Pape and Joz Anubi attended.
When the banquet concluded, the two lords stayed the night in the Eagle Territory.
By the next morning, they had returned to their respective domains.
Joz Anubi’s Domain
“We’re staying?”
Hearing his young master’s words, the elderly servant could not conceal his shock.
“Yes, we’re staying!”
“I’ve spent over ten years building this place. I can’t leave it behind so easily!” Joz Anubi’s voice carried unwavering determination.
“But, young master, if the Divine Reckoning erupts, the consequences will be unimaginable. We won’t be able to withstand it,” the servant argued.
“Don’t worry. This time, it likely won’t affect us. Ford, do you recall past Divine Reckoning events? Never before have they been so widely publicized. The Tulip Kingdom’s ruler isn’t one to take things lightly. He has defeated numerous powerful foes on the Outer Realm Battlefield,” Joz Anubi said with a shake of his head, his confidence now firm.
Divine Reckoning was terrifying, but if Thor dared to take the risk, so could he.
More importantly, Joz was well aware of the strength of the Tulip royal family. Even within the empire, their influence was substantial.
Such a force could not be underestimated. If they truly took action, the Divine Reckoning could either be prevented or neutralized.
Given the scale of the current commotion—so large that even the Dresrosa family knew—Joz was certain the Tulip royal family was already aware.
With their involvement, the matter could be resolved before it spiraled out of control.
“But—” the servant began again.
“There’s no ‘but.’ This is my decision!” Joz interrupted. “Also, Ford, I need you to head west and visit my sister. Request some support from her.”
“This…”
“Alright,” Ford sighed in reluctant agreement. “Young master, I hope your choice is the right one.”
“Ford, you’ll need to move quickly. Bring me three grand knights if you can,” Joz instructed firmly.
He had seen the potential returns laid out in the proposal.
Expanding the Eagle Trade Association and introducing new lords was one path forward. However, contributing more of his own strength was another.
If he could provide three grand knights, he could secure additional shares.
Having studied the detailed development plan, Joz knew the vast opportunities that lay ahead for the Eagle Trade Association.
If he seized this chance, he could soar to prominence within the Tulip Kingdom.
It was an opportunity to rise.
Even if he returned to his family in the future, he would do so with significant leverage.
Ford soon departed on his mission.
—-
Meanwhile, Baron Pape began his own preparations.
Although he planned to stay, he believed in having contingency plans in place.
“Lawrence, when you return to the family, stay there for some time. Preferably, don’t come back for at least six months,” Baron Pape advised his son earnestly.
(End of chapter)