- Fantasy Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence
- FLDI Chapter 63
Chapter 63: The Alliance of the Three Nobles
The Maine River Valley is one of the most fertile regions in the surrounding area. Besides Thor’s chosen domain of Eagle Territory, the valley is surrounded by a dozen pioneering lords, the most prominent of which are the Lawrence family, followed by the Valmy and Graton families.
While the Valmy and Graton families aren’t as powerful as the Lawrence family, both were granted baronial titles a decade ago, and their strength is not to be underestimated.
With the Lawrence family’s invitation, the lords of the Valmy and Graton families arrived at the Lawrence domain with their forces.
However, upon arrival, both Valmy and Graton raised their eyebrows in concern.
It seemed as though something had changed within the Lawrence family.
The familiar knights they remembered were nowhere to be seen, replaced instead by unfamiliar knights.
“Lord Valmy, do you sense something strange here?” Baron Valmy quietly remarked to Baron Graton, who rode beside him.
“Yes, something’s off. These knights look like mercenaries from the Habs Trading Company, not from the Lawrence family,” Graton replied, a look of suspicion on his face.
Both lords immediately recognized the distinctive armbands worn by the Habs Trading Company’s mercenary knights.
This unexpected sight filled them with doubt.
Since when did the Lawrence family start hiring knights from the Habs Trading Company?
What was their plan?
Hiring mercenaries from Habs wasn’t cheap, and from the looks of it, the number of knights here wasn’t small. It would have cost several thousand gold coins.
Several thousand gold coins was a staggering sum for them, pioneering lords who had worked hard to establish their domains.
Their unease grew as they approached Lawrence Castle.
When they finally reached the castle, both Valmy and Graton were stunned.
Their eyebrows shot up in surprise.
Instead of being greeted by Pape Lawrence or his son, Lawrence, they were met by another mercenary knight from the Habs Trading Company—this time, a great knight.
The two barons exchanged a glance, their hearts sinking.
A great knight! The cost of hiring a great knight for a year was a thousand gold coins alone. The Lawrence family had not only hired a significant number of knights but even a great knight. Clearly, something major was happening.
“My lords, the master has been expecting you,” the great knight from the Habs Trading Company said calmly, leading them inside.
Suppressing their growing anxiety, the two followed the great knight into the castle.
The castle was large and more luxurious than either of their own.
They were soon brought to the main hall, but neither Pape Lawrence nor his son was present. Instead, seated before them was a figure that caused both of them to frown.
“Ope? Where is your father? This is not how you treat guests!” Baron Graton was the first to speak, his gaze fixed on Ope Lawrence.
Baron Valmy said nothing, quietly observing the situation.
“Uncle Valmy, Uncle Graton, I must apologize. My father won’t be able to greet you today,” Ope Lawrence said, feigning sorrow.
Hearing his words, both Valmy and Graton felt a sudden jolt of unease.
“Ope, what are you talking about?” Baron Valmy asked, unable to hold back.
“Uncle Valmy, Uncle Graton, something unfortunate has happened,” Ope said with a sigh. “A few days ago, my father and elder brother were killed in battle.”
“What?”
“What did you just say?”
Valmy and Graton were completely thrown off balance by this revelation.
What had they just heard?
Baron Pape Lawrence was dead?
For a moment, they couldn’t believe it.
But then, recalling everything they had seen on their journey—the unfamiliar knights and the absence of Pape Lawrence—their disbelief slowly turned into suspicion.
Their eyes began to glimmer with new thoughts.
The domain of a baron, especially an established family like the Lawrences, held immense wealth and resources.
When Baron Pape Lawrence was alive, they had never dared entertain any ambitions toward his domain. His strength, along with the strength of the Lawrence family, had kept them in check.
But now, if Baron Pape was truly dead, and the Lawrence family’s power was greatly diminished…
This might be their opportunity.
“Indeed, my father and elder brother have both fallen,” Ope continued. “My father discovered a large iron mine in the lower reaches of the Maine River Valley, so he took a large force of knights to claim it. But sadly, he was killed by the lord of that territory. I have since hired knights from the Habs Trading Company to see if I can avenge my father and brother. I hope you both can assist me in this effort!”
Ope Lawrence’s voice was laced with sorrow as he spoke.
Valmy and Graton, who had been lost in thought, suddenly snapped to attention, their eyes wide as they stood up in shock.
They were not calm anymore.
The information Ope had just revealed hit them like a thunderbolt.
A large iron mine.
A *large* iron mine!
Such a mine had the potential to yield not just iron, but precious mithril ore as well—a resource that could continue to produce mithril indefinitely.
The value of such a mine was unimaginable.
Owning a large iron mine could elevate a family to the rank of viscount.
How could they not be stirred by such an opportunity?
“Are you telling the truth?”
“Is there really a large iron mine?”
“Ope, who is this lord? The lower Maine River Valley… wasn’t it unclaimed by any pioneering lord?”
Valmy and Graton couldn’t help but bombard Ope with questions. They were no longer concerned about Pape’s death. The lure of a large iron mine far outweighed any other considerations.
“Of course it’s true!” Ope said, nodding earnestly. “Otherwise, my father wouldn’t have taken the elite forces of our domain there. As for the lord of that land, it appears to be a newly established pioneering lord, someone who’s only been around for less than half a year.”
“A newly established pioneering lord?”
“Less than half a year?”
Both Valmy and Graton’s eyes lit up with excitement.
(End of Chapter)