- Fantasy Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence
- FLDI Chapter 68
**Chapter 68: Time to Discuss War Reparations**
Time passed quickly.
Ten days later, as Raine returned from Loren City, Baron Valmy and Baron Graton had fully recovered. Thor had once again enlisted the help of Neil Morton to suppress their abilities, and afterward, he placed both of them in the same room as Baron Pape Lawrence.
“Baron Valmy!”
“Baron Graton?”
Inside the room, Pape Lawrence looked at the two newly brought-in barons with a look of surprise.
“Pape Lawrence, you’re still alive?”
Baron Valmy and Baron Graton were equally shocked and spoke in astonishment.
Hearing their words, Baron Graton’s expression darkened.
“Even if you both die, I won’t!”
“What? You were captured by that Thor Dressrosa as well?”
Pape Lawrence responded irritably.
“Baron Pape, it’s not us saying you’re dead—it’s your son!”
Baron Valmy quickly clarified.
“Yes, your son told everyone that the Lord of Eagle Territory had killed you.”
Baron Graton chimed in.
After listening to the two of them, Pape Lawrence quickly understood what had happened. His face turned even darker upon realizing it.
He had already known that his son was conspiring with the two barons to launch an attack, but he hadn’t expected his son to outright declare him dead.
“Damn fool!”
“Curse him!”
Pape Lawrence couldn’t help but curse out loud.
Seeing Pape Lawrence’s fury, Baron Valmy and Baron Graton couldn’t help but smile. There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing someone worse off than yourself when you’re down on your luck.
*Creak!*
“It seems you’re all recovering quite well!”
As the three men conversed, the door creaked open, and Thor stepped into the room with a light chuckle, his voice echoing through the space.
Seeing Thor enter, both Baron Valmy and Baron Graton were slightly surprised.
They couldn’t help but notice how weak Thor’s aura was—far weaker than their own, not at all what they had expected. He was clearly only at the level of an apprentice knight, much less powerful than a great knight like them.
But their surprise lasted only a moment.
Pape Lawrence quickly spoke up.
“My Lord Thor, I apologize deeply.”
“I can swear a soul contract, and the ransom you require will be sent to you. Please allow me to return to my territory.”
Pape Lawrence sighed as he spoke.
With both Baron Valmy and Baron Graton defeated and captured, he knew very well what needed to be done.
If his son continued to run the Lawrence domain, it would soon fall apart. No matter the cost, he had to return and take control again.
“Of course, that’s possible!”
“How about this, Baron Pape Lawrence—look this over and see if it’s agreeable. If you accept, you can leave whenever you want.”
Thor smiled lightly and waved his hand. Raine stepped forward and handed a parchment to Pape Lawrence.
Pape took the parchment and began to read.
But as he read, his eyes widened in shock.
“You!”
He glared at Thor, filled with anger.
“Baron Pape Lawrence, what do you think?”
Thor chuckled, offering no explanation.
That simple laugh caused Pape Lawrence’s shoulders to slump in resignation.
“I agree,” he said hoarsely, his voice sounding as though it had aged years in mere moments.
“Then let’s sign the contract,” Thor said with a satisfied smile.
Without hesitation, Pape Lawrence infused his life energy into his right hand, slicing his finger. A drop of crimson blood fell onto the parchment.
*Buzz!*
As the blood fell, a strange magical array glowed and enveloped Pape Lawrence’s body.
“Oh, by the way, Lawrence, you’ll need to sign as well,” Thor said casually, glancing toward Lawrence, who was standing nearby.
“Lawrence,” Pape Lawrence called out softly.
Lawrence hesitated but eventually stepped forward.
When he took the parchment and read the contents, his eyes widened as well.
“What?”
“Father?”
Lawrence looked toward his father in disbelief.
“Just sign it,” Pape Lawrence sighed deeply, closing his eyes in defeat.
With a heavy sigh of his own, Lawrence pricked his finger, allowing his blood to fall onto the parchment.
*Buzz!*
The contract was sealed with a ripple of magic.
Thor raised his hand, and the contract returned to him.
At this point, Baron Valmy and Baron Graton began to grow tense.
They didn’t know the details of the contract, but they could sense that it wasn’t good.
How could they not be anxious?
“Lord Thor, we’ve offended you. How much ransom will we need to pay?”
Baron Valmy asked nervously.
“Yes, Lord Thor, we are willing to pay the ransom!”
Baron Graton added quickly.
“Of course, we can work that out. Raine, give the barons the terms for their ransom,” Thor said with a smile, signaling Rein.
“Yes, my lord.”
Rein nodded with a smile and handed over another parchment to the two barons.
However, this one was not a contract, just a list of ransom terms.
“No, this is impossible!”
After reading for only a few moments, Baron Valmy looked up at Thor, his face filled with disbelief.
“Lord Thor, forgive me, but these terms are outrageous!”
Baron Graton echoed in shock.
The ransom demanded three thousand gold coins for each of them, five hundred gold coins per full-fledged knight, and one hundred gold coins per apprentice knight. In addition, they were required to provide three thousand slaves and two thousand gold coins in war reparations.
This was an impossible amount for their territories to bear—selling their entire domains might barely cover it.
“Of course, you also have the option not to pay the ransom. You only need to sign this contract,” Thor said with a light smile, motioning toward the contract in his hand.
“Lord Thor, may we see the contract first?”
Baron Graton asked after exchanging glances with Baron Valmy.
“Of course,” Thor replied, waving his hand to send the contract floating toward them.
Baron Graton took the contract, but as soon as he opened it, his eyes widened in shock.
“What is it?”
Baron Valmy asked, noticing his companion’s reaction.
“Take a look,” Graton said, handing the contract to Valmy and falling into deep thought.
“My God, this is impossible!”
Baron Valmy exclaimed as he read the document, his eyes snapping toward Thor in disbelief.
“Gentlemen, I must remind you that you have no other choice. You don’t have the wealth of the Lawrence family. Without you, your territories will collapse within a short time,” Thor said with a calm smile.
“This…”
The two barons fell silent, their expressions shifting rapidly as they contemplated their options.