- Fantasy Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence
- FLDI Chapter 69
**Chapter 69: Baron Pape’s Fury**
Thor’s contract was simple: once signed, they would have to obey his commands and send their heirs to Eagle Ridge to join his knight order. Additionally, they would be required to pay an annual fee of one thousand gold coins, which was, in reality, more like a tax.
The language was simply more diplomatic.
Compared to the initial ransom demands, this was much less.
However, by signing this contract, they would effectively become vassals of Eagle Ridge, something they found incredibly difficult to accept.
This was the primary reason they had initially resisted the idea.
Yet, whether it was Pape Lawrence, Baron Valmy, or Baron Graton, none of them had much of a choice.
Pape Lawrence knew that, despite the strength of the Lawrence domain, if he left it to his foolish son, the territory would collapse in less than two years. As for the other two barons, their situations were not much better.
Their heirs might still be in the domain and were not as idiotic as Pape’s second son, but their territories were not as strong as Lawrence’s. Without them as great knights, along with the loss of their elite knight forces, the outcome was obvious.
“I agree to sign the contract,” Baron Graton sighed, stepping forward to sign the document.
“Baron Graton, you!”
Baron Valmy stared at him in disbelief.
“We have no choice,” Graton sighed again and shook his head.
Though it seemed like there were two options, Baron Graton knew he really only had one. The first option, the massive ransom, was impossible to afford unless he sold his entire domain.
“You’ve won, Lord Thor,” Baron Valmy admitted with a sigh before stepping forward as well.
*Buzz!*
A ripple of magic spread, enveloping them in the magic circle.
The contract was sealed.
A powerful binding force wrapped around them, making it impossible to disobey.
With the Lawrence domain, Thor had to be concerned that Pape Lawrence might abandon him. But with these two, Thor had no such worries.
“A wise choice,” Thor said with a smile. “The three of you may leave now. Just send the required personnel within seven days, and I will lift the restriction on your powers.”
With a wave of his hand, the contract returned to Thor.
The three barons sighed deeply and left the room.
Outside, the captured knights and squires were released.
As for the slaves, Thor kept them. In fact, the barons even had to send him the slave contracts. Though they were reluctant, they ultimately didn’t argue. They understood that keeping their knight forces intact was more important.
As Thor watched the three groups leave, a smile appeared on his face.
The contracts had cost him a thousand gold coins when Raine had purchased them in Loren City, but they were worth every coin.
By signing the contracts, the three barons had effectively turned their domains into vassal territories under Thor’s control. While it didn’t yield the same immediate benefits as directly annexing their lands, it guaranteed Thor’s dominance over the entire Maine River Valley.
As for outright annexation, that wasn’t something Thor needed to consider at the moment. Eagle Ridge still had vast areas that weren’t fully developed, and it wasn’t wise to expand into territories dozens of miles away.
Instead, incorporating the barons’ lands as vassals was the best approach.
On one hand, Thor could leverage their resources and forces like any high-ranking noble, while on the other hand, it would help him consolidate control over the entire Maine River Valley, setting the stage for future expansion.
Thor’s ambition wasn’t limited to becoming a mere baron—or even a viscount.
His goal was far greater.
Even the entire Northern Province could one day be within his reach.
These former enemies would become his greatest assets.
After all, every baron who had risen to power in the Northern Province was no ordinary leader. Winning their loyalty would give Thor unimaginable strength in the future.
As he watched the barons leave, Thor returned to his castle.
Inside his chamber, Thor spoke softly to himself: “Now it’s time to focus on development.”
His thoughts drifted to the map before him, and his eyes filled with contemplation.
*Creak!*
The door opened quietly.
Anna, the half-elf servant girl, tiptoed in, gently placing a tray of fruit on the table before slipping out just as quietly.
After a moment, Thor snapped back to attention. He glanced at the tray of fruit and then at the drawer, which remained untouched. A smile tugged at his lips.
Clearly, over the past few months, the half-elf girl had grown accustomed to her new life. She no longer seemed to harbor any thoughts of stealing the slave contracts or attempting an escape.
At first, she had been desperate to flee.
The fact that things had come this far showed how much had changed.
Smiling to himself, Thor turned his attention back to the map.
The external threats had been dealt with.
Aside from the fool in the west, Thor had subdued all other major forces in the Maine River Valley.
While a few frontier lords still remained, with the submission of the three noble barons, they no longer posed a threat.
Now, it was time to focus on building up his domain.
As a lord, war wasn’t the primary concern—expansion and development were far more important.
And with such fertile lands in the Maine River Valley, failing to fully utilize them would be an insult to the Goddess of Life.
As for how to best develop these lands, Thor already had plans in mind. He had just lacked the manpower to implement them.
But now, with thousands of slaves from the three barons at his disposal, he could finally set things in motion.
“Still, I need more skilled workers,” Thor mused, shaking his head slightly.
While Thor busied himself with his plans for development, the three barons gradually returned to their domains.
In the Lawrence domain…
Seeing his father return, Ope Lawrence was filled with panic.
“F-father!”
Ope Lawrence stammered, trembling and unable to believe what he was seeing.
But—
*Thud!*
A dull sound echoed as Ope Lawrence’s body was sent flying.
“Don’t call me father! I have no son like you!”
Baron Pape Lawrence’s voice roared with fury.
Everyone in the castle trembled in fear.
Even the baroness, who had been about to speak, lowered her head in terror, her heart filled with dread.
No one had expected Pape Lawrence to return.