Inside the Capital

I couldn't help but smile as I heard the rumbling noise the southern noble was making. It looks like our show of force is enough to make them uncomfortable. The discipline showed by our army also makes them nervous and jealous at the same time.

We have a rule in the north. As long as we are not in the north, we are in the battle. Meaning that we will keep our weapons wherever we go. There are a few exceptions, like when we meet the king or go to a place with a strict rule of no weapons like the ballroom when there is a party or the temple.

However, other than that? We will bring our sword or knife anywhere, even in the bathroom and bedroom.

This shows the people here that we are ready to fight and ready to defend ourselves if there is trouble.

"Richard, How is the soldier we bring?"

"Most of them are outside the city making tents to sleep. Sadly, we can only bring fifty people inside."

"Yes. We don't have enough space to place them. Luckily, this place has a small barrack to let a few of our soldiers sleep. How about the little bird that tries to eat the worm about me?"

"They did not know that my shadow was following them, my lord. Do you want me to take care of them?"

"Hmm…. Not all of them. I need you to 'invite' one of the little birds to join our meeting in the dungeon."

"Of course. I will command my shadow at once."

"Remember to tell them not to be noticed. I don't want them to run away to their mama bird after all."

"Of course, my lord."

"Good. Now, what does our king have in his hand to reward us with?"

"My shadow inside the palace hears a rumor that the king will give you and the rest of the lord a land in our south. They say that place doesn't have any true ruler because the previous lord didn't have any heir. Because of the end of that family, those lands fall under Duke Frederick's rule. However, because there is nothing in those lands other than a plain field, he abandons the land."

"Making that place a rather lawless land."

"Yes. That place is the source of bandits that try to use the mountain in the Bloody Gate as their base to ambush the merchant that comes through the gate."

"How can they make a base on the mountain with the Savage Men of the mountain ruling the mountain?"

Men of Arriamir, also known as the Savage Men of the mountain, is a group of civilizations that lived on the mountain. They are a cannibal and slaver that will kidnap men to make them their food and kidnap women as their plaything.

They are a force that keeps coming back and attacking the nearby village to kidnap the villager and steal the food the village has.

However, lately, there have been no raids reported in the past month. The last time the Savage Men show up is the first week after the winter has ended.

"They are not, my lord."

"What?"

"I heard a rumor that the leader of a famous bandit leader has disappeared."

"And?"

"He and a few hundred of his men last seen when they decide to go to the Bloody Gate and try to come to the north."

"When this happened?"

"The second week after the winter ended."

"Huh. What a coincidence. The Savage Men stop doing raids after the first week of winter ends."

"That is right, my lord."

"However, that is already a few months since then. Richard sent a letter to Leonardo explaining this situation. Then tell him to increase the patrol around the mountain. We don't want to be caught off guard by the Savage Men."

"Of course, my lord."

"Then you are dismissed. Tell me when it is lunchtime, will you?"

"Of course, my lord. Then please excuse me."

I see Richard walk away from my office and lean my back on the chair. It has been two days since I arrived here. The other lords also arrive here, some of them arrive before me, and some of them arrive after I arrive here.

Richard says that the other lords stay in the most luxurious inn in the Third District, where the royal family already pays for their accommodation.

While I trust my fellow noble not to tell the others about the northern situation, I don't know about them telling the north secret unconsciously. A drunk person is a perfect target for information gathering, after all.

That is why I sent Yuka to make sure. She should arrive any time now.

"Master!"

I smile a little and pat the head of Yuka, who is coming out from the portal.

"Hello there, Yuka. How is your mission?"

"Not good, master."

"Oh?"

I raised my eyebrow and put on a serious face before saying.

"Tell me."

"The southern noble already tried to get the information from your fellow lord. Luckily, they did not budge and did not say anything. Even when there is the most beautiful whore next to them, they did not budge."

"That is good, right?"

"Yes"

"Then what do you mean by not good."

"There is a magician, master."

"... That is not good."

A magician is always bad news. The magician in this world is an arsehole. They have an ego the size of a mountain. They think with them being the only people that can alter the world using their magic; they can do whatever they want.

"How many?"

"The one that actively searches for information? Two of them."

"What do they do?"

"They try to cast a spell that lets the victim spill out all their secrets."

"What?"

"I already neutralize them and transport them to the dungeon under the mansion."

"Good. What about the other magician?"

"They did not do anything, for now. There are ten of them. Seven of them are female, and the other three are male. They are only looking around the area and have a conversation with each other."

"Can you tell me about what they are talking about?"

"They are curious about you, master."

"Oh?"

"They want to learn under you, master."

"Wait, what?"

"They are the Dark Elves, my lord."

".... Are they being harassed by the people in the Tower of Magic?"

"Yes."

Dark Elf is the sub-race of the elf race. They are the race that many people thought of as the Curse bringer because of their skin color. They are also seen as the bringer of Death because they have an affinity to dark affinity. The truth is that they are the same as the other elf. Just a normal living being that wants to be left in peace.

"They thought that they could ask for a place to stay inside the Sea Dragon City, seeing that you are the summoner of the First Grim Reaper. They hope that you will accept them and their race to settle in your land."

"They know about the fight between us and the monster wave?"

"Yes, my lord. They say that they see you through some sort of a spell the archmage cast in the tower."

I see. So not only the people in the south that can see us when we fight the monster wave. Luckily, I already upgraded the barrier for the anti-spying spell around my land before I go here.

"Yuka, will you invite them here? I want them to join us in eating some lunch."

"Of course, my lord."

I then see Yuka disappear into the portal she created. I want to help them create a village for the Dark Elves inside my land. By doing so, I can have another village that becomes a local income for my family. With this group of magicians loyal to me, I get myself another military asset for the Lionheart family.

However, for now, I need to see their intention first. If they only want a territory for doing an experiment, I will not grant their wish. If they do it for their family and other Dark Elves, I will give them what they want.