This time, the Exclusive Capture Right directly brought Yinan over forty thousand gold coins.
That was much faster than slowly collecting taxes, but it also meant squeezing out Storm Territory’s main economic resources for the next year in advance.
Now, Yinan had recruited a hundred women and established the Violet Watch Legion, spending over twenty thousand gold coins in one go.
Each soldier’s equipment required eighty gold coins, which could be directly fed to the System to wait for the equipment to be produced…
Otherwise, training a batch of blacksmiths would waste a lot of time.
Once Luoling finished training this batch of soldiers, Yinan would take the legion out to beat people up and snatch money!
When Yinan returned to Yinhuling, the biggest local Slave Trader had already prepared to bring him a batch of Snow Tribe slaves…
Karl, the largest Slave Trader in the surrounding territories, had also secured the Exclusive Capture Right for the Snow Tribe—this was a symbol of power.
Other slave races could be found elsewhere, more or less, but Snow Country was founded in the northern border of the Ilaso Empire, and Storm Territory was one of the main exits nearby.
That’s why Karl had to curry favor with Yinan as well, to ensure he could always hold on to the Exclusive Capture Right for the Snow Tribe…
Karl wasn’t new to Yinhuling, but… this time, his impression was completely different from before…
Damn it! Why are those serfs working so hard!? Didn’t they use to just lazily swing their hoes a couple of times and then loaf around under the trees every day?
And those fishermen of Yinhuling!? Didn’t they used to just lazily cast a few nets, then gather together to drink and chat!?
Unable to hold back, Karl stopped a passing serf. “What’s with you all? Why are you suddenly working so hard?”
The serf looked up at Karl. This man was dressed in finery, clearly a wealthy person. The serf couldn’t help but grin.
“Heh, sir, you don’t know yet? Lord has divided up the farmland among us… and we get a year’s rent exemption! We only have to hand over sixty percent of the grain we grow, and we can keep the rest for ourselves…”
Karl listened to the serf in astonishment. “A year rent-free? Only sixty percent of the grain?”
The serf laughed and went on, “That’s right… House Hill has finally produced a good lord! I heard the soldiers who followed the lord to war all married several wives this time, and the more capable ones have even become landlords!”
Karl tossed over two gold coins. “These are for you.”
The serf happily picked up the coins and bit them, feeling a swell of pride. If it weren’t for Lord, when would these wealthy gentlemen ever spare him a glance?
Let alone just give him two gold coins outright!
“Stop the carriage!” Karl ordered his driver. “Turn around and head back…”
In the carriage, Karl frowned as he pondered over the recent actions of Yinhuling’s lord.
This lord is different… His ambition is enormous, and he’s a reckless gambler!
Of course, it’s not that he truly cares about his own people, but this bastard even uses huge profits to buy the loyalty of serfs…
Making everyone work themselves to the bone for him!
He decided to return and deliver the recently captured Snow Noblewoman to Yinan—if he put in even more effort to please him…
Then perhaps, in the future, Yinan might grant him a bite to eat!
When Yinan saw Karl bring a batch of Snow Tribe slaves, and among them the most beautiful, mature woman still showed a 0% capture progress… he was very satisfied!
She wore a gorgeous blue gown, her hair snowy white, her figure graceful. Even in dire straits, her noble bearing was impossible to hide; her white lashes and blue eyes were filled with cold indifference and pride.
This ice-cold beauty was clearly still unbroken, yet even as a slave, she wore ornate jewelry, creating a striking visual contrast!
As Yinan admired this Snow Noblewoman, he elegantly sliced into a bloody Beast Steak—the gory scene left everyone present frightened…
“Karl… Excellent!” Yinan raised his Red Wine glass, his gaze appreciating the Snow Noblewoman through the crimson liquid. “I am very satisfied!”
Karl, meanwhile, was wiping away cold sweat. He’d been frightened by Yinan’s way of eating beast meat raw. “To be able to please Baron, that is my greatest honor.”
“I won’t take your offerings for nothing…” Yinan put down the wine glass. “Are you interested in the position of Financier of Storm Territory?”
Hearing Yinan’s words, Karl’s heart gave a jolt… My God! Am I about to be recruited!?
Becoming the Financier of Storm Territory meant he would transform from a mere Slave Trader into a member of the core ruling circle of the territory!
This was a tremendous turning point given by fate—if he could seize it, he would rise step by step; but the slightest misstep, and the consequences would be unimaginable.
Having figured this out, Karl dropped to one knee. “I am willing to serve Lord Yinan!”
“Rise…” Yinan ordered the servants to prepare a seat for Karl and invited him to dine together.
Dining with a noble was something Karl had never imagined before!
Yinan, meanwhile, had his own plans. This was the first merchant to approach him, and he was generous—proof that he had the ability to seize opportunities!
As for background… The position of treasurer should be entrusted to a close confidant, but Yinan didn’t have one…
So only the capable would take the post. Whoever he liked, he’d hire, since he’d already claimed the biggest share of Storm Territory’s profits!
When the maids brought in the bloody, raw Magical Beast meat, Karl’s heart quailed. But thinking of the position he’d just gained, and recalling Yinan’s scene of eating beast meat raw…
He gritted his teeth, forced down his discomfort, and picked up the knife and fork.
“Karl, don’t be so formal…” Yinan noticed the changes in Karl’s expression and the corners of his mouth lifted. “With me, you don’t need to be so bound by etiquette.”
“This Magical Beast meat may look bloody, but it has a unique flavor, is highly nutritious, and is even helpful for cultivation!”
“Just like the main theme of imperial power… isn’t it?”
Karl swallowed the bloody raw meat, forced a smile, and said, “Baron, you are absolutely right…”
People’s obedience to authority can far exceed imagination…
Under the compulsion of hegemony, anyone can act against their conscience!
Just like Karl right now—no matter how much he loathed the bloody raw Magical Beast meat, he could only grit his teeth and choke it down.
Eileen Xue watched the scene in silence… The hypocrisy and bloodthirstiness of humans made her utterly sick!
“Hmph, to abandon themselves like this, just for so-called power…” Eileen Xue muttered in her heart…
Her upbringing in Snow Country had made her accustomed to the purity and simplicity of the snowy world; everything here was utterly different from what she once knew.
In her thirties, she had a loving husband and a precious daughter in Snow Country, but that happy family had been utterly destroyed after she was repeatedly captured by the Slave Trader Karl during her trips outside.
She would never forget how her husband was brutally murdered by Karl’s men while saving her, and her daughter’s whereabouts remained unknown, life or death uncertain…
She hated those two men eating bloody Magical Beast meat at the table with every fiber of her being!
[Author says there is an image of Eileen Xue]
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