The retainers remained silent, unable to respond. They had no arguments left. “Uh, Grand Duke... Because of your actions, our relations with Rayfold have deteriorated, and the territory’s situation has become difficult...” “So, you're saying it’s not enough?” Ghislain asked. Of course, it wasn’t enough. In Perdiem, having a steady income was more important than receiving a one-time sum. The territory had no means of generating continuous revenue. The retainers couldn’t just lash out and demand money, because now Ghislain was the one holding all the financial power. The balance of power had completely shifted. ‘Should we also start developing something?’ Homern thought, sweating nervously. But Ghislain had already secured the runestone, and any attempt to find other resources would likely lead to the same conclusion as before. It would require risking lives and enduring losses. ‘Damn it! How did that precious resource end up in his hands? There’s no way to take it from him!’ Technically speaking, the Forest of Beasts wasn’t even part of Perdiem's territory. It was only recognized as such due to its proximity to the land. So, unless they resorted to force, there was no way to claim the runestone Ghislain had brought back. As the retainers fretted over their dilemma, Ghislain spoke up again. “Hmmm, it seems you’re all in a bit of a bind. As the Grand Duke, I can’t just turn a blind eye to the territory’s hardships.” Despite his playful tone, the retainers sent him hopeful glances. Even Zwalter watched his son with curiosity. Ghislain smiled at their reactions and continued. “After all, the runestone was retrieved for the sake of the territory. I’ll provide support to make up for what was lost with Rayfold.” The retainers nodded in relief. If Ghislain had refused to share the profits, they would have had no choice but to fight him for it. The fact that he was willing to give them a portion, however small, was a welcome relief. “But there are a few conditions,” Ghislain added. At those words, the retainers tensed up. The Grand Duke had a notoriously troublesome personality, and they feared what conditions he might impose. “The captain of the guard, Skoban, is missing. I heard he was imprisoned. Is that correct?” Homern nodded. “He was imprisoned for submitting false reports to the lord. We’re planning to strip him of his knightly title as well. A knight who swears loyalty and then lies is guilty of a great crime. A great crime, indeed. Ahem!” Homern’s tone was noticeably softer than before. He had realized that opposing Ghislain would only lead to greater losses. However, his response carried a subtle implication that Skoban’s imprisonment was due to Ghislain’s actions. Nodding, Ghislain raised a finger. “First, release Skoban. I forced him into it, so he couldn’t help it. He’s probably feeling unjustly punished and on the verge of despair.” “Ummm...” The retainers wore uneasy expressions. Forgiving someone who had lied to the lord was a matter of the lord’s authority. However, given that they had a reasonable excuse and the territory’s current state was more pressing, no one voiced opposition. Seeing no objections, Ghislain continued. “Second, I will now officially proceed with the construction of the base. Workers and troops will need a place to stay.” This condition was also acceptable, and the retainers nodded in agreement. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮 “Third, as before, the Forest of Beasts remains off-limits. I don’t want anyone in the territory getting hurt because of unnecessary greed.” For a moment, the retainers' eyes flickered with frustration. ‘This bastard! He’s trying to take everything for himself!’ ‘Why can’t we enter the forest too?’ ‘You said not to go in, but you did it yourself!’ Of course, they kept these thoughts to themselves and dared not say anything out loud. Seeing the lack of response, Ghislain revealed his final condition. “Lastly, I will manage the mercenaries and security forces independently of the territory. I will need the authority to move troops without interference whenever necessary.” The retainers began to break into a cold sweat. Ghislain had just declared that he would have his own private army, separate from the territory's forces. ‘The Grand Duke is building a private army?’ ‘Now that he has money, he’s going completely off the rails!’ ‘That reckless fool is going to command troops?’ The retainers were already trembling at the thought. If the erratic Grand Duke were to lead troops, who knows what kind of trouble he might cause. Even now, with the mercenaries he commanded, it had already become difficult to deal with him. “Uh, Grand Duke... Everything else is fine, but commanding a separate force...” One retainer mustered the courage to speak, but Ghislain responded flatly. “Well then, how about we forget everything and I just leave now?” “I’m in favor! Absolutely in favor!” the retainer quickly backtracked, sinking back into his seat. “Oh, I thought you were going to oppose me for a moment there. I’m quite sensitive, you know. I nearly left.” ‘Damn it, you were going to do what you wanted anyway!’ The subtle threat made the retainers curse silently as they bowed their heads. “Anyone else want to object?” Ghislain raised his hand slightly, but no one dared to speak. It was blatant bullying, but no one wanted to provoke the Grand Duke. After a brief pause, Ghislain smiled, satisfied, and turned to his father. “It seems the retainers all agree with me. Now, Father, it’s your decision.” Somehow, that smile looked mischievous. Zwalter let out a bitter chuckle. ‘He’s really changed.’ When the complaints from Rayfold had come in, Zwalter had thought this time, Ghislain had caused an unfixable problem. He had been determined to hold his son accountable. But Ghislain had turned it all around with bold actions that offset any blame. Of course, it was hard to fully trust him yet. Luck had likely played a big role in this victory. Many had tried and failed to develop the Forest of Beasts over the years. Zwalter himself had considered the dangers and deemed it too risky. Finding resources so quickly had to be the result of pure fortune. ‘Still, he achieved something remarkable.’ Zwalter pondered for a moment. Though Ghislain had succeeded this time, there was no guarantee things would continue to go smoothly. What use was great wealth if his son were to lose his life? After all, Ghislain was the heir to the territory and the family. His life couldn’t be treated lightly. If Zwalter wanted to stop him, he would have to strip him of all his power now. But as a father, he didn’t want to crush the potential his son was beginning to show. ‘It’s an unreasonable request, but not entirely out of the question.’ In the end, it came down to whether Zwalter was willing to trust his son or not. Judging by Ghislain’s past behavior, it was hard to fully believe in him based on just this recent change. But if Zwalter didn’t trust him and instead tried to suppress him, the situation could turn for the worse. After all, Ghislain had come with troops, ready to make demands, even willing to risk conflict. ‘Was my son always this way?’ Zwalter studied his son closely. Ghislain stood confidently, as if he didn’t care what decision his father made. What Zwalter didn’t know was that Ghislain was actually doing his best to handle the situation diplomatically. In his days as the Mercenary King, he had been far more ruthless and violent than this. After a long pause, Zwalter let out a deep sigh and spoke. “Fine. I’ll give you what you want. Go ahead and do as you please.” “Lord!” “Brother!” The retainers turned to Zwalter in shock. They hadn’t expected him to agree to all of Ghislain’s conditions so easily. Zwalter looked around at the surprised retainers and shrugged as if it was no big deal. “If I’m going to give him authority, it’s better to grant it fully and trust him. It’s worse to give it halfway.” Before Ghislain could even thank him, Zwalter continued with a fierce tone. “But if you cause harm to the territory or hinder the defense of the north, I will strip you of all your power and confine you to the tower until you come to your senses. This is your final chance. Don’t forget that.” With great authority comes great responsibility. Zwalter made sure to deliver a stern warning. Hearing his father’s mix of expectations and concerns, Ghislain grinned and bowed his head. “Thank you. Rest assured, I won’t disappoint you.” “What are you planning to do with the remaining funds?” “I have some ideas. Once the urgent matters are dealt with, I plan to use the money for the territory as well.” Urgent matters? The vague response left a lingering curiosity, but Zwalter didn’t pry further. “Very well. Do as you see fit. I’ll trust you.” His tone had returned to its usual gruffness, but there was a different emotion behind it this time. Despite everything, Zwalter was proud and pleased with his son’s achievements. Now, it was the retainers who were in an awkward position. Especially Homern, Randolph, and Albert, who had pressured Ghislain the most, now found themselves in a difficult spot. Homern racked his brain, thinking furiously. ‘Damn it, this is a disaster. Now we’ll be at the mercy of that troublemaker. How did it come to this?’ Homern had been the loudest voice in opposition when Ghislain had first proposed developing the Forest of Beasts. If only he had supported him back then, he could have secured a share of the profits. It was a bitter regret. ‘Who could have guessed that brat would actually succeed? This makes no sense!’ No one had expected the young Grand Duke to show such boldness and actually succeed. It still felt unbelievable. But now that things had changed, he couldn’t act as he had before. With a wide smile, Homern spoke up. “Oh, truly impressive. Truly! The Grand Duke alone is now on par with Rayfold’s territory. You’ve grown up so well. It seems Belinda taught you well. Ha ha ha.” His words carried not a hint of sincerity, but Ghislain let them pass as Albert stepped forward. “I always knew the Grand Duke had a firm grasp on finances. Regarding the funds, we should discuss how best to allocate them. There are urgent needs that must be addressed... Ahem!” Randolph, his face contorted awkwardly, added his own flattery. “I knew it! With your bold actions, I was sure you’d achieve great things eventually. You know the territory needs more troops, right? Of course, the more soldiers we have, the better we can protect the land. Ha ha ha. Those men outside...” Watching the three men suddenly shift to flattery, Ghislain smirked and maintained a bit of distance from them. “I’m honored by your kind words. I’ll make sure to take care of all of you, so there’s no need to worry about the territory.” At that, the three men’s faces brightened considerably. Even if it wasn’t genuine, the promise of being taken care of was enough to soften their hearts. They had been thoroughly beaten by the young Grand Duke, but what could they do? Right now, Ghislain held all the power, and they had no choice but to play along. With a forced grin, Homern grabbed Ghislain’s hand tightly. “We’ll be counting on you from now on. Our territory has truly been blessed. Truly blessed.” Ghislain discreetly pulled his hand away and turned to Zwalter. “Please don’t worry about the territory’s affairs. I’ll handle everything so you can focus solely on defending the north, as always.” “Haha, so you’re capable of saying something like that?” Zwalter nodded with a pleased expression. It was astonishing to see how much his son had grown in just a few months. Of course, Zwalter didn’t take Ghislain’s words entirely seriously. He assumed it was just a polite gesture. But Ghislain, as he turned to leave, was more serious than ever. ‘It’s all going according to plan. Now, it’s time to prepare for the next step.’ There was something even more urgent than developing the territory. It was time to prepare for war.