Chapter 40: 40 Huge Expenses

Chapter 40: Significant Expenses

Light-attribute magicians indeed possess a natural advantage in winning hearts, as a simple healing spell can produce an immediate effect on injured individuals.

When pain is alleviated and treated, who wouldn't feel gratitude toward the healer?

Of course, the person recently healed by Elron was arranged beforehand by Roning—a guard who had been injured in yesterday's battle and not yet fully recovered, disguised for the purpose.

This meeting proceeded quite successfully according to Roning's script, and his positive image as lord began to take shape.

Next, Roning would have Elron serve as a "country doctor" for some time, visiting every household in Hillforest Town to treat those with external injuries.

Although Elron would undoubtedly gain the people's admiration in this process, the magician would vigorously promote Roning's benevolence during treatments, transforming this charitable endeavor into a policy of the lord.

Amid the cheers of the populace, Roning departed from the meadow.

The area was now entrusted to Elron and Chahar. This newly appointed steward initially planned to recruit twenty servants.

These twenty servants included one personal manservant, one personal maid, four kitchen staff, five handling miscellaneous tasks, and nine responsible for livestock.

When Roning heard Chahar present this list in the morning, he was astonished—why did a castle require so many people?

But after the steward's thorough analysis, he realized castles operated this way, and this number of servants was actually considered modest.

Ultimately, he approved the plan.

After this recruitment effort, Roning calculated simply: just for servants alone, he would need to pay twenty-one gold coins annually.

Additionally, his guards and the supernatural beings around him also required wages.

Even Maken and Elron, though summoned by him, had their own lives; surely they couldn’t borrow money from their lord just to buy bread?

Moreover, as Roning’s right and left arms, providing reasonable salaries helped Maken and Elron establish their own authority.

Based on the salary standards provided by Hallwart, Roning set daily rates for junior, intermediate, and senior knights at thirty, sixty, and one hundred copper coins respectively.

(Tom was still under evaluation; Roning offered only twenty copper coins daily, promising that upon passing evaluation, he would immediately restore Tom to the same level as David.)

Regarding magicians—a scarce and unique supernatural profession—the salary standards were considerably higher than those for knights of equivalent levels. Junior, intermediate, and senior magicians were set at fifty, one hundred, and five hundred copper coins daily respectively.

After these calculations, the annual expenditure for guards and supernatural subordinates amounted to one hundred and three gold coins.

Roning currently possessed six hundred and twenty-six gold coins, including confiscated assets from the three knights of Saigne Territory. If he considered completing the initial deposit, his savings would drop to just over one hundred.

Just enough for one year of personnel expenses.

Regarding how to squeeze...

It was evident that the bulk of these expenses lay with supernatural beings and guards. The latter, at two copper coins daily, offered little room for squeezing, while the former were difficult to squeeze.

Consider: if a senior knight outside wished to join Roning, but learned Maken’s salary was only ten copper coins daily, would that knight still join?

Thus, Roning should consider how to earn money.

He tapped his forehead, feeling troubled.

"First, I need a comprehensive understanding of the territory's resources; I must inspect the territory."

"But before that, I need to recruit administrative officials."

Thinking of administrative officials, Roning recalled Plinst.

If he hadn’t killed that fellow yesterday, perhaps he could have extracted some useful information from him.

"Damn Plinst, damn Saigne Territory!"

Clack-clack-clack—

A swift horse galloped from afar, capturing Roning’s attention.

Upon recognizing the rider’s face, he was surprised, "Bob? Didn’t I send him and Marse to deliver letters? Why has he returned?"

His heart skipped a beat—could something have happened on the road?

Maken called out, "Bob, why have you returned?"

Bob approached Roning and quickly dismounted.

"Sir, Knight Freeton from Saigne Territory has arrived with his squire?"

Roning’s heart shook, his expression slightly changing, "Explain clearly, what happened?"

Bob recounted how they encountered Freeton on the road and how Freeton persuaded him and Marse to return.

"Sir, Marse is currently accompanying Freeton outside the castle."

Roning glanced behind; David and Tom were maintaining order there, and only Maken accompanied him.

However, Freeton had brought only one squire knight, likely not seeking trouble.

If Roning called many to accompany him, it would appear as if he feared confrontation.

"Let’s go, let’s see what Freeton intends."

Roning beckoned Maken to accompany him, instructing Bob: "After returning, don’t deliver letters with Marse for now; await my notice. Also, don’t mention this to other guards; maintain secrecy."

"Understood, sir!" Bob responded earnestly.

For this letter delivery, he and Marse were selected by Maken. Though past eighteen and unlikely to awaken supernatural abilities, their agility and physical strength allowed them to be valued.

Given the chance to perform before the lord, they naturally seized it.

Soon, Roning returned to the castle’s exterior.

From afar, he saw Freeton and his squire standing outside, accompanied by Marse and two guards at the castle gate.

"Ha! Sir Freeton, I didn’t expect we’d meet again so soon!"

Roning walked over smiling, speaking naturally.

Freeton solemnly bowed to Roning, "Good day, Baron. I apologize for disturbing you again."

He didn’t beat around the bush, stating his purpose directly: "Today, bearing Lord Rayson’s letter, I wish to discuss a transaction with you—the lord of Hillforest Town."

A transaction?

Hillforest Town and Saigne Territory had dealings?

Roning’s expression remained unchanged, smiling as he said, "Then please, Sir Knight, join me inside the castle to discuss."

"Delighted to do so."

Freeton spoke calmly and unhurriedly, "But before that, I ask your forgiveness for intercepting your messenger, as I believed it might affect our cooperation."

Oh?

Roning’s expression shifted—could this transaction relate to Saigne Territory’s embezzlement of Hillforest Town’s taxes?

"It’s a minor matter."

Roning appeared entirely unbothered, but he understood: roads out of Hillforest Town risked interception by Saigne Territory.

"Come, Sir Knight, welcome to my castle."

Freeton followed, smiling outwardly but inwardly dismissive.

What "my castle"? Much of this castle was built and renovated by Plinst. Until yesterday, Freeton could enter this castle without waiting or announcement.

In less than a day, the ownership had changed.

However, Firedon believed in Raisen. Once the Baron returned from Black Serpent City, he would likely begin planning how to deal with Ronin.

He believed that sooner or later, Mountain Forest Town would fall into the hands of the Sane Territory.

And then, it was likely that he, Firedon, would have his own grand manor here.

(End of Chapter)