7 — 1 (6)

‘Am I overthinking this?’

The timing of when the barbarians began using arrows and when they plundered food so thoroughly happened to coincide. But even so, Louis had no way to deal with the situation right now.

The period of reflection was short-lived, for Louis’s actions soon drew attention. Word even reached Duke Remitri. After reading the reports, he concluded it was not right to blame only his third son. Thus, Remitri thought it best to give him another chance quickly. In such turbulent times, the more hands at work, the better.

“Father, you called for me.”

Remitri had been so angry he had failed to notice Louis’s growth. But Louis was indeed his son. Compared to Fred’s forceful nature, Louis’s presence now stood out more. Of course, what Remitri felt was thanks to the Military Charisma skill.

‘So… is he truly my son? This boy has the blood of a lion….’

“Hm. Yes. After reading the report, it seems not everything was your fault. How have you been lately?”

Though Remitri already knew exactly what his son had been doing, he asked Louis as if he did not.

Louis thought, It has come. Earlier than expected, but his plan to regain his father’s trust had partly succeeded.

“I am lacking, but I have been thinking every day about how I might be of help.”

Pleased by Louis’s honest reply, Remitri revealed his thoughts.

“Hm… I believe you should reflect more, but the situation in Proia, plundered by barbarians, is harsher than expected. So I am torn whether to send you or Count Hansen there. For now, food is being procured, and Dekal will continue managing it temporarily. Hansen has also long awaited a governor’s seat. I am considering giving you both a chance at the same time.”

Count Hansen was a fairly competent administrator. His flaw was being excessively overbearing to subordinates. He was good at coming up with ideas but poor at managing people. With his original ability, Louis would have struggled against Hansen. But with the Civilization System, he believed he might be able to defeat him in an administrative contest.

“That is what I hoped for.”

In truth, Remitri had no intention of simply handing Proia back to Louis. Hansen was a seasoned administrator who would use any means necessary. Louis’s chances of victory were slim. But even if he lost, Remitri believed he would learn from Hansen. And if not Proia, there were still other cities to entrust later, though not immediately.

The task Remitri set for Louis and Hansen was wheat cultivation. Wheat was the staple of staples. Land was plentiful, but farmers were limited. How much could they cultivate? That was the test.

On the surface it looked simple. The number of farmers determined the fields that could be worked. But with limited farmers…? To increase productivity, one had to devise methods. One might boost one’s own output—but the easiest path was to sabotage a competitor’s. This was what Remitri wanted Louis to learn from Hansen.

Louis looked out over the vast grassland before him. It had not yet been cultivated, but the soil had rested long enough to be fertile for the next planting. Hansen’s land was the same. The territory assigned to Louis was of better quality, thanks to Remitri’s consideration. How many seeds could he sow? The farmers’ working hours were limited. How to motivate them mattered most.

The simplest way was to pay them. Or grant tax reductions. But how much, and to what extent—that was the problem.

If slaves could be used, they could be worked until death. But slave labor was forbidden. Only free peasant farmers could be employed.

What would Hansen do? His former posting was one of Fred’s cities, where food competition was fierce, partly thanks to barbarians. Though local supply was possible, the Pontina direct domain produced the largest surplus to distribute to needy cities. Only Pierre’s two cities and Fred’s northern stronghold were fully self-sufficient.

Louis briefly thought of Freia, the city where he had once been governor, thoroughly stripped of food. But he pushed it from his mind.

‘Focus on the present.’

He had to seize this chance to rise quickly. Louis too had ambition—the ambition to rule the continent. Yet as life went on, childhood dreams had shrunk and withered. Until the Civilization System appeared, his only goal had been to competently manage one or two cities, earn his father’s approval, and cling to either his eldest or second brother to survive their succession struggle.

But not now.

He thought of the Civilization System, still not fully understood. If he had spent his first free 100 points not on Aggression but on Expansion, he would have no such worries now. With added respect and productivity from laborers, regular meetings alone would have let him overwhelm Hansen without any rewards.

Regrettably, Military Charisma was of no help here. It had revived his image, but what he needed now was labor productivity.

‘I need more points.’

Beating Hansen on ability alone was impossible. Hansen was famed even in the north as a skilled administrator. To win, Louis needed a skill from the Civilization System.

At present he had 15 points from inspections and 30 from Boromir’s recruitment. To acquire a useful administrative trait, he needed 115.

What quests could he complete?

‘Military recruitment.’

Recruiting 100 soldiers would grant 60 points. Raising regulars was impossible. Then…

“What weighs so heavily on your mind, my lord?”

Boromir asked from his standing posture.

“Boromir. I need soldiers.”

“…Pardon? Soldiers, not farmers?”

Regular troops were impossible. To raise them, he would need Duke Remitri’s permission—which he would never get. Borrowing from Fred or Pierre was likewise out of the question. One option remained.

‘Mercenaries.’

Hire 100 mercenaries at once. Even cheap ones cost dearly, and skilled fighters even more so. But Louis had saved a small reserve of funds while governing. It was all he had, yet it did not matter. Points mattered more now…!

“My lord, forgive me, but what do you mean…?”

“Mercenaries.”

“……”

“We must gather 100 of the cheapest mercenaries. Boromir, this is my first order to you. Go to the Mercenary Guild at once in my name and bring me 100 mercenaries. Can you do it?”

“…I shall obey.”

If he reached 130 points, what skill could he invest in? As Louis searched through the Civilization System, something caught his eye.

‘A monument.’

Count Hansen read over the documents with a smile. He had long served as an administrator, roaming northern cities. Without connections, it had taken him years to reach his current position. Now a golden chance had come. If he became governor, a path to advancement lay open. He had not yet won, but he was certain he almost had. His opponent? The third young lord. The third young lord had never been praised in administration, diplomacy, politics, or military affairs. To be matched against him at all, Hansen thought, was proof Duke Remitri’s anger toward his son had not faded.

He was not one to inspect in person. Instead, he sent subordinates and read their reports. The land he had been given was poorer than expected. Louis’s land was not much better, but in comparison, his was worse. The clearest reason was irrigation. The direction of the waterways—water meant everything for growth. Even the best administrator could not raise good yields without water.

Yet in this test, maximum yield was not the point.

‘I only need to outproduce him.’

This was the way of the world. Still, he could not use rough methods. Louis, however feeble, was a duke’s son, and this was ducal land. Unlike in the north, bloodshed was forbidden.

Then something in the reports caught Hansen’s eye.

Louis’s only subordinate, Boromir, had left his post.

‘What is he plotting? But…’

‘That was a blunder from the start, Louis.’

Sending away the only centurion to guard the land weakened its defenses. That meant a simple act—destroying the irrigation canal. Without water, farmers’ productivity would plummet, and they would be forced to haul water by hand, splitting their labor. Over time, the victory would naturally be his.

For now, caution was key. His opponent was of noble blood. Better to watch for a day or two.