17: Understand the territory situation

As for Arthur bringing Victor along, what about Matt, who had caught the attention of various factions in Mad Lion City?

In fact, there was nothing to worry about. After all, people who managed to make a name for themselves weren't fools; they generally wouldn't dare move recklessly without figuring out the forces backing Matt.

Doing something reckless might offend an existence they couldn't afford to provoke, and wouldn't that be the end of them?

Moreover, Matt himself was a powerhouse at the Gold Knight Peak. Unless an Earth Knight took action, nothing could threaten him.

...Hearing Victor's voice, Arthur turned his head and smiled, saying:

"No orders. I only called out to you to confirm your presence! Continue to stay hidden!"

"As you command!"

After confirming that his lethal weapon, Victor, was always nearby, Arthur felt relieved and went to wash up.

An hour later, Arthur, dressed in a brown silk robe, sat in the main seat of the castle's reception hall.

His personal maid, Karona, and the butler, Poussin, stood behind him, while several influential figures of the territory sat below.

There was Magistrate Charles; Chris, the only Gold Knight powerhouse on the surface of the territory; and four others who were Silver Knights, the captains of the knight squads.

At this moment, all six of them were looking at Arthur, waiting for his instructions.

Arthur first shifted his gaze to Magistrate Charles:

"Charles, you start by introducing the situation of the territory!"

"As you command, Lord Arthur!" Receiving Arthur's order, Charles immediately stood up and bowed to him.

He then faced the group and said:

"This small city was built over three months and can accommodate thirty thousand people for normal living. All the buildings and houses in the city are made of stone, keeping them warm in winter and cool in summer, which will reduce many troubles.

Regarding the population, the Count had originally migrated ten thousand young adults here, with a male-to-female ratio of seven to three.

However, in the two weeks before your arrival, Lord, many people were attracted to seek refuge here because of the Count's and your reputation.

For the better development of the territory, after selection, I agreed to accept two thousand people as subjects of the fief!

Therefore, the territory now has a commoner population of twelve thousand!

As for the military, there is a regular army of one thousand men and forty-one knights, including Captain Chris!

Supplies for daily life are well-stocked, enough for thirty thousand people to use for a year, so there is no need to worry for the time being!

But our territory has no cultivated fields. As for how to solve the future food problem, I ask for your instructions, Lord!"

Arthur already had flour ground from premium wheat as a commodity, and the price was ten times cheaper than market grain, so he wasn't worried about food issues.

He replied:

"As for food, just do your best to have people reclaim farmland for planting. We might not be self-sufficient in the first year or two, but I will find a way to make up for the food deficit. You don't need to worry!"

"Then I have no more concerns, Lord!"

Hearing this, Arthur's gaze left Charles and turned toward Chris:

"Since there's nothing else, let me announce a new appointment!

Chris's strength is beyond doubt, so the territory's one-thousand-man regular army and forty knights shall be led by him!"

"Thank you, Lord! I will certainly give my all!"

Hearing that he was being entrusted with a heavy responsibility, Chris also hurriedly rose from his seat, knelt on one knee, and expressed his loyalty to Arthur.

On the Continent of Gods, the strong are respected, so the remaining four Silver Knight squad captains naturally had no objections.

"Good! I believe in you!"

After talking for a while longer, Arthur gained a clearer understanding of the territory's livelihood and military matters, and felt there was nothing left to discuss:

"I've just arrived today and am not yet familiar with the situation here. In a few days, I will issue some new orders. That is all; you may head back now!"

After saying this, Arthur originally thought they would leave one after another, but Chris spoke up before the group could bid farewell:

"Lord Arthur, I believe there is one more matter I should explain to you, and that is the issue of the castle's guards!"

"Oh? Go on!"

"Before you arrived, the castle was guarded by only fifty ordinary soldiers. Now that you are here, the previous guard is clearly insufficient. I believe at least two knight squads should be dispatched to guard the castle.

If necessary, I can continue to serve concurrently as the Captain of the Castle Guard!"

Hearing this, Arthur thought it over and felt Chris was right. Although he was secretly protected by the Sky Knight Victor, others didn't know that.

On the surface, he still needed a decent defensive force, so he nodded and agreed to Chris's proposal.

"Two knight squads can be added to the castle for day and night rotation, but Chris, you need to lead the army, and it wouldn't be convenient for you to be in the castle.

As for safety, if a Gold Knight level powerhouse truly comes to attack, I will have my own ways to deal with it. Rest assured!"

Chris was still a bit worried when he heard that Arthur didn't need him to stay in the castle, but seeing that Arthur didn't look like he was lying, he didn't say anything more.

"Your subordinate understands. The night is late, so I won't disturb you further!"

"Your subordinate takes his leave!" Charles and the others followed suit and bid their farewells... Early the next morning, Arthur opened his eyes on his new Simmons mattress.

Whether it was because he had changed locations or because he finally had his own territory, an excited Arthur hadn't slept soundly last night.

One had to know that although The Count and Countess were very good to him in the Counts Fief, he was ultimately restricted there. It wasn't like in the Barren Plains, where he had the final say over everything in the territory.

This feeling of holding power firmly in his hands naturally made one incredibly excited!

After letting his mind go blank for a while on the bed, Arthur finally got up, preparing to perform his daily morning cultivation.

Karona was already waiting nearby to serve him. Seeing the silver-haired beautiful girl in a maid outfit as soon as he woke up immediately made his mood much more pleasant.

Arthur's wake-up time was almost fixed, and in order to serve Arthur better, Karona had long ago adjusted her biological clock to wake up an hour before Arthur's wake-up time!

This allowed Karona to wait by his side early every time before Arthur woke up; she could be called the perfect personal maid!

...With Karona's service, Arthur quickly finished washing up.

Next was cultivation.

Coming to the castle's training ground, Arthur suddenly didn't want to Cultivate alone today. He looked at Karona, who was waiting outside the field.

He suddenly felt that, compared to a maid outfit, yesterday's suit of knight armor seemed to highlight Karona's charm more.

A cold, oval-shaped face, plus that shoulder-length silver hair, paired with armor that accentuated her figure—it really gave off a cold, 'big sister' vibe.

He said to Karona, "Put on your armor, we're going to spar."

"Yes, Lord Arthur!"

This request was very normal, so after responding, Karona went to change into her armor.