Chapter 58: A Bountiful Harvest
The Mellerfield family crest now flew proudly from the ramparts of Ambratu.
With barely a drop of blood spilled, Eric Scamario led the Lanwan knights in a swift and easy occupation of Ambratu.
Charlotte wasted no time in declaring the city-state of Ambratu the County of Ambratu, appointing Jonathan Hackman as its county magistrate.
While the terms "county" and "county magistrate" originated in the Oran Empire, the Green Plains Duchy, under whose jurisdiction several counties fell, employed the county magistrate more as a steward for noble estates than as a true administrative official. The key difference was that this magistrate managed towns, while actual authority remained with the local feudal lords. Consequently, Charlotte's arrangement raised few eyebrows within the Lanwan Viscountcy.
However, unnoticed by all, Ambratu had become the first territory in the Oran Empire without a resident, enfeoffed noble.
The only real concern among the viscountcy's populace was the choice of county magistrate. After all, just a month prior, Jonathan Hackman had been a mere slave.
Jonathan Hackman's first act upon taking office was to abolish the distinction between citizens and freemen in Ambratu. Henceforth, both would be considered commoners under the rule of the Lanwan Viscount.
Upon hearing this news, the citizens of Ambratu were understandably aghast, while the far more numerous freemen were ecstatic.
Despite bearing the title "free," the lives of the city-state's freemen were anything but. Apo's destitution after losing his citizenship, and Jonathan Hackman's own family being torn apart and himself sold into slavery for the same reason, starkly illustrated the precarious existence of freemen. They faced heavier taxes than citizens yet received almost no benefits from the city-state. Unreasonable exploitation and plunder by the upper-class citizens were commonplace, and even when they sought justice in court, judges and juries invariably sided against them.
Thanks to this initial decree, Jonathan Hackman's second order was implemented with ease: the recruitment of scribes and patrol members. The freemen, finally seeing a glimmer of hope for a better life, responded with fervent enthusiasm. Jonathan Hackman needed only to offer modest wages to enlist three hundred scribes and over two thousand patrol members.
Arming the patrol members, Jonathan Hackman transformed them into a formidable force. With this power at his command, he announced, "For harboring Pand, the criminal responsible for the death of Harvey Sherwin, all citizens of Ambratu must serve three months of forced labor!"
This order ignited an uproar in Ambratu. While the long-term loss of citizenship was far more damaging than three months of immediate labor, people often react more strongly to immediate hardship. Consequently, some citizens began to organize in resistance.
However, Jonathan Hackman fully understood why Charlotte had sent him back to serve as county magistrate.
The elimination of a social class is inevitably a cruel and bloody affair, and Charlotte intended for Jonathan Hackman to bear the brunt of the resulting animosity. Jonathan held personal grudges against both the citizens of Ambratu and the city's council of elders. Any action he took could be conveniently attributed to his personal vendetta.
It was a transparent scheme, yet Jonathan Hackman was willing to be the scapegoat.
Years ago, the Hackman family had been reduced to slavery, scattered to different locations by slave traders. Most of them were now lost to him. With Charlotte's support, Jonathan had managed to locate his youngest son, only to discover the boy had already perished from exhaustion in a mine.
Charlotte needed to eliminate a group of people who would likely never support her rule, and Jonathan Hackman yearned to avenge himself and his family.
Facing the citizens who had banded together in resistance, Jonathan Hackman did not hesitate to order a massacre. Half of the property left behind by the slain citizens was confiscated for public use, while the other half was given as a reward to the patrol members who had distinguished themselves.
The patrol, composed of former freemen, was thus highly motivated. Groups of Ambratu citizens, escorted by the patrol, were sent to the Lanwan Viscountcy to dig canals. In theory, these citizens would be allowed to return to Ambratu after three months of labor, with their property untouched and their families undisturbed. However, the reality of the situation was likely to be far more complex.
Jonathan Hackman had already begun investigating the theft of Charlotte's gold and silverware. Anyone found in possession of stolen goods would be immediately enslaved, and all their property confiscated.
Of course, this was just the beginning.
Charlotte was confident that Jonathan Hackman would use these three months to ensure that these former citizens would never return to Ambratu.
Creak...
The heavy door groaned open.
Charlotte followed Eric Scamario into a dark, dry vault within Ambratu.
"This is the treasury of the Ambratu city-state," Eric explained. "According to the records, there are approximately 200,000 Fuso, 1.2 million Dier, and 5.3 million Zabi here."
The Dier was a currency issued by the Feidi city-state. Currency values in the Sokya Peninsula had always been volatile. Victory in war would send their value soaring, while defeat would cause them to plummet. The Feidi currency was no exception. However, as the currency of the largest city-state, it enjoyed slightly more stability.
Over the past two years, despite Feidi's consecutive defeats, the exchange rate between the Dier and Fuso had remained relatively stable at around 4:1. Thus, 1.2 million Dier could be exchanged for roughly 300,000 Fuso.
As for the staggering 5.3 million Zabi...
The Zabi was a currency issued by Ambratu itself. Even the people of Ambratu barely used it, let alone other city-states.
Charlotte picked up a Zabi coin from a money chest and examined it closely.
The coin felt heavy in her hand, made of solid material with a high copper content. This was unlike some city-states that resorted to iron coins or even shells as currency.
However, the front of the Zabi coin depicted an indecipherable scene of a man and woman embracing intimately, leaving one to question the taste of the Ambratu people.
Charlotte disdainfully tossed the coin back into the chest, clapped her hands, and sighed, "How meager..."
Excluding the Zabi, which was only valuable for its copper content, the treasury held a mere 600,000 Fuso. The savings of an entire city-state were less than Charlotte's personal wealth. The council of Ambratu had not lied to its citizens about the treasury's emptiness.
"The money and grain are indeed lacking," Eric conceded, "but the spoils from the other warehouses should satisfy you, Viscount."
"Oh, really?"
Charlotte nodded and followed Eric to the second warehouse.
As the door swung open, her eyes beheld a warehouse half-filled with swords, spears, shields, and armor.
Eric handed her a ledger. "This is Ambratu's armory. According to the records, there are 8,000 spears, 3,000 short swords, 3,000 long swords, 1,000 battle axes, 4,500 shields, 32,000 javelins, 8,000 sets of leather armor, 4,000 sets of chainmail..."
Even after losing 7,000 citizen-soldiers, the weapons in the armory were enough to equip an army of ten thousand.
As Charlotte marveled at the Sokya people's dedication to warfare, she picked up a javelin from the rack. "Why are there so many javelins here?"
"Javelins are the most common weapon used by the Sokya people, and their supernatural abilities are well-suited for them," Eric Scamario explained.
The most prevalent supernatural ability in the Sokya Peninsula was known as the "Heavy Infantry" or "Citizen-Soldier" path. Due to the prominence of Sokya mercenaries, it was often referred to elsewhere as the "Mercenary" or simply "Sokya" path.
At the first level, this path granted the ability "Robustness," which significantly enhanced the user's physical attributes. Unlike the "Strength Amplification" of the Royal Griffin Knights, this was a passive ability that naturally improved the user's physique upon awakening.
At the second level, the ability "Stone Throw" was unlocked, which was the primary reason for the Sokya people's exceptional javelin skills. This ability required the user's right hand as a medium. Any projectile thrown with the right hand would gradually accelerate in flight, gaining tremendous kinetic energy and lethality by the end of its trajectory.
"Moreover, these javelins have a special feature," Eric added, taking one and showing its tip to Charlotte.
Charlotte tapped the tip and inquired, "Copper?"
"No, it's orichalcum," Eric replied. "Orichalcum tips can withstand immense impact without deforming or breaking."
"Hah, how extravagant..."
Orichalcum was a supernatural material, a byproduct of copper ore veins. Supernatural materials were generally expensive, and orichalcum was no exception. The fact that the Ambratu people used orichalcum to make javelin tips was astonishing to Charlotte. However, considering that the nearby Mount Mashou had copper veins, it wasn't entirely surprising.
In fact, it wasn't just the javelin tips. Charlotte inspected three more captured warehouses, all filled to the brim with orichalcum ore.
Facing the mountain of ore, Charlotte silently waved her hand, dismissing the others.
After Eric and the other knights left the warehouse and closed the door, Charlotte took a deep breath, exhaled, inhaled again, exhaled again, and then suddenly embraced Renee, who stood beside her.
Charlotte buried her face in Renee's chest, letting out a low, muffled roar of excitement.
Renee held her mistress, gently patting her back.
After a moment, Charlotte finally lifted her head, her eyes red with excitement as she looked at Renee. "Renee, we've struck gold!"
"Indeed," Renee nodded.
Charlotte paced back and forth in the warehouse, speaking rapidly, her voice a torrent of barely suppressed excitement.
"No, this isn't just about getting rich. With Ambratu under control, both the north and south of the Lanwan Isthmus are now mine. I am now the undisputed ruler of the Lanwan Isthmus. Once the Lanwan Canal is completed next year, it will mean a steady stream of revenue. More importantly, the gates to the Sokya Peninsula are now wide open to me. There are abundant mineral resources, high-quality soldiers, and experienced sailors here..."
Charlotte leaped onto a pile of ore, clenched her fist, and punched the air twice, declaring, "Next, all I need to do is conquer the Sokya Peninsula, and it will become the foundation for my conquest of the entire continent!"
Renee smiled, listening to Charlotte's impassioned speech. She was genuinely happy for Charlotte's success. She remembered when Charlotte was around ten years old, spreading a map out before them and drawing a circle around the Lanwan Isthmus in the corner, stating with unwavering determination, "I will start from here!"
Now, Charlotte was nearly seventeen.
Six years of patience, six years of meticulous planning, had finally culminated in this tremendous victory.
After Charlotte had fully expressed her elation, Renee finally reminded her, "Miss, Knight Robin Mancini is still awaiting your audience."
Charlotte nodded, hopped down from the pile of ore, straightened her attire, and said, "Have him come here to see me."
"Yes."
Renee acknowledged and departed. Shortly after, she returned with Robin Mancini, followed by seven of his subordinates.
"Greetings, Viscount."
Robin Mancini and his subordinates knelt on one knee.
"No need for formalities. You are all my valued subjects," Charlotte said with a smile, gesturing for them to rise.
After they stood, Robin Mancini introduced his subordinates to Charlotte. When he presented Logan, the one-eyed man knelt again.
"Viscount, this dagger is a family heirloom, a treasure passed down through generations. I wish to present it to you," Logan said, holding out a palm-sized dagger.
"Oh? What makes it so special?" Charlotte asked curiously, taking the dagger.
"My grandfather acquired it during a war, so its original name is unknown. However, when it pierces a person's body, it inflicts unimaginable pain. Those with weak wills immediately lose all ability to resist. I usually call it 'Fang,'" Logan explained.
"Is this what killed Harvey Sherwin?" Charlotte asked, drawing the seemingly ordinary dagger and examining it closely.
"Yes."
Logan lowered his head in response, assuming Charlotte was about to accept the dagger. But the next moment, she sheathed it and returned it to him.
"I haven't even properly rewarded your service yet. How can I accept such a gift?" Charlotte said with a smile. "I heard from Knight Mancini that you are all willing to conceal your identities and work for me in the shadows."
"Yes."
The seven of them answered in unison.
They had once been disillusioned, mired in despair, having almost given up all hope. It was Charlotte and Robin Mancini who had pulled them from the depths and offered them a chance at redemption. For this, they were willing to do anything for Charlotte.
"In that case," Charlotte said, glancing at their plain gray linen clothes, she drew her short sword and smiled, "please kneel."
The seven of them knelt again, a look of confusion on their faces.
Charlotte tapped each of their shoulders with her short sword and declared, "I, Charlotte Mellerfield, Viscount of Lanwan, hereby dub you knights. From this day forward, you are knights of my Gray Cloak Order, who will walk in the shadows for me. I appoint Robin Mancini as the commander of the Gray Cloak Order and Logan as the deputy commander."
This unexpected honor overwhelmed the seven men with emotion. They were former citizens of Ambratu who had betrayed their city-state, expecting to face trials before earning Charlotte's full trust. They had never imagined she would grant them knighthood so readily. Though it was an unheard-of Gray Cloak Order, it was still knighthood.
Logan gritted his teeth, making a resolute decision. He spoke up again, "Viscount, if you can place your trust in me, I am willing to recruit three hundred supernatural beings for you!"
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