The luncheon was held in the Great Hall of the main keep of Megalith Castle. Many people were already seated around the long oak dining table. Judging by their attire and crests, most were noble lords of the surrounding territories.
Leylo's arrival didn't cause much of a stir. After all, he was a newly appointed Baron from the remote Blackstone Territory; many of the established nobles present hadn't even heard of him.
Count Barton Megalith sat in the seat of honor. He was a man of burly stature and rugged features, with short brown hair that stood upright like steel needles. His gaze was sharp, exuding a natural authority without the need for anger. When Leylo entered, the Count merely gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.
Leylo found a seat toward the end of the table and sat down, quietly observing those present. Some lords looked relaxed, chatting and laughing, while others wore worried expressions, with a touch of solemnity hidden between their brows.
After the wine had circled three times and the food five, Barton Megalith set down his wine cup. His heavy voice rang out across the hall: "Everyone, I have invited you here today not only to foster our relationships but to discuss a matter of great importance."
The hall fell silent instantly as all eyes converged on Barton Megalith.
"Surely you have all noticed," Barton's gaze swept across the crowd. "In the past six months, monster activity in the Emerald Swamp has become increasingly frequent, even beginning to push against our territorial borders. My Megalith Territory has borne the brunt of it. I have organized several small-scale purges, but the results were negligible, and we lost many men instead."
At these words, the faces of several lords turned grim. The Emerald Swamp was a vast and dangerous region in the north of the Principality, teeming with monsters and filled with toxic miasma—a nightmare for all northern frontier lords. Everyone present had suffered losses there. In particular, before the Master of the Emerald Swamp, the Nine-Headed Hydra Havira, fell into its slumber, it had unleashed several monster tides that had wiped out entire territories.
An elderly man sitting near Barton sighed. "The Count speaks the truth. My Windwhisper Territory has also been harassed by small groups of magic beasts. Farmlands destroyed, livestock plundered... the scale is small for now, but if this continues, my people will fall into a state of panic."
"Indeed! Those damned monsters are like maggots on a bone—impossible to drive away and never-ending!" another younger lord added indignantly.
Barton Megalith raised a hand to signal for calm. "Everyone, piecemeal defense and purging can no longer contain the expansion of the monsters. It is my intention to organize an allied force to delve deep into the Emerald Swamp and conduct a large-scale purge!"
"What? Deep into the Emerald Swamp?" "That's too risky! There are high-tier monsters in the depths!" "An allied force? Who will command? How will troops be allocated? And how will the spoils be divided?"
As soon as Barton finished speaking, the hall erupted like a boiling pot. Doubts and anxieties surfaced one after another. Most lords looked hesitant; the dangers of the Emerald Swamp were known to all, and entering it voluntarily was like pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth.
Leylo remained silent, watching the situation unfold. If Barton dared to propose such a plan, he surely had something to back it up.
Sure enough, Barton let out a heavy huff, and a powerful aura radiated from him, suppressing the noisy discussion. "I understand your concerns. But sitting still will only make things worse. Must we wait until the monsters are at our gates before we regret today's hesitation?" His voice was like a Great Bell, making their eardrums tingle.
"As for the safety of entering the depths that you all worry about..." Barton's lips curled into a meaningful smile. "For this operation, I have specially invited a helper."
He clapped his hands.
The side door of the hall slowly opened, and a man clad in dark red heavy armor, carrying a greatsword nearly as tall as a person on his back, walked in. His steps were steady, each one feeling like a thud against the hearts of the audience. A cold, powerful pressure spread through the room with his appearance.
The man came to a stop beside Barton. From beneath his helmet, his gaze swept over the crowd like a hawk—indifferent and razor-sharp.
"This is His Excellency Kahn, the 'Rock-Render'," Barton introduced. "Many of you may have heard of him. Six months ago, Sir Kahn broke through to become a Tier 5 Domain Knight!"
"A Tier 5 Domain Knight!" Gasps of shock echoed throughout the hall.
A Domain Knight was a pinnacle existence in the kingdom, capable of manipulating the forces of heaven and earth and establishing their own "Domain" with a simple gesture. With such a powerhouse overseeing the mission, the risk of delving into the Emerald Swamp would undoubtedly be greatly reduced.
The lords who had been wavering now looked on with different eyes—a mixture of awe, excitement, and even a hint of greed. Barton Megalith watched their reactions with satisfaction and continued to throw out incentives.
"Sir Kahn and I will jointly command this alliance. All participating lords will not only receive spoils proportional to their troop contribution and military merit, but they will also have priority for resource extraction in the cleared safe zones. Furthermore, Megalith Territory will bear 30% of the military expenditures for this operation!"
Under heavy rewards, there are bound to be brave men. With a Domain Knight leading the way and such rich promises of profit, the scales in the lords' hearts began to tip rapidly.
"The Count is truly righteous! My Eagle Territory is willing to send 300 troops to follow the Count and Sir Kahn!" a lord who lived near the swamp and had suffered greatly was the first to declare.
"My Rock Territory is also willing to send 200 troops!" "Count me in! Blackwater Territory sends 250!"
The atmosphere suddenly became heated. The lords who had just been making excuses were now vying with each other to pledge support, fearing they would be left behind. Men die for wealth as birds die for food, especially when it concerns the long-term stability of their lands.
Leylo watched this dramatic scene, thinking to himself: Barton Megalith truly is a veteran Count. His methods are masterful—first highlighting the crisis, then revealing power, and finally offering massive profit. This combination leaves these lords with no choice but to be moved.
Seeing the surging enthusiasm, Barton allowed a faint, unnoticeable smile to grace his face. He clapped his hands again, signaling his attendants.
Soon, several attendants came forward carrying a stack of thick parchment scrolls and ink pens. The edges of the scrolls were lined with fine gold thread, emitting a faint magical glow—clearly specially made contract documents.
"Everyone, this is the Covenant of the Joint Operation," Barton said loudly. "The covenant details the troop proportions for each party, the chain of command, the principles of spoil distribution, and the division of resource extraction rights in the post-purge zones. You may look them over first. If there are no objections, you may sign."
The attendants distributed the parchment scrolls to the lords. The hall fell quiet, replaced by the rustle of turning parchment. Lords either frowned as they read carefully or whispered in low tones with their advisors.
Leylo also received a copy and browsed through the terms. It had to be said, the covenant was quite comprehensive, considering almost every aspect. Troop numbers were tied to territorial strength, and spoil distribution was relatively fair, based primarily on merit and troop contribution as Barton had claimed. Megalith Territory bearing 30% of the costs also showed his sincerity and resolve.
However, Leylo couldn't figure out one thing: what was Count Megalith truly plotting behind all this expenditure of wealth and effort? Was it really as noble and selfless as he made it out to be?