"Rock-Render" Kahn remained like a silent iron tower standing beside Barton Megalith. That invisible pressure made it impossible for any lord present to dare relax for a moment.
The Lord of Eagle Territory was the first to finish reading the covenant. Without a shred of hesitation, he made a grand flourish with his pen and signed his commitment below his name.
"The Count is truly visionary! My Eagle Territory is willing to serve as the vanguard!"
With the first person taking the lead, the other lords followed suit in quick succession.
"Rock Territory seconds the motion!"
"Blackwater Territory is willing to follow the Count!"
As ink pens glided across the parchment, family crests and signatures gradually filled the bottom of the covenant. The atmosphere grew heated, as if the monsters of the Emerald Swamp were already in their grasp, and the easily attainable wealth and land were beckoning to them.
Leylo set down the parchment in his hand, not immediate expressing his stance. He noticed that besides himself, a few other lords appeared somewhat hesitant.
Soon, the majority of the lords had signed the agreement, leaving only a few scattered scrolls in the attendants' hands. Barton Megalith's gaze swept across the remaining few, finally landing on a lean noble with a goatee—this was the Baron of Silvermoon Territory.
"Baron Silvermoon, what say you?" Barton Megalith's voice remained gentle, but everyone present could hear the displeasure beneath it.
Baron Silvermoon coughed twice, forcing a faint, apologetic smile onto his face. "My Lord Count, it is not that I am unwilling to serve the Principality. It is just that... Silvermoon Territory is remote, and we've had frequent accidents lately—bandits and monsters appearing one after another. I truly cannot spare any extra hands."
As he spoke, he let out a solemn sigh, looking truly distressed over the matter. Leylo took a sip of wine, his mind recalling the intelligence that Silvermoon Territory had discovered a new silver mine; this old man was clearly intent on closing his doors to get rich in secret.
Barton Megalith's brow twitched almost imperceptibly as he turned to the Viscount of Poplar Territory, who had yet to state his stance. "And what of His Excellency, Viscount Poplar?"
Viscount Poplar, a somewhat bloated middle-aged man, waved his hands frantically upon hearing the question, the fat on his face trembling. "The Count's wisdom is clear, but my Poplar Territory... alas, we were struck by a plague recently. The casualties among the people were heavy, and it will take years to recover. We are truly... spread too thin right now."
He wore a look of utter misery, as if his territory might collapse the very next second. To the shrewd people in the hall, these excuses were obviously perfunctory. While the benefits of the Emerald Swamp were enticing, the risks were equally immense. Every lord had their own private calculations.
Leylo glanced at Viscount Poplar. Though the man looked amiable, he was secretly connected to the Serpent Church. If they had truly become "birds of a feather," the north of the Principality was in for a massive upheaval.
Barton Megalith's expression didn't change, though the smile in his eyes faded slightly. His gaze skipped over those two and settled on Baron Monde of Ironthorn Territory.
Baron Monde was a burly man with a thick beard and a naturally rough personality. He spoke in a muffled, booming voice: "My Lord Count, Sir Kahn, it's not that I, Monde, am ungrateful. It's just... my Ironthorn Territory has been plagued by bandits lately! Groups of thieves popped up overnight on the hills around the territory, breeding faster than rabbits! My small force is already exhausted just trying to suppress them. I truly... have the will but not the strength!"
He spoke with such "earnestness" it seemed as if those bandits might breach his castle at any moment. Several lords couldn't help but twitch their lips. Ironthorn had bandits, yes, but to claim they were rampant enough to keep Monde pinned down was pure nonsense. Everyone knew that Monde himself was the biggest "bandit leader" in the area; he had simply donned the robes of nobility.
"Baron Monde, if the bandits in your land are truly that troublesome, I wouldn't mind having Sir Kahn take some time to 'clear them out' for you," Barton Megalith said with a trace of icy mockery.
Upon hearing this, Baron Monde let out a laugh and said, "I wouldn't dare trouble Sir Kahn! I have already sought aid from Prince Elliot, and the reinforcements dispatched by the Prince are already on their way."
Sending a Tier 5 Domain Knight to clear bandits? His Ironthorn Territory would likely have its topsoil scraped off. However, Monde wasn't without backing; many present knew he performed "dark business" for Prince Elliot.
Barton Megalith huffed but didn't press the matter. Though he was a powerful feudal Count, he wouldn't slight the heir to the Principality in front of so many lords.
Finally, all eyes—including Barton's—converged on Leylo. Barton looked at him: "Baron Leylo, your Blackstone Territory directly borders the Emerald Swamp. You surely understand that when the lips are gone, the teeth get cold. What are the Baron's thoughts?"
Leylo stood up, his posture neither servile nor overbearing. "Lord Count, Sir Kahn, Lords." His voice was clear and echoed through the hall. "Clearing the Emerald Swamp and stabilizing the northern frontier is a great deed for the country and the people. Naturally, Leylo agrees with it."
Hearing this, a smile touched Barton's face. However, Leylo's tone shifted.
"However, as you all may know, my Blackstone Territory just went through a bloody battle with the Blood Wolf Bandit Group not long ago."
At the mention of the Blood Wolves, several lords' expressions shifted. The fact that Blackstone had wiped them out had already drawn much attention.
Leylo continued: "In that battle, though Blackstone claimed a lucky victory, we paid a massive price. Soldiers were heavily wounded, resources were exhausted, and the territory is in shambles. My people need rest. To forcibly draw troops for the alliance now would not only fail to provide adequate combat power but might even drag the army down... or perhaps give certain petty people an opportunity to strike."
"Therefore, I fear Blackstone is unable to participate in this alliance's operations. I hope the Count and all of you can understand. Once my territory recovers its strength, if there is a need in the future, I will certainly not hesitate."
These words were well-reasoned and logical; they stated his position clearly while giving Barton plenty of face. The destruction of the Blood Wolves was a fact, and it was only natural that Blackstone would suffer heavy losses. Most lords present knew they lacked the strength to wipe out the Blood Wolves themselves.
Barton Megalith fell silent for a moment, and the atmosphere in the hall turned stagnant. The lords who had already signed watched the young Baron with interest, wondering how Count Barton would respond.
After a moment, Barton donned his signature smile once more. "I see. Baron Leylo is young and promising; wiping out the Blood Wolves single-handedly makes you a role model for our generation. Since Blackstone truly faces difficulties, I naturally cannot force your hand."
He paused, his tone becoming meaningful. "However, missing this opportunity means Blackstone won't be able to get a share of the Emerald Swamp's profits in the future."
Leylo smiled faintly and said frankly, "Thank you for your understanding, My Lord Count. Blackstone currently only seeks stable development; we dare not ask for too much."
"Good. You have spirit." Barton nodded and spoke no more, turning to his attendants. "Put the agreement away."
The attendants complied, collecting the remaining parchment scrolls and stepping aside. With that, the matter of the allied force was essentially settled. Most lords chose to join, but several houses—Silvermoon, Poplar, Ironthorn, and Blackstone—remained out of it for various "reasons."
Leylo sat back down, his mind untroubled. He knew Barton's words were both a lament and a subtle warning. But he had his own considerations; the Emerald Swamp was a tempting piece of meat, but it was also scalding. Given Blackstone's current strength, jumping into such a large-scale military operation was not a wise move.
Furthermore, he remained wary of Barton Megalith and the mysterious Kahn. Keeping a low profile and developing carefully was his primary goal for now.
Lord Leylo, you have successfully navigated a political minefield. By avoiding the alliance, you've kept your troops safe and avoided becoming a pawn in the Count's potential schemes.