Lord of Rot

Of course, there was an even simpler way.

Religion!

The reason so many trivial troubles occurred in Porcupine Territory was that there was no Four Gods Sect, no Priest.

Theocracy reigned supreme on the Lu Leiyi Continent.

But Leech instinctively rejected religion. The influences from his past life made him averse to their methods of emotional guidance. Yet, he had to admit that if a church existed in Porcupine Territory, the residents wouldn’t be xenophobic. Instead, they would be peaceful, kind, and helpful to one another.

This was the uncanny power of religion, something he, as a Lord, could not achieve.

The original Leech Clarence had also been a Believer in the Four Gods Sect, the mainstream faith of the Lu Leiyi Continent. Even if Leech suppressed his aversion and sent a sincere invitation, the church had no intention of opening a branch in such a poor and remote backwater. So, he could only dream.

Gelan understood what Leech meant.

It wasn’t a noble title, just an honorary one. That was acceptable.

For a commoner, obtaining the title of Knight was something to boast about for a lifetime.

”Also, if someone who becomes an Honorary Knight makes a mistake in the future, the honorary title can be revoked.”

Leech laid out the rules one by one. ”Whether they are outsiders or locals, everyone will have the opportunity to become an Honorary Knight. However, the first Honorary Knight must be someone not from Porcupine Territory.”

Nothing created a sense of belonging more easily than the Lord’s personal acknowledgment.

Bestowing the title of Honorary Knight meant that in the Lord’s eyes, everyone was one of his own people.

’So you’re from Maitian Village, big deal? Let’s see if the Lord recognizes your ”noble” status.’

”Go investigate that Little Antelope. She used to be a slave, right? Her status is perfect,” Leech said. ”As long as there are no other issues with her, we can make her the first Honorary Knight.”

...

”Me? An Honorary Knight?” Little Antelope’s voice shot up.

Everyone in the entire market turned to look at her.

Gelan smiled and nodded. ”Qiao has also spoken to me about you. He said you have a remarkable mind for business, and the Lord greatly admires your spirit, which is neither servile nor overbearing.”

Little Antelope hurriedly said, ”I’m willing!”

”Don’t be so hasty,” Gelan said, raising a hand. ”You don’t even know what an Honorary Knight is yet.”

After his explanation, Little Antelope understood the concept. Although it wasn’t a true noble rank, merely a title, it meant that, at least in terms of character, she had earned the Lord’s recognition.

Leech set the matter of the Honorary Knight aside. Once a plan was in motion, a Lord didn’t need to follow its every step; he only needed to know the result.

Otherwise, he’d be a babysitter to over two thousand people.

「Evening.」

Leech was holding his black cat, Qingtian, petting it every now and then.

He had the Beast Language user, Pitz, bathe Qingtian at regular intervals. Since they could communicate, Qingtian, though very reluctant, at least no longer struggled. The whole bathing process had become quite smooth.

’As long as I get dried fish after a bath, I’ll endure it!’

On the table was the cavalry training manual he had perfected that afternoon. It combined the experience of three different parties, incorporating mounted combat expertise from the three regions of the Eastern Gorge, the Giant’s Foot, and the Desert. Cavalry trained by this method might not become elite soldiers, but they would have at least absorbed the best of various schools.

”My Lord,” a male servant hurried over, ”Mister Deni requests an audience.”

”Deni? Let him in.” Leech casually handed Qingtian to the servant.

”Yes!”

Deni, who had been waiting outside the castle, strode in quickly.

”Yarrn, my Lord.”

”Yarrn.” Leech sat in his chair, not moving an inch. ”If Claude knew you were seeing me behind his back, he would be furious.”

That sounded a bit ambiguous.

But the general meaning was correct.

A smile appeared on Deni’s face, as if he could already picture Claude, furious and puffed up like a blowfish. ”I think he shouldn’t hear what we’re about to discuss... so it’s best he never finds out.”

”What did you want to talk about?”

”To express my gratitude to you,” Deni said, bowing deeply before straightening up. ”It is entirely because of your help that I successfully broke into the market in Burning City. Compared to the profits from that shipment, the market opening its doors to me was like a maiden spreading her legs. And I have you to thank for all of it.”

Leech’s mouth twitched. ”From the sound of it, you came all this way to thank me for helping you pry open a maiden’s legs?”

”Of course not,” Deni said with an awkward laugh. He realized his little joke might have been inappropriate, but seeing that the Lord wasn’t reprimanding him, he knew the conversation hadn’t stalled.

Leech asked again, ”So, did you bring Jinri?”

For him, the most suitable gift of thanks right now was money.

”No, of course not,” Deni shook his head. ”Any Jinri I brought will be spent buying your goods. I imagine just purchasing your high-priced honey, Porcupine Wine, and soap will use up all my money.”

”You’ve piqued my curiosity.”

Leech knew, of course, that Deni wouldn’t be coming to give him money. No matter how sweetly a merchant talked, he wouldn’t just hand over cash for free.

Deni lowered his voice mysteriously. ”It’s a Petroleum Ore mine!”

”What!” Leech was stunned.

Fire oil, which was petroleum.

Black gold.

Of course, the Lu Leiyi Continent’s use of petroleum was currently very primitive. It was used militarily to make fire pots for throwing or in catapults to create incendiary bombs for sieges.

And for lighting.

But as long as it had military applications, its value would continue to climb.

Leech could see many more possibilities for petroleum. Although he couldn’t replicate the technology, perhaps it could be done with Magic.

”On my way back from Burning City to the Eastern Gorge,” Deni said, ”I took a portion of my caravan overland. As we passed through Iron Valley, I discovered the Petroleum Ore mine.”

”Deni, don’t you know Iron Valley already has a lord?” Leech shook his head. ”Never mind a Petroleum Ore mine; even if there was a gold mine, there’s nothing I can do. I can’t just invade another lord’s territory for no reason.”

”No, my Lord,” Deni said, shaking his head. ”You certainly can do something. From what I’ve heard, the lord of Iron Valley is mentally unstable. He calls himself the Black King and even wants to overthrow our King... Besides, no one in Iron Valley has discovered that Petroleum Ore mine. The King will certainly not turn a blind eye to this. So, as long as you, my Lord, become the lord of Iron Valley, you can obtain a Petroleum Ore mine.”

Leech knew this wouldn’t be difficult.

First, no one knew about the Petroleum Ore. In everyone else’s eyes, Iron Valley was a remote backwater. The entire territory was unsuitable for growing crops and had no scarce mineral resources. If someone became the lord there, they might even have to pour their own money into it.

Second, as soon as a battle broke out, if Leech volunteered to attack Iron Valley, he believed both the King and Leopold would award Iron Valley to him directly.

If it were any other place, the great nobles might be reluctant to part with it, wanting to keep it for themselves. But Iron Valley... no one would fight him for it.

The great nobles might even think Leech was getting the short end of the stick and compensate him with something extra.

The premise was that Leech could conquer Iron Valley... and as it happened, Leech was feeling very confident right now.

Seeing Leech in thought, Deni knew he already had a general idea in mind.

”I accept your gift of thanks,” Leech said with a smile. ”Thank you very much.”

He wasn’t afraid Deni was trying to trick him. If there was no Petroleum Ore in Iron Valley, Deni would have to face a reckoning from him later.

And if Deni had taken this news to multiple nobles, hoping to gain benefits from all sides, Leech wasn’t a fool. He just had to wait for the battle for Iron Valley to begin and see who was scrambling to fight, and he would know who else Deni had told.

”No, it is I who should be thanking you,” Deni smiled. ”My Lord, I hope that when you obtain the Petroleum Ore and prepare to sell it, you will consider me first. As you know, petroleum is in high demand in the Northern Territory. Those hairy Barbarians would love to soak themselves in a brazier.”

”Of course!”

Leech nodded. ”I will certainly consider you first, my friend.”

The two men looked at each other and smiled.

That night, Leech restrained himself from pulling an all-nighter. The initial draft of the operational orders for the undead was complete and could be considered for use in the future.

The next day, after a full night’s sleep, Leech ate a simple meal and left the castle.

He had to negotiate business with the two merchants today.

The moment they arrived, they were rolling up their sleeves, ready to fight. Leech worried that if he wasn’t there and no one could control them, the two would surely beat each other bloody.

When Leech arrived, Claude looked at him with a resentful gaze, his tone sour. ”My Lord, you two met behind my back last night, didn’t you?”

”Heh heh, well,” Leech coughed dryly, ”Claude, you have to trust me.”

’Why does that sound so much like something a player would say?’