Lord of Rot

”Yes, my lord. I know that bastard,” the old Wandering Knight, Buerwell, said with a nod.

The sharp glint in his eyes gradually faded.

Baron Jin Fu, Adari, was one of Princess Sophia’s former subordinates, just like Buerwell and the others.

The only difference was that he had betrayed her at a critical moment, allowing the Water Buffalo Count to successfully capture Leon City. As a reward, Adari shed his status as a Knight and became Baron Jin Fu, lord over two villages.

They were once comrades under the same banner, yet their fates couldn’t be more different.

Perhaps Buerwell and the others regretted not abandoning her in time as Baron Jin Fu had. But once they were branded as Princess Sophia’s old guard, they lost any chance of a comeback. All that was left was to remain loyal to her—loyal until death.

Leech said, ”We want to sell our goods in Leon City or Oasis City, and Baron Jin Fu’s territory is impossible to avoid without a massive detour. Furthermore, the dates and spices from his two villages fetch a very high price in the East Gorge.”

He waved his hand. ”We need a win-win situation with Baron Jin Fu. I’m not asking you to attack his territory, Buerwell. Don’t be so serious.”

Leech, of course, would have loved to just conquer Baron Jin Fu’s territory, whether for its spices and dates or its well-connected trade routes.

’But I’ve only been in this world for two years,’ he thought. ’I can’t be picking a fight every month, can I? I’m a Baron who enjoys farming and peace!’

’If Baron Jin Fu’s territory had a gold mine, that would be a different story. I could afford to be less than peaceful on occasion.’

Leech picked up a letter from the table. ”Baron Jin Fu has invited me over to discuss a business partnership.”

The old Wandering Knight said nothing, quietly awaiting Leech’s orders.

”I may not know much about business, but I do know that if the environment is hostile, fewer people will be willing to trade,” Leech said. ”I want you to take some men, disguise them as desert bandits, and clear out all the other bandits around Bonta Market. Kill every last one if you can.”

’Using a local force to eliminate other unruly local forces is the most efficient way.’

’Besides, it’s not my territory. No need for me to be methodical about it.’

”Yes, my lord!”

Buerwell turned and left, leaving only Leech and the elven girl, Bai Lu, in the room.

She was not from the Lu Leiyi Continent and had no interest in its power struggles. Her only desire was for Leech to gather a mighty army and return with her to the Panbo Continent. Naturally, the stronger he became, the happier she was.

However, she hadn’t really absorbed much of Leech and Buerwell’s conversation. Instead, she was growing drowsy, her eyelids heavy.

Leech watched the elven girl, so drowsy she was about to nod off, and found it amusing. ’Look at that, I’ve caught a sleepyhead.’

”Do you know how to dance?” he asked.

”Huh? What?” She jolted awake.

As Leech stood and walked toward her, Bai Lu subconsciously took half a step back.

”No,” Bai Lu said, shaking her head. For some reason, her heart began to beat a little faster.

”That’s a real shame,” Leech said, stopping. ”I was hoping you’d practice dancing with me. Never mind, then.”

Bai Lu said quickly, ”If there is nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

With that, she turned and left.

Leech watched her hurried departure, rubbing his stubbled chin and grinning. ’Just teasing you.’

Bai Lu had looked so cute just now, about to nod off, that Leech couldn’t resist teasing her.

But his need to practice dancing was real.

The pile of letters on the table wasn’t just from Baron Jin Fu.

There was a letter from Shanzhang Castle in Monkey Territory; Little Bill was inviting him to a ball. It seemed he was ready to bury the hatchet.

Balls also served another purpose: a chance for noble men and women to meet. In other words, matchmaking.

’I definitely have to go.’

Leech wanted to know what Little Bill was planning, but he had no intention of repeating the situation with Lady Jie Lin. He wasn’t ready to have his children scattered all over the world.

’The Cuckold King of Lu Leiyi, putting a green hat on every lord? It sounds challenging, but I’ll pass. I’d rather not have all the lords on the continent gang up and hack me to death.’

Little Bill wasn’t Bill. There was no true enmity between them.

’But after all, I was ”assassinated” by Pig back then.’ Leech figured he could arrive empty-handed, but he certainly couldn’t leave that way.

’It would be perfect if it turned out to be a trap, but that’s just wishful thinking.’

Besides, what exactly was that ”legendary” thing that had made even the Water Nymph exclaim in shock? He had fled too quickly to investigate it properly.

The Priest had said it was related to the Moon God or Night God, but he still needed to investigate. He trusted Little Bill could provide an explanation.

’Nothing is more important than obtaining Extraordinary power.’

Beyond that, there was Red Rose of Roaring Castle’s birthday in June, and Stacy of Green Forest Castle’s birthday in July.

All of them involved balls.

Red Rose’s was optional; he could go if it was convenient, and she would likely understand as long as a gift arrived. But Stacy’s was different. According to his plan, it was about time for their engagement. Forging a deeper bond with Linta Bay through marriage had only upsides.

Leech had a favorable impression of Stacy, too. ’Besides, who could say no to *Saber*?’

Three balls, spanning three territories in the East Gorge... It felt like he was making the rounds on a tour. It hadn’t even begun, yet Leech could already feel the exhaustion of the social circuit.

On top of all that, July was also harvest season in Porcupine Territory. He had to return to handle the Magic Potions and a host of other matters, big and small, that required his attention.

’It’s a shame that cultivation method can’t raise me beyond the Extraordinary realm. I have to find a higher-level method of ”doping” with potions.’

Leech had practiced the training regimen he’d obtained, but unfortunately, it couldn’t make him an Extraordinary. It could, however, be used to train talented Soldiers. If he combined it with the silkworm pupae and crabs, producing even one Extraordinary would be a huge gain. Two would be an absolute windfall.

The remaining letters were from the stewards of his two territories.

From Porcupine Territory, there was a letter from Gelan detailing various development issues, large and small. True to his personality, it was as if he wanted to hand Leech a massive checklist.

Lily from Iron Valley was much more concise. First, she reported that the grain trade had concluded. Second, the trade route from Iron Valley to Burning City was officially open, and the Purple Clove Mushrooms were selling well.

For the most part, however, it was Porcupine Territory that was shipping goods to Burning City through Iron Valley’s tunnel.

In turn, they would purchase goods from Burning City to be sent back to Porcupine Territory.

For now, Iron Valley could only function as a transit hub. It was operating at an overall loss, requiring periodic financial infusions from Porcupine Territory to stay afloat.

However, the development of fire oil was starting to show promise, with extraction volumes on the rise. In the long run, it was certain to become profitable.

Just as Leech was preparing to leave Bonta Market and accept Baron Jin Fu’s invitation to his territory...

Meanwhile.

「Date Palm Village.」

One of Baron Jin Fu’s two territories, this village was sustained entirely by its date palm groves.

Dates, known as the ”bread of the desert,” were sought after by many for their sweet flavor.

On the outskirts of the village, low earthen walls served as crude fortifications, but they were still quite effective against wind, sand, and desert animals.

Other than the walls, there were only two short arrow towers that served as both watchtowers and key defensive posts.

They served as a warning to any distant desert bandits: Trespassers will be killed.

Inside the lord’s residence.

A massive Warg head hung on the wall, and a carpet made from a tanned Bonta Leopard pelt covered the floor. Each of these decorations proclaimed the immense strength of the village’s lord.

”My lord, I believe the affairs of the desert can only be resolved by us Desert People.” The speaker, sitting and holding forth with eloquence, was Kunq Green Oasis—the elder brother who had been driven out by Kuer Oasis.

Listening intently was a middle-aged man with a full beard, his eyes glinting shrewdly.

He was the lord of this village fiefdom: Baron Jin Fu, Adari.

Although his timely betrayal had allowed him to take the most difficult step—transforming from a miserable Knight into a land-owning lord—the brand of ”Princess Sophia’s former subordinate” remained stuck to him. He would never be able to enter the inner circle of the Desert Nobility.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been relegated to this posting on the edge of the desert.

’I don’t even have my own castle. What’s the point of decorating my walls with the skull of a Giant Dragon?’

Just as Baron Jin Fu’s ambition was dwindling, just as he was preparing to live out the rest of his days in simple pleasure, Kunq Green Oasis had come knocking.

As the future master of the town of Bonta Market, Kunq’s financial resources far outstripped his own. But Baron Jin Fu believed himself to be the stronger of the two. ’After all, I have a contingent of elite Soldiers under my command.’

On the surface, of course, Bonta Market was still far more powerful than a mere village lord like him.

When Kunq Green Oasis came asking for help, Baron Jin Fu saw an opportunity.

”Rest assured, Kunq.”

Baron Jin Fu said with a smile, ”The affairs of our desert can, of course, only be resolved by the Desert People. Outsiders shouldn’t dream of interfering.”

’Outsiders shouldn’t interfere, but I certainly will.’ Baron Jin Fu had no intention of passing up an opportunity that had delivered itself to his doorstep. He was even starting to feel grateful to that Baron Porcupine from the East Gorge. ’If not for him, I’d never have this chance to get ahead.’

’Once I control Bonta Market, I’ll make a fortune. I’ll turn that money into weapons, use it to train my Soldiers... In less than ten years, I’ll be a major power in the Desert Area. Even the Water Buffalo Count won’t be able to ignore me!’

He glanced at Kunq Green Oasis, whose expression was a little stiff. The man surely understood by now that coming to him for help was like letting a wolf in the door. Unfortunately for him, he had no other choice.

If he hadn’t sought out Baron Jin Fu, Kunq would be begging for survival in the desert. But now, he could drink wine and eat dates, fantasizing about the future while his heart seethed with furious resentment toward his brother.

’Maybe in the future, I’ll still have a chance to take Bonta Market...’ Kunq thought as he looked at Baron Jin Fu. The Baron grinned, then tipped his goblet back and gulped down some red wine, a trickle of it running down from the corner of his mouth.

He looked just like a hungry desert hyena, baring a savage grin at its prey with bits of bloody flesh still clinging to its maw.

Kunq blinked, and the illusion vanished. Baron Jin Fu’s smile was perfectly amiable.

’Maybe,’ Kunq told himself, trying to find some comfort.