King
Chapter 105 - 105 93 Worst Victim of the Year_2

105: Chapter 93, Worst Victim of the Year_2 105: Chapter 93, Worst Victim of the Year_2 Noble alliances must be carefully considered.

Once settled, even if pitfalls are known, one must only grit his teeth and jump in.

It involves two clans; it’s a union of two surnames.

To maintain a long-term stability, everyone usually subscribes to the principle of voluntariness.

Forced alliances cannot be said to be non-existent, but they are rare in the circles of nobility.

As for free love, it’s quite the luxury.

Apart from a few who’ve grown up together since childhood, only they can be marginally considered free love.

Typically, noble alliances first consider status and position, then personal ability and moral character, and lastly, personal will.

The scope for men and women to choose their partners is quite narrow, restricted almost exclusively to their own family’s social circles.

Generally speaking, if you encounter someone you don’t dislike, it’s best to seal the deal promptly!

Delaying will only yield prospects that are even more undesirable.

The story of the prince and Cinderella, and the princess and the knight, all hinge on a premise of having a good father who is a powerful earl.

That’s the bare minimum.

Only if this minimum requirement is met, does love have a chance.

Otherwise, it’s simply a tragedy.

Despite the harsh reality, Hudson nevertheless expressed his understanding.

In this cruel world, to survive better, one must learn to band together.

This applies to small nobles and large nobles alike.

An alliance through marriage is undoubtedly the most economical way to strengthen an alliance.

Gradually, under the principle of not wanting to be exploited, a game rule of matching doors and families came into existence.

“What’s the rush?

Even if you have to pay a fine, there’s no need to be so anxious!”

Hearing the complaining voice behind him, Hudson grew increasingly frustrated.

He was just a merchant selling large hammers, and had nothing to do with the entire incident.

Yet in the end, he bore the title of selling the “deadly weapon”.

Conscience of heaven and earth, he hadn’t even collected a copper coin for the hammer used in the incident.

The blatant retaliatory attack made Hudson give up on explaining his part.

Reason told him that without sufficient power, trying to overturn the decisions of the powerful would only make things worse.

He did not know how many large hammers he would have to sell to recover the gargantuan fine of three hundred gold coins.

Humphing at the realization that all his potential profits from selling large hammers had been handed over as a fine, Hudson calmed down and accepted reality.

Without any PR moves, he directly chose to break wealth to avoid disaster, treating it as an ad space purchase.

At least after the incident, all the nobles in the two counties knew that the “Divine Archery Knight,” known for his superb archery, was also an arms dealer.

Another unfortunate one implicated in the incident was Baron West.

Compared to Hudson’s fine of three hundred gold coins, his penalty reached a staggering five hundred gold coins.

What’s regrettable is that Baron West had no large hammers to sell, nor any need for advertising promotions.

All losses had to be borne by him alone.

Both victims met with such a disastrous fate; there was no escape for the involved parties either.

Though not quite to the extent of paying with their lives, the consequences were just as severe, with all the participants being sent to guard the Northern Border.

“All” is the key point.

Not only was the knight “Joseph,” who had started the brawl, implicated, but even the other brawl participants were dragged in.

The severity of this punishment was nothing short of shocking.

Both the accomplices and the principal offender shared the same fate, with Earl Piers telling everyone through his actions: I’m the boss, I call the shots!

It’s worth noting that a Northern Noble died in this incident.

Being sent to guard the border right at the doorstep of their enemies, their chances of survival were no better than finding a dragon scale on the road.

Admittedly harsh, but indeed, it was a result that everyone could accept, except for the victims.

Apart from the two unfortunate fishes who were still bitter, the nobles in both counties received a lesson of caution.

The end of the incident was only a beginning.

All the fights that had recently occurred in the city, were solemnly handled by Earl Piers one by one.

“Fine,” “fine,” and “yet another fine”…

all the nobles involved received penalty notices of varying amounts.

Were it not for the fines being ultimately consolidated to the Noble Parliament, Hudson would doubt that the Earl was profiteering in disguise.

In just three days, the total amount of fines issued by the Governor’s Mansion exceeded thirty thousand gold coins.

…

Inside a secluded courtyard of the City Lord’s Mansion, Baron West, filled with a belly of anger, was finally on the verge of eruption.

“Piers, what exactly does this scoundrel want to do?

Does he really think that our Felix Clan can be bullied and he can butcher us as he pleases?

Again and again…”

Before he could finish his sentence, the old man behind him hurriedly interjected, “Young master, these are not things that can be said carelessly.

If someone hears, it will cause great trouble!”

Indeed, it cannot be said carelessly.

Baron West had to hole up in the courtyard because the main courtyard of the City Lord’s Mansion had already been given to the Governor.

They are not far apart, and if his voice was too loud and fell into the ears of that narrow-minded Governor, who knows what could happen next.

But Baron West was suffering.

As the most miserable scapegoat of the Southeastern Province this year, he had really endured too much.

For every conflict that occurred in Dardiel City, the Governor’s Mansion would blame him for “inefficient maintenance of order”, “allowing chaos to happen”, “not fulfilling his lord duties”…

and then fine him.

Of the over thirty thousand gold coins of fines that had been confirmed, Baron West alone contributed a fifth.

Although no one said anything to his face, the title of “greatest scapegoat” had been awarded to him by the nobles.

Especially the young members of the Northern aristocracy, who were very dissatisfied with the “steadiness” exhibited by their boss in recent days.

The younger brothers wished for him to make a scene, and the native nobles also hoped to see him make a fuss.

Undoubtedly, since everyone wanted him to kick up a fuss, then “being a little steady” was Baron West’s best choice.

It seemed that he had been targeted, but the Governor’s Mansion did not deliver baseless accusations.

If there was a direct confrontation with Governor Piers, the one who would suffer in the end could still be Baron West himself.

Looking for someone with a high status to back him up, and tragically, these punishments were really aimed at his father, the grand duke.

If West wasn’t the son of Duke Cavadia, he wouldn’t be treated like this.

“What’s there to be afraid of?

If he dares to do it, can he forbid people from talking about it?

In any case, no matter what I do, the end result is always the same.

All the penalties have been applied to their maximum extent, and all the possibilities have been exploited by our dear Governor.”

West said, laughing coldly.

If all of Earl Piers’ targeting actions had not been within the scope of the rules, he would have already created an uproar.

As the second generation, how could he not have a temper?

The fact that he had endured up to this point meant he already had good patience.

However, while he may have grumbled, Baron West did not go next door to make a big scene.

The harsh reality made him increasingly recognize the importance of power.

The current unfair treatment was because the power of decision was in the hands of the other party.

Any small problem could be amplified.

“Young master, our troubles may have just begun.

Currently, the Governor is only dealing with the conflicts within the city, but next, the nobles will start to attack and loot each other.

Compared to small matters such as fights and violence, this will be a bigger problem.

Even though every time we take action, we have sufficient reasons, there are inevitably some imperfect places.

Any loophole that is discovered and plucked out, the penalty would be even more severe than it is now.

If this Governor continues to target us, I’m afraid a major incident will occur.”

This was not because the old man was timid, but because his rich life experiences told him that when the ones in power really start to make their move, it would be a storm.

“It’s too late, Uncle Faren.

Even if we are careful, what about the others?

You know how much they’ve messed around recently.

If they want to find trouble, there will be loopholes everywhere.

Pull one hair and move the whole body, if they suffer heavy penalties, with my current status, can I really sit back and do nothing?”

Baron West said with an anguished expression.

Others are bosses, he is also a boss, but the treatment he receives is completely different.

When others are bosses, they share the largest portion of the cake in the Alliance; but as a boss, he took on the largest shock in the Alliance.

Perhaps there will be great benefits in the future, but for a short period of time, as the nominal boss of the Northern Nobles’ children, he is merely a symbol.

…