King
Chapter 177 - 177 117 - The Big Deal_2

177: Chapter 117 – The Big Deal_2 177: Chapter 117 – The Big Deal_2 Otherwise, participating in the steel furnace would reveal the biggest secret of the Mountain Domain.

For a long time to come, the mining area will be the most important industry of the Mountain Domain.

The technology must not leak at all costs.

In the end, there were just too few talents.

Even if Hudson leveraged all his contacts for help in recruiting some managerial talents, the result was minimal.

People with true talent were basically monopolized by major nobles.

Occasionally, a few might emerge amongst the noble children.

Unless the family fell completely, it would be impossible to poach them.

The crux of the issue was that the Mountain Domain was not attractive enough for the talents.

Even with Hudson’s current wealth, it would be less useful than having a “good luck” hat to attract talents.

Good luck is vital for small nobles to successfully rise.

For down-and-out noble children who are in desperate circumstances and want to make a comeback, betting on potential stocks that have not yet emerged is also a good choice.

…

Baron Caryo, who had just left the Mountain Domain with a group of Lizard Beast corpses, looked gloomy.

It was as if his previous cheerful demeanor was all an act.

“Young master, is something amiss?”

The Steward accompanying him asked.

While acting was a basic skill of the nobles, there weren’t many situations that required such a strenuous performance.

Theoretically, given that Hudson was currently accumulating his original capital, he wasn’t worth this treatment.

“Nothing really, I just feel uncomfortable because someone made a fool of me.

Baron Hudson is not ordinary.

We need to reevaluate him.

His actual capacity is much more frightening than the data suggests.

When we get home, let someone tell the Count: I suspect that the Earth Bear is reaching maturity, or it may already be there.

Having both ability and luck makes him a formidable entity.

From now on, we’re bumping up the surveillance level for the Mountain Domain to the highest and closely monitor his suspicious movements.

If possible, plant as many spies in the Mountain Domain as possible.

We can’t let him slip from our sight.”

Baron Caryo said solemnly.

Hearing is not as good as seeing.

Only after personally interacting him did he realize that the descriptions in the intel were not only accurate but even, in some aspects, underestimated.

Interpersonal skills may seem simple, but not many people can use them freely before going through social tempering.

This trip to the Mountain Domain appeared to have shown him everything, yet in reality, Baron Caryo didn’t see anything of value.

What he saw was all that the other party wanted him to see.

Cultivated lands with myriad difficulties, perilous swamp development, challenging road construction…

all were nothing but setbacks.

A general person would very likely be deceived by these.

But having been groomed by the old foxes in the Capital, Baron Caryo is no longer naive.

If everything is challenging, then why spend a fortune and make great efforts to develop?

Taking the manpower, material resources, and funds spent on domain development and investing them in the struggle to become Prefectural Governor, the Mountain Domain would have suppressed Baron West long ago.

Before it was publicly announced who the Prefectural Governor would be, any normal person would choose the Prefectural Governor position, from which they could see short-term benefits.

Slow domain development is fine since the land isn’t going anywhere.

Seeing all these abnormalities, Baron Caryo deduced: Hudson had anticipated that he would lose this Prefectural Governor competition.

Without any specific information, merely relying on the political situation of the Kingdom at face value, he predicted the outcome of the struggle among parties and the final decision of the Capital.

How could this be a political novice?

Including Hudson not letting his bear chase after the Lizard Beast King, it looked to him as if: He restrained his desires and was good at hiding his true strength.

Endless good points all over.

If he becomes an enemy, he will indeed be the most fearful one.

As the dominant force in the Southeastern Province, if such a character emerges within our domain, we should naturally stay vigilant.

“Young Master, you don’t need to worry too much.

The Count has made arrangements long ago.

We can elevate him to a high position, and we can also push him off the cliff.

As a chess piece, if he doesn’t have some strength, how could he help us disrupt the plans of the Felix Family?

After all, Layton County is too small.

Even if Baron Hudson sees through everything, he has to fight against Baron West.

Your arrival is now restraining him but that’s temporary.

Once your plan for Wharton County is activated, they have to determine a winner under this circumstance.”

…

Maple Domain, Baron Katelai felt his scalp tingle as he saw numerous ruthless creditors approaching.

It seemed like this deal was not easy to work on.

Ultimately, he couldn’t muster the audacity to say that the borrower is the real master.

Katelai could only smile awkwardly while explaining how difficult it is to sell Orc slaves.

Unfortunately, the counterparts were a group of slave traders.

People who engage in such inhumane businesses may have anything, but they certainly do not possess compassion.

“Katelai, cut the crap.

We roughly know what kind of person you are.

Stop acting, who are you trying to fool!

Would you have taken this deal if there were no good benefits?

Since you’ve taken this deal, naturally, you should bear the risks yourself.

Regardless of whether you will use the slaves yourself or resell them, you cannot pay a penny less than the promised amount.