I Inherited a Beautiful Wife and a Territory - Chapter 26

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Inheriting a Beautiful Wife and Estate Episode 026

26. A Pleasant Shopping Time

[Domain Declaration]

-Here, I rule and dominate.

-Uses mana to exert influence over a space centered on the lord.

-Intimidation (Dignity 10 or higher): Grants psychological pressure to specific targets or groups within the domain

-??(Dignity 15 or higher)

-??(Dignity 20 or higher)

-??(Dignity 30 or higher)

-??(Dignity 50 or higher)

-??(Dignity 70 or higher)

-??(Dignity 100 or higher)

This was the skill he had learned this time.

Cliff’s eyes sparkled as he confirmed the contents.

‘This is better than I thought?’

He was pleased with everything he had confirmed.

Cliff nodded his head.

He wanted to experience the skill’s effects right away. But for now, it seemed dealing with the current situation took priority.

“Lord Deputy, what on earth is this…?”

Tom came over.

Nigel was beside him too.

It wasn’t just those two. Leticia with a slightly flushed face and the beastfolk finally appeared as well.

Perfect timing.

Cliff’s lips curved into a smile.

“We’ll eat all the meat and consume its heart too, but… we’ve got high-grade snake skin, fangs, bones, and Serpent blood, haven’t we?”

Naturally, Tom, being a merchant, showed greed upon hearing this.

But hesitation showed on his expression.

He had just finished his deal with Cliff. It would be difficult to change his words now.

Cliff understood his feelings too.

“We weren’t on bad terms, were we? In that sense, there’s something I’d like to ask…”

“…Please speak.”

Bowing his head, Tom realized.

Cliff.

He seemed likely to grow into a bigger figure than Tom had thought.

He was already troubled. The dilemma of whether to side with the Duke’s third son or Cliff.

Cliff could read Tom’s emotions as well.

“First, I’d appreciate it if you could keep these items secret.”

Disappointment bloomed on Tom’s expression at Cliff’s words.

‘So he’s saying we have no share in the Serpent’s corpse.’

Cliff’s words meant he wouldn’t entrust that corpse to Tom.

Feeling this fact, Tom’s face couldn’t help but darken. But since he felt indebted to Cliff, his response was predetermined.

“Fortunately, among the trading guild members, I’m the only one who saw this. I promise to keep my mouth shut about what I saw and heard today, no matter who asks.”

Tom spoke with a somewhat resolute determination.

But Cliff didn’t back down here either.

“Domain Declaration…”

“…?”

Cliff’s quiet murmur.

Tom didn’t hear those words clearly. But he soon realized what Cliff had done.

“…!”

Cliff declared this area as his domain.

The first to realize the change was Cliff himself, who used the skill.

‘Oh.’

Three circles began to activate.

And his mana spread to a wider area than expected.

He could feel it.

Within this domain, a sense of omnipotence filled him.

He also discovered effects not mentioned in the skill description. His senses became much sharper. It felt like all information occurring within the domain was entering his mind.

‘I feel like I can see more clearly and in greater detail.’

Truly an omniscient perspective.

Within this domain, he savored the feeling of becoming an omnipotent being. Then Cliff naturally understood how to use the skill’s additional effects.

‘Intimidation.’

The target was Tom.

He flinched in surprise.

Beyond that, the intimidation effect was more powerful than expected. Tom’s face even turned pale.

Looking at Tom, Cliff opened his mouth.

“You really must do so. News of such a creature’s death will spread quickly, but it would be quite unfortunate if Tom were the starting point.”

“I-I will keep it in mind.”

Tom didn’t dare think of raising his head.

Beyond that, he wanted to prostrate himself and beg for this giant’s mercy.

‘He was someone capable of emanating such intimidating presence?’

Tom had experienced all sorts of hardships as a merchant.

He had met various nobles, powerful knights, eccentric mages, murderous bandits, and magical beasts.

But he had never felt such intense intimidation as today.

So he ended up mistaken.

‘With this level of ability… could this young lord possibly be a Sword Master?’

He had heard before.

That those who reached such levels could pressure opponents with their aura alone, like high-level magical beasts emanating fear.

As if this was truly Cliff’s doing, all the intimidating pressure disappeared along with his response.

“I’ll trust you.”

“Huff. Huff.”

His blocked breathing finally eased.

His chest still felt uncomfortable, but it was better than before. Tom swayed but still couldn’t raise his head.

And he regretted.

‘Choosing Prince Barton was a mistake! No matter how he’s the Duke’s third son, he’s already far removed from being the Duke’s heir. In the end, being a knight of the Duke’s house would be his limit…’

Cliff.

Though he came from the Duke’s house, he was a remarkable person in his own right.

If he had reached superhuman levels, even the Duke’s house would find him difficult to treat carelessly. Above all, his age was known to be only around twenty.

If he was already at this level, how much would he develop?

There was something that made Tom even more fearful.

Cliff’s use of his presence to pressure Tom was too natural.

Looking around roughly, no one except Tom himself seemed to feel the same way.

This indicated that Cliff’s technique had already reached a mature level.

‘This is maddening. Where did such a genius come from… how could he remain unknown until now?’

So Tom ended up mistaken.

Cliff probably deliberately hid his abilities. Otherwise, no matter how much of a bastard he was, there would be those who would serve him as the Duke’s heir.

And this might have escalated not just within the Duke’s house, but into a civil war throughout the Kingdom.

Perhaps Cliff quietly avoided this?

‘Such a broad and great vessel…’

Layered regret.

Though he couldn’t read all of Tom’s thoughts, Cliff looked at him with satisfaction.

‘The intimidation effect definitely seems to have worked.’

He hadn’t considered at all that Tom might misunderstand.

Just psychological pressure.

He thought Tom would feel it to some degree and that would be it. Tom’s reaction seemed more intense than expected, but he decided to overlook such minor details.

Because this alone told him one thing.

‘Tom is regretting it.’

Tom was gradually regretting choosing Barton instead of him.

That regret was beneficial to him.

Cliff opened his mouth.

“And there’s one more thing I’d like to ask.”

“Wh-whatever it is, please tell me. If it’s what the acting lord desires, I’ll mobilize all the trading guild’s resources…”

“Ah, that won’t do. Wouldn’t Baron Barton be angry?”

Flinch.

Tom’s face hardened at the mention of Barton’s name.

He even seemed to tremble slightly.

His words might sound like reproach to Tom. But Cliff had no intention of pointing out his choice.

He had made the right choice.

Cliff truly thought so.

“You mustn’t break your promise with Baron Barton, so our relationship ends here. But life isn’t always cut so cleanly like that. For example… yes, Tom and I may never meet again, but someone I know and someone Tom knows might be the same person.”

Tom’s mind began spinning rapidly.

He was eager to grasp the intention behind Cliff’s words.

Cliff said.

“I always like deals where both parties can benefit. Honestly, even though our domain is a bit empty right now… there’s no law saying it has to stay that way, right?”

“That’s… true.”

“There’s no need for us and Tom’s trading guild to split apart, is there? But Tom’s trading guild can’t visit our domain anymore…”

Cliff continued speaking in circles.

“Tom was the only trading guild that came to our domain, so it’s truly regrettable. So what can we do? In the end, we’ll have to form an expedition from our domain to conduct trade. But… there’s no suitable person in the domain to entrust this task to.”

This domain had no merchant talent.

Tom also realized what Cliff was saying at some point.

“If that’s the case… I happen to have about two people I could recommend.”

“Two people?”

“Yes. They’re siblings born from a woman I took in…”

Siblings born from a woman he had taken in.

Cliff made a bitter expression at that phrasing.

‘Illegitimate children then.’

They were illegitimate siblings like himself.

In the current situation, it could be considered an appropriate recommendation. If they were illegitimate children, they would be connected to Tom yet independent of him.

Cliff nodded.

“Could you have those two come here?”

“The two of them are currently in Serfal.”

The intermediate point between the Yusta Peninsula and the continent.

Fortunately, the two were in a closer location than expected.

Hearing this, Cliff nodded.

“If it’s that close, I’ll go find them myself.”

“Being able to work for the acting lord would be a great blessing for those children too. The older brother Jaide is responsible and sharp. He’ll surely perform well in the tasks the acting lord assigns him.”

“If you said siblings… what about his sister?”

“Hmm.”

Tom made a subtle expression.

“Maribel… please see her yourself and judge.”

It was a different attitude from when he had praised Jaide earlier.

Hearing this, Cliff nodded.

‘So she’s not a good child?’

Perhaps she might be a burden attached to Jaide.

That’s fine.

If that’s really the case, he could just choose a suitable person and marry her off.

More than that, he was getting a feeling.

‘It should be about time for it to appear…’

Cliff quietly closed his eyes.

The text that would invariably appear seemed about to show up.

【For Trade 1】

Content: The domain’s situation where self-sufficiency is still difficult!

To resolve the domain’s difficulties, trade is an essential condition.

As the lord, secure the resources the domain lacks through trade!

Conditions

-Recruit manager (0/1 person)

-Appoint guards (0/10 people)

-Appoint porters (0/5 people)

-Secure funds (8,000/1,000 gold)

-Secure carts (0/3)

Rewards

-Lord experience 50

-Domain experience 100

-For Trade 2 becomes available

The corners of Cliff’s mouth rose pleasantly.

As expected, a Quest had appeared.

A satisfied feeling arose naturally.

Also, this wasn’t the only thing that pleased him.

[Ellemis Domain (Lv. 8)]

[Economy (Lv. 1)] [Military (Lv. 2)]

[Culture (Lv. 1)] [Environment (Lv. 2)]

[Mana (Lv. 0)] [Special (Lv. 0)]

[Diplomacy (Lv. 0)] [Education (Lv. 0)]

[Remaining Points: 5]

The domain status window that appeared before him.

The points he could raise now were all 5.

He could raise the levels of five categories.

That meant he could raise 15 skills. Until now, he had always raised skills to solve immediate problems.

But from now on, it seemed fine to change things up a bit.

He had plenty of points.

‘So then… what should I raise first?’

The enjoyable time of shopping had arrived.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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