I Inherited a Beautiful Wife and a Territory - Chapter 73

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

Inheriting a Beautiful Wife and Estate Episode 073

73. Serpal II

The Renheim Family.

We formed an alliance with them and signed an exclusive mercenary contract.

The Renheim Family would be responsible for escorting the Elimis Merchant Guild.

‘This way, we can borrow not just simple escort services but also the Renheim Family’s name.’

From now on, targeting the Elimis Merchant Guild would mean becoming enemies with both the Elimis Family and the Renheim Family.

It was the most certain proof of alliance above all else.

If anything, the Berkheim Family’s position became ambiguous. Even the simple Berkheim Baron realized he had been excluded from the alliance.

So the next element that would allow the Berkheim Family to definitively enter this alliance.

A marriage alliance was definitely the best option here.

“Then let’s arrange a marriage between the Renheim Family’s precious daughter and the Berkheim Family’s second son. Through this, we’ll announce that the two families have reconciled.”

Casting off past grudges and opening new relationships.

There was no method more certain than mixing blood.

Though neither was completely satisfied, they accepted this for now. Since the Renheim Family became responsible for escorting the Elimis Merchant Guild, there were things they came to learn.

“This is…”

The Elimis Family was already gradually making a name for itself through pottery and other goods.

Elimis’s name was kept hidden.

Since Tom had connections as Cliff’s half-brother. But these items sold under the name of Yusta pottery were already at a level where supply was insufficient.

Because of this, pottery research was recently active in other territories of Yusta as well.

‘We tried making pottery ourselves once, but we couldn’t match Elimis’s products.’

Through this, money was gradually accumulating in the Elimis territory.

That Elimis territory now showed him a new item.

“Isn’t this paper?”

Paper.

A consumable that nobles must use.

Not just nobles.

There were many places that needed paper.

For mages’ and scholars’ research papers, for merchants’ contracts, and churches used it too.

All of them were people with lots of money.

“These will also become known as Yusta paper.”

Cliff said.

Cliff who created numerous products. Watching this, Baron Renheim clicked his tongue.

‘If time passes like this, the Elimis Family might eventually accumulate wealth on par with Serpal.’

Of course, surpassing Serpal’s dominance was still impossible in many ways.

But he could guess why Serpal was keeping the Elimis territory in check.

‘Amazing, truly amazing.’

The Elimis territory that continuously produced amazing products.

The past appearance of having nothing to sell but people was now unimaginable.

“Now if only the farming goes well, it would be perfect.”

Cliff said this with gleaming eyes.

Actually, this was also showing some results. Under Gusillon’s guidance, the territory’s agriculture was actively changing.

‘If more people come here and farmland increases accordingly… production will become useful.’

Recently, Gusillon had also visited Ballard Village.

And his words when he clicked his tongue came to mind.

-This place would be better for wheat farming. Let’s plant winter wheat here and cultivate it. Winter wheat will have a higher yield than spring wheat.

Gusillon was also conducting winter wheat farming in the old Elimis territory.

Now the harvest time was slowly approaching.

From then on, the Elimis people had been amazed. The winter wheat yield was higher than expected.

But Gusillon had originally said wheat farming was difficult in the old Elimis territory.

‘I agree with that too.’

The main crops needed to be changed.

Cliff was considering rice farming.

No matter how he looked at it, rice farming seemed like it would be more effective than wheat farming in his territory.

The problem was that he hadn’t obtained rice seeds yet.

‘I heard you can get rice seeds if you go to the southern part of the peninsula…’

Serpal, known as a trading city, had ‘slave trading’ as its main business.

Also, since it was where the homeland and Yusta Peninsula met, goods from both sides were traded.

And if you went south, there were ports.

Ports along the Rajahara Sea.

‘I might be able to get rice seeds there.’

This was Cliff’s next goal.

Of course, before that, he needed to definitely stabilize the north of his territory.

Baron Renheim spoke with concern.

“It’s not certain yet, but… the Serpal Family is trying to keep the Elimis Family in check.”

“Serpal?”

“It’s probably because you became Count Platice’s adopted son.”

Hearing this, Cliff nodded.

The Reton Mercenary Corps incident.

The subsequent attack on the Elimis Merchant Guild.

And this time, the territorial war with the Berkheim Family using the Renheim Family.

‘I knew Serpal was behind all of this…’

Until now, the Serpal Family had been using indirect schemes without revealing themselves.

But now they might change that attitude.

Since all indirect methods had failed, they might act directly now. Baron Renheim was worried about exactly this case.

“They won’t take immediate action, right?”

“It’s hard to be certain.”

Baron Renheim spoke with a troubled expression.

Hearing this, Cliff’s eyes gleamed.

‘Actually, if the territory’s food situation allows for self-sufficiency, it wouldn’t really be a problem…’

Then he could have a showdown with Serpal. But if business with Serpal became difficult, the Elimis territory would have trouble with supplies.

They say clever animals dig multiple burrows, so he should also create other paths.

Cliff smiled.

“In that case, there are things we can consider too.”

He thought it was still too early.

But he should start preparing from now.

Reton and his sons.

And even the subordinates who were with them.

“Groan.”

They made humiliated expressions.

Having the slave brand carved was painful in itself and above all, a despairing event.

This brand was carved on them.

‘Good.’

Conversely, Cliff felt at ease.

These were all criminals to begin with. He didn’t know when they might escape, or how they might antagonize him if they did escape.

So he had been quite careful in managing them. Now that was no longer necessary. Though it was still difficult to trust them, he had at least obtained a means to control them.

“…The Reton Mercenary Corps was quite capable mercenaries in the Serpal area.”

Someone who had accompanied Cliff said.

Keren, a knight of the Platice Family.

Someone who might have become Cliff’s brother-in-law.

He was also one of the people who effectively governed the Platice Count’s domain. He knew about Reton’s identity and abilities to some extent.

‘Could he be someone that even Sir Keren acknowledges?’

Reton had that much ability.

“I was lucky.”

“To capture them like this through luck alone and make them slaves… That’s remarkable.”

“I’m pleased since our available forces have greatly increased.”

Keren nodded at Cliff’s words.

Cliff needed armies in various places right now. He glanced at Cliff and said.

“Strange rumors have spread in the southern part of the domain. They say a sacred bear appeared that stopped a goblin wave.”

It was felt in his tone.

He was asking whether that bear’s identity might be connected to Cliff.

“The story of a white bear that creates blizzards?”

“Yes. Come to think of it, there are claims that bear is also a spirit beast…?”

At Keren’s trailing question, Cliff chuckled.

“The black wolf I travel with is also a spirit beast, isn’t it?”

Keren nodded.

Could it be an amazing coincidence?

Keren absolutely didn’t think so. Cliff shrugged his shoulders.

“No comment.”

That alone was no different from acknowledging it.

Keren looked at Cliff with various emotions.

‘Incredible.’

He hadn’t known Cliff possessed this level of power.

The bear that creates blizzards wasn’t everything.

The wolf riders that Cliff traveled with. The Platice domain also had cavalry, but the Shadow Wolves certainly had impressive majesty.

And one more thing.

“Recently I’ve heard rumors that Shadow Wolves are increasing their numbers in the southern mountains and waging territorial wars with goblins.”

This time too, Cliff only shrugged his shoulders.

Keren smiled.

‘To think he’d solve the goblin problem we couldn’t handle in this way.’

Goblins.

They had always been a troublesome burden that held back the Platice Family. They were also objects of deep hatred, so the news that those goblins were losing territory was welcome news to Keren.

The moderate flattery of Cliff ended there.

Keren changed his tone with a serious expression.

“I heard the west has been noisy lately.”

The west.

If referred to that way in the Platice domain, it meant Serphal.

Cliff showed interest upon hearing his words.

‘As expected, he knew.’

All the incidents that had caused trouble in Cliff’s domain. Keren already knew about the Serphal Family that was behind them.

And this was also a confirmation process.

A question to find out if he also knew the mastermind behind the various incidents he had experienced.

“I wanted to get along well with them too.”

Cliff obediently nodded, indicating that he knew.

Keren’s expression changed.

“They are absolutely not people worth associating with.”

“…?”

Cliff looked at Keren with puzzlement.

Of course, the relationship between the Platice Family and Serphal Family was bad.

But somehow Keren felt a deeper resentment than a simple adversarial relationship.

‘Is there a reason?’

While Cliff tilted his head, Keren sighed.

“Sigh. Since you probably came from the homeland, Baron, you might not know… but there’s an unconfirmed rumor in this area.”

“What kind?”

“The rumor that Serphal is causing goblin waves.”

“Is that… possible?”

Cliff asked Keren.

Keren smiled bitterly.

“Of course it’s difficult. But even if they can’t artificially create them, they can guide them. And if so, they can predict the timing to some extent.”

The Battle of Red Cliffs, a representative battle from Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

The important thing then was the wind flow. In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it appears as if Zhuge Liang prayed for it, and science textbooks say Zhuge Liang knew the wind direction would change at that time.

‘In reality it seemed to be Zhou Yu’s work, but well, let’s skip such trivial details…’

When goblin waves would occur.

Serphal knew this and was using it.

This was Keren’s claim. Keren added.

“If it were only that much, I probably wouldn’t find them this detestable.”

“…?”

“Baron, do you know that goblins also have females?”

Cliff just listened.

“People who don’t know well say goblins don’t have females because they crossbreed with other species. But that’s nonsense from the ignorant. Then do you know why they target women for crossbreeding?”

“Well. Don’t tell me… mutations?”

At Cliff’s questioning deduction, Keren immediately nodded.

“Yes. Correct. Because the probability of mutations being born is much higher. And…”

Keren gritted his teeth.

“When attacking goblin lairs, the homeland soldiers found several women of slave origin inside.”

“…?”

“Countless slave women with brands carved on them came out.”

Ordinary female slaves didn’t need magical brands.

But they had carved them.

“The orders those women received were simple. Be captured by goblins and bear their offspring, don’t harm yourself, and don’t reveal your master.”

Cruel master’s orders.

And the suspiciousness of preventing them from revealing their master.

Cliff’s eyes changed.

“Don’t tell me… it was Serphal?”

Keren nodded.

“We think so.”

Serphal.

There was no proof it was them yet. But listening to Keren’s confident words, he thought.

He understood why they hated Serphal so much.

Cliff opened his mouth.

Perhaps the words he had been thinking of saying would be more welcomed by people from the Platice Family like Keren.

“I heard the Platice domain also has a trading port that can reach the homeland.”

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