In the mansion that once belonged to Zane, now bearing the Habsburg name.

Losa was holding a wine glass, sipping chilled wine slowly.

He was different from Jeanne; regardless of past and present, he did not like the taste of alcohol.

This low-alcohol fermented grape juice was just to his liking.

Hans lifted the beaded curtain and sat down at a table with incense burning.

"Is it settled?"

"Yes, Hardy, whom you specifically requested to be captured, has been delivered to the prison by me."

Losa nodded slightly.

Hardy was just a small figure, a gang leader, whose presence couldn't have caught his attention if not for his countless crimes making him hated by the masses, worthy of being set as an example.

"Was the attack on Rahman's mansion smooth?"

Hans hesitated for a moment and said, "With Miss Jeanne there, it should be very smooth."

Being cautious was one thing, but for Jeanne to deal with a small local chief was like using a nuclear bomb to kill a mosquito — an overwhelming force that could not possibly encounter any mishap.

"You've done well, sit down and have a drink to relax a bit; although Eira Port isn't considered scorching hot, the humidity is quite exhausting."

Losa asked the maid to serve the wine.

He didn't plan to dismiss these maids; both the properties in Hebron and Alandler needed manpower for upkeep, sending them off in batches would be the most suitable arrangement.

At this time, the guard's voice sounded outside the curtain: "Sir, the Saracen chief named Mueller wishes to see you."

"Heh, quite daring."

Losa said somewhat unexpectedly.

"Let him in."

Mueller soon entered again, bowing his head, into the residence he had just visited yesterday.

But compared to yesterday, his mood had changed dramatically.

Losa gently swirled his wine glass and smiled, "Please sit, Mr. Mueller."

"I originally thought that targeting Rahman might scare you, but now it seems that you did not mistake me for a tyrant, which is comforting."

Mueller forced a smile and said, "Sir, I want to know why you went after Rahman?"

Losa merely released a slight aura, making Mueller's face turn ashen all at once.

"Why? Are you planning to plead for him?"

Mueller quickly shook his head and said, "Sir, Rahman deserves to die, he committed so many misdeeds, it was truly satisfying for you to deal with him!"

"Heh, Mueller, dealing with him is indeed satisfying, but what about dealing with you? Why do you think I would keep you?"

Mueller's face turned extremely pale, he hesitated for a moment, and said, "Sir, I am of use to you."

Losa nodded slightly and said, "Perhaps, but whether you're useful or not, what you say does not count."

"The decay of Eira Port displeases me greatly, where is the sparkle of the Red Sea's pearl? I hope you can assist me in restoring its prosperity swiftly."

"I am not like that fool Zane,"

levying commercial taxes requires professional tax officers.

Otherwise, it results in setting up checkpoints to collect tolls, like in New Habsburg and Hebron — such a crude blanket approach is undoubtedly unreasonable.

As this would make the tax for shipping a boat of grain the same as for shipping a boat of spices.

If applied indiscriminately to Eira Port, it would lead to substantial commercial tax losses.

"Mueller, you are talented, and I have never hesitated to utilize talent — I wish to appoint you as the Tax Officer of Eira Port, my only concern being your loyalty."

Mueller's face changed again and again.

He quickly said, "Sir, I am absolutely loyal to you!"

Losa chuckled, perhaps bound by interests, Mueller wouldn't betray him when the stakes weren't high enough, but this was clearly not loyalty.

"Mueller, you're forty years old this year, aren't you?"

Mueller was confused as to why Losa switched the topic, hesitated, and said, "Sir, I am already thirty-nine this year."

"Hmm."

This age, for those toiling in poverty, was undoubtedly half-buried, but Mueller was clearly affluent, in his prime.

"Then kneel, swear allegiance to me, I will knight you as my Imperial Knight, as for the conversion ceremony — it can be done at the church in town this afternoon."

Mueller did not hesitate.

He dared not hesitate, much less utter anything like "I am a devout Fire Worshiper" and refuse to convert.

Thump —

He knelt on one knee, swiftly and neatly.

Losa drew out a gleaming Armed Sword, placing it on his shoulder, "Recite the oath with me."

As Mueller finished the oath, various combat skills of the Imperial Knight rushed into his mind, and he exclaimed in astonishment, "Sir, you are a wizard?"

"You could say so. Now, Mueller, you are one of us, you can tell me in detail how to solve the plight of Eira Port?"

…

Losa, at lightning speed, defeated the army led by Zane under the city of Alandler, rapidly retaking the Alandler Bishopric and Eira Port.

The news soon spread across the entire Transjordan.

In the palace of Kaler Castle, Reynard, who had just held a wedding with Eleanor and was preparing to mobilize troops to take over Losa's mess, was enraged.

Various Lords were either greatly excited or worried.

And within the Barony of Petra.

Baron Argon belonged to the worried ones.

"Sir, I do not understand why you are troubled, you were the trusted aide who swore allegiance to Count Losa on his first day in office."

"Heh, a few words and I'm a trusted aide?"

Baron Argon couldn't help but laugh at his subordinate's naivety.

"What troubles me is how to truly forge a closer relationship with Count Losa, this battle was almost solely fought by Count Losa, what does that mean?"

"He does not trust us vassals at all."

Argon's courtier pondered for a moment and suggested, "Sir, Count Losa is not yet married, and although your daughter is still young, you have two unmarried sisters."

Baron Argon rolled his eyes, "Fool, given the looks of my two sisters, are you sure forming an alliance via marriage wouldn't turn into enmity with the Count?"

His subordinate wanted to say more, but Baron Argon had already refused:

"Do not speak further, many want to marry into Count Losa's line; it's even said he rejected the olive branch extended by Princess Sibilla."

Argon sat back in his chair, muttering to himself.

"With Count Losa's current prestige and military strength, the next step is likely targeting his vassals internally."

"Reynard is too strong, I will be the first to bear the brunt below him."

The Barony of Petra governed by Argon is almost the most prosperous territory in Transjordan, except for Reynard's Kaler Castle and Montreal.

Besides, places like Zujar, Shokuba, Tafila, Sirra, Hormuz (not the the Hormuz Strait), and Sanoriel are also inferior to him.

It can be foreseen that a storm is brewing.

Argon hoped more to profit from this storm, like obtaining the governance of the nearby border city Shokuba, and then accompanying Losa on an Eastern Expedition to acquire new territories.

Rather than be the first to be purged.

"Prepare gifts and mounts; we depart for Eira Port tomorrow morning to pay respects to the Count."

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