Siderius passed the reins to Ashe and jumped down from Red.

Kraus immediately strutted forward and bowed before him. "You have arrived, my lord."

Siderius nodded. "How are the wounded?"

"They have been cared for, my lord. There are no problems."

"Very well. You and Nadia followed me. We have something to talk about."

Siderius, the thug, and the female miner walked into a tent hidden from the eyes and ears of outsiders.

Siderius dropped the small chest on the table. Coins rattled inside. A noise would cause a lot of people to turn their eyes. But Kraus and Nadia weren't one of them. They knew better than that. Coins were simply instruments.

"Sounds like a lot." Nadia glanced at the chest once then said.

Siderius nodded. "From the house of the Bailiff."

Kraus didn't say anything. He already saw it before.

Siderius sat down on the chair and leaned back. "Sit. We need to discuss."

"Alright." Nadia said.

"Yes, my lord." Kraus was much more formal.

"I've killed a Bailiff. As low as his title can be, he is still a part of the Eldoria's ruling class." Siderius said.

Nadia nodded along with every word. Kraus's eyes stayed focused at one point of the table, arranging his thoughts inside.

"We can move away from here", Siderius continued, "avoid the heat and wrath of whoever may come. And sooner or later, someone else will take over Germort's position."

"But you don't want to do that, right?" Nadia said.

Siderius nodded his head. "I do not think it is that big of a deal for killing Germort."

Nadia and Kraus looked at each other with visible questions in their eyes. Then they returned back to Siderius.

"Why is that, my lord?" Kraus carefully chose his words.

"You don't understand politics, Kraus. Most of the time. What matters in the end is the benefit." Siderius said.

Further than that, he already had quite a lot of insider knowledge about the way the lowest level of Eldoria operate. Back in the banquet that Jude had hosted, Siderius didn't simply walk around aimlessly. He made use of that opportunity to learn more about the behind the scenes of this society.

Bailiff didn't actually own the town that they were assigned to. Just like how Germort wasn't actually a 'lord' like a Baron. He was a manager for a town that was too small for a Baron or a Count to care about.

A Baron was a witchling. A Count was a lesser witch. And the Bailiff was a witch without a rank, not even awakened their magic fully yet.

Only when reaching a witchling that a Bailiff could fully ascend to the noble title of Baron and own that piece of land.

With the right amount of preparation, Siderius believed that he could easily integrate into Germort's position and become a Bailiff. Social status could be a very useful thing.

"You want to replace Germort?" Nadia said.

Siderius nodded. "For a short amount of time. Yes."

"What about Santa Roberto?" Nadia said.

"You will still go there. It has better facilities than the Rocky Pit. A very large dormitory that can hold at least a hundred people. I also need people around to take care of the monastery as well."

"Then why do you want to take over Mucktown? I don't think there is any reason to do that."

Siderius raised up two fingers. "There are actually two."

"One. If I hold a noble title, I can erase all the crime that Germort placed upon all of us. No one would need to hide anymore and can do whatever they want.

Two. Mucktown doesn't have much value. But the locations around it do. The Rocky Pit is a very good quarry with plentiful metal resources. Between Mucktown and Santa Roberto also has the Rose Springs, which has a lot of rare ores that I need."

Nadia and Kraus stayed silent, taking in what Siderius was saying.

Kraus was the first to speak up. He knelt down and bowed. "Your word is my command, my lord. Whatever you decide to do, I will assist you."

Siderius nodded. He already anticipated Kraus' reaction. Kraus was a member of his guild after all. Then he looked over to Nadia.

"What are you trying to do, Snow?"

"What do you mean?"

"I have a feeling like you are gathering power. His men. My miners. It felt like you were preparing for war."

Siderius' lips curved up into a smile. "Maybe. Maybe not. But I can guarantee you something. There will be no slaves in my territory. You. Kraus. His men. Your men. They can only do what they wish to do. I won't force anyone.

So if you don't want to join me at Santa Roberto. You can continue your work in the Rocky Pit. Or you can even do something else. I have no restrictions for you."

"You talk as if you know you will become the Bailiff." Nadia said.

"I probably won't become a Bailiff. Bailiff doesn't have much power in Eldoria's political scene. But a Baron does.

If it's possible, I would like to take over Mucktown and become a Baron."

Nadia tapped her finger on her forearms. She still seemed to be unsure about what Siderius was asking of her. But in the end, she let out a huge breath.

"You saved us and freed us. We also owe you about what happened because of Alex. For that, I will follow you. But I can't guarantee that will be the case for my men."

"No worry. You will be enough." Siderius said.

Nadia held the loyalty of the miners. Having her under him was no different than having the miners.

"Words do not travel quickly in these lands. It probably takes the Royal Court one or two months to notice what was wrong. Rest and prepare yourselves.

I will lead you to Santa Roberto in a week."

Nadia and Kraus nodded. They retreated from the tent, leaving Siderius all by himself.

He leaned back in his chair and contemplated.

"Now that the Bailiff and Thane are taken care of. I can finally focus more on growing my power and my men.

A Strength Enhancement Tonic to go along with my training will be good.

I can also start to train the miners and the thugs once they arrive at Santa Roberto.

Ashe needs to pick her first mutation as well. But she still needs to get her body a little bit stronger and more flexible.

All things are considered... Everything is going according to plan."

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