NEC Chapter 83: Vast Sea, Vast Sea!

The Marquis smiled and nodded at Chen Mo, then opened Captain Paven's handwritten letter.

The parchment edges showed some damage, and the handwriting appeared somewhat hurried, clearly written in haste, but the meaning maintained Paven's characteristically meticulous style as always.

"Respectfully presented to the honored Earl:

If the bearer of this letter who delivers it before you is Mr. Chen Mo himself, Paven humbly requests that the Earl grant him courtesy befitting a knight.

I have had extended contact with Mr. Chen Mo. Though young, he possesses high cultivation, remarkable learning, and extreme self-discipline. He should originate from a noble system different from the surrounding kingdoms.

He is certainly not among the common people.

Though he started professional cultivation late and is currently only an apprentice necromancer, he has the ability to communicate with master-level weapon crafters from foreign domains.

The weapons and equipment he summons prove quite effective in small-scale combat.

If conditions permit, my lord could acquire one or two for runic artificers or alchemical construct makers to attempt replication.

To send him to pay respects to my lord and escort Lady Frost's return, I promised two conditions. First, I request that my lord grant him an existing piece of land that requires no development.

Please do not worry, Earl. I have already told him in advance that he needs no towns, fields, or population of subjects. Any mountains, great marshes, beaches, or sandy lands will suffice.

Paven suggests granting the Saltwater Flats as this Mr. Chen's fief, which would have no substantial impact on our Cloudmist Domain.

The second condition is to request a magic teacher for him.

However, Paven states in advance that I only take responsibility for introductions. Whether he can persuade them is his own affair.

Paven suggests recommending several low-tier mages whose departure would cause no loss to our duchy, and also recommending one or two masters. The masters would never go to such harsh places as Saltwater Flats, but this would express Cloudmist's sincerity.

Finally, I again bow to the Earl. His origins remain mysterious, and he is unwilling to speak plainly. Therefore, he must not be offended, nor should deep friendships be formed. The measure between these, please let the Earl consider.

Seventh Guard Captain, Paven!"

Chen Mo had never opened this letter beforehand, otherwise he would probably feel both speechless and admiring toward Paven.

Beyond loyalty and courage, there was also calculation, and moreover, his judgment of people was quite accurate.

However, he was ultimately limited by some historical and class constraints.

The letter made soft rustling sounds in the Earl's hands. After reading every word, his gaze seemed pinned to the paper by those familiar characters, not lifting for a long time.

The scene fell so silent that a pin drop could be heard. In this somewhat suffocating atmosphere, they remained stuck for a full ten-plus minutes. Chen Mo had already finished his second pot of tea when the Earl finally awakened as if from a dream.

"Sorry, sorry. Seeing Paven's letter made me somewhat unsettled!"

"Rest assured, what Paven promised you is what Cloudmist Domain promises. There will be no changes whatsoever."

At this point, a weight finally lifted from Chen Mo's heart.

After jointly commemorating the brave swordsman Paven, both sides quickly reached agreement on substantial content.

The Earl had people bring maps, territorial documents, seal boxes, sealing wax, and such. On the spot, he wrote the territorial proclamation, officially renaming the Saltwater Flats as Vast Sea Territory.

This name was Chen Mo's suggestion. He felt it couldn't be more fitting.

Vast Sea Territory was quite large.

According to Starry Continent tradition, ducal territories had ten thousand qing, marquis territories had several thousand qing, and earldoms had small thousands of qing.

Of course, because various territories constantly warred and annexed each other, with lands and cities being seized back and forth, now there were both earldoms larger than small kingdoms and purely nominal ducal territories without actual land. Territory size could no longer serve as a complete reference.

However, Vast Sea Territory, as the lowest-level knighthood territory, could match at least one-third of an earldom in area.

Although the territory was an enclave far on the eastern coast, with seventy percent desert and gobi, thirty percent coastal wasteland, having neither industry nor subjects, Chen Mo still owed great gratitude to both Paven and the Earl for this favor.

Because this was existing land that required no development and was protected.

Throughout the Starry kingdoms, especially the northern frontiers, lords continued to emerge endlessly, but those all involved taking a map, drawing a circle, and saying "this belongs to you now, brave knight, go embrace your territory."

Then the vast majority of knights got beaten half-paralyzed by orc tribes occupying the land, unable to care for themselves.

A small portion got beaten completely paralyzed, requiring no self-care.

Chen Mo's fief, obtainable without drawing sword or spear, no matter how worthless the land, represented extraordinarily exceptional treatment.

Most importantly, the Earl followed official procedures, reporting documents to the Emerald Duchy. Once approved, letters would be transmitted to all kingdoms, incorporating it into the Development Territory Protection Treaty.

This was the core reason Chen Mo spent so much time and energy to obtain a legitimate territory recognized by human kingdoms.

Simply put, newly established territories under this method had a commonly recognized novice protection period ranging from one to five years.

This clause's establishment accompanied humanity's era of vigorous development.

At that time, countless pioneering knights raised battle flags, expanding human kingdom territories again and again with sword and fire.

They occupied the Emerald Plains and Clear Marsh Plains of the elven kingdoms, driving the elven race like homeless dogs into the Gloomy Forest.

They seized the Red Earth Plateau and Cliff Pastures from orc tribes. Even now, the orcs' unwilling roars toward the Red Earth Mountains still echoed across the plateau.

They drove the fishmen from wetlands, forcing them to curl up in deep swamps. They expelled the naga from coastlines, leaving them wandering to deep sea islands.

They invaded dwarves and gnomes, slaughtered beastmen and goblins, nearly exterminated halflings and trolls, enslaved blood clans and great fairies. They battled giants in Crimson Peak Valley and fought dragons at Ice Cliff...

Ocean races have a saying: "When one whale falls, ten thousand things flourish."

Land races also have a saying: "When one human rises, a thousand races perish."

Of course, for the human race, these pioneering knights were true heroes. It was precisely their endless conquests that allowed humans to dominate the Starry Continent, constantly expanding living space and growing ever stronger.

However, the human race excelled not only at external warfare but also internal strife.

The moment pioneering knights fought bloody battles to seize fertile land from alien races, just when they were weak and powerless, desperately needing rest, before they could even catch their breath, other pioneering knights stabbed them in the back.

This time, the frontline pioneering knights collectively refused to tolerate it.

Whoever goes first dies, right? Then what's the point of pioneering!

Thus came the Development Territory Protection Treaty.

This treaty later became widely applied to developing desolate border regions where human populations were severely insufficient. However, territories obtained through enfeoffment rather than external warfare carried conditions requiring meeting specified population standards within a certain time, and their protection periods were relatively shorter, only one year.

During this year, any force still considering itself part of human influence was strictly forbidden from launching raids or warfare against [Vast Sea Territory]. Otherwise, they would be betraying common human interests.

This would truly result in collective beatings.

After all, ninety percent of current nobles were descendants or dependents of pioneering knights.

Were there exceptional situations allowing attacks? Yes, there were.

For instance, non-human forces weren't bound by this constraint. Orcs often pummeled human pioneering territories.

But orc campaigns mainly aimed to rob money, grain, and slaves. In their eyes, worthless places like Vast Sea Territory had nothing but sand and fools. Would they come to drink the northwest wind?

Alternatively, if [Vast Sea Territory] actively attacked other human territories, the protection treaty would immediately become void.

This clause was incredibly comfortable. War initiative rested with him! Absolutely perfect!

From the moment he heard Paven mention such a thing, Chen Mo devoted most of his thoughts to this territory, not knowing how many times he'd thought up names for it.

Now finally achieving his wish, all his hardships, constant anxiety, and life-or-death struggles on this journey weren't in vain.

Within one year, he could finally squat and develop in peace, no longer being chased flying everywhere.

As for after one year...

Heh, after one year, if I don't come looking for trouble with others, they should thank heaven, earth, and the gods!

[NEXT CHAPTER]