Roman did not know that someone was secretly watching him as he carved his emblem on the Boundary Marker.
At this moment, he was pondering an important question: How to drive away the Field Mice?
Moreover, rather than just wanting to drive them away, he wanted to capture these Field Mice alive and put them into his animal pen.
This would be much faster than waiting for chicks to grow, lay eggs, and then hatch.
However, it was already late, and after a long journey and exhaustion, his body was incredibly tired, and his sore muscles urgently needed rest.
After drawing a bucket of clear water and washing himself, Roman lay back on the bed, looking at the various building panels floating before him and contemplating his next plan.
【Barren Wheat Field lv0 (Upgradeable)】
【lv1: Crop growth speed +20%, crops upgrade to sunlight wheat, satiety effect +20%, can improve physique】
【Upgrade conditions: sunlight magic crystal × 2, drive away Field Mice (not met), open an irrigation canal connected to the river (met)】
【Watchtower lv0 (Upgradeable)】
【lv1: Durability +10%, vision +10%, sentries gain night vision ability】
【Upgrade conditions: Hardwood × 30, specialized sentry (not met), defeat the pack of wild wolves hunting near the territory (not met)】
...Wait!
Roman sat up.
The upgrade conditions for the Watchtower had changed.
He remembered that the requirements were clearly not this before, right?
What... what was it?
Roman tried hard to recall, his muddled, sleepy brain struggled to restart, and finally, he remembered the previous upgrade conditions for the Watchtower.
“It was to defeat the Gnoll scouts harassing the territory...”
Roman sat cross-legged, pinching his brow.
“Scouts...”
This was not a good word.
Roman had a bad premonition.
Although there was a possibility that the nearby magical beasts were deterred and retreated on their own after he upgraded the Boundary Marker, there was another possibility: that the other party had gathered enough intelligence and was brewing an attack!
This news stimulated him and sobered him up considerably.
If things really went in the worst direction as he imagined... he must find a way to get more helpers!
But in Roman's view, his current appeal in Lieshi Territory was pitifully low, almost equivalent to a nominal lord.
After all, under the extensive propaganda of Andrew and Nelson, the residents of Lieshi Territory basically knew a certain fact.
That is, according to kingdom law, if Roman Lierles could not pay off part of his debt next month, he would be stripped of his noble status, and Lieshi Territory would naturally be considered part of his personal assets to repay the debt... Round and round, it came back to the issue of money.
The sunlight magic crystal and magic crystal stones were ridiculously expensive; the former cost him 30 silver coins, and the latter cost him 20 silver coins.
Twenty catties of Black Iron Ingots were about the price Roman expected, all around 30 silver coins.
And after a round of purchases, he now only had one gold coin and a dozen scattered copper coins left.
He specifically withdrew this money from his membership card when he left the Golden Grain Merchant Guild.
He had a plan.
Roman had originally intended to refine this plan further and implement it after he had made some progress, but now, it seemed imperative to break the residents' stereotypes.
And how do you break a stereotype?
You can only break it with another stereotype!
With heavy thoughts, Roman slowly fell into a dream.
Early the next morning.
“Young Master Roman wants everyone to gather at the execution platform; he says he has important things to tell everyone, and it concerns every single one of you!”
After spending a few small candies to bribe the loudest children in the territory, Roman pouted, feeling a pang of heartache.
He hadn't even tasted this stuff himself, yet these little brats got to try it first.
Soon, a bustling crowd gathered in the central area of Lieshi Territory, which surprised him greatly; he had even prepared for only a dozen people.
It was probably because the original owner had not levied excessive taxes after inheriting the territory, and the residents of Lieshi Territory still retained some natural trust in him, their legitimate lord.
This was the execution platform for punishing criminals, and also the place where heralds would deliver announcements when the lord made proclamations; basically, all news, big and small, would start spreading from here.
“What's going on? Did someone commit a crime?”
“It can't be more taxes, can it?”
“Are you crazy? Lord Andrew only just collected them a few days ago...”
“You don't know? If he can't pay off his debts next month, he'll be kicked out.
He wouldn't be thinking of us now, would he...”
Some people nodded in agreement.
“Impossible! When has Lord Liershi ever done such a thing? Young Master Roman certainly isn't that kind of person either!”
A middle-aged woman wearing a coarse cloth apron couldn't listen anymore and retorted.
Roman recognized this middle-aged woman; before the upheaval, she had worked as a maid in the administration for a period, specializing in washing dishes.
“You don't understand, nobles are all rats from the same nest...”
A scrawny man with rat-like eyes stomped his foot and whispered a warning.
“When you suffered a disaster, who exempted your taxes? And who gave you bread? Now you jump out and speak ill of him; you're truly an ungrateful wretch!”
The middle-aged woman grew even angrier, directly putting her hands on her hips and pointing, her loud voice exposing the rat-eyed man's past completely, completely disregarding his flushed face.
“And you! You led a pack of wolves back from the Black Forest back then; if Lord Liershi hadn't sent Lord Kane to drive them away, you wouldn't be alive!”
“You... then you just wait and see!”
“I think he's already a good-for-nothing, hiding inside all day, God knows what schemes he's up to!”
The two men being pointed at stammered, stubbornly refusing to back down.
“But didn't he come back with a huge pile of things yesterday? Could it be that Young Master he...”
A farmer wearing an old felt hat frowned and spoke, having personally seen Roman return with a large pile of things yesterday.
“I think he must have borrowed a usurious loan from somewhere! Maybe he promised Nelson, and now he's preparing to trick us out of our last bit of money! No matter what, I won't believe a single copper coin of what he says!”
The buck-toothed man shook his head, spitting as he spoke.
Roman recognized him; this guy had previously committed theft and was tied up and displayed here for two whole days, completely ruining his reputation in Lieshi Territory.
“Shut up, stop talking.”
Someone saw Roman hiding in the back and discreetly pointed, and the noisy crowd slowly quieted down, though a few people were still whispering, looking disdainful and ready to watch a show.
If Roman dared to mention raising taxes or borrowing money, they would not hesitate to jump out.
Having received hints and tacit approval from certain individuals, they were emboldened.
When the Liershi family was prosperous, they would never dare to cause trouble, but once they fell on hard times, envious and resentful people emerged one after another.
The original owner had been slandered countless times behind his back by these people.
Listening to these words, Roman silently clenched his fists.
Rose beside him also looked at him with worry.
As Roman requested, she wore her newly bought long dress today, making her look even more vibrant and youthful.
Under everyone's gaze, Roman walked up with an open and honest demeanor, head held high and chest out.
Before the performance began, he did not speak, but first quietly scanned the crowd.
Among these people were servants who had once done odd jobs in his home, as well as farmers, hunters, blacksmiths, and carpenters.
He even saw his swordplay teacher; their eyes all showed confusion.
Roman took out a gold coin.
This genuine gold coin sparkled with dazzling, captivating light in the sunlight.
This item could make poor farmers fierce, and it could also make plump merchants arrogant.
The breathing of the people below the execution platform grew heavier; some of them had never even seen a gold coin.
“One gold coin... ten thousand copper coins.
If converted to wheat, I could eat... seven... eight thousand days! How many years is that?”
The calculating craftsman swallowed, twirling his curled-up mustache.
“I only get two copper coins for a day's work.
If I had one gold coin, I could completely lie down and not work, and maybe even...”
The illiterate farmhand's eyes widened, and he scratched his somewhat itchy upper thigh.