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  Baron Nightingale

  "…Any questions, my Lord Barons?" asked Locke Hercule as he finished expining the Greltheaven Dominion Integration Orders.

  There are seven of them, some of which we had already agreed on when we submitted to Silver.

  Greltheaven Dominion Integration Order

  1. Unified Legal Code,

  2. Military Reform

  3. Trade and Infrastructure

  4. Justice and Order

  5. Succession and Nobility Affairs

  6. Office of Records

  7. Unified Tax and Revenue Code

  We already agreed to a unified legal code the day we submitted.

  We wanted to negotiate it, but Silver had insisted on it. With Lockridge marching down on us, we had no choice but to agree.

  This means the baronies will have to abide by the same ws as Greltheaven.

  The ws of the dominion will supersede ours. Our ws can only be applied if they don't contradict the ws of the Dominion.

  In the years of separation, the baronies have developed and matured. Each barony has its own ws. We were allowed as long as it followed the basic principles id down in the Lauryl Decration.

  It is the document we signed after seceding from Greltheaven, following Count Darrow's death.

  We are strongly against it and are demanding exceptions, but the Governor had budged only a little on it or any of the other points.

  They might say they are negotiating with us, but it is more like shoving it down our throat.

  The thing is, we have no choice but to accept it.

  The same thing is happening on the other side of the Nakar. It could even be said that it is harsher with Grimvale.

  So, our strategy is getting exceptions rather than opposition.

  The second is military reform. It is a complex document, but the essence is that we didn't have to send any soldiers to him, as we traditionally would for our liege.

  It is interconnected to the tax code, which is what we are most worried about.

  The third is trade and infrastructure.

  Like before, the merchant guild in our territories will be subordinate to the merchant guild in Lauryl, but now supervision will be much stricter.

  We will also need to maintain roads, guilds, bridges, and other infrastructure to a sufficient standard to ensure the seamless flow of trade.

  Which was not mandatory before.

  A few barons, led by Baroness Lei, had tried to make it mandatory, but Baron Lockridge, Harrods, and others opposed it.

  Now it is mandatory, and once more, the ft tax comes into py.

  Once we pay that ft tax, we won't have any monetary obligation to the Dominion. So, we will be able to use the money we have on these things.

  The fourth is justice and order. This order is one of the trickiest.

  We will now be required to have a magistrate in our barony. Most of us have them; two didn't, but they are with Grimvale.

  Those two used to hand out justice themselves. They liked the power too much and didn't like to share it, even with their staff.

  Now, a magistrate will be necessary, and must be trained in Greltheaven.

  They will act as the first tier in the three-tier justice system. The second tier will be the superior court in Lauryl, and the third tier will be the supreme court in Greltheaven.

  Its judgment will be final and absolute.

  Earlier, each territory had a sovereign right over its w, but according to these ws, there will be two more courts over it.

  It will be the same with guards. Our personal forces, which we use to enforce the ws in our territories, will also need to be trained in Greltheaven.

  After that, they will be referred to as the police.

  Personally, I do not have much of a problem with this order. It could be said that I liked it.

  I have witnessed the w-and-order situation in Greltheaven. I want that same success in my territory. They are not heavy-handed, yet they work.

  It had been a few months since they came to Lauryl, and they had brought about massive changes.

  The committing of crimes had been brought down considerably. The gangs are under control. It had surprised many nobles, including me.

  I want that in my territory. God knows, I need it.

  The fifth is a succession and nobility affair; one part of it made us happy, while the second part we are opposing as vehemently as possible.

  The succession will now need approval from Silver, but it will be done according to our will.

  This means our successor will be chosen by us. Which might seem natural, but it is not in these baronies, as our houses hold significant sway over them.

  They finance the territory and have a significant say in its affairs, including succession.

  If some of us died, our children won't inherit the baronies, but the people chosen by them. That's how much influence they wield in territories and the empire.

  Here, Silver guarantees that he will agree to the successor of our choosing, subject to some exceptions.

  Now, the second part, the nobility affairs.

  Under the old system, we were untouchable in our territories, above the w, but that's not the case anymore. We could now be arrested and tried in court.

  The conditions are strict for any action to be taken against us, but it could happen.

  We are opposing that with tooth and nail. Not because we are guilty of anything, but because we don't want to give him tools to use against us.

  He already has too many of them.

  The sixth is the office of records. As its name suggests, there will be a department called 'Office of Records' in our territories, which Greltheaven will regute.

  It will record the popution, nd surveys, agricultural yield, tax rolls, and other things. This will provide him with complete information about the territory, giving him more power over us.

  As he will know exactly what is going on in our territories. We will not be able to hide anything from him, including the amount of taxes we will owe him.

  The st is the tax and revenue code, which binds most things.

  It is the most contentious item.

  It also states how much tax we should pay and how much we should collect from our citizens and businesses. It is a detailed document that didn't seem to have been produced in just a few weeks of work.

  In mercantile houses, it took months and years to create such a complex document.

  Silver is ambitious, and he must have already thought about how he would rule the baronies even before he got us. It is hard to deal with people who already know what they want and have pnned for it.

  "Lord Silver is asking a lot from us," spoke Baron Moss, after nearly a minute of silence.

  "We will also be giving you a lot. More than you could imagine," replied Hercule with a big smile appearing on his face.

  "We will provide you protection, without asking a single cent extra aside from the ft tax, we will make and maintain all the infrastructure, like roads, police stations, and highway services."

  "We will also build the facilities and provide you with services that help you get the maximum price for your goods."

  He took a pause, looking at us all.

  He had not said anything, that we had not heard from the governor before. She is one incredible woman; she has us agreeing on most of the points.

  We all waited; we could see he was about to say something important.

  "We will help you with filling your territories, with the people you desperately need."

  "Not in hundreds, but in thousands. Farmers, bcksmiths, brickyers, tanners. The people who will help your territories flourish,"

  "This is something you have failed to achieve, but we could give you as many as you want and in a very short time," he stated, and I could see the eyes of barons lighting up.

  We had tried for people, and there are a lot of people in our territories—humans as well as the orcs.

  The thing is, we need more than just the farms; we also need the craftsmen, as he stated. If we have them, with the financial resources we control, we could achieve a lot.

  We tried to get people, but it is hard to bring them to the baronies so far from the empire.

  Not many come, with monsters and undead just miles away.

  Silver could.

  Hell, he has people; he had sent thousands in Lauryl and unoccupied baronies, but they are a fraction of what he has in his city in those tents.

  We tried to get those, but Silver didn't let us. It's his leverage, and he won't be giving us that unless he gets what he wants.

  "These ws are too restrictive, Chief Hercule." Baron Rhovan stated, with many of us nodding.

  "Some might even say they are against the noble code; even the empire didn't ask what Lord Silver is asking," he added.

  Locke Hercule shook his head before smiling. "They are not against the noble code, my lords, but are the very definition of it," he replied.

  "The dominion is besieged with danger from all sides. In the north-east are monsters, in the east is Navr, in the south are Grimvale and Tabes, and in the west are the undead."

  "To deal with all the threats and keep you and your people safe, we need these things," he spoke before his eyes turned serious.

  "Yes, some of these things might seem interfering with your rights as the Barons,but they are necessary,"

  "This will not only help the dominion, but it will help you more. Make your territories prosperous and secure, so you all will be able to break the shackles that hold you," he stated.

  Many barons shuddered as he hit bullseyes.

  The man is brilliant. He did not have his job, just because he is Silver's friend, he has the ability as well.

  He spoke truth with reference to 'shackles'.

  The shackles are our families, who wield the massive influence in the territories. Most big decisions could not be taken without consulting them.

  Some barons couldn't even take the small ones; that's how much influence they wield.

  "It is why I beseech you all to accept these ws as they will free you, make you soar to the heights you have not even dreamt," he said, looking directly into the eyes of each one of us.

  The ws will give Silver significant influence in our territories, but they could also help us free ourselves from the shackles of our families.

  These ws will limit their ability to influence the big decision on us, giving us greater freedom.

  I know many people here who will break from their families. If they were able to become self-sufficient enough, and I hate to say it, if it worked as he preached, it would help us break free.

  Though I did not forget even for a moment. How badly it turned out for nobles when the empire tried something like this.

  Some noble houses have ceased to exist due to it. Nobody here wants to suffer that fate.

  "I am sure you have many other questions. For this, I will meet you all privately in my office. Rest assured, my lords, every doubt you have will be answered," he stated and walked out.

  The moment he stepped out. Powerful privacy skills were activated across the room.

  "Baron Harrods, Baroness Lei; you had talked to Lord Silver. What impression did you get?" asked Baron Tharnell. Immediately, all eyes turned to the two.

  These two have gone with Silver earlier; it would help us a lot if we knew what is on his mind.

  "He didn't talk much about it, but he seemed very adamant about them." He replied, making us all sigh.

  "We already lost quite a lot of our freedom. This will make us lose even more," said Salkin angrily; it is the emotion many of us share.

  "He wants us to change the ws of baronies, bring us under Grelthavean w, and record everything in our territory. Even the empire and its nobles didn't go this far!" he added, with many nodding.

  "These ws may be strict, but I like them. It will help us stand on our feet and help us get the freedom that we very much crave," said Baron Halewright.

  Immediately, all eyes turned to the blond-haired man.

  Some opened their mouth to berate him, but closed them a moment ter. They, too, understand the allure of it. If we can do what Locke had spewed, it will genuinely help free us.

  "You are absolutely right, Baron Halewright and Baron Harrods, we might not have any choice."

  "So, I would suggest we try to get as many exceptions as we can. Weaken them enough that it will lessen the oversight and give us retive freedom," stated Baron Homer.

  The nobles nodded, knowing it was the only option they had in their hands.

  An.

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