Yin-yang Enforcer. It is a role specifically created by Emperor Kim to hunt down all vicious criminals within Yeomrang Imperium territories and its vassal states. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that vengeful ghosts are employed to bring these criminals to justice. Vengeful ghosts come into existence because they are unwilling or unable to pass on due to grievances before death. As these vengeful ghosts help in bringing down vicious criminals, Emperor Kim hopes that this process will bring back a semblance of rationality to these vengeful ghosts. Over time, these vengeful ghosts' hatred will lessen to a point where they are ready to be purified and move on to the afterlife. Although the success rate is only slightly more than half, it is still much better than the past practice of outright eliminating vengeful ghosts that can't be purified. Off course, there are also some voices of dissent that criticizes such a practice is exploitative. It is always easy to criticize but in lieu of a better solution, Alex agrees with Emperor Kim's approach to help these pitiful vengeful ghosts.
"Your kingdom just needs to know that our clan won't be a threat as long as you leave us alone." Alex didn't deny the count's statement. It doesn't truly matter anyway as the count is partially right. He comes from a lineage in the immortal realm. Immortal Ascension Sect might not compare to Yeomrang Imperium at this point in time but it still has the might to wipe out a lower realm third-rate kingdom with ease. "I will be upfront since the cat is now out of the bag. Our clan's goal is to setup a merchant house in this world. As long as your kingdom plays its card right, it will bring greater prosperity to your kingdom. Since we are at it, what does it take for the kingdom to sell me the Barony Of Gilford and confer me the title of count?"
The Barony Of Gilford is located to the west of the Barony Of Milton. It is another one of those baronies nearby that still didn't have a lord. On hindsight, Alex can now appreciate why there are no takers to the lordless baronies surrounding the Barony Of Milton. With other options spread across the kingdom, who would want to move next to such an unpleasant neighbor?
With four baronies under his possession, it should reach the minimum territories required for Alex to establish himself as a count. The southern part of the island is the most impoverish in the entire kingdom. His elevation to the rank of count will make him the only count in the southern part of the kingdom. Given the current misunderstanding to his background, he could have easily force himself into becoming the third duke in the kingdom but the implication is just not worth the effort after much deliberation between his brothers and cousins.
Being the only count in the south, Alex will also establish himself as the dominant force in the southern part of the kingdom and any barons in the surrounding area will have to seek his opinion on any matter that might directly or indirectly affects his county. At the same time, since his rank is below the rank of duke, it will also imply that he has no intention to build greater pollical influence in the kingdom to challenge any of the dukes.
The negotiation took more than two hours. Almost all the demands from the kingdom could be easily met by Alex but he knew well enough the endless greed of the high nobles. Being generous wouldn't earn their appreciation and in the long-term, it will even become the seed that grows into unwanted trouble. First among the more important agreed terms, he will pay his tax directly to the kingdom. Prior to this, all tax is paid to Duke Of Romana and what is owed to the kingdom is between the duke and the kingdom. As for the lost of revenue suffered by the Duke Of Romana, he couldn't have care less. That greedy old fox only knows how to collect the tax owed to him without fulfilling any of the obligations a liege is supposed to fulfil in return.
Second, the tax to be paid will now be a fixed amount instead of a percentage of the productivity under his domain. This fixed tax amount is to be renegotiated every ten years. The second term is crucial to conceal Alex's domain future earning potential. As his merchant house fully take off, it wouldn't be difficult for the revenue generated in his single domain to surpass the combined revenue of the entire kingdom. Given how short-sighted and shallow the worldview of the entire kingdom's high nobilities are, it wouldn't be surprising that they would start having delusions of grandeur. Given the high nobilities past antic, there is a very high likelihood that they will invite another immortal realm powerhouse to wipe out his family and get a share of their wealth. Alex is confident his family have what it takes to defeat the first few raids but these raids are still best avoided. After spending all the time and effort establishing a foothold on Hycean, he will have to abandon this world if the sect's enemy from immortal realm ever came knocking.
Third, the kingdom's high nobilities will only be get limited trading privileges but not the exclusive trading right within the kingdom as per their original demand. Alex is only willing to give them reservation rights to a set number of items each month and offering better prices on the items bought or sold.
Forth, Alex will share the salt refining technology with all high nobilities. Aside from a lump sum payment in spirit stones and waiving the ransom for all prisoners taken during the fief war, this technology will need to be part of the compensation for securing the Barony Of Gilford and elevating his noble title to count. The high nobilities would like to believe that it is a win for them but Alex has his own ulterior motive sharing the salt refining technology.
Ultimately, Alex's goal is to improve the health of all the peasants in the kingdom. His family has all sorts of cultivation resources available for sale but given the kingdom's nobles purchasing power, he is confident that almost all the nobles will sell their peasants to secure more cultivation resources from him. To that end, Alex will make sure to introduce efficient machineries that will help cut down on the workforce needed by the nobles. Given the nobles' greed and a sudden excess in workforce, their line of thought isn't hard to guess. At the same time, a price premium will be offered for healthy and well-fed peasants instead of the half-starved peasants found all over the kingdom.
The rest of terms are less important but there is one term Alex has out right rejected and stand firm. To reassure the kingdom, it is proposed that he takes one of the high nobilities' daughters as his concubine or wife. Regardless of what their misguided motivation may be, there is no way Alex wants to be in-laws with any of the high nobilities. The chances of their daughters being a honey pot trap and a sleeper agent is too high to ignore.
What comes next is the reconstruction of the port town. Although the Barony Of Milton has already been conquered, Alex has been withholding most of his development plans pending the outcome of this negotiation. At the top of list, he will need to dig deep underground to house the runic fusion reactors to power the port town's future upgraded defensive and killing array.
Defense is paramount if he is to establish the foremost merchant house on Hycean. Although Varune's nobles are now apprehensive of his family, outsiders might not feel the same way. Blinded by greed, all sorts of crooks (especially the notorious pirate kings of Hycean) will start coming to their door step again. As his master has repeatedly reminded him, a prosperous merchant house is built atop the blood of greedy villains. Customers are willing to pay a premium conducting business with Immortal Ascension Pavillion in the past is not just due to its reputation and integrity. Its martial prowess is also a big part of the equation It is never worth the trouble disrupting the sect's business back when it was at its peak.
As such, Alex first order of business is constructing a level four defensive and killing array that can instantly eliminate a fourth major realm cultivator. The onsite security is only the bare minimum. Next, he will also need to ensure the safety of his customers. His business will still take a hit if any of his customers ended up being rob before or after leaving his domain. Captain William is already working on this. The biggest threat to his future customers is the notorious pirates spread across Hycean. A warship that can be fully upgraded into an airship is in the midst of being built back on Eldorin (this upgrade option is added for the eventuality when Captain William hits the third major realm). Once the warship has been completed, he will start patrolling the ocean around Varune and start clearing all the pirates he can find. Tolena has plenty of new mines that is in dire need of labors.
There are plenty that needs to be done but things have never gone as plan. Alex will just have to improvise depending on what the future has to offer.