Leech wasn't in a hurry. Making sure the conversation didn't lapse into awkward silence, he asked what sort of work Gelan had done for his previous lord.
"Urban development, mainly construction. Sometimes I also managed farmland, pastures, and tax collection," Gelan said. "I worked there for ten years. I grew attached to everyone."
'This is exactly the kind of talent I need.' Gelan wasn't likely to be lying, either, since some of these things could be easily verified with a little investigation.
He had worked in a territory far more prosperous than Porcupine Territory, managed things meticulously, and lived a happy life—apart from sleeping with his lord's mother. His only remaining family was a younger brother, Leo, who would likely never return to Porcupine Territory in his lifetime. With no elderly parents to care for, Gelan had no attachments to worry about.
"So, my lord, after hearing all that, what do you have to offer to move me?"
"Indeed, Porcupine Territory is barren," Leech nodded. "It's sparsely populated, and the grain we grow isn't even enough to feed everyone. From the perspective of environment and income alone, it's not enough to persuade you. I imagine that after ten years of work, you must have saved a considerable sum—enough to live out the rest of your life in leisure."
Gelan nodded slightly. Leech was right.
"But you're not happy," Leech said. "You feel spiritually empty. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here drinking your days away. It's not because of your leg injury. With enough Silver Moons, plenty of ladies would be willing to wait on you."
Gelan's spirits lifted slightly. He wanted to see what grand theories this lord before him could come up with.
The Baron began, "I believe people have five levels of needs. The first and most basic level is to have enough food and clothing. Once that is met, people desire safety—that's the second level. After that comes the third level: the need for social connection. A person cannot live in isolation; they need love, family, and friendship."
Gelan nodded. So far, he agreed with all of this.
"The fourth level is the need for esteem. In common terms, it's power, honor, and recognition, like the respect commoners show to the nobility." He subtly placed the nobility at the center, ensuring the protection of the noble class, which in turn protected his own interests.
"So you're saying you're at the fourth level?" Gelan asked. "And what is the fifth?"
'The nobility is above all else.' He was curious what need could possibly be higher than a noble's honor.
"The realization of one's self-worth," Leech said. "It's about being able to fully use your abilities, striving to perfect yourself with all your might, and even losing yourself in a cause with total concentration. Like a chef who obsesses over a gourmet dish, a farmer who toils all day for a bumper crop, a blacksmith who ignores scorching flames to forge a fine sword, a messenger who endures any hardship to deliver a letter, or a Knight who faces death without fear for glory."
Leech said, "And I can give you the opportunity to once again manage a lord's affairs, both great and small, and realize your own worth."
It was the first time anyone had ever spoken to him about such things, and Gelan was somewhat stunned.
Unlike the loyalty proclaimed by the nobility or the faith preached by the church, the Baron's words were a bit unconventional. Value. Self-worth.
He looked at the Baron, feeling that this man was different from any other noble he had ever met.
To be precise, it was a difference in his way of thinking.
"You can go to Porcupine Territory and see for yourself," Leech said. "I believe there's no better feeling than growing together with a place. Of course, if you find everything in Porcupine Territory too awful, you can leave at any time. You can go with Joe. You can change your mind anytime before I return, and I don't think anyone will stop you."
"You've moved me, especially the part about realizing my self-worth," Gelan said. "But I still believe in what I see with my own eyes. I will make a trip to Porcupine Territory."
Leech raised his wine glass. "To self-worth."
Gelan also raised his glass. "To self-worth."
Back at Iron Stone Castle, Leech continued to survey Porcupine Territory through the eyes of his raven. Although the intelligent raven wouldn't stray far from Porcupine Territory, it wasn't completely under his control and would often fly off to catch insects.
After a somewhat clumsy survey of his territory, he found no issues and closed his eyes to sleep.
「The next day.」
The fighting pit, or as it was also called, the arena.
It was run by slave owners. Many of them would buy slaves, give them swords and other weapons, and force them to fight to the death.
The common folk watched slaves butcher each other, while the nobles watched Knights duel.
The thrill of violent slashes, severed limbs littering the ground, lives extinguished, and of course, betting.
It was rumored that in shadowy corners, some slave traders would even gather young children, set up a small ring, and make them fight each other with knives. But that sort of thing was officially forbidden.
Today, he had come with Sidor Sea Water. The two of them sat in the prime seats reserved for nobility. They were the only nobles in attendance, and the daughters of merchants, who had come with their male companions, were already casting frequent glances their way. 'Such handsome noble lords! If I were fortunate enough to marry one, it would bring immense glory to my family.'
Otherwise, why would people still marry their daughters to Iron Bull Hoof, even after he killed his wife?
'Leaping across social classes required the courage to gamble with one's life. A shame that Iron Bull Hoof hadn't killed his wife because he disliked her, but because there was something wrong with his head.'
The four gates of the massive arena opened, and the spectators in the tiered seating on both sides looked down upon the scene within.
The slaves filed into the arena. They were powerfully built, with brawny muscles, but their expressions were completely numb.
Victory would only let them live a little longer.
Defeat meant death.
The cheers and applause in their ears sounded like the hooks of a reaper come to claim a prisoner's soul.
"It's going to be a grand melee today," Sidor Sea Water said. "You can place your bets now."
Leech looked at the strong slaves below, his heart aching.
'Strong, able-bodied young men, being used for slaughter? What a waste. It would be so much better to have them farm.'
"Betting?" Leech didn't voice his inner thoughts. 'This bastard probably wouldn't understand my desperate need for more people. Still, at least there's a chance to make some money.'
"These are all new slaves," Sidor said. "If you bet on the winner, 10 Silver Moons will get you 13."
'A 1.3 times payout?'
There were twenty or thirty slaves, so there was no need to worry about the match being fixed. For the losers, death was the only way out.
Only one was destined to survive today.
"What's the minimum bet?"
"10 Silver Moons."
'Alright, this isn't a game for the poor.' Leech now deeply regretted coming here. But the boy who had come forward carrying a small tray was standing respectfully to the side.
Leech still took out 10 Silver Moons and casually pointed to one of the black-haired slaves. "Him. I bet on him to win."
Sidor also placed a bet, on a bald, stout man with a thick waist. To Leech's surprise, however, the man bet 30 Silver Moons. He set down a small pouch of money, and the boy holding the tray even trembled. The combined weight of 40 Silver Moons was not light.
'I was tricked into watching this boring slaughter, and I even spent 10 Silver Moons. Is Sidor a shill?'
Below, the battle had already begun.