Chapter 14: The Power of Life and Death

After returning from Cagary City to Bichi Village, Lord Jago personally began overseeing all the ongoing projects.

Over the next two days, villagers from all thirteen surrounding villages gradually gathered around Bichi Village, and as manpower increased, efficiency rose rapidly. They built simple dwellings, repaired roads, worked the fields, cleared tangled thickets, logged trees, filled ravines, and leveled hillsides. All the projects advanced in an orderly fashion.

The first structure to be completed was the oversized granary. All the transported grain was piled inside and then guarded by the Spear Squad assembled by Lord Jago. Once he had consolidated all the grain into his private reserves, Lord Jago began awarding those who worked diligently, ensuring that his Spear Squad received half a jin of grain more per day than anyone else. This rudimentary unit quickly became a highly sought-after prize. Many wanted to join, but only a few were permitted. Others could only watch longingly as the Spear Squad proudly referred to themselves as the guard corps of Lord Jago.

During these two days, the compensation from Kone was delivered from distant Cagary City: grain, slaves, draft oxen, and sheep. These new arrivals left the villagers of Bichi Village wide-eyed. Once desolate and barren… one could even call it deserted… Bichi Village had become incredibly bustling in just two days.

However, as the population swelled, maintaining order and security became a challenge. Lord Jago expanded the Spear Squad to one hundred men.

“From today on, you only need to serve as guards and obey my orders. Those who perform exceptionally will be promoted later! Do you understand?!”

“Understood!!”

The members of the Spear Squad responded eagerly. They no longer engaged in labor or production; from then on, they served solely as guards.

「Achievement: The Place Where Dreams Begin」

「Reward: 100 Iron Swords」

To strengthen the guard corps’ sense of identity and honor, Lord Jago issued a further requirement.

“From today on, everyone must wear a red band on their right arm. This will be the mark of a guard corps member! May glory always protect you!”

“Ooh, ooh, ooh!”

This was destined to be a day remembered by everyone in Bichi Village. From this day on, the chaos caused by the influx of people began to subside.

Lord Jago appointed Yanis as Guard Captain and entrusted security authority to Axi, who had been at his side eager to make achievements. Yanis was responsible for daily patrols, maintaining stability in Bichi Village, and overseeing the slaves. Axi was responsible for guarding key locations and taking Lord Jago’s orders at any time.

Because neither had much concept of such roles, Lord Jago enumerated their responsibilities in detail… a process that took him quite a bit of time. It also made him keenly aware that education needed to be rolled out swiftly, but under the current conditions of Bichi Village, there was no room for additional arrangements. After all, you have to eat one bite at a time. He could only implement what could be done as quickly as possible.

First, he had housing built so that everyone could live there. Once Kone sent a few carpenters, construction efficiency skyrocketed.

“Build the enclosures for the cattle and sheep here, just as before. Clear away all debris and level the ground.”

“Yes, Lord Jago!” Mas replied immediately, then asked, “But… Lord Jago, what should these cattle and sheep eat?”

“Wheat.”

“Yes… but that means we’ll incur a lot of extra expenses,” Mas calculated quickly. If they were to properly feed all those cattle and sheep, their consumption would rival that of people.

“Don’t worry about consumption… hay, shrubs, and so on can be used, and once they’re gone, replace them with wheat and barley. Don’t worry about costs. I have only one demand: if anyone lets my livestock… cattle, sheep, or chickens… die, they may come to me with their head!”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Mas responded hastily. Terrified by the potential consequence yet relieved at not having to consider costs, he concluded it was virtually impossible.

After delegating these tasks to Mas, Lord Jago called over Reis.

“Using the method I taught you, have them complete the back housing and livestock enclosures. Don’t stop the roads… ensure everyone arriving can move into the houses as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Lord Jago!”

Once all the supervisory work was delegated to Reis, Lord Jago finally had a bit of free time. His own quarters had been the first to be completed. Not wanting to live in a simple shack, he had a modest new house constructed for him at breakneck speed once the carpenters arrived. It was located near the center of Bichi Village.

“Freya, move everything into the house. From today onward, we don’t have to stay outside anymore.”

“Yes…”

In truth, there was almost nothing there. Almost all of the supplies that Lord Jago had brought by carriage had been thrown into the village’s expansion efforts, and some dry rations had already been consumed. Fortunately, there was no shortage of grain now… though meals still consisted of porridge three times a day, so bland it was barely palatable. The empty wooden house contained only a few rudimentary pieces of furniture, but because it was for the lord’s use, it represented the best craftsmanship available in Bichi Village at the moment.

“Damn… once the cattle and sheep have bred in sufficient numbers, I definitely want to improve the quality of life,” Lord Jago muttered, looking at the simple lunch Freya brought over. He sighed.

“…It’s already not bad; at least it keeps us from starving,” Freya said.

She still wore the exquisite maid outfit that Lord Jago had bought earlier… her attire, in contrast to Bichi Village’s overall aesthetic, looked like it was from a different world.

“Your standards for life really are low… sit down.”

“…Sit where?”

“Here, of course. Finish eating quickly and clear the dishes.”

Freya sat to Lord Jago’s right and, lifting her bowl, said, “As a maid, you’re not supposed to sit down to eat, are you?”

“You actually know that rule?”

“I saw it once when I was escaping.”

“Oho~ how did you see it?”

“I saw it through a window,” Freya replied after a moment. “The servants of wealthy households dressed better than the male masters of ordinary families. And the maids who stood by as their masters ate looked a hundred times more presentable than the children of average households.”

No wonder some families considered sending their children to the city as slaves a good prospect.

Lord Jago gave a light snort… no clear emotion, neither amusement nor anger. This man seemed rarely to display emotions on his face. Freya had observed him for days and concluded he possessed some fundamentally different trait. Even wearing the same material, standing among others, he gave off a unique aura. When others laughed or grew angry, that emotion was obvious in their eyes. But in Lord Jago’s black eyes… eyes she had secretly observed… there was almost no fluctuation. Calm and indifferent, they coldly watched everyone before him from start to finish. Unable to read him, Freya could never guess what he would say next or understand his inner thoughts.

Then Lord Jago asked, “Do you know what other duties a maid must perform?”

“…What?”

“Tomorrow morning, you will come with me to Cagary City.”

He did not elaborate. Freya opened her mouth to ask why but thought better of it… he wouldn’t answer anyway.

After lunch, Lord Jago walked out to an open area with simple benches. Every noon, a few key figures from Jago Barony sat here, patiently waiting for him.

“Well then, let’s begin today’s reports.”

“Yes!” they responded in unison.

Yanis spoke first.

“Lord Jago, I have nothing unusual to report.”

“Mm.”

Axi spoke next.

“Yesterday at noon, the person responsible for distributing grain had a conflict with the half-beastman slaves.”

“What was the reason?”

“According to them, the half-beastmen were dissatisfied with one jin of rations per day,” Axi replied. “I’ve already suppressed the revolt, and I’ve captured the troublemaker and locked him up in the prison.”

Lord Jago nodded.

“I will handle this shortly. Mas, your report.”

“Yes.”

Mas and Reis then reported. Mas oversaw livestock breeding; Reis handled construction. Both tasks progressed smoothly, but a conflict arose over manpower.

“Lord Jago, my people must focus on livestock breeding; they have no capacity for other work,” Mas explained.

Reis added, “If they’re all pulled away, I’ll be short-handed on construction!”

Lord Jago thought for a moment. Manpower was indeed scarce… there were nearly two thousand people in the barony, but many were elderly, children, or women; the actual labor force was far smaller.

“All right,” he said. “Those breeding livestock will do nothing else. As for roads and housing, it’s fine to slow down a bit.”

“Yes, Lord Jago…” Mas bowed, then reminded him, “We should start farming. Everyone’s busy building, and the fields lie empty.”

“I’ll handle that in a couple of days. For now, leave it be,” Lord Jago replied.

“Yes…”

Lord Jago currently had twenty-six Resource Points. Once he finished his immediate tasks, he intended to test their power. For now, he had to check the prison.

After the meeting, Lord Jago and Axi entered the makeshift wooden prison and saw the troublemaking canine half-beastman. He looked extremely gaunt.

“I heard the half-beastmen were dissatisfied with the daily rations?” Lord Jago asked.

“…Yes…” the half-beastman replied haltingly.

“What’s your reason?”

Lord Jago continued calmly, “If your reason convinces me, I’ll increase your daily ration to two jin per person.”

“Really? Is that true?” the half-beastman asked, eyes brightening. Axi looked on in astonishment but stayed silent. Two jin a day was the equivalent of two people’s rations… without a strong reason, many would object. But in Jago Barony, Lord Jago’s method was simple: disobedience was defiance… the crime of defiance, punishable by death.

“It’s true,” Lord Jago confirmed.

The half-beastman explained, “One jin a day isn’t enough… but there’s too much work!”

Axi scowled, “You can’t get full on one jin? You’re gluttons!” He caught Lord Jago’s gaze and hurried on, “Lord Jago, they…”

“Did I ask you to speak?”

Axi immediately knelt, forehead on the floor. “I’m sorry, Lord Jago. I was wrong and accept any punishment!”

Lord Jago let out a cold hum. “Get up.”

Axi rose crisply at once.

Lord Jago left the prison and went with Axi to where the half-beastmen worked. Each was muscular but strained, as though their strength couldn’t match their workload.

“Tonight, when they eat, publicly execute that male half-beastman for defying his lord. Understood?”

“Yes, Lord Jago!” Axi answered.

“Send for Mas.”

“Yes!”

Mas arrived quickly.

“Lord Jago?”

“From the day after tomorrow, increase the half-beastmen’s rations to two jin per person daily. This is my reward to those who obey orders.”

“Ah… yes,” Mas replied in surprise, bowing deeply.

「Achievement: The Power of Life and Death」

「Reward: Intimidating Presence (Passive)」