Pig Spine Valley, Iron Stone Castle.

The room of Becky Simon, "Charming."

"Darling, you’re so sweet~" Becky’s long index finger lifted the chin of the woman beneath her. She nuzzled the woman’s cheek, her hot breath warming the other’s face as she spoke, making the air even more charged.

The woman smiled shyly and nodded softly. "Mmm... I never thought you’d be interested in women, too."

"You never thought?" Becky planted a light kiss on her face. "Or did you think I was only interested in the groom?"

Though her words were sweet, their content sent a chill down the spine.

The woman’s expression changed. Her face instantly turned deathly pale, and her body went rigid.

KNOCK, KNOCK. A knock on the door conveniently saved the woman’s life.

"Come in," Becky said, sitting on the edge of the bed. The woman on the bed came to her senses, immediately getting up and throwing on her clothes.

She knew that what was about to happen was not for her to hear.

The door opened, and Becky’s personal handmaiden entered.

The hastily dressed woman quickly exited.

The handmaiden didn’t even glance at the other woman. She walked up to Becky with a small note, acting as if she hadn’t noticed Becky was topless. "Milady, a letter from Lord Fosak."

"Did he succeed in winning the new Baron Porcupine’s favor?"

Becky made no move to take the note. Instead, she picked up a wine glass from the table and took a sip.

Her throat bobbed slightly, and a flush instantly rose to her cheeks.

"No," the handmaiden shook her head. "Fosak says that due to certain matters, he left a bad impression on Sir Clarence."

Becky’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. ’He must have tried to make a move on a maid again. That disgusting habit of his follows him everywhere!’

She had long known what a rotten person Kolan Fosak was. Messing around with women was just business as usual for him.

"I told him long ago that this recipe is crucial!" Becky set her glass down on the table, her face unreadable.

If he weren’t the only nobleman under her thumb she could order around so freely, Becky would never have sent Kolan Fosak on this mission.

The handmaiden asked in a low voice, "Milady, if you need money, why don’t you ask the master? He dotes on you so."

"Do you think my father would just casually hand over several thousand Jinri?"

"Milady, I..."

"Besides, this is a partnership. If my father found out, he might not help me." Becky paid no mind to her handmaiden’s question; the girl was the one person in the entire castle she trusted most. "The deadline Sidor Sea Water gave me is tight. But he was right—Leech Clarence is certainly no simpleton. I never expected him to have a secret team capable of wiping out pirates so silently."

It seemed that even the man known as the most loyal Baron Porcupine had an ace up his sleeve.

The fear of suddenly discovering that a seemingly brave and brainless man is actually full of cunning schemes is far more intense than facing someone known for being treacherous.

"At this rate, it will take us at least a decade to gather the money. If we can get the formula, we can cut that time in half. Add to that selling off my other assets, and I can have the money within three years."

The handmaiden looked up at her lady. She didn’t know the specifics of the plan, but she felt her mistress was acting with too much urgency.

This was not a good thing. She was like a madman at a gambling table, betting everything on a single throw.

"Tell Kolan to make his move quickly," Becky said. "If Clarence were to marry me, things would be much simpler."

’Everyone in Iron Stone City knew Baron Spark doted on his daughter. But if he truly doted on her, how could he let her ruin her own reputation?’

All of Iron Stone City and Iron Stone Castle would eventually belong to Baron Spark’s only son. Becky, on the other hand, could only be married off to the second son of some noble without inheritance rights. She had overheard this during a conversation between her father and brother, and she hadn’t told a soul.

Therefore, she wanted to rely on her own investments. When the war between the Eastern Gorge and the Giant’s Foot reignited, she would have some bargaining chips of her own.

A woman who thinks herself clever always likes to force her way to the card table.

She took another gulp of wine, and her mood seemed to improve considerably.

"Yes, Milady." The handmaiden departed quickly.

「Porcupine Castle.」

Leech sat in a lounge chair, enjoying the afternoon sun.

The slaves and commoners had recently started digging irrigation canals, and Porcupine Territory was developing faster and faster. His daily routine, of course, remained the same. He would check on the pregnant Fiery-Mane Mares, occasionally inspect his territory, and then return home to watch the little maid Arkke practice her insect control. After that, he would work with the chef to develop new dishes, concoct Magic Antiseptic, read, and write development plans with Gelan.

And, invent new farm tools.

Occasionally, he would have the son of a minstrel with a pleasant voice come and sing a song to soothe his mind.

"Kolan, were you just out?"

Kolan Fosak had just entered the castle and was surprised to find the Lord sunbathing in the courtyard.

"Yes, my Lord." Kolan immediately nodded and walked over to Leech. "A portion of my belongings just arrived—some old clothes, weapons, and my personal manservant. He came specifically to take care of me."

The manservant followed, respectfully calling out, "My Lord."

"Of course," Leech nodded in understanding. "One needs someone to look after their daily needs."

"I’ll be heading back then, my Lord!" Kolan said.

"Go on," Leech waved him off.

Kolan took his manservant and luggage back to his room to get settled. Leech narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment.

’How strange.’

’A man full of ambition claims he wants to pledge his loyalty to me. Even if he just wants to build up his credentials and snag a noble title, he should feel some sense of urgency. No matter how you look at it, it’s a dangerous sign when the lord you’ve sworn allegiance to doesn’t give you any work. But Kolan doesn’t seem to care at all. It’s as if he’s content just to be allowed to stay here.’

’And a personal manservant? What kind of manservant has calluses on his hands from wielding a sword?’

"Pitchfork."

"My Lord!" Pitchfork, who had been waiting by his side, immediately bowed and stepped closer to Leech.

"Where has Mr. Fosak been recently?"

"To the Alchemist’s, I believe," Pitchfork said, recalling. "The first day Lord Fosak arrived, he was asking for the Alchemist’s location."

"And then?" Leech seemed to understand something. "Has he spoken with anyone else in the castle?"

Pitchfork nodded. "He has, but the conversations have been very broad. He talks about everything and anything."

"Get Arkke over here!" Leech ordered decisively.

"Yes, my Lord!"

Soon, the little maid Arkke, who had been diligently practicing her insect control, came running up to Leech.

"How is your father?" Leech asked.

During the last slave revolt, Ark’s other leg had nearly been broken as well.

At the mention of her father, Arkke’s eyes reddened, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. "Thank you for your concern, my Lord. My father’s injuries are much better now."

"Don’t worry," Leech sat up and gently wiped the tears from the little maid’s cheeks.

When his fingers touched her cheek, the little maid’s body trembled. Her face flushed a deep red, and her flustered eyes darted about, unsure where to look.

Leech pretended not to notice. "Tell your father that I’ve heard the slaves have been a bit disobedient. Have him keep a close watch on them, and especially don’t let them riot. It would be very troublesome if Mr. Kolan Fosak’s personal manservant were to get hurt. Alright, go on and check on him. I’ll give you a half-day off."

In the slave quarters, inside Ark’s room.

"Is that really what the master said?" Ark asked, sitting on his bed with a frown.

"Mhm," the little maid, still in her uniform, nodded.

Ark sighed. It wasn’t that he didn’t understand the Baron’s order. He’d been with the Baron for several months now and had long since learned to easily grasp his meaning.

This time, Leech had sent the message through his daughter with absolutely no subtlety. It was as if he was afraid Ark wouldn’t understand, practically telling him to make a move on Kolan Fosak’s manservant immediately.

But for a slave to attack a nobleman’s servant was a capital crime, regardless of the outcome.

"Sigh..." Ark waved his daughter away. "Go on back. Just be a good girl and obey the master’s orders. Do whatever he tells you to do."

"Mhm!" His daughter nodded vigorously, her cheeks red.

He looked at his daughter’s flushed cheeks but ultimately said nothing more. ’I’ll just pretend I don’t know,’ he thought. ’I have other things to worry about.’