The next day, the Blight Mine Village lodge.

Beth woke up from her sweet dream, yawned lazily, and looked at the man who was hugging her tightly, and she couldn't help but raise her hand to caress the resolute lines of the man's face.

Thor opened his eyes and rubbed her head, and the two of them looked at each other and smiled.

After getting dressed and washing, by the time Thor called the lizardman Stant back to the room, Beth had already cleaned up the room briefly, and the small round table had been moved to the center of the room to serve as a makeshift breakfast table.

Soon, the steaming food from the inn was served. Considering that there might be a long way to go, this breakfast was a hearty breakfast with hot milk, sausages, bread, and a special extra grill.

Yesterday's monster crusade, Stant only absorbed the demon soul in the end, and then gave up the village's reward like Thor, so now he doesn't have much money in his hands.

Eating food provided by Thor along the way, which made Stant embarrassed, but Thor always mentioned that everyone was a companion and simply brought it aside.

Beth sat quietly and carefully sliced the roast meat, then smeared it with hot sauce and black pepper powder one by one, and handed it to the two men, and Staunt hurriedly thanked him in flattery.

"Today's main thing is to determine the route and direction of travel in the future. Thor pushed the plate with his fingertips, unfolding the minimap of the North on the table, then turned to Staunt and explained.

"And where are we going next?" asked Stein, looking up, and Beth gave her an inquiring look.

"We're going all the way north, and since we're going to build a territory, we can solve the problem of selecting a location for the territory first, and I think this place is good. Thor's finger dotted on the map.

"What's there?" Beth asked, confused, for the place where Thor's finger had landed seemed to be the Far North Frontier, and the area on the map was empty.

"There's nothing there, but that's why I chose to be there. Of course, the map often doesn't give detailed descriptions of such frontier areas, so there may be some nameless hamlets and the like. Saul replied.

"Why...... Why don't we gather some men and attack or grab a piece of territory?" Stant asked, and Beth nodded in agreement.

"It takes time to recruit people, it takes time to attack, and it's too difficult. How can it be so easy for an external force to overthrow a local force that has been operating for a long time?"

"Even if we are lucky enough to succeed, there will be too much trouble in the later stage of territorial management. The lack of management talent and repressive pressure in the territory will soon lead to demoralization, plundering, and even the loss of population and resources. ”

"And once this kind of plundering reaches out, the other surrounding lords are likely to launch a new round of war against you when you are not firmly established, after all, you have upset the regional balance. Since you dare to stretch out your hand, then others have nothing to say when they reach out to you. ”

"And the most critical point, the old system of the territory. If we want to do something of our own, but it conflicts with the old system of the territory, the transition process becomes extremely difficult and time-consuming. ”

"Because the existing lords are used to something in their bones, which may have been inherited from their parents, there is a lot of resistance when we want to make a large number of new changes. ”

"But if we start building a new territory, let's say a village, we can develop something in the early stages of development, and there will be a lot less resistance to implementation because there is less population to manage. ”

"After our new system and new tradition are established, no matter how many new people join in the future, or no matter how large the territory expands, we only need to continue to assimilate outsiders, and then control the intensity of assimilation. ”

"As a simple example, I, as a lord, want to raise the taxes of my territory, and you said that it is easier to enforce this decree in a town of 10,000 people or in a small village of less than 100 people?"

"That's sure to be a small village easy. Beth and Staunt replied almost simultaneously.

"So that's why I decided to start from scratch, the advantage of building a province is that the people and buildings are ready-made, but there are too many troubles in the future. And a lot of things are hard to change, and it's likely that after a few years of business you'll find that the appearance of your territory hasn't changed much. ”

"But there are many benefits to starting a new territory, the promotion of the system, the control of people's hearts, and the strong sense of participation of the people who join later, as if the territory has been changing, and every day is a new look. ”

"Of course, there will be no shortage of relative difficulties, such as manpower for construction, food shortages, large amounts of capital to be invested, and so on. ”

"There is another reason why I chose this position to demarcate the territory, it is on the central axis of the Northern Free Alliance and the Knight's Country, and trade will definitely develop in the territory in the future, and it will be much more convenient to trade in this location. ”

"Anyway, what I mean by saying this to you now is that the current way to obtain a territory is roughly two paths: snatching and building, and my personal words are more biased towards construction, so I want to ask you what you think and opinions as companions. Saul gets back to business.

"Do you still have to choose this kind of thing? You know I'm going to be on your side, even if it's hell ahead, but of course it's a personal emotional aspect. Standing in the position of my companions, you have said so much, I feel that you have already thought far and reasonable, so I support you unconditionally. Beth was the first to answer.

"I'm fine, partly because I'm not very good at these things. On the other hand, as Ms. Beth said, we may only see what is in front of us, and you are already thinking far. So I think it's good for you to decide, just come to me where you need to help. Stant said with a hearty smile.

"Okay, then we'll go here for the time being, let's get here and see what's going on around us, and then make a specific plan. Thor smiled, using his fingertips to pull a trail across the map.

"I still have a question, you said before that it is not enough to rely on a few people to build a territory, so how can we solve the manpower problem?" Stant finally asked.

"This is indeed a problem, and I have been thinking about it for a long time, but this cannot be solved in the short term, after all, companions are not something that can be found by looking for them casually. He must first be interested in what we are going to do, and he must also have a certain personal character and be trustworthy. ”

"Anyway, let's walk and see, anyway, we still have a long way to get here, and we will meet all kinds of people along the way, maybe we will find it if we are lucky?" Thor nodded with his fingertips, and Beth and Staunt nodded in agreement.

After making their decision, the three of them did not linger in the blighted pit any longer, but set off in a northeasterly direction.

Judging from the map, it was almost half of the northern border to reach the area that Thor had demarcated. If you walk purely on your feet, it will take more than three months, and it will be almost close to the end of autumn when you get there.

In fact, it is not that there is no faster way, such as the transfer through the secret gate, which can greatly shorten the distance. It's just that this journey is not just about rushing, but also paying attention to whether there are people who are suitable to be companions along the way.

After this journey, Staunt and Solbeth also got to know each other thoroughly.

In private, Risor and Beth have also secretly communicated, thinking that Staunt is still very reliable as a companion, at least no matter how he fights and stays overnight along the way, Stant has a sense of companionship. And he is very able to endure hardships and never complains.

The three of them will not only rush along the way, but will also stop at each place to experience the local customs, taste the food, or collect some news.

It's just that the only thing that didn't go well was the recruitment of companions, and after the screening of the three people, almost all the candidates gave up.

The reason is that most of them are already very sophisticated, and a very small number of people who seem to be good candidates have their own families and connections in the local area, and they will not drag their families to wander with Saul.

It took more than a month for everyone to come to Finro. It is a small territory in the northern part of the North, with only two towns and one village, not even a main city.

The three of them passed by here and stopped for a day in the most prosperous town of Falling Eagles.

Everywhere he went, Thor would go to the market, and even Beth and Staunt got into the habit of doing so. After a short break at a new place, the next day is a visit to the market, followed by some indulgences.

Buying special items and replenishing travel supplies is only one purpose of visiting the market, and the other specialties in the ring must also be traded in the new market to make a profit, and the abundance of goods in a market can also reflect the surrounding area, and the general standard of living in the area can be seen.

As for the fact that he has the space ring, Thor did not hide it from Stant, and there was no need, which can be regarded as a way to trust his companions.

And Staunt was only a little shocked and happy about it, because all the tools related to wild camping, such as tent covers, can be stuffed into the ring and taken away, which is very convenient, and there is nothing more enjoyable than a trip on the road empty-handed.

The incident came across when the three of them were visiting the Falling Eagle Town Market.

In the muddy square leading to the bazaar, there is a rack for the detention of prisoners.

At this moment, a little dwarf-like creature was being held in a flail, with his head and hand jammed, and a gallows erected next to him. Because of his short body, he had to put a small round stool under his feet in order to be able to stuff it into the torture instrument, which looked a little funny.

This is apparently the place where the prisoners were executed in this territory.

"What did he do?" Sol was a little curious as he passed by, and pulled a crowd of onlookers to ask.

"He stole the cattle of the lord's house, and the lord ordered that he would be hanged here in three days, and today was the second day. The man turned to answer Thor.

In a barren territory, cattle were the largest possession of the peasants besides their houses, and the punishment was always severe.

Thor pursed his lips, there was nothing to comment on this, since he was alive, everyone was responsible for their actions.

"Alas, it's a pity!" Just as Thor turned to leave, the onlooker just now couldn't help but sigh secretly.

"Oh, what's the matter, why pity?" asked Thor looking back.