I’m a Rebel in Another World

Chapter 63: Unpeaceful Peace Point

Early spring still carried some chill in the air when Henwil set out for that administered territory.

Before departure, Jansen instructed Henwil: "Once you arrive, Administrator Colo will liaise with you. During ordinary times, practice the sword forms I taught you - they're our family's inherited Silver Wolf Sword Style. Try to go out as little as possible, and be cautious when dealing with visitors, as they might be testing you. Additionally, for any mandatory meetings or necessary outings, you must bring Knight Mark."

After delivering numerous instructions, Henwil departed with several dozen people, riding carriages toward the place called Bloodstone Ridge.

The next day, Henwil arrived at Bloodstone Ridge, now renamed Peace Point. The territory's core was a large town without city walls, defended only by watchtowers. Peace Town housed two hundred twenty soldiers, all Baron Jansen's private troops.

Administrator, Tax Collector, and Defense Officer - these three formed the core team managing all territory affairs. They respectively oversaw agricultural development, trade taxation, and security against bandits. Among them, Tax Collector Herbert was an official from the royal capital dispatched by the Grand Duke to supervise financial accounts.

Putting on the act of inspecting the territory, Henwil met the three officials and began examining accounts and territorial reports with feigned seriousness. Everyone thought Henwil was merely putting on a show, but he was actually using these materials to understand the territory's general situation.

Peace Point covered over two thousand square kilometers with approximately forty thousand registered households and about two hundred thousand residents. But this only counted free citizens - in population statistics, serfs weren't considered people. Rough estimates suggested serfs numbered about one and a half times the free population. Including some non-permanent residents, the territory held approximately five hundred fifty thousand people.

These people were scattered across various small towns and villages, with Peace Town as the territorial core housing about fifty thousand people. It already qualified as a small city, except for lacking defensive walls.

Henwil currently carried two thousand gold coins given by Baron Jansen to maintain appearances.

In the following days, Henwil didn't venture out, staying within the manor estate. After learning what he wanted to know, Henwil hosted a banquet. Many local wealthy and influential figures received invitations. The arrival of the baron's youngest young master gave many people the idea to curry favor.Henwil also acted quite amiably, responding appropriately to everyone who came to greet him. Those coming to meet the lord's youngest young master couldn't very well come empty-handed just for free food and drink! Thus Henwil collected another three to four thousand gold coins, not even counting the major gifts.

After the banquet concluded, Henwil took his guards and toured the territory despite objections from the Defense Officer and Knight Mark. For three full months, Henwil traveled almost the entire territory before finally settling back into the manor.

Just when everyone thought Henwil had grown tired of playing around, he unexpectedly produced an extremely detailed map of entire Peace Point several days later, with every location clearly marked. This made others feel this noble young master had some substance.

What they didn't know was that Henwil had also drawn an even more detailed map showing the territory's forests, rivers, and even elevation changes of hills. This was an extremely precise military-grade map.

As for why he did this, Henwil wanted to facilitate his escape should circumstances change. Additionally, Henwil invested two thousand gold coins to establish a trading post at a merchant route intersection. Merchant caravans from three directions could rest here freely, with several dozen soldiers stationed to ensure their safety.

Merchant caravans enjoying these conveniences praised the young master endlessly. Soon several shops sprang up around the trading post, all providing better services for resting caravans.

Administrator Colo and Tax Collector Herbert didn't understand Henwil's approach. They felt wasting money building a trading post dozens of miles from Peace Town held little value. Henwil didn't blame their short-sightedness - Peace Town was indeed large but planned chaotically. It wasn't built for commerce, causing numerous inconveniences for caravans whose goods had to be stored outside town. Transportation wasn't convenient enough for goods distribution.

Henwil planned to newly develop a commercial town meeting caravan needs, providing convenience from entertainment and rest to goods distribution. But this wasn't without drawbacks - not far from the trading post lay bandit-infested areas.

This territory sat at the tri-nation border where commerce brought enormous profits but security posed a major problem. After the war ended, many deserters had turned into bandits, running rampant throughout this region. After all, none of the three nations could send troops across borders for pursuit. Bandits would immediately cross national borders after successful raids, leaving pursuers helpless.

Furthermore, many bandits had participated in the War of Six Kings, possessing some military training. Local conscripts struggled against them, forcing traveling caravans to proceed cautiously and avoid wilderness stays whenever possible.

After the new trading post was established, it quickly attracted attention. As more caravans stopped there, bandits prepared to strike. And Henwil was waiting for this opportunity - the main reason he established the trading post.

That day Henwil went to inspect the trading post, having already noticed many suspicious individuals. Sure enough, in the afternoon, warning horns suddenly sounded. A caravan was under attack, sounding signals both to warn and seek help.

Before anyone could react, Henwil mounted his horse and galloped toward the horn's source. Knight Mark immediately rallied guard members and chased after Henwil out of the trading post.

Several miles away, a caravan with several large wagons was surrounded by forty to fifty bandits. All bandits were mounted, circling the defensively formed wagon circle while intimidating. Bandits howled, applying psychological pressure to force caravan members out of their defensive formation.

From their riding movements and proficiency, these were experienced bandits with some military style. Definitely deserters and routed soldiers!

Just as they fired arrows to suppress the caravan's counterattack, suddenly the lead bandit fell from his horse. Bandits looked down to see their leader's neck pierced through, the arrowhead penetrating his spine and protruding a hand's length from the back of his neck.

Then another shrill whistling sound came through the air as the second-in-command, who had just tried to organize the bandits, also took an arrow through the neck.

Only then did they see a cavalryman holding a great bow charging toward them at full speed. After firing another arrow, Henwil hung the great bow on his saddle. He took up his war lance, leaning forward with the spear blade aimed ahead in assault formation.

While bandits shouted and scrambled to organize counterattacks, Henwil had already reached maximum horse speed. Man and steed crashed into the bandit group like a cannonball, Henwil finely adjusting his war lance to precisely slice across bandits' necks along his path.

The broad spear blade, enhanced by the warhorse's speed, easily sliced halfway through bandits' necks. The young knight pierced through the bandits, leaving a trail of crimson behind as six bandits died with their heads lolling against their chests.