Moldavia, which had experienced two turmoils and changes of ownership, was back on track, and the main city ushered in a rare peaceful night.
The lights in the business district are still bright, and even though it has gone into the night, there are still a lot of people. The blacksmith shop, grocery store, drug store and material purchasing center are doing a brisk business. Most of the adventurers, scattered mercenaries or tourists are sitting in the bar, toasting and drinking. In livelier places, some people have even begun to use the power of alcohol to compete with each other in a show of strength amid the crowd's booing.
Riding a war horse, Joshua slowly advanced towards Beppu in the darkness, observing his territory.
The total population of Moldavia is nearly one million, and the population of the entire Northland is nearly five million, which is almost one-twentieth of the total population of the empire. It sounds like a lot, but it is actually very small.
Although it clearly occupies a quarter of the northern territory, the four territories combined are not as densely populated as several large cities in the south. It seems that this is generally the case in any world, and cold spots are always vast and sparsely populated.
Of course, Joshua also knew that the one million citizens in his name were actually somewhat unworthy of the name. The population density of the Northland was smaller than everyone thought.
In such a vast land, he can directly govern only 420,000 humans, and the total number of dwarves, gnomes and goblins living in the lava area is almost 400,000. There are halfling craftsmen, wandering adventurers and mercenaries scattered all over the place. There are 70,000 to 80,000 floating population, plus some minorities such as elves and barbarians, and the total number is indeed close to one million. However, most of them pay taxes to him in name at most, and some simply live there. Underground, not a single figure could be seen on the ground.
Of the ninety-seven knighthoods granted by the empire to Moldavia, only those in their early twenties who can actually have their own land of ten thousand people are less than 20 years old. Most of the others are officers and are stationed in various fortresses and small towns. Looking forward to it One day he will be able to make military exploits and receive a formal title.
Mixing of multiple races is a big problem, but strictly speaking it is not very important. Unlike the Eastern Human Federation, which values purity, neither the Northern Empire nor the Far Southern Alliance care about mixing. In the Far South, humans and elves often Intermarriage, the number of half-elves once accounted for one-fifth of the total population, and in the empire, humans and dwarves lived in harmony without any discrimination or prejudice. Hundreds of years of living together made everyone feel that this was a matter of course. No one would think there was anything wrong with having an elf or dwarf neighbor in their house. At most, they would scold the goblin merchants in the shop.
Of course, there must be a reason for several different races to live together in such harmony, and in the Continent of Strife, this reason is the Black Forest.
[Black Forest Tide]
The mountains trembled, and all kinds of beasts rushed out from the boundless forest, like the raging waves of the Black Sea.
People who have never seen this scene cannot imagine the despair. If it weren't for this horrific disaster, how could the integration of races be so simple? The fertile land and active magic power allow all races to fight for the continuation of their lives when they don't have to worry about food. In the wars for thousands of years, the blood of all races melts into the sand and the bodies scatter into the wasteland. This is the Continent of Disputes. The origin of its name.
In the west of the city, Joshua on the war horse was slightly shaken. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the location of his residence.
"Silver, high-level, man, not young..."
He said to himself, in Joshua's field of vision that had overcome all obstacles, there was an undisguised, generous and high-level silver warrior standing near Beppu, with blue-gold fluorescence all over his body, and next to him Not far away is his own magic machine.
"This breath feels like a familiar one, like déjà vu."
Driving the war horse, Joshua is no longer patrolling his territory. This city belongs to him. There is no need to worry if he wants to see it. He can see it for as long as he wants in the future until he gets tired of it.
Not long after, he rode up to the side of the high-level silver warrior.
"Munster?"
Seeing the familiar large black trench coat with red edges and the golden scale badge on the chest, Joshua knew that this was a prosecutor of the Imperial Court of Nobles. And looking at that face, it was the same person who was judged a month ago. 'His acquaintance.
"Long time no see, the new lord, the young Earl."
Bowing slightly, the middle-aged prosecutor named Munster sighed: "I have been waiting since the sun set in the afternoon."
"I didn't make an appointment in advance, and I didn't send a letter. How do I know you will come back?"
After dismounting, Joshua touched the horse's neck. Looking at the indifferent prosecutor, he couldn't help but feel a headache: "Do you have any bad news to tell me now that you're here?"
"Sadly, yes, but this is not a good place to talk about it."
Munster turned his head to look at the silver-haired girl who was trotting over to Beppu. He shook his head and said, "Then again, this little subordinate of yours is loyal and does his duty. He won't even let me get close to the yard."
"Owner!"
Running to Joshua's side, Yingying looked at the two of them with some confusion: "Do you know him?"
"Ah, I do know him. He is an acquaintance."
Patting the little girl on the head, Joshua praised with a smile: "Well done, it deserves encouragement. How are you today?"
"It's very good. I've learned about most of the things at home, and I've also learned how to cook."
"Oh? This is really good. I learn so fast."
Munster looked at the two guys who were chatting naturally, and couldn't help but remind him: "Ahem... do you want to stand outside and talk?"
"makes sense."
Joshua looked around, then nodded. He patted Yingying on the shoulder and signaled: "Yingying, please take Hei to the stable first, and I will take this guest to talk about something."
"Hei is so strong and powerful. It would be great to call him Hei King. Why do we have to call him Hei..."
"If it's a dragon, let alone the Black King, it doesn't matter if I call it Nidhogg or Neltharion, but it's just a horse. Okay, don't say any more, just go."
Hotaru leads the submissive Black towards the stables, while Joshua leads Munster towards the gate.
"She called you Master?"
"Yes, Hotaru is my head maid."
The prosecutor of the noble court shook his head expressionlessly and said: "The abuse of child labor is illegal... I didn't expect you to have such a hobby."
Joshua opened the door and frowned: "She is the same age as me, how come she is a child laborer?"
Hotaru's core was made from his right wrist bone when he was born. If you have to be serious, the two are indeed the same age.
"You can't tell at all."
Munster seemed to still be thinking: "Is it an elf hybrid? Does it grow slower than ordinary people? Or does it have elf blood?"
During the conversation, the two of them had already entered the mansion and arrived at the reception room.
"Okay, please sit down."
He stretched out his hand to signal, and Joshua simply sat down on the seat. He looked slightly solemn and said, "I can't wait to have you wait outside the door for a long time and still insist on telling me the bad news. want to know."
"Although this matter is important, it is not urgent..."
Munster came up and looked at the black-haired and red-eyed warrior in front of him, and sighed: "Although I have heard rumors and felt this way outside before, I really didn't expect that you actually advanced to gold. In one month, , to go from high-level silver level to this point... It’s really incredible.”
Isn't it level three? As for being so surprised.
"Unexpectedly, after running on the road for seventeen days, I don't know why I suddenly became stronger."
Joshua said perfunctorily without sincerity, looking into the examiner's eyes, as if he wanted to see something: "Don't tell me that you came to the Northland from the northwest orc plains just to marvel at my advancement to gold. "
"Of course not."
Shaking his head, Munster stopped talking, as if he didn't know where to start. After a moment, he simply talked about another topic: "My lord, I wonder if you know that the Ural Fortress has banned more than ten people. Is the team allowed to pass?”
"Not long ago, the guys from the Chamber of Commerce told me."
"Then you should also know that there is a riot in the middle of the empire."
The prosecutor continued to ask questions.
"Indeed." Joshua tapped the armrest of the seat with his fingers, frowned, and said simply: "No need to beat around the bush, Munster, just say what you want to say, you and I were both born in the military. Why should you be so cautious?"
After a moment of silence, the noble court prosecutor and the spokesperson of the emperor's will sighed, with a solemn look on his face: "The wind of black eclipse is rising from the south, and the unknown plague is spreading deep in the black forests everywhere... It has crossed the Urals. The mountains have arrived in the Northland, which means that this year’s black tide will be earlier than before, more ferocious and unstoppable.”
"The Imperial Capital has judged that the severity of this black tide will increase by three levels, and it is very likely that there will even be multiple gold-level monsters."
Having said this, Munster's face became more serious than ever before. He put his hand into his arms and took out a small box: "Earl, you encountered such an accident just after taking over. You are indeed unlucky. Although you have advanced to... Gold, but there is still a long way to go compared to your father... And here is the care from the imperial capital."
When he said the last sentence, Munster's tone was filled with the highest level of respect. Judging from his expression, although the prosecutor did not know why the Imperial City treated the person in front of him so specially, he did not hesitate: "Take this Yes, this is given to you by His Majesty."
As he spoke, he handed the box, which was carved from mahogany and covered with dense runes, in front of Joshua.