You were made to farm, and now you're the emperor of an empire?

Chapter 197 I'll Give You Everything

early morning.

When Roman woke up, he felt a splitting headache and his whole body ached.

Hearing the commotion, someone immediately came over to help him sit up and brought him a glass of honey milk to help him sober up.

"Nier, it's you?"

"It's noon now, and the celebration is still going on. I've sent the maids to the celebration area."

Niliel brought over a basin of clean water.

Roman splashed cool water on his face, and his spirits immediately improved, and his headache was relieved.

I drank myself into oblivion last night.

"What happened? I feel pain all over my body."

Neel smiled politely, "It's better if you don't know."

Roman tilted his head and looked at her for a moment, then chose to follow her advice.

Since we're all on the same side, let's just let ourselves go.

Why didn't you go?

“You need to be taken care of, and I have a lot of things to do.”

"Oh, is that so? So many children have come again, causing you a lot of trouble, haven't they?"

"fine……"

"Tell me if you have any difficulties."

Neliel stared at him intently, her eyes like a deep ocean, vast and beautiful.

"Then I'll say it."

"Okay! Just say the word, I'll take care of anything I can." After washing up, Roman used a linen cloth to wipe his face and neck.

She said, "Can you give me my freedom?"

Roman stopped moving, his brow furrowing. "What do you need this for?"

She lowered her eyelids and did not look directly at Roman.

She said, “Someone needs me, sir, I mean someone needs me…”

“But I need you too. You have to help me manage the school, Neel. You know, there are no more than five people in this land who are qualified for this job.”

"This is different."

“It’s no different. You want to go back to Seaburg? To save the people of Seaburg? But I have to tell you, in my eyes, everyone on this land is no different from the people of Seaburg. They all need to be saved—but saving isn’t the end. Saving isn’t just about stomping the bugs. This is just the beginning. There are many more problems ahead. I have no clue where to start right now, but I have to show those people what the future looks like. That’s what you’re doing. And now you’re telling me you don’t want to do it anymore?”

"I didn't... I just... felt tormented..."

Pain welled up in her eyes.

Roman stared at Neliel. If any slave or farmer dared to speak like that in front of him, he would punch them twice. What kind of person dares to bargain?
But Neliel was different.

Well, he considered Neliel a human being, just like Jet and Jimmy, and his most trusted apostle.

He couldn't resort to physical violence, nor could he criticize them; otherwise, violence would only provide temporary relief.

He has to respect their opinions.

Of course, I respect that, but if it's not allowed, it's not allowed.

"I understand what you mean. You're uneasy. How can I put your mind at ease?"

"……I have no idea."

Roman sighed softly, "I can set you free. But you have to admit, I can't get all the people of Seaburg to follow you."

"I bought you all at a high price. Just you alone cost me more than a dozen gold coins. Of course, I don't care about that money."

“But if I let you go back, you can’t do anything—you know that, you can’t fool me, especially someone as smart as you.”

“My Neliel, I don’t mean to blame you. I think it’s good that you tell me your thoughts instead of keeping them to yourself. This shows that you trust me.”

"So tell me, say what you think."

“…I need an army.” She suddenly raised her head, her blue eyes unusually deep.

"My lord, I need your troops! I need your support!"

Borrowing troops was a common practice among nobles. A lord, during a period of decline, might stay in another noble's castle, then borrow troops to fight his way back and seize power.
Many powerful rulers initially rose to power by borrowing troops.

Because starting from scratch is too difficult.

Roman's army last year was supported by the salt mines, and it only numbered six hundred men.

Seaburg was originally a territory with very strong overall strength.

However, after losing the lord of the sea fortress and after years of plundering, their forces had long been scattered and lacked a leader, so even if they could regroup, they couldn't.

They will either be sold off or suffer heavy losses.

Now, Haibao has become a field of leeks that are harvested regularly.

There's no way around it; this is the fate of unclaimed territories these days.

Unless Neliel can single-handedly break through the enemy lines, there is absolutely no way she can protect the Sea Fortress.

Roman bit his finger, his brow furrowed.

He could keep Neliel under his control, he could control her future, but that's not what he wanted.

Just think of it as casting a wide net.

The entire Haibao had a population of forty to fifty thousand. With a lean camel and a wrecked ship, it should now have at least twenty to thirty thousand people.

Although they were initially a disorganized group, once they stabilized, they proved to be incredibly useful.

He needs to broaden his horizons.

Roman realized that Seg could not complete all the development projects.

Although he has prestige and ability.

However, the resources he possesses do not allow him to develop in all aspects.

Because the foundation was too weak.

The people he had just plundered didn't even have a single brick house; he had to start all over again.

At this point, a two-pronged approach is needed: to find new resources to advance his plan.

For example, in the shipbuilding industry, Roman simply couldn't build a decent shipyard; the required manpower and resources were too complex.

We also need corresponding skilled workers and craftsmen, and we have to build a complete manufacturing system from scratch.

However, Haibao is a good fit, as it doesn't require too much of his manpower and energy, and he can reap the rewards by developing on his own.

After a moment, he said to Neliel, "You first train a group of students who can read, and by next year, I will give you at least an infantry battalion!"

"Really?" she asked, somewhat incredulous.

She had witnessed the discipline of Roman's army and learned the details of those battles.

An infantry battalion has only 300 men.

However, their superior equipment and training, especially their super-long spear formations, made them as powerful as 600 or 900 men of that era. Even conscripts numbering over a thousand would not be qualified to challenge them head-on.

No army could stand against them head-on unless they were conquering knights.

However, Sea Fort still had some remaining troops that could be organized.

These military forces are definitely capable of rising to prominence!

“But Heyburg must pledge allegiance to me.”

“I will! Seaburg will always submit to you!” Neel exclaimed excitedly.

"Once the situation in Seaburg stabilizes, you can stay in Seaburg, but you must give me five people whose talents are comparable to yours."

"Okay! I will!"

Overwhelmed with gratitude, she stepped forward, wrapped her arms around his neck, and, standing on tiptoe, eagerly pressed her lips to his.

Roman embraced her slender waist, which was as slender as a water snake.

He just woke up from a hangover and isn't really interested right now.

After the passionate kiss ended, she pressed herself against him, her body supple and flexible, her red lips slightly panting, her deep blue eyes like rippling waves.

As if to prove it, she kept saying, "My lord, I will always be loyal to you. I swear, I will obey you. I am willing to give you everything in the sea fortress, everything I have, no matter when or where..."

(End of this chapter)