I was a lord farming, how did I become an emperor?

Chapter 189 The Value of the Lizardmen

Vivian relayed the message to Avril.

Avril, who was busy with her work, immediately put down her tasks and began to help Rhodes with his inquiries.

Before Avril could relay the message, Baron Bronn led his troops out of the forest to the northeast.

Raine and Gunle were the first trap set by Rhodes, and Baron Bronn was the second.

Baron Bronn was stationed in the mountains to the northwest, blocking the lizardmen's retreat route.

"Thank you for your cooperation, Baron Bronn."

Upon seeing Baron Bronn, Rhodes nodded and said, "After I've dealt with things here, I will give you a reward."

“I should thank you, Baron Rhodes.”

Baron Bronn's face was full of joy. "Your intelligence was accurate, allowing me to carry out a brilliant ambush!"

"I killed seven lizardmen and captured nine more!"

Bloom leaned against the Baron. "I think I should give you some compensation. You've made me a lot of money this time!"

"Ok?"

Rod looked at Bloom and casually asked, "When you say you're making money, do you mean using those lizardman corpses?"

Bloom nodded.

"Does it have any special value?" Rhodes pressed.

“Every part of them has value.”

Bloom said in a low voice, "Outside the North, alien races are mysterious and terrifying beings. Many nobles like to collect their heads and claws to make specimens."

The lizardmen, a foreign race, were seen by the nobility as symbols of wildness, danger, and mystery.

Noble lords especially favored the act of "turning fear into glory".

Rod had suspected this before, because merchants had acquired deer and bear heads.

Especially the bear head, which must be accompanied by a complete bear skin.

"Lizardmen's skin can be made into gloves and belts, which are very popular!"

Baron Bronn's lips curled into a slight smile as he added mysteriously, "Some ladies and women with a penchant for the unusual also enjoy these leather collars and corsets!"

"In addition, these edges and corners, the scales can be made into necklaces and earrings, and the tails can be made into whips."

“Even their hearts are being bought by some people.”

Baron Bronn squinted as he calculated: "Let's put it this way, if a suitable buyer comes along, a lizardman's corpse would be worth more than twenty gold coins."

"So expensive?"

Rhodes looked at Baron Bronn in surprise.

This lizardman corpse is almost worth the price of two or three elite slave soldiers.

Fortunately, he hadn't thrown away the lizardman corpses he had previously collected; he had only disposed of their internal organs.

Baron Bronn nodded. "Of course, if there are too many, they might not be considered rare items anymore."

"However, these few lizardman corpses shouldn't have a significant impact on the overall price."

With so many nobles in the empire, many people would be willing to collect them if the price is right.

“You seem to know a lot about these things, Baron Bronn.”

Rod asked curiously, "Do you have a stable sales channel?"

"Yes."

Baron Bronn did not hide anything and explained, "After my family's caravans arrived in the Northern Wastes, they opened up a new trade route to the west."

“Baron Rhodes, if you don’t have a way to sell, I can buy it.”

Baron Bronn emphasized, "At the original price, as your neighbor, I won't make money off you in gold coins."

"Thank you for your kindness. If my merchant doesn't accept it, I will consider it."

Rhodes believed in Baron Bronn's sincerity.

But if this lizardman corpse is truly a rare and valuable item, Rhodes thinks both Mansh and the Dawn Society would want it.

After all, they are people who have their own business routes, and selling to them can help them expand their market.

"Have you interrogated the nine prisoners you captured?"

Rhodes asked Baron Bronn, "Is there any important information? What is their objective in this attack?"

“There’s nothing important. They were just following orders to wipe out your knights and advance party,” Baron Bronn said.

"Not to rescue those lizardman prisoners?"

Rhodes still felt there was something special among the prisoners and couldn't help but ask further.

Baron Bronn shook his head. "I questioned him repeatedly, and there is indeed no such thing."

"Is it just simple revenge? It's normal that we humans can't understand the thoughts of these lizardmen."

Would lizardmen do something without any benefit?

Rhodes still had some doubts and didn't rush to conclusions.

He changed the subject with a smile.

"Now that you've finished interrogating your lizardman prisoners, could I borrow them?"

"You're not planning to tax me now that you know the value of the lizardman's corpse, are you?"

Baron Bronn wore a pained expression.

“Oh? Why do you think I would charge you taxes?” Rod asked in return.

“Baron Rhodes, I have found out that the lady with you is Baron Avril.”

Baron Bronn, with an expression that seemed to see through everything, frankly stated, "Judging from your intimate actions, she will be your wife from now on."

"You're right, Razor Plains is indeed under my control now."

Rhodes had long since stopped trying to hide Avril's identity, and those who were interested could certainly find out.

Next, Rhodes will gradually take over Razor Plains and show others that this is not no man's land.

"But don't worry, this battle is mutually beneficial for us. Fighting against the alien race is also for the sake of all the lords of the Northern Wilderness. I won't charge you any taxes."

Rhodes frankly stated, "I just want to kill those lizardmen with my own hands."

"That much hatred?"

Baron Bronn was slightly surprised, but then he realized what was happening.
"Oh, you're helping Baron Avril vent her anger and seek revenge?"

“You can think of it that way,” Rhodes nodded.

"Can,"

Baron Bronn readily agreed, adding with a smile, "But it's a deal: I have to take the body with me."

"Don't worry, I won't take it from you."

Rod reluctantly reassured him again.

Baron Bronn turned and ordered his guards to bring over the nine prisoners.

Without the slightest hesitation, Rhodes drew the dagger from his waist and slit the throats of the lizardmen one by one.

The progress of the entry for "[Pseudo-Dragon Slayer]" has reached 23, with 77 more to go.

"Alright, you can collect the body now."

Rhodes wiped the blood off the dagger and tucked it back into his waistband.

"it is good."

Baron Bronn waved his hand, and the guards quickly carried the body away.

Baron Bronn stared curiously at Rhodes' dagger.
"Your dagger looks very ordinary, but I didn't expect it to be so sharp."

"Yes, I like practical things."

Rhodes smiled and changed the subject, "Could you provide me with a complete record of the information I obtained from interrogating the lizardman today?"

"Of course, I will also share the information I obtained from the interrogation with you."

"No problem, I'll have the guards tidy it up in a bit."

Baron Bronn smiled and said, "I'll take some men to transport the lizardman corpses back first, and I'll send someone to deliver the intelligence to you."

“Okay.” Rhodes nodded.

"If you have time, you are welcome to visit my town."

Baron Bron nodded slightly in greeting.

"I go first."

"Ah."

After returning the greeting, Rhodes watched Baron Bronn leave.

If we had known that the lizardmen's corpses would be so valuable, we should have mobilized all our forces to create a larger net to ambush them.

Despite the risks involved, the rewards are very high.

Rhodes couldn't help but think to himself.

But on second thought, Rhodes felt that now was also a good time. If it weren't for Baron Bronn, he would have realized by now how valuable the lizardmen were.

Besides, there are still many reptilians, and it's impossible for me to completely devour them all in the future.

By offering some concessions, Baron Bronn would be more willing to cooperate and join forces with him to fight the lizardmen in the future.

After all, Razorfen Downs is closer to the Icefield Mountains.

"Your Excellency, I have finished checking my sister's information."

Vivian's voice interrupted Rhodes' thoughts, saying, "She found a short description at the very end that mentions a drawback of the Mirror of True Sight."

"If the user of the Mirror of True Sight has less than 15 points of mental strength, then the user cannot switch the forced monitoring target at will."

Vivian explained, "The only way to retrieve the mental marker is to kill the target being detected."

“What do you mean by mandatory monitoring targets?” Rhodes asked.

"Monitoring targets that do not want to be monitored."

"So, unless Chris is killed, the Mirror of Truth will no longer be able to monitor anyone?"

Rhodes pressed on with the question.

Vivian nodded in response, "We cannot monitor any targets subject to mandatory surveillance; those who willingly submit to surveillance are irrelevant to this."

"I thought Chris was some kind of chosen one who influenced the fate of the lizardman tribe."

Rod made a joke and was in a great mood.

The Mirror of True Sight can detect the target's location, see what the target sees, and predict the target's behavior.

Rhodes had been worried about what would happen if the other party quietly marked other people with their mental imprint.

So it seems there's no need to worry for now.

Just make sure Chris is safe.

"I never imagined that such a powerful magical item would have such a flaw," Vivian exclaimed.

"This is not a defect, it's a barrier to entry."

Rhodes raised his hand and waved it. "Do you think all magical items are as low-level as the ring on my hand?"

"The Mirror of True Sight is something used by formal wizards. The threshold for a formal wizard's mental strength is fifty points or more."

“In that case, fifteen points of mental strength is indeed not a flaw.” Vivian nodded in agreement.

"Only in this era of magical desert would things be like this."

Rhodes sighed, then looked at Chris in the distance.

Rod beckoned to him and called him over.

Chris ran over quickly, bowed,
"My lord, what are your orders?"

Rhodes smiled and instructed, "Now that this is over, you can go back and rest for a while."

Chris paused, his mouth slightly agape.

He wanted to say something, but hesitated for a moment and finally just nodded.

"Yes, Lord Lord."

"Don't worry, I have no complaints about you."

Seeing the slight disappointment on Chris's face, Rhodes smiled and explained, "You did a great job, but I need you to rest for a while."

Chris hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but say, "If you trust me, my lord, I don't need to rest."

Chris understood that Black Pine Ridge had a lot to deal with, and if someone was truly valued, there would be no time to rest.

Moreover, Chris had by this time recovered and was filled with doubt.

Why did Baron Rhodes appear here so quickly?

Why is Baron Braum, whose territory is teeming with monsters, also here?

It all seemed to be planned, an ambush on the lizardmen.

But why weren't these plans told to me?

Where did Gunther and Rain go again?
"Of course I trust you."

Rhodes thought for a moment, "Never mind, they probably realize they've fallen into a trap, so telling you won't hurt."

……

……

"So I was being monitored by a magical artifact, and you used me as bait to make the lizardmen split their forces?"

After hearing Rod's explanation, Chris's eyes widened, and then he suddenly understood.
"No wonder I was ambushed, and the lizardmen found our hideout."

"But, how did I get infected?"

Chris looked puzzled.

"There are many ways to leave a spiritual imprint,"

Rhodes thought for a moment and answered, "You will be cursed if you eat something or kill certain people or animals."

"When the curse takes effect, the mental imprint will fall on you."

“Your hair and your blood can also be used to curse you,” Vivian added.

Chris frowned upon hearing this, his eyes showing a hint of panic.

"In that case, I have no way to resist."

“Spells are not something ordinary people can withstand, let alone the Mirror of True Sight, which is considered a high-level magical item.”

Rhodes comforted him, "So it's not your fault. Even someone else couldn't have resisted it."

"Thank you for your kindness."

Chris bowed respectfully to Rhodes.

After a moment's thought, he continued, "In that case, I really can't stay here any longer. I'll do anything you need me to do."

“I will blindfold you and send you back to the territory of Black Pine Ridge, where you can relax with your wife for a while.”

Rod told Chris about his plan, and then added, "You can also make any requests you have."

“I have no demands. I am now a transparent person under surveillance. It is already a kindness of you to keep me alive.”

Chris said solemnly, "I just hope I can do more for you."

"You've already done a lot."

Rhodes laughed, "Your survival is what makes the Mirror of True Sight ineffective, so they have to kill you."

"Then it seems I'm still quite useful."

Chris smiled and said, "Then I'll go back and do manual labor for a while longer."

"That won't do. I need you to rest well and make the most of your time to practice your breathing techniques."

Rod patted Chris on the shoulder.

"Once things have calmed down, I will reward you with a longsword that I forged myself."

"Thank you for your generosity!"

Chris's eyes lit up, and his face immediately filled with joy.

"Please rest assured, I will definitely live well!"

……

……

"Ignorant! Fool!"

In a hidden cave in the Icefield Mountains.

A lizardman holding a bone staff stared at the image in the mirror and cursed loudly.

This lizardman looked much thinner than ordinary lizardmen, yet he exuded an eerie aura of power.

His scales were dark purple and covered with mottled patterns, as if ancient runes were etched onto his skin.

Its head is long and narrow, with a purple crystal the size of a pigeon egg embedded in its forehead. Mist seems to flow within the crystal, faintly revealing magical fluctuations.

His eyes were even more bizarre; one was a vertical pupil typical of lizardmen, while the other was an icy blue with no eyeball.

The mirror he was looking at was now completely covered by a black cloth, so there was no image in it.

A high-level magical item was rendered completely ineffective because of a piece of black cloth.

"A bunch of filthy cowards who couldn't even kill a cowardly human and fell into a trap!"

The gaunt lizardman's voice was chilling as he roared towards the outside of the cave.
"Somebody come!"

A burly lizardman rushed in, knelt on the ground, head bowed, his face extremely respectful.

"Great Shaman, please give your orders."

"Notify all our people, mixed-race individuals, and those alien races who have submitted to us."

The gaunt lizardman slammed his bone staff into the ground, his voice hoarse and sinister.
"Just kill that Chris, and I'll give you anything you want!"

(End of this chapter)