Jansen points to a map on the wall, "This is the situation around my territory. Do you see that gray area? That's also a region I'm temporarily managing. Do you notice anything unusual?"

  Henwell remains silent, though he's well aware of the issue—he figured it out days ago.

  As a barony, Jansen's territory is unusually rge. Typically, a baron's nd in the duchy is under fifty square kilometers, but Jansen's spans over three hundred, almost rivaling a viscount's domain.

  More striking is the gray area, the region Jansen manages temporarily, which is several times rger than his current territory. Essentially, Jansen, though a baron, oversees nd nearly equivalent to an earl's.

  How many earls are there in the duchy, anyway?

  Seeing Henwell's silence, Baron Jansen continues,"Originally, my nd was on the duchy's border—a remote, barren pce. But after the War of the Six Kings, the duchy gained new territories, one of which bordered my nd. To facilitate management, the duchy temporarily pced it under my care."

  "With the war over, production resumed, people returned, nds were cultivated, and trade routes opened. This territory, at the intersection of the Ika Kingdom, Vorry Duchy, and Ogiro Kingdom, has become prosperous, generating significant tax revenue for the duchy. It's now the most affluent region in the southwest."

  Jansen pauses before continuing, "Now, many within the duchy are dissatisfied with me and want to carve up this lucrative area. The Grand Duke insists that this region can't be parceled out, but it's far from the duchy's core."

  "The Grand Duke wants to entrust this area to me permanently and elevate my rank from baron to viscount. After discussions between the Grand Duke and the nobles, they've reached a consensus that I must complete the Path of Honor."

  Henwell understands what the Path of Honor entails.

  Essentially, it involves visiting every noble in the country, showcasing your capability to ascend in rank. This usually occurs when the king issues a decree, but the nobles oppose, leading to a compromise. In essence, it's a test.

  The Path of Honor must be undertaken alone, without any guards. The nobles visited will present challenges, though none too difficult. The real danger lies in the journey itself. While nobles won't openly act against you, if you perish along the way, it signifies that you ck the fortune befitting nobility—it's as if the god of fate hasn't favored you.

  Anything can happen during the journey: assassination attempts, bandits, harsh environments... It's a long and perilous path, and any part of it could become your grave.

  After Henwell acknowledges his understanding of the Path of Honor, Jansen continues, "The nobles won't agree to me walking the Path of Honor; they demand my child do it instead. They want proof that my heir can uphold noble honor and manage this crucial territory."

  "My eldest son, Orak, is serving in the army and can't undertake the journey. My second son, Kaku, isn't skilled in combat, so he's not suitable either. Moreover, they're both adults now, and the Path of Honor is typically part of a coming-of-age ceremony. Thus, the responsibility falls on my youngest son."

  Henwell nods, "I understand. I'll prepare for everything. When do I depart?"

  Jansen shakes his head, "No need to rush. I've pced my youngest son in a safe location. He's fourteen now, with less than two years until he's ready."

  "After his fifteenth birthday next August, we'll start preparing. He'll set out the spring after next, spending half a year traveling through the southern duchy, then heading to the capital for the Grand Duke's ennoblement, bringing back the decree for my promotion to viscount."

  What a coincidence! Arius is the same age as Henwell, even born in the same month!

  Jansen turns to Henwell, "The most dangerous period isn't just during the Path of Honor. After the New Year, you'll go to the territory I manage, representing me there. You won't actually need to do anything."

  "From the start of next year until the year's end, you'll face many assassination attempts. I need you to endure. Once it's all over, I'll grant you a knight's title and nd—if you're still alive by then."

  Henwell remains calm, asking, "Will I face assassination by professionals?"

  "No, the Grand Duke has repeatedly confirmed that no professionals can be involved in this matter."

  Well, then, what the hell do I have to fear?

  After understanding the situation, Henwell returns to his room, pondering over the details. He isn't naive. Baron Jansen's expnation can't be the whole truth, at least not solely due to territorial issues.

  Sure, the territory is prosperous and valuable—no doubt about that. However, as far as Henwell knows, Jansen's annual income from his nds is only about twenty thousand gold coins, excluding various expenses. The revenues from the managed territory are handed over to the duchy.

  In recent years, to restore productivity, the duchy hasn't collected taxes from there, instead investing everything into developing the nd. Yet, Jansen spent a whopping forty thousand gold coins on hiring a stand-in.

  Though there are slight differences between the gold coins of the two nations, they're not significant.

  The purchasing power of Vorry Duchy's gold coins is roughly three-quarters of that in the Billie Kingdom. The exchange rate between the gold and silver coins of the two countries is about 1:60, with minor fluctuations depending on the currency's purity.

  Apart from the suspicious finances, there's also the matter of Jansen's unusually strong guards.

  Henwell has identified fifteen professionals around Jansen, not counting the twenty-two knights openly under his command. There are likely more hidden professionals that Henwell hasn't detected yet, but he's certain Jansen's forces aren't limited to those he's already noticed.

  Hiring a professional costs nearly a thousand gold coins annually. Such a formidable covert security force is clearly beyond what a baron should possess.

  However, Henwell doesn't dwell on these details. His main goal is to survive this ordeal. Whether he takes the money and leaves or stays to become a noble can be decided ter.

  A few days pass, and Lady Grace, the baron's wife, assigns Henwell a personal maid to attend to his daily needs.

  This sixteen-year-old girl, named Wendy, comes from a family of freemen. Her father is a craftsman, and she has two younger brothers. To help support her family, she works at the baron's estate. Lady Grace, impressed by Wendy's honesty, chooses her to serve Henwell.

  In addition, all the people around Henwell are repced with newcomers. This is part of an effort to conceal Henwell's identity, ensuring his disguise is as perfect as possible.

  And so, in his fourteenth year in this world, Henwell finally enjoys a comfortable year.