Chapter 81: Shock

When the merchant Cario arrived at the Idar Territory once again, everything before him felt utterly unfamiliar.

Unlike the muddy roads of Thorn Valley, the path beyond was clearly much easier to traverse. It was evident that a new road had just been laid.

The brand-new road was incredibly solid. Though Cario had no idea what materials were used to construct it, what shocked him the most was how smooth the ride was—there wasn't the slightest bump as his carriage rolled over it.

Even in the regions near the imperial capital of the Norman Empire, there likely weren't roads as smooth as this!

It seemed…

Just as he had suspected before, the Stuart family, which had been lying low in the eastern part of the empire, was indeed a powerful local force with vast influence.

Otherwise, how could they possibly have built such a road?

Otherwise, how could they possibly have built such a road?

At this thought, a glimmer of hope reignited in Cario's otherwise dejected heart…

Originally, Cario had planned to complete one final trade deal before using his lifelong savings to purchase the lowest rank of nobility with land from a noble member of the Regency Council.

The Norman Empire did not strictly regulate lower ranks of nobility, so as long as one had the right connections and offered an appropriate price, the noble lords residing in the imperial capital of St. Lawrence might be willing to sell a vacant territory.

These lands often became vacant due to various reasons, with the most common being that the previous noble owner had died without an heir. Such noble estates were considered prime opportunities, often attracting competition from wealthy merchants.

Another type of land sale involved bold noble councilors who, taking advantage of administrative ambiguities in certain regions, secretly carved out territories from the imperial crown's directly governed provinces.

These lands and titles were sold at lower prices and often went unnoticed, but if discovered, they could cost a person their life!

After decades of effort, Cario had finally connected with a noble from the Regency Council. He handed over nearly all his savings to the noble in exchange for the long coveted title.

Unfortunately, just as he was about to take the final step toward rising in social status, news arrived that the noble had been executed by hanging for illegally dividing royal lands.

When he received the news, Cario nearly fainted on the spot.

But, in an unfortunate turn of events, he at least had one stroke of luck though he had handed over his life savings to the ill-fated noble, he himself had not yet been implicated…

However, staying in St. Lawrence was out of the question. There was no telling when he might get caught up in the mess.

So…

Just when he had lost all hope, the thought of that Earl in the eastern part of the empire suddenly surfaced in his mind.

Sugar, sea salt…

Perhaps…

He could start anew in the distant Idar Territory?

With this idea in mind, and with only a single servant and a carriage to his name, Cario set out for the Idar Territory.

Through the curtains of his carriage window, Cario gazed out at the vast lands of Idar.

In the fields south of Idar City, countless commoners and former serfs were diligently tending to the land.

Unlike the suffocating, oppressive atmosphere of the empire's inland regions, every corner of the Idar Territory seemed to be brimming with vibrant energy.

Commoners guided their oxen as they plowed the fields. Behind the oxen, there was a peculiar-looking tool attached something that appeared to be unique to the Idar Territory.

Alongside the road, some former serfs who had just finished work were walking, their faces showing no signs of misery or oppression. Instead, they carried an air of accomplishment—like farmers who had just completed a day's work on their land.

This sight deeply shocked Cario.

And when his carriage passed through the southern gates of Idar City, his astonishment only grew stronger.

On the southern road leading away from the city, there were now sporadic carriages appearing one after another. Although the number was still relatively small, this was already a drastic change.

After all, when Cario last visited the Idar Territory, apart from his own caravan, not a single foreign carriage or merchant convoy could be found in the entire land!

After paying six copper coins to acquire a temporary pass for himself and his servant, Cario finally entered Idar City.

Holding the small white piece of paper stamped with the seal of the Idar Immigration Bureau, Cario felt as though the city before him was shrouded in an air of mystery.

The changes within Idar City were nothing short of a complete transformation compared to his last visit. Even the streets immediately after entering the city had been expanded to more than double their previous width, now capable of accommodating multiple carriages side by side.

If Cario hadn't already known that this was the eastern Idar Territory, he might have believed he had stepped into a major city in the empire's heartland.

However, unlike those large cities, Idar City did not have the same filth and chaos.

Even during Cario's last visit, he had been struck by the fresh and clean air within Idar City.

Beyond that, the old and dilapidated houses that once lined the streets had been torn down, replaced with neatly arranged buildings in the Norman architectural style. Many of the shops were already open, with people frequently entering and exiting.

Among them, the most bustling establishment near the city gates was a newly opened tavern.

Driven by curiosity, Cario instructed his servant to watch the carriage while he entered the tavern.

Unlike the rowdy and chaotic taverns of other cities, this one had a much better atmosphere. Though rough-looking mercenaries came and went, most of the customers were seated in private booths, giving the place an air of order.

However…

The selection of alcohol in this tavern was surprisingly limited.

Not only was there no wine favored by noble lords, but even the common barley beer that mercenaries typically drank was absent.

Instead, only two types of alcohol were available one called whiskey, the other vodka.

Both were significantly more expensive than ordinary alcoholic beverages.

Seeing these unfamiliar names, Cario's curiosity deepened.

"One glass of vodka," he ordered.

He was eager to see what made Idar's liquor different from the rest.