System: Build My Own Territory Chapter 958 - 286: Attack on Morgan Town (10,000 Words)

The gazes of the manor lords all converged on Viscount Jon.

Lord Zok, who had been the first to stand and voice his approval of Viscount Jon's summons, was among them.

Devant’s statement carried a sharp edge, yet it struck a chord with everyone present.

They were, after all, the lowest-ranking manor lords within the nobility.

Through generations of effort and stability, they had amassed a degree of armed forces.

However, this force paled in comparison to that of true lords, rendering it insignificant.

Furthermore, Kakasong City's location on the frontier of the Karedi Empire meant a lack of profitable industries.

To sustain the needs of everyone within their manors, their primary focus was on land acquisition, managing peasants, and agricultural production.

Even with these efforts, their labor force remained insufficient.

Being in a peripheral area, they had the liberty to clear overgrown wastelands, thereby expanding their territories.

The unbridled desire for territorial expansion burned within every manor lord and lord!

This expansion required no warfare and no financial outlay.

Consequently, more land directly translated to a greater need for labor, creating a detrimental cycle.

Even their hundreds of soldiers were dedicated to planting and cultivation.

If they were to deploy these soldiers now, joining Viscount Jon in battle and potentially delaying the crucial summer plowing, the consequences, as Devant pointed out, would be unbearable.

Sensing the palpable shift in the meeting room's atmosphere, Jon’s expression grew cold. He fixed his gaze directly on Devant, bordering on a challenge as he asked,

"Lord Devant, do you comprehend the gravity of your current actions?"

Upon hearing this, Devant promptly rose from his seat, his body bending low in a gesture of respect.

"Forgive me, Viscount. Devant merely seeks understanding," he replied.

"If my words have caused offense, I humbly beg your pardon, Viscount."

Jon’s brow furrowed instantly.

At that precise moment, a voice tinged with doubt cut through the tension in the room.

"To be candid, I too am curious about the underlying reason..."

The instant this voice emerged, it was as if a spark had landed on dry tinder.

A chorus of voices quickly followed, echoing with similar sentiments.

"Indeed, even with the vast farmlands of Morgan Town, its remoteness makes cultivation an arduous task..."

"I've always known that area to be rife with unclaimed, overgrown wastelands!"

"But there are ample overgrown wastelands adjacent to my own manor's territory... Why venture so far?"

"If that lord wishes to claim Morgan Town, so be it. What concern is it of ours?"

"Agreed! As long as he doesn't infringe upon my manor, his affairs are none of my business!"

"Should another bandit group emerge, they would simply provide another force to resist them..."

Bang!

A thunderous slam echoed through the meeting room, cutting off several manor lords mid-sentence.

The sudden, forceful sound startled two of the lords, causing them to jump.

Their attention immediately shifted back to Viscount Jon.

Meeting Jon’s icy, indifferent gaze, they quickly averted their eyes, silenced by his commanding presence.

Jon spoke, his words precise and unwavering: "As my supporters, Viscount Jon Zack's loyalists, you receive considerable advantages from Kakasong City."

"My directives are to be treated as your highest commands!"

"And furthermore!"

"Perhaps it has been too long since our last assembly, and you have all grown forgetful..."

"This is not a forum for discussion!"

"This is an issuance of orders!"

A subtle grimace flickered across the faces of the manor lords, none daring to utter a word.

Devant, positioned at the far end of the round table, opened his mouth slightly.

Just as he was about to speak again, the manor lord seated beside him discreetly tugged at his silk robe.

A flicker of understanding crossed Devant's face, and he ultimately chose to remain silent, reseating himself.

Jon surveyed the room, his voice continuing,

"Should you find yourselves unwilling to execute these orders, an alternative path exists."

"That path is to... formally withdraw your support from Viscount Jon Zack!"

"As manor lords appointed by Marquis Ducas, you indeed possess such a right."

"Naturally, I, as a Viscount also appointed by Marquis Ducas, retain the prerogative to classify such a withdrawal as treason!"

A wave of apprehension washed over the manor lords.

Yet, a sense of relief also settled within them.

After all, they had unequivocally pledged their allegiance and agreed to Viscount Jon's summons just moments prior.

Jon's gaze drifted towards the far end of the table, specifically at Devant.

"If Lord Devant is unwilling, you are free to depart from my support team this very moment!"

Devant's brow furrowed, his eyes betraying a deep hesitation.

The manor lord seated next to him sat straighter, his posture rigid with tension.

Viscount Jon Zack's words bore down on the assembled manor lords, a palpable pressure emanating from his declaration.

Observing Devant's continued silence, Jon subtly shifted his approach.

He adjusted his stance and declared, "Should Manor Lord Devante refuse to yield..."

"Then I shall elaborate on the reasons necessitating this war against that particular lord!"

Every manor lord present instantly straightened, their gazes locking onto Jon Zack, who remained positioned at the head of the table.

Sensing their collective attention, Jon drew a slow breath before proceeding.

"Last month, Simo enacted a private decree, officially transferring the entirety of Morgan Town's territory to a lord designated as Lynn."