Chapter 25: Conversation before departure

"By the way, I still have a doubt." Ethan opened the door and before leaving, he suddenly turned around and asked: "I remember you said before that you must get to the territory before winter.

I've always wondered, since it's winter, and the territory doesn't rely on boats and has no use, what's the point of spending the winter there?

There's no way it's just to torture me!

It’s even more impossible for me to lead people to build a territory in the dead of winter! "

Sofia smiled, stretched out her hand to signal Ethan to sit back, and said at the same time: "You finally asked about the specific situation of the territory, and I was worried about your overconfidence.

Because you only care about the functions, effects, and your own interests of the territory. But I never knew what the situation was like on the ground there. "

Ethan was a little embarrassed, as if it was true, so he closed the door gently and walked back to sit next to Sophia.

"You're right. Those big-picture views are useless to me. But I'm so ambitious that I haven't even inquired about the actual situation in the territory. In fact, those are the things I should be most concerned about."

"I'm glad to hear that you are back to reality." Sofia smiled and said: "Actually, I have already considered this. I originally wanted to wait for you to get on the ship and let the family explain it to you during the voyage.

But since you asked and now you have time, I will explain it to you personally.

After all, I am in charge there, and no one knows the situation there better than me. "

For some reason, Ethan felt very ashamed when he heard this.

I have always been concerned about this and that, but I have never cared about the situation in the territory. I only know a rough idea and then fill it in based on my imagination.

On the other hand, although the woman in front of you is cold-blooded and ruthless, you have to admit that when she does things, both the overall situation and the details are impeccable.

Thinking of this, Ethan coughed: "Please tell me!"

Sofia was not in a hurry to reply, but stretched out her hand, and a map flew over on the table.

She slowly unfolded the map, pointed to a small point on the coastline below the Dark Moon Wasteland, and said:

“The specific location of the territory is here, starting from the coastline and going inland, it is in the shape of a sharp triangle with an area of ​​11 square kilometers.

Of course, this is only the legal area.

In fact, because there are no human settlements there, the surrounding land and resources are all ours.

For example, the vast tracts of primeval forest at the foot of the Anki Mountains, or the minerals that may be hidden in the Anki Mountains.

The reason why we only chose 11 square kilometers of land is because this is the minimum territorial area stipulated by law and can minimize lord taxes. "

Having said this, Sofia paused for a while and asked: "What do you want to drink?"

Ethan knew that Sophia was thirsty, so he said: "Whatever."

Sophia nodded, but without seeing any movement from her, the maid guarding the door gently opened the door and came in with a pot of tea.

Then he placed the tea on the small table in front of the two of them, and at the same time poured a cup of hot tea for each of them.

Ethan was surprised when he saw the dark tea, its fragrance, and the sugar cubes placed aside.

"coffee?"

When Sophia heard this, she was also a little surprised: "You actually know me? Except for me, almost no one here wants to drink this kind of black tea. And because it is a new thing, almost no one knows about this kind of tea. You How did we meet?"

"Uh!" Ethan didn't know how to answer, so he could only say casually: "Almost none, it's not none, right!"

As he spoke, he picked up a piece of sugar cube and placed it on the rim of Sophia's cup. He stared at Sophia and asked with his eyes how many pieces he wanted.

"Thank you!" Sofia waved her hand gently and reached for the cup at the same time: "I don't need to add sugar. I like the bitter taste of this coffee. It can make me more energetic when thinking about things."

"You really impress me!" Ethan admired him sincerely: "If this thing didn't have sugar added, I wouldn't even look at it."

"Haha!" Sophia took a sip of tea gracefully and said, "I'll let the digression go, let's get down to business.

As you can see on the map, our territory borders directly on Orc territory, but that's not actually the case.

Our territory is still separated from the legal border by about twenty or thirty kilometers.

The reason for leaving a long and narrow gap is because the law stipulates that territories directly bordering other countries must prepare their own armed forces of no less than fifteen knights.

In addition to defending the country, during wartime, they must also accept the dispatch of the nearby border prince at any time.

We are just going there to do business and there is no way we should pay such a high price for it. "

Ethan smiled after hearing this: "Sofia, are you punishing me on purpose? You used to be very direct in your speech, but now you imitate me and start to speak in roundabout ways.

Just say it directly, wouldn't it be nice if we didn't have our weapons there? It's not like I can't accept it.

I just wanted to know what I had going there. "

"Haha!" Sophia covered her mouth and smiled: "After communicating with you, I found that your way of detouring is quite good. You don't express difficulties too directly, and it is easy for others to accept.

Of course, if you don't like it, I can change it back.

For example, I will tell you that you go to the territory and there is nothing there. "

"Nothing?" Ethan's eyes widened: "What does this mean?"

"Literally!" Sophia smiled bitterly: "You might think that we have been developing territory there for a few years, so we should at least have some infrastructure.

But the fact is that due to the many previous attacks, except for one road leading to the border fortress that was indestructible, everything else was burned to the ground.

If it weren't for the fact that there is a natural harbor, one meter ahead of the beach is the deep water area, and we can build a trestle to unload cargo at will.

Otherwise, even I have to give up that place of right and wrong. "

Ethan was struck by a bolt from the blue and said with a look of disbelief: "Does this mean that I will spend this cold winter in the wilderness?

Not only were they short of food and clothing, they didn't even have a place to store their winter supplies, so they just threw them in the wild.

Moreover, I not only have to face the threat of orcs coming over the mountains, but I also have to face domestic forces that are determined to put me to death.

Then I don’t understand, what’s the point of me going there to spend the winter?

It's impossible, you can't see me enjoying my happiness! "

"How can I not see you enjoying the happiness? I wish that all the members of the Lawson family could enjoy the happiness at home." Sofia smiled helplessly: "The reason why you are stationed there is the reason I have said before.

Because imperial law stipulates that if the territory exceeds a certain time limit and no family members are stationed, it will be taken back. "

Ethan smiled disdainfully after hearing this: "It's impossible for the empire to send people to confirm! Even if they go, it's impossible to go in the dead of winter! How do they know the situation in the territory?

What does this law mean? So what if you ignore it? "