Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks-Chapter 418 - 103: Territorial Affairs

New Habsburg.

After two months, the branches of the Tree of Life have become increasingly lush.

The range of the oasis has expanded to unprecedented boundaries.

It is said that farmers from the neighboring Barony of Zujar run to the border daily, looking far into the distance, hoping the greenery would come a little closer.

Originally, the Baron of Zujar complained daily about the barrenness of his land, but now he tells everyone about the generosity and magnanimity of Lord Losa, and he has become a loyal follower, just like Baron Argon of Petra.

The midday sun is blazing.

Driving farmers with packhorses and an endless stream of pilgrims, they devoutly kneel on the ground praying.

Here, the shape of a city has already emerged, with simple wooden walls surrounding houses, they are built from wooden logs sharpened at one end and inserted into the ground, ready to expand continuously with the city’s future development.

The castle within the inner city has been completed, though the lighting is not good, it carries a strong European style, as the craftsmen who built it were pilgrims from Europe, and their skills could not balance beauty and defense.

Andreas sat in the Lord’s Hall, dipping a quill into an ink bottle, writing vigorously on parchment.

The lord’s throne at the center is vacant, with two shield emblems hanging side by side above it, representing Jerusalem and Losa’s double-headed eagle badge respectively.

Andreas sat at a table at the lower position of the throne.

He has grown a beard, wearing a neatly tailored silk shirt, his gestures carry an aristocratic air learned from Kurs the housekeeper, completely different from his past as a small servant beside a crude knight.

"Good day, Guard Officer."

Footsteps echoed in the hall.

Andreas put down the quill and stood up, saying, "Good day, esteemed Father. What brings you here?"

The visitor was a priest named Father Meilun, claiming he had a matter to discuss with Andreas.

Father Meilun, wearing a red-yellow vestment robe, smiled and said, "Guard Officer, I heard that you are a very competent official and knight, leading patrol cavalry to bring those rampant desert bandits to justice, a commendable act rewarded by the Heavenly Father."

Andreas solemnly replied, "You flatter me. Please speak directly, Father."

Apparently surprised by Andreas’ straightforwardness, Father Meilun furrowed his brow, then relaxed, squeezing a smile into two creases: "Guard Officer, I wish to lease some land near New Habsburg to establish a new monastery, to listen to Heavenly Father’s teachings closely."

"A monastery?"

Andreas furrowed his brow.

A monastery is not a church; it is more closed off, generally not allowing outsiders, often equipped with guards, like the monastery in the suburbs of Alandler City, practically a strong fortress.

"This is not possible, Father Meilun."

Andreas shook his head: "I have no authority over such matters involving changes in land ownership. This requires a decision from the Count himself, not even His Majesty the King can bypass the Count and allocate his land to anyone."

Father Meilun asked puzzledly, "You are the Count’s appointed Guard Officer, don’t you have this authority? This is just a lease and doesn’t involve ownership changes — are the settlers at New Habsburg these days occupying your Count’s land for free?"

Andreas was momentarily at a loss for words.

He certainly had the authority to deal with land lease issues, he simply did not wish to lease land to the Church; it’s easy to invite a deity, but hard to send one away.

Father Meilun enticingly suggested: "This is a sacred undertaking, Guard Officer, imagine every morning and evening, the sounds of prayers rising, grand scholars listening closely to God’s words here, writing theological classics for centuries to come, all of Christendom would remember your achievements."

Andreas shook his head: "Sorry, Father Meilun. I understand it’s a sacred project, but in the Count’s territory, all theological affairs are managed by the monastery."

"Ha? Are you referring to those muddy-footed combat cultivators who hold swords and can’t even fill a parchment with scriptures?"

Father Meilun mocked: "Pardon me, but their theological achievement isn’t worthy of fetching shoes for us!"

Andreas replied without humiliation, "You can confront Father Urding in person with this statement; he is the bishop of Alandler Bishopric, surpassing you in both divine grade and holy office."

Father Meilun wasn’t surprised by Andreas’ response: "Indeed, although my theological achievements may not be superior to Bishop Urding, here I represent Bishop Sebastian, His Holiness the Pope’s most trusted aide, you should know what that means."

He paused slightly, then continued: "Such a sacred land should not be under the jurisdiction of a secular lord. If you are willing to help, the Bishop would not treat you poorly."

Saying so, he removed a large ruby ring from his finger and placed it on the table.

Andreas’ gaze swept over the ring, showing a hint of sincere disgust — the Church is occupied by greedy and vulgar individuals like these — if they had the Tree of Life, they would likely enclose it with sky-high walls, charge pilgrims to glimpse at it, wouldn’t they?

Forcing himself to suppress his anger, Andreas pushed the ring back:

"Father Meilun, perhaps you are aware, or maybe not, I was once merely a crude knight’s personal servant. The Count appreciated me, bestowed a knight’s title and the rank of Guard Officer."

"What else should I be dissatisfied with? Greed is the original sin."

Andreas stood up: "Please leave, Father Meilun." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Father Meilun’s face turned ashen: "This is your own decision, boy. Even your loyal lord would not dare to offend us."

"I have received reports from others. Someone claimed to have seen a faint black demon dragon swirling around your lord. I have reasonable suspicion that your lord has been bewitched by the Demon King Satan."

Dragons are often linked with Satan. It is said that during the Day of Judgment, Satan transformed into a seven-headed, ten-horned Great Red Dragon to fight against Archangel Michael.

Andreas’s face became much grimmer. His expression was serious, and his tone was raised considerably:

"Father, I hope you consider carefully what you’re saying. Without evidence, you dare to accuse the Savior of the Holy Land, Grand Master of the Jerusalem Royal Knight Order, His Majesty Baldwin’s most trusted vassal, Lord of Transjordan and Hebron—a model Christian like a saint—of being bewitched by the Demon King Satan?"

Father Meilun was taken aback by Andreas’s fierce expression and replied hesitantly: "I merely have reasonable suspicion—everything must still be decided by the religious court."

"You scoundrel, you even intend to take my lord to the religious court?"

"Guard!"

A guard wearing a pot helmet and an outdated full suit of Zha Armor from the regular army, covered by a white cloak, stormed into the room aggressively with his long halberd: "Master Guard Officer, is someone causing trouble?"

Andreas pointed at Father Meilun and shouted angrily: "Throw out this insolent who insults the lord!"

The guard sized up the priest, bald head, magic robe—clearly a clergy.

But he hesitated only for a moment before showing a fierce expression. Clergy or not, anyone who dared to insult the lord must pay the price.

"What are you doing? I’m a confidant of Cardinal Sebastian."

Bang—

The guard kicked him, making him stagger: "Get out of New Habsburg, no, get out of the whole Transjordan. You’re not welcome here."

Father Meilun let out a scream and shouted: "You dare harm an exalted clergy! Such desecration of the sacred is a deep-seated sin. I will report to His Holiness the Pope, declaring all of Transjordan heretics who disrespect the Heavenly Father!"

"Shut up!"

The guard slapped Father Meilun’s face, knocking two broken teeth from his mouth, nearly making him sit down on the ground.

The guard snorted coldly. Unlike native Christians who revered clergy, his switch from the Fire Worship to the Great Orthodox Church was merely for an extra piece of land, not accustomed to such people.

Father Meilun’s servants, secretary, and others immediately charged forward.

"You are assaulting a clergy in public! This is an unforgivable sin!"

"Lay down your weapon and repent to the Heavenly Father!"

The guard snorted coldly: "If it’s a fight you want, myself and my mates are always ready, but remember, this is New Habsburg. If I shout that you insulted the lord, you might not leave here alive."

The dwellers of New Habsburg, most benefited by Losa, saw this newly built city transform from a dilapidated village to a city of thousands in less than half a year.

In the process, every craftsman, laborer, and farmer benefited greatly.

The people at the bottom may be easily deceived but are not genuinely foolish. They can discern who has improved their lives and whose arrival makes life harder.

Father Meilun and his retinue reconsidered long and hard. Seeing more guards joining in support, they knew they couldn’t get their way today and left quietly without uttering a harsh word.

"Deep-seated sin, desecration of the sacred?"

Inside the Guard Officer’s residence, Andreas showed a self-mocking bitter smile. Drawing a cross on his chest, he whispered softly: "Learning governance from a Vampire is far more blasphemous than commanding others to beat clergy."

He pondered for a while and still penned two letters, sending them to Kurs in Hebron and Hans in Jerusalem.

Obviously, this so-called Archbishop Sebastian would not let matters rest easily.

In this era, churches everywhere were obsessed with "saint-making," claiming to possess "Holy Relics" and "Holy Prepuce." If all "Holy Objects" were pieced together, they could create a giant.

Yet, this still attracted pilgrims from all over to come and worship endlessly, let alone New Habsburg’s "Divine Tree," a miracle so obvious that it couldn’t be replicated.

And likely, not only the Church covets it.

A Holy Object capable of transforming the desert of the Holy Land into fertile ground would drive every Desert Lord to frenzy. Previously, those with schemes hesitated, or had not received news.

Now, with the lord away from the territory, relying on the most significant holdovers, Kurs and Hans, is the only hope for effective responses.