Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 31: Unauthorized Escape
After Clive received his orders and withdrew, Owen called the personal guard stationed outside his study.
“Marquis, is there something you need?”
The guard asked respectfully with a hand over his chest.
“Inform the castle gate guards: if any more nobles request an audience, reject them all. If they have any issues, tell them to take it up with Treasurer Clive.”
“Understood.”
Owen had just been interrupted by Clive, nearly causing him to make a mistake in his technical drawing. He had no intention of letting such a thing happen again. As for sending the pesky minor nobles to Clive—that was his small way of punishing him.
Picking up his quill, Owen resumed copying the design of a steam-powered boring machine.
Sure enough, as soon as Clive had finished posting the speech notice on the plaza’s bulletin board, he was immediately swarmed by a wave of nobles asking questions. He had to repeat the lord’s decision over and over, quickly becoming overwhelmed.
Thus, news of the lord’s decision to stay and defend Bianshu Town spread quickly within noble circles, causing quite a stir. The nobles all thought Owen had lost his mind—choosing to stay behind and die.
But while the lord might be crazy, they certainly weren’t. Their lives were precious. So one by one, they went home and ordered their servants to start packing, preparing to flee to Dongsheng Fortress for safety.
As for Owen’s speech? The nobles had no interest whatsoever.
It was probably just some public declaration of his decision and a call for everyone to unite against the undead creatures. Only foolish commoners would buy into that nonsense. As nobles—proud and above all—they wouldn’t fall for it so easily.
When their own lives were at stake, nobles acted swiftly. That very night, some had already boarded boats heading south.
The next morning, Owen received reports: one baron had left town last night with almost all of his family’s belongings. Another baron had nearly finished preparations this morning and was also planning to escape via the river.
Hearing this, Owen frowned.
He hadn’t expected the nobles to react so quickly and so intensely—actually planning to abandon their lord and flee.
So they want to run off to Dongsheng Fortress? Fine. But Owen wasn’t going to let them leave so easily. They would have to pay a price—for openly defying their lord’s orders.
At the same time, this was also a golden opportunity.
Ever since he began working with Winston, Owen had realized that the feudal aristocratic system—once it reached a certain stage—would only hold back social progress.
Hereditary rule couldn’t guarantee competent governance. Talented nobles might manage their lands well, but incompetent ones would only waste valuable territory.
Therefore, he planned to consolidate all the land under his own control and assign it to capable individuals—maximizing the value of every inch.
Since these nobles were the ones who abandoned their lord first, they had no right to complain when he moved to break down the long-standing aristocratic system.
With that in mind, he took a few knights and left the castle, heading southward to Bianshu Town.
In the southern part of Bianshu Town stood a rather well-appointed residence, belonging to Baron Wood.
At that moment, four large carriages were parked outside the house, and several servants were busy moving packed valuables into them.
Baron Wood stood beside one of the carriages, personally supervising his servants.
“Hurry it up, all of you!”
He shouted.
As soon as the sound rang out, one of the male servants, trying to speed things up, tossed a cloth-wrapped wooden box onto the carriage. A crisp clinking sound came from inside the box upon impact.
Hearing the sound, Baron Wood was startled and trembled. He shouted angrily.
“Who told you to throw it like that!”
He rushed over, pushed the servant aside, and carefully retrieved the box from the carriage. Unwrapping the cloth and opening the box, he saw the fine porcelain inside was unharmed, and only then did he breathe a huge sigh of relief.
Then Baron Wood turned to the servant, his face clearly filled with anger.
“Good thing it didn’t break. If there had been even a single crack, you wouldn’t be able to repay it in a lifetime!”
The frightened servant immediately knelt down and pleaded.
“Baron, I know I was wrong. I’ll be more careful next time.”
“Get lost! With those clumsy hands, I don’t need you loading anything else.”
Chastised by his master, the servant could only back away in shame.
Baron Wood then turned back to the other servants and urged.
“What are you all staring at? Keep moving!”
“Yes, sir!”
The others replied in unison and resumed their work.
Just as the servants had finished moving everything out of the house, Owen arrived at Baron Wood’s residence with several knights.
Caught off guard by the lord’s unexpected visit, Baron Wood quickly dismissed the servants and went up to greet him.
“Marquis Eisen, what brings you here?”
“Just taking a stroll. Happened to pass by your place.”
Owen replied casually.
Baron Wood didn’t believe that for a second. His residence was the southernmost in Bianshu Town—no one just happens to wander there.
While he was still suspicious, Owen’s eyes scanned the four carriages parked at the gate and asked,
“Baron Wood, are you planning a long trip?”
“Yes, I plan to spend the winter with my family at Dongsheng Fortress.”
“Oh? For just a winter, you’re bringing this much stuff? Looks like you don’t plan on coming back.”
“It’s not much, really.”
Baron Wood quickly explained.
“My family is particular about using familiar items, so I brought some furniture.”
“Hmph. Is that so?”
Owen let out a cold chuckle at the weak excuse, then got straight to the point.
“Baron Wood, you’ve no doubt heard that the Temple Knights will be stationed at Dongsheng Fortress.”
“I’ve heard a bit.”
“Then you should also know that I’ve decided to stay and defend Bianshu Town.”
Owen’s expression turned cold, his tone accusatory.
“Abandoning your lord and fleeing to Dongsheng Fortress is a serious offense! Technically, I could have you executed for treason.”
At those words, Baron Wood was gripped with terror, breaking into a cold sweat. Was the lord really going to execute him?
He hastily denied it.
“Marquis, you’ve misunderstood me! I had no idea about your decision.”
“Is that so? Then now that you know, are you still planning to go to Dongsheng Fortress?”
What, stay and die here instead? Baron Wood thought bitterly.
Since he figured he might die either way, he might as well speak his mind.
“Marquis, you know as well as I do that without the support of the Temple Knights, we won’t be able to defend the northern wall of Bianshu Town. Seeking refuge at Dongsheng Fortress is the wiser choice.”
“So, you insist on going to Dongsheng Fortress then?”
Owen asked sternly.
Baron Wood didn’t answer. In truth, he was nervous and already thinking about pretending to agree now, then finding a chance to flee later.
“Very well. If you must go to Dongsheng Fortress, I won’t stop you.”
Baron Wood froze in confusion. Didn’t he just say he’d execute traitors?
“But there is a price to pay. Starting with the baron who fled last night, any noble who chooses to abandon Bianshu Town will have their territory confiscated.”