Traveling through The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim

Although I'm a bit annoyed by my terrible teammates, life goes on.

For the residents of Granite Village, a public trial was a rare event, but to me it was nothing special and unremarkable.

Clerk Karan loudly announced that the "Locke Law," having been signed and sealed by her, had officially come into effect and would serve as the code of conduct for the subjects under Baron Locke's rule. The written version of the decree would be displayed in front of the government hall, where literate officials would interpret it line by line daily. At this moment, however, she only read aloud the articles related to serious crimes such as murder and robbery.

The legal principles that were commonplace and taken for granted in his previous life, such as "presumption of innocence," "laws not being retroactive," and "minors under the age of fourteen or mentally ill patients are not criminally responsible at the time of their episode," all ceased to exist in this other world. Therefore, according to the newly promulgated "Lockel Law," the entire Flying Bear tribe was found guilty.

Five of the perpetrators, identified by the victims' families, were sentenced to death, while the remaining offenders were sentenced to hard labor ranging from five to thirty-five years. As for their property, it was naturally confiscated, but this was not publicly mentioned at the meeting. I was not entirely satisfied with the financial provisions, mainly because I worried that the cunning tiger-men would exploit loopholes. However, I lacked the expertise to handle them, so I had to give Karan more time to carefully review the case.

The five death row inmates were immediately executed. The adult convicts were assigned to hard labor by Lund, performing tasks such as land reclamation and construction; the children were assigned to people of status—such as Irene and me—as servants. During their sentences, their behavior would be assessed, and if they committed further offenses, their punishment would be more severe, even affecting their families; conversely, if they behaved well, their sentences might be shortened.

It was, of course, a necessary part of the conference to invite the person of the highest rank present to "say a few words." I cleared my throat and strolled onto the stage.

"Gentlemen, I know that some of you come from the Cass Valley, some from the shores of Lake Irinata, and others have fled from even further afield. I also know that you were previously called the Rych or the Nords. But from this day forward, none of that matters."

"From this day forward, you are residents of Granite Village, subjects of this Lord."

"This land beneath our feet is our home. I urge you to take good care of it, sow the seeds of hope, and reap a bountiful future. I assure you that every drop of your sweat will not be in vain, and your diligent labor will surely bring you the joy of a bountiful harvest."

Some people might say, "My family has been fishermen for generations; we've never farmed before. No way!"

"That's nonsense! In families where fishermen have been fishing for generations, are those little brats born knowing how to fish? They learn by following their parents after they grow up. This Lund—a proper farmer, well done! If there's anything you don't understand or can't do, your mouths below your noses can't just be used for drinking and eating; you also need to know how to ask questions. Understand?"

I introduced Lund to the crowd. The cheers he evoked far surpassed those for my clumsy speech. Come to think of it, from distributing porridge in Falkreath to clearing land in Granite Village, Lund had essentially kept these people alive.

"It seems you know him quite well. Very good! As for farming, you must follow his arrangements. Let me make this clear beforehand: whether you grow flax, soybeans, wheat, or vegetables, at harvest time, each household will compare their yields. Whoever grows the best will be treated to a feast for their entire family, the kind with pork. But if anyone's land is left uncultivated..."

I left half a sentence unsaid and waved to Levi.

"Since the land is our lifeline, we must protect it. The invasion by the Flying Bear tribe has served as a wake-up call. Take a good look at these bears. Don't they also have two arms and one head? Don't they die if their heads are cut off? So why are they bullying us?"

"We cannot allow ourselves to be bullied. We must unite and learn combat skills. When danger comes, we must bravely take up arms to protect our homes. Everyone who owns land should send someone to serve in the army. You neighbors should live in harmony and help each other in peacetime; when war breaks out, you must be united in your hatred of the enemy and stand together against them."

"This Miss Lydia beside me, I'm sure many of you know her. She's quite skilled at training troops. Whoever among you is ambitious, follow her and work hard. Whoever makes a contribution on the battlefield in the future, I, the Duke, will grant them more land. Whoever owns more land will have enough to eat."

Lai Mei's face remained ashen, and she did not respond to my words. Three people from the Flying Bear tribe had been trained by her. One had just been beheaded, and the other two had died in previous battles.

I was prepared for Lydia's lack of cooperation, so I calmly picked up where I left off and casually tied a knot in my mouth.

"I believe that as long as everyone abides by the law, works hard, and defends bravely, Granite Village will become more and more prosperous, and everyone's life will become happier and happier. This place will become a paradise that everyone in Skyrim yearns for."

There were definitely shills in the audience, which is why the response seemed so enthusiastic. But I don't know how effective the speech actually was. Nevertheless, the five heads were still quite useful; early the next morning, people were already peering out from the shack called the Government Office, waiting for Nari to explain the Locker Law to them.

Irina's letters were finished. Both letters were given to the Companions' guild in the north of the village, who would deliver them to Whiterun, and then send them to Markarth via the Temple of Ginarath and the Temple of Ginarath respectively. Seeing her enthusiasm, I couldn't remain cold, so I asked her to help Kalan improve the laws. We then had a passionate evening together, which ended our cold war.

Lund was very busy. With these convicts, a lot of work could be done. He had to plan the village's fields, measuring them in person and assessing the soil's fertility so he could make informed allocations. In addition, he had to discuss construction matters with Talford. Besides building simple welfare houses for the villagers, there were also offices for various government departments, and more importantly, defensive structures such as walls.

Lydia wasn't busy; Stein was in charge of security, and Froki was handling recruitment. She simply asked for leave, saying she was going to Falkriss to ask for help. I didn't say anything, but I was very unhappy. Her relatives and friends were all in Whiterun; who in Falkriss could help her? She even needed to use the word "ask." It was simply another inexplicable tantrum, an unwillingness to serve me.

Honestly, I don't think I've done anything out of line lately. Perhaps Lydia has a psychological aversion to training the Rich people, or perhaps she thinks my purpose in training them is to fight against Whiterun. But I clearly told her that the hypothetical enemy is the Rich army in Snake Cliff and Loristed. Does she really think I have no credibility whatsoever?

Can't figure it out.

Women are such troublesome creatures. Take Irina, for example. I just spaced out while chatting with her...

However, there are also women who aren't troublesome... uh... catgirls. Although Aguis failed to rescue Helgi, he brought back a detailed report about Markars City. As a reward, I personally made her beggar's chicken. While her mouth was stuffed with chicken legs and she couldn't refuse, I sent the little catgirl to scout the hills north of the village to find the bandits' hideout.

With everyone under my command performing their duties, I took Hayoo and his cousin Lahran and set off for Sun Garden Fortress.

“I’m telling you, Lahran, if you have something to say, just say it. I’m getting restless for you because of this.”

This guy hasn't been acting right since he came back from Markars. When Argis was eating chicken, he looked like he wanted to say something but hesitated, and I just assumed he was greedy. But he was just running errands, and compared to the little cat's bravery and adventures, even a piece of chicken rib would be too much for him, let alone a whole chicken.

For the next few days, Lahran remained the same; he would open his mouth when he saw me, but wouldn't utter any sound that could be identified as language by humans or humanoid beings. I figured he was probably a little shy, so I created another opportunity for him without anyone watching.

But to my surprise, it still turned out the same.

This guy has piqued my curiosity. If he doesn't say anything serious later, I'm definitely going to chop off his tail and use it as a belt!

"Oh... alright, Your Excellency... uh... how about we talk about it on the way back?"

I raised an eyebrow.

"That works. But you should know that the matter I'm dealing with this time is quite tricky. If I can't handle it, I'll naturally be in a bad mood. And if I'm in a bad mood, I'll naturally refuse any request. However, I'm in a pretty good mood right now, so as long as what you say isn't too outrageous, I can consider it."

"Huh? Then let's talk about it now... um... cousin Hayou, why don't you say it..."

Hayou put away his playful expression and cautiously probed my attitude.

"Sir, do you think we siblings are any capable enough?"

I felt a sudden tightness in my wallet. Was this some kind of talk about a raise? No way! I've racked up a mountain of debt rebuilding Granite Village. The creditors haven't even come knocking yet, and you laborers are already planning a rebellion?

"As for being capable, I wouldn't really call it that. Ajis has only been barely trained to be somewhat competent. As for you, Hayu, you're neither good nor bad, just average. As for Lahlan, he even stutters when he talks to me, so what's the point of talking about being capable or not?"

Sorry, your KPIs are all unsatisfactory. I'm already being lenient by paying you full salaries; a raise is absolutely out of the question.

Hearing what I said, Hayoo was a little embarrassed and fell silent for a moment. On the contrary, Lahran, perhaps provoked by my comments, suddenly jumped over and grabbed my arm.

“Sir, we just feel that someone of your status should have his own personal guard. If you agree, my cousin and I plan to go back to Esville to recruit people to serve you.”

He finished speaking in one breath, then gasped for breath as if he had collapsed.

I scanned the two cat faces, futilely trying to discern the expression hidden beneath their fur. I must admit, the suggestion of a royal guard truly stirred my heart. I fondly recalled how my father had formed the Ruichi Guard back then, something I had envied for a long time. Last year, during the siege of the Imperial Legion's rearguard, when Rhea led the Bear Team into battle, my father stood tall and proud—how imposing he was!

If I had a card like that in my hand, and at a crucial moment, I could just slam it onto the table in a flash, wouldn't that make me incredibly happy?

But can a playboy like Lahran really achieve the same result? Is he trying to swindle my money and run away?

“My lord, among my friends in Eswell, there are some who are willing to come to Skyrim to make their mark. I originally planned to have them come and help me when my business had grown bigger. But after following you, my lord, I put that aside. During this time, I've also realized that you are a man destined for great things, and there's a bright future in following you. Even little Aguis can help you, so I, as his older brother, can't let him down.”

Once this taciturn and reserved man opened his mouth, it was like a dam bursting, his words flowing endlessly. Lahran first offered a meticulous analysis of his own inner journey, then, with a touch of boasting, touted his deep-rooted connections and illustrious reputation. Although not a leader among the younger generation, he had cultivated a wide circle of friends since childhood, making a considerable number of capable acquaintances. With just a nod, these talented individuals of Eswell could be at my disposal.

Hayoo didn't say much, only occasionally interjecting to corroborate Lahlan's claims. But he was clearly more worldly than his cousin and understood my thoughts better. Therefore, he added two conditions.

Firstly, while he and Lahlan returned to Aysville, Argis remained in Skyrim to serve me. The little cat's status in the family is higher than her brother's, and Lahlan would never dare to put her in danger for a moment's greed. Jagil, as the family's protector of Argis, naturally wouldn't leave either. With me holding hostages, I don't need to worry about the two cats absconding with the money.

Secondly, any tiger-men they recruit must pass Lydia's assessment, and then I will personally interview them to decide whether to retain them. This is to prevent anyone from being a mere scapegoat. After all, this is to build my personal guard, so there can be no sloppiness in terms of combat effectiveness, willpower, and especially loyalty.

Regarding this last point, I was truly unsure, but upon further reflection, it boils down to a matter of kindness and severity. The tiger-man still retains a human element; surely he can be tamed?

"Since you two brothers are so confident, why not give it a try? I'll give you twenty spots, with a budget of 20,000 Septin per year, how about that?"

Lahlan's eyes burned with fighting spirit, Hayoo's mischievous smile returned, and I sighed inwardly. It seems the older cousin's mind works faster after all.

Among my many subordinates, Lai Mei's monthly salary of 500 Septins was in a league of its own. However, an annual salary of 6,000 was not considered high for someone in her class. Some knights who were good at managing money—like myself back then—could earn more than 20,000 Septins a year. Of course, such people were a very small minority; most knights earned between 5,000 and 10,000 Septins a year.

The second tier consists of Lund and Massinisha.

Lund's annual salary is three thousand Septin. The most skilled craftsmen in Skyrim earn between fifteen and two thousand Septin a year, so it's reasonable that my steward earns more than them.

Masinisa, on the other hand, was paid a package deal of eight people, 1,000 sectins per month, which translates to 125 sectins per person per month. It seemed much lower than Lund's, but they had made a fortune with Eric, so their wallets were quite full.

As for Hayoo's annual salary, it was only three hundred Septins. Lahran and the others, comparing their income to his, meant that the four cats combined would only receive one hundred Septins per month. When I quoted twenty thousand Septins, it meant they would receive slightly less than the Red Guards' pay.

In the end, I lost the battle for a raise.