After that, the group quickened their pace toward Orocity. One reason was that the towns they encountered afterward had no strange occurrences—everything was ordinary, and the locals were especially warm upon learning that he was the new count of the Oro region. What surprised Sean even more was that his name, Count Sean Viger, had already become famous in this area ahead of time! Even children picking fruit in the orchards could call out his name. Becoming so renowned all of a sudden felt a bit unfamiliar.
According to the scholar Ross, this area, being closer to Rietis, spread news quickly. As a local count, he would naturally be remembered by the people first. Unlike the town of Tylermian, which had only a few thousand people, the entire Oro region now had hundreds of thousands who would know his name. For a long time, his habits, style, even his preference for a certain woman, his pursuit of a lady, or his visits to certain places would become topics of lively discussion. Becoming a regional lord meant bearing the cost of such gossip. Ross even cited examples of counts in the northern parts of the empire and how their stories spread, especially romantic tales, which were perfect for ordinary people to chat about over meals.
Hearing this, Sean frowned with a face full of exasperation. These people were truly boring—why didn’t they spend their time working? They should focus on their own welfare and pay more taxes to the rulers, instead of indulging in such gossip. But speaking of northern lords reminded him of what the wood elf had mentioned.
“Master Ross, do you know anything about the Borgs and the Kats?” Sean asked. He knew little about this world’s geography, mainly because he had no channels to learn more. For many in the south, a lifetime couldn’t take them beyond the empire’s southern borders. Even merchants rarely traveled that far, so knowledge of the world outside the Basharan Empire came only from a few books.
“Why does the Count suddenly ask about this?” Ross said, puzzled.
“Just curious,” Sean replied.
On the other side, Asrant seemed eager to join the topic. “My lord, I’ve heard some things about the Borgs. Their country lies northwest of ours, and things have been decent in recent years. But from what I’ve heard, relations were very bad in my father’s time. Back then, the imperial army’s new recruits dreaded being stationed in the northwest the most.”
The imperial army was made up of ordinary folks, just as Asrant had said before—he joined because it meant extra money for his family, not out of lofty ideals. Naturally, no one wanted to be sent to a place where fighting could break out at any moment.
“In those years, the Borgs had major conflicts with our country over mineral veins. There were even rumors that we stole their fuel refining methods.”
“And what happened?”
“Of course, such things would never be admitted. But it’s true that after that period, our country’s fuel technology advanced by leaps and bounds. Imperial engineers kept inventing new things, and our airships were improved back then,” Ross said.
Sean had ridden airships a few times, and their craftsmanship was beyond what cities like Koga could achieve.
“What about the Kats?”
“The Kats aren’t from the Zambutar region. They’re highlanders, a nation made up of the Amansha people. They don’t border us directly but are neighbors to the Borg protectorate.”
So it was possible that these two countries formed an alliance.
“Why does the lord ask about this? Are you thinking about the Borgs? Their technology is indeed impressive—better than ours in terms of mechanical improvements and factory efficiency. But it’s too far from here,” Ross said.
Sean had a decent understanding of the southern Basharan Empire, having traveled through many places over the past year. To the south was a tiny coastal nation, to the west were vast mountains—possibly some mountain folk, but not many, which was why Lushil couldn’t figure out why snow giants crossed those mountains to reach Tylermian. To the east lay the Oro region, his future domain, directly bordering the Edak region. That area was resource-poor, with barren land—a land of gobi deserts, yellow sands, and oases. That’s why most Edak people had darker skin and sturdy builds, though there were exceptions, like his mother in the portrait, who looked more ordinary.
“It’s indeed hard to find,” Sean said softly, gazing into the distance toward Orocity. He could only pray that war wouldn’t break out at a time like this, or he’d have to raise taxes and conscript troops as a newly minted lord.
They continued east for four days, setting out at dawn each day and resting at night, eager to reach Orocity faster. Once he settled in, he could send word back to Tylermian for Luke and Danti to bring people over. But such a long journey—a migration of nearly ten thousand people—was impossible, with food and safety being major issues. After this trek, Sean began to realize that some townsfolk might ultimately part ways with him.
As the scholar Ross put it: “Many people won’t make it to the end. Throughout history, countless migrations have occurred, but none have ever allowed everyone to truly leave their homeland. Some stay, some blend into other cities, and others vanish without a trace due to various reasons. In the hearts of many ordinary people, when a region disperses, their spirits scatter too.”
“A lord must learn to make choices. All rulers in history have emerged from a series of trade-offs. To gain is to lose.”
“I know. I just hope the outcome will be better,” Sean said.
On the fifth day, the group finally neared Orocity—a city that looked larger than Koga from afar. A new city, and from now on, this place would bear his name. As the local lord, Sean’s arrival was met with enthusiastic cheers from the people. People lined the roads for over ten miles outside the city, calling out his name as he entered. Inside the city, the cheers grew even louder. Streets and alleys were filled with people raising their family crests, and the city’s military commander led his force of over seven thousand soldiers in saluting him.
Oro had originally been under the jurisdiction of Takoma City. After the previous incident, many troops were dispatched to Takoma and never returned, leaving few soldiers behind. Without a ruler, there was no way to recruit more. But today, Sean had arrived.
At the grandest square, Sean declared that, in honor of his arrival, Orocity would mark this day as a festival. Everyone would have three days off to commemorate the true birth of the city. Amid the revelry, Asrant leaned in and whispered, “My lord, my lord, we’ve just arrived and already let everyone rest—could this cause unrest in the city?”
Sean frowned at him. Asrant had been loyal lately, but he was too eager to show off. Such decisions were not for him to comment on. “If it does, you’ll be the one to arrest them all. Not a single one spared,” Sean said with a smile.