In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities

Outside, rain poured steadily. The Garetts seemed delighted by the rare sight, some tasting the raindrops with their tongues while others spread their wings to soar through the drizzle.

Meanwhile, the mine remained idle, awaiting the go-ahead to resume operations. Michael called the overseer, assuring him that all toxic gases in the tunnels had been cleared and that work could safely resume.

The nervous overseer beamed with relief, quickly summoning the miners. Their cheers filled the air.

"Thank you, Sir Michael!"

"You've saved us yet again!"

"Not only did you give us jobs, but you also care about our safety. We're forever grateful!"

Michael waved at the grateful miners, smiling as he watched their worn faces brighten with joy. Seeing the once-haggard people laugh and express their gratitude felt even better than acquiring rare artifacts.

So this is the satisfaction of being recognized.

Returning to the now-familiar tent, Michael was greeted by Leonardo, who practically leapt toward him, his pupils dilated with excitement.

"Master! I've prepared everything for the task you assigned me!"

Leonardo's intensity was overwhelming, prompting Michael to take a step back. Yet, seeing the determination in his eyes, Michael couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.

He's worked so hard.

"Alright. What have you done?" Michael asked.

"I heard from Isfer that you needed to deal with troublemakers requiring persuasion and hypnosis. I've perfected the process to make them completely compliant to your wishes!"

Michael's eyes darted to the corner of the tent in alarm. The miner he had seen earlier was tied to a post, his face pale and expression blank. He looked utterly terrified, as if his wits had abandoned him.

"Just adjust his memory a little," Michael instructed Leonardo. "And hold off on anything extreme for now."

Leonardo's face fell with disappointment. Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire

As Leonardo approached the miner, the man began to sob uncontrollably.

"Please, let me go! I swear I won't say a word to anyone! Have mercy! I have kids as sweet as rabbits and a wife as strong as a bear. Please don't take me away from them..."

The miner was inconsolable, leaving Michael no choice but to signal Leonardo to put him to sleep. After the miner collapsed into unconsciousness, Michael carried him to the bed.

"Make him remember discovering toxic gas in the mine, reporting it to me, and then collapsing from gas poisoning. Can you handle that?"

Leonardo perked up, nodding enthusiastically. "Of course, Master! For you, I would even walk into a pit of fire—"

"Skip the fire-walking and focus on this first," Michael said wearily.

Leonardo got to work, meticulously altering the miner's memories. Soon, the man awoke, a mix of gratitude and confusion etched on his face.

"Thank you, my lord! A simple man like me doesn't deserve to be treated so kindly," the miner said, bowing deeply.

Michael rewarded him with a cow, 50 gold, and a piece of prime farmland. The miner left the tent beaming with gratitude, his joy evident in the way he carried himself.

After sending the miner on his way, Michael set about tackling a backlog of paperwork. Leonardo's endless praise served as an amusing background noise, making the task pass quickly.

With his work complete, Michael stood, preparing to visit the castle currently undergoing repairs.

At the castle, Michael was met with unexpected guests: Baron Kensington and Louis, the youngest son of Count Charles.

Louis appeared utterly infatuated with Elizabeth, his ears flushed red as he hung on her every word. He didn't even notice Michael's arrival.

Baron Kensington, however, greeted Michael with his usual hearty smile, striding over to clap him on the shoulder.

"Michael," the baron began bluntly, "why on earth did you choose this fief? I was a bit puzzled before, but after hearing more, I felt I had to come and ask you myself."

The baron paused, glancing at Michael to gauge his reaction. Fortunately, Michael's expression remained calm, encouraging him to continue.

"You could've claimed more fertile land, but you picked this place instead? Sure, it's in a basin, but the soil here isn't as productive as richer lands—it yields less than 80% of what fertile fields can produce. At first, I thought it might be because of the mines, but do you realize the iron here is of poor quality? Mining it will only ruin the land further."

Michael smiled warmly, sensing the baron's genuine concern. He had noticed the <Friendship> marker glowing above Kensington's head earlier, leaving no doubt about his sincerity.

"Brother Vincent, I appreciate your concern," Michael replied. "But the situation here isn't as bad as it seems. While it's true that grain production is lower, this region is vast. The plateau by the lake, for instance, is incredibly fertile and well-suited for livestock. We've already started grazing animals there."

Michael gestured toward the plateau.

"There's also marshland near the lake that can be drained and cultivated. My previous fief was fertile but small, and we were bound by a non-aggression pact with neighboring territories, leaving no room for growth. After much discussion with my father, I decided this fief had the most potential for development. There's plenty of unclaimed land near the mountains and in the surrounding area. Its remoteness has kept others from coveting it."@@novelbin@@

He chuckled softly before his tone grew serious.

"This war, like many before it, is unlikely to be conclusive. When it ends, noble scions seeking to make their mark will swarm the northwest and south. Where will they aim their ambitions next? Not this barren land—they'll target Crawley territory and other abandoned lands. It's better to quietly cultivate this area than risk being caught in a struggle between titans."

The baron's expression grew increasingly serious as Michael spoke.

"Given this, I've gathered many knights and mages to help secure and develop the territory. It's a long-term investment, but one I'm confident in."

The best way to persuade someone is to mix truth with deception.

Reassured, Baron Kensington nodded. "Well, I'm glad to hear that. I was starting to worry after hearing so much talk about it... I thought you might've made a mistake."

He scratched his head sheepishly.

Michael smiled knowingly. "You must have another reason for visiting, though, don't you?"