Farming in a Parallel World and Becoming a God-Chapter 1256 - 685 Political Gu-Keeping_2

The duration is a bit long, requiring a total of five years.

Hmm.

This "five years" is merely the timeframe stipulated by the Komeer Kingdom, not necessarily the time I would personally need.

When I establish an overwhelming and unapproachable advantage, as long as my competitors aren’t entirely foolish, they will voluntarily cease their investments. They might even approach me to sell off their assets, withdrawing on their own accord.

Rayana’s flame-like eyes narrowed slightly. This proposal was decidedly disadvantageous to her. A look at her reliance on mercenary groups for development would make it evident—compared to management and construction, she and most of her subordinates were far better at combat.

And therein lay the crux of the issue. To conquer the Rocklands was not merely about defeating or wiping out the monsters here; a stable foundation of construction was indispensable. King Yasan and his cohorts likely valued Gaven’s astonishing capacity for road expansion and city-building. She was merely selected as a ceremonial rival to accompany the competition.

Yet retreating without a fight was not something to be found in her life philosophy. She continued, "If both competitors set their sights on the same parcel of land, how would that be handled?"

"Before the competition officially begins, we will partition the Rocklands into distinct zones. Each contestant will focus on developing within their assigned area. Keep in mind, the Rocklands are no small place—I trust that within a short timeframe, your respective developments won’t clash," the Court Archmage replied.

"How will the assets of the losing party be dealt with?" Although Rayana bore the blood of Fire Element descendants, her temperament was far from impulsive or irritable. Instead, she carried the steady disposition of an Earth Element—a trait that kept her from missing even the smallest detail she could think of.

"The assets will be split into two categories. The first are pre-existing assets owned by the Kingdom, such as Tivantum. These will be reclaimed by the Royal Family and awarded to the victor. The second category includes assets entirely established by the losing party during the contest. These will either be acquired at a valuation by the Royal Family to turn them into royal assets, or bought out by the victor in exchange," explained the Court Archmage, presenting a fallback plan.

With this safety net in place, all participants could invest with peace of mind, without worrying about losing everything.

Gaven could no longer resist voicing his thoughts: "I believe we shouldn’t simplify matters with such a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, the handling should vary by the nature of the asset. For example, industries like mines and farmland should indeed follow these rules. However, establishments like shops or trade guilds don’t need such rigid treatment. I trust that, regardless of who emerges victorious, they can accommodate such assets from cooperative competitors, as these are the very foundation of a prosperous territory."

For territories under the domain of the Komeer Kingdom, Gaven only sought ultimate control. Minor benefits were not worth squabbling over. With this saved energy, he could venture into the wilderness, where untapped lands awaited his development, entirely free from the Komeer Royal Family’s interference.

As his power grew, the significance of acquiring control over the Rocklands had shifted.

Initially, he aimed to gain dominion over the Rocklands as a springboard for his rise to prominence.

Now, taking hold of it served as a transit hub threading through his expanding territories. Only by securing it could he connect the Goblin Margins, the Conqueror Path, and the Valley into one network.

The Court Archmage exchanged a glance of mutual understanding with King Yasan. After nodding affirmatively, the Archmage said, "General Gaven’s suggestion is indeed more reasonable. Once the matter is finalized, we can further refine the details. Many arrangements are not set in stone and can be renegotiated as the situation evolves. For now, the most important task is determining the participants in this competition."

Gaven was the first to declare, "I, Gaven Nort, voluntarily participate in this contest for the barony."

Rayana immediately followed, "I, Rayana Ross, voluntarily participate in this contest for the barony."

After a few seconds of hesitation, Tivantum’s City Lord, Alaselene Qiuchang, stood and said, "I, Alaselene Qiuchang, voluntarily participate in this contest for the barony."

None of those present were surprised by the trio of competitors, given their already close connections to the Rocklands.

"The Royal Family proposes to divide the territory according to the current centers of power amongst the three of you. The Rocklands, being the most desolate yet largest in area, will go to General Gaven. The Red Spring Reclamation Area will be split with the Stormhorn Mountain Range and Thunder Peak Mountains as the dividing line—its northern part will come under Tivantum and be developed by Lord Alaselene, while its southern part will be developed by Captain Rayana and her people. This division applies solely to permanent assets like land and mines. Trade and commerce will remain open to all three parties, with no deliberate obstruction allowed from any of you. Do you find this arrangement acceptable?" As the Archmage posed the question, all eyes subconsciously fixed on Gaven.

Because compared to the other two, he was clearly at the greatest disadvantage. Although vast, the Rocklands were riddled with issues, and the entire Red Spring Reclamation Area had been packaged together to facilitate its disposal.

"I have no objections." If this arrangement had been proposed a month ago, Gaven would never have agreed to it. Now, however, he gave his assent without a second thought.

That was because, on the other side of the Rocklands, he already controlled the Goblin Margins, the City of Faith, and a magically abundant estate known as Favorable Weather Manor. By next summer, he would have an ample supply of food, drastically reducing his reliance on the Red Spring Reclamation Area.

Even if the Red Spring Reclamation Area were handed to him outright, he lacked the manpower and resources to develop it effectively. The main body of the Conqueror Army had no plans to remain in the Goblin Margins or the Rocklands. The Valley was his ultimate destination, and he wouldn’t sacrifice broader opportunities just to secure a minor barony in the Rocklands.