Roger said to Adelaide: "I can only fight with Rollo a dozen times now."

Adelaide looked surprised, like a mother who was a bad student when she suddenly heard that her child got full marks in the exam.

She said happily: "I knew my child was a genius."

"Mom, Luo Luo is distracted. If he is serious, I can only take three moves."

"That's pretty good. As far as I know, many people can't even withstand one of his moves."

Adelaide chatted happily with Roger, and a voice came from outside the door asking for permission. After receiving permission, a fat woman squeezed in the door.

"Hello, madam, hello, Sir Roger." The woman came in and saluted in a flattering manner.

Then she asked for permission: "Do you want to add more food to tonight's meal? The kitchen got a few live catfish today..."

"Catfish!" Roger was shocked, and the scene of the bloody feast came to mind.

Adelaide patted Roger's hand to comfort him, and then said to the woman: "Usule, I don't want catfish. I won't want this dish until Roger takes over as earl. Just make it a little richer tonight."

"Yes, ma'am." Ursula bowed and left.

Adelaide told Roger that this woman was her newly appointed head kitchen manager.

"Where's the original one?" Roger asked.

Adelaide said calmly: "The food he cooked is not to my taste."

So Roger stopped caring.

Roger changed the subject and asked: "How is Simon?"

There was sadness in Adelaide's eyes, and she said: "There is no other way, but this is okay. He has been in pain these years, and it would be better to be relieved as soon as possible."

Roger held her shoulders to comfort her, and Adelaide gradually put away her sad face.

She said: "Go and see him, he is in the original room."

So Roger left the study and found Simon's room by a familiar route.

Before he entered, Roger smelled a strong smell of medicine.

He pushed the door open and saw Simon lying on the bed, looking like a dead man, or already dead.

The maids nearby looked dull, like puppets.

The court physician knelt in front of the bed, as if praying, but his voice was not heard.

Roger could guess how Adelaide would treat Simon after he was called.

Roger just looked at it quietly for a while, then turned and left.

He left as quietly as he came, waving his sleeves as if no one had been here. (Tribute to Xu Zhimo)

Simon's funeral was grand but boring. There were a lot of necessary ceremonies, but except for Adelaide who was very sad, everyone else was acting, including Roger.

The bells rang throughout Messina, no one came to see him off, and the citizens did whatever they had to do.

Roger guessed that many people among the citizens might not realize that they had been ruled by a count named Simon for five years.

Now, he thought, it's my turn.

"Mom, what should I do now?"

Having never been a big leader in his previous life, and having only been a contractor under Baron Rollo, Roger felt that he was not ready to take over as a count.

Feeling guilty, he asked Adelaide for help in the study.

"Authority needs to be established, my son."

Adelaide sat calmly on the earl's seat.

She informed Roger: "I will arrange your conferment ceremony in Palermo, in a month's time.

I have sent people to notify all the vassals, as well as leading figures from all walks of life, famous gentry, and good friends and neighbors.

It will be a great event and everyone will know that Sicily will have a new count, Count Roger."

"So we're moving?" Roger was very happy, he was tired of Messina.

"Yes, Palermo is the largest city in Sicily, and almost all trade between Europe and Africa passes through there. We need to strengthen our control there." Adelaide explained.

"Besides, there is a royal palace left by the Arabs there. I have asked people to clean it up. I heard that the environment is good and very suitable for living. It is not like here, which always makes me feel breathless."

Roger expressed his understanding. He thought that anyone living next to a large chimney that spits out poisonous smoke and dust day and night would find it difficult to breathe.

"Okay, Roger, go get some rest early. We'll leave tomorrow morning. I can't stay here any longer," Adelaide said.

Roger went back to the house to sleep. He was a good boy who obeyed his mother the most.

Roger discovered that moving is a tiring task for commoners, but for nobles it is just a word. There are servants to take care of everything, and all he has to do is maintain his appearance.

At this moment, Roger was newly dressed, riding a "gift", accompanying Adelaide's luxury carriage, and being surrounded by more than a hundred guards, he slowly left the gate of Messina and walked along the northern coastal road.

Slowly proceed towards Palermo.

"Gift" stamped its hooves anxiously and advanced slowly with exaggerated steps like raising its legs.

Roger knew what it meant. Every time "Gift" carried Roger, it was like a racing driver getting into a formula car. It instinctively couldn't stand anyone blocking the way in front of it.

But now there are more than a dozen knights and dozens of guards in front of them, wearing armor and holding sharp weapons, marching in formation.

Roger knew that in the eyes of "Gift", these were all obstacles, and he couldn't bear it anymore.

Roger had to dismount, so he changed to a docile mare to ride on, and let the "gift" go for a walk.

So "Gift" was no longer anxious. Sometimes he would act coquettishly next to Roger, sometimes he would run back and forth, and sometimes he would provoke horses that he felt he could afford to offend.

Roger withdrew his attention and moved closer to Adelaide's carriage.

He asked: "Mom, you talked about establishing authority yesterday, but what is authority?"

Adelaide replied: "As a superior, you need the power and prestige to make people obey. This is authority. It cannot be questioned and provocation will not be tolerated."

Roger was a little confused and asked: "Then what should I do?"

Adelaide smiled and said: "It's very simple. Remember, money and force. If you grasp these two points, things will be simple. Under the double oppression of money and force, no one will disobey us."

"I kind of understand. If you want someone to listen to me, give them money or beat them until they obey. Is that right?"

Adelaide nodded.

Roger continued to ask: "What if my money and force are not enough?"

"Then accumulate slowly, exchange money for force, use force for more money, and use more money for more force.

Just like two human legs, they support each other and keep moving forward until the goal is achieved.

This is how your father transformed from a farmer digging in the fields to a great earl step by step."

Roger fell into deep thought. He thought, isn't this the way businessmen do business?
Chapter completed!