Belton Hartner

This article is lacking in referencesThis article is lacking in references or has not been cited properly. Please cross check the page with officially released material from the author, then add or fix references before removing this notice.*"No one escapes my sights!"*
**Belton Hartner**StatusBiographyRelationshipsMedia

## Relationships

### Relatives

* Former Duke Hartner (Father)
* Duke Hartner's Legal Wife (Mother)
* Lucas Hartner (Elder Half-Brother)
	+ Katie Hartner (Niece)

## Vital status

### Status

Alive

**Belton Hartner** is the second son of duke Hartner, and first-in-line to succeed his father as duke.

## Appearance

Belton's features are not sharp, but they are gentle, the kind of features that the people like.

## Personality

Belton is described as an unscrupulous conspirator, who's willing to resort to cruel methods to achieve his goals, thinking that the end justifies the means. He does not dismiss the humanity of commoners, but believes that it is the commoners' duty to devote themselves to serving noblemen, and that it is the nobility's duty to use commoners in the most efficient way possible. In this way he is very utilitarian.

Incidentally, he does not consider the refugees to be his people, but he does not mind adding them to his citizens if they work hard to make a living.

## History

Belton is the second son of duke Hartner, born to the duke's legal wife, and was thus first-in-line to succeed his father as duke. He was talented in dealing with domestic affairs, had the support of many civil officials and had connections with the central government. He was expected to make further developments in the Hartner Duchy if he were elected.

### Amid Frontlines

After Sauron Duchy was occupied, Hartner Duchy became the new frontline in the conflict with the Amid Empire. Ideally, the two brothers Belton and Lucas should have cooperated, filling what the other lacked, but they were unable to compromise on their two polar opposite plans that they respectively believed was for the best of the duchy. This caused a division in the duchy into two separate factions, consisting of their respective supporters and those who stood to benefit from the execution of either plan.

Belton believed that they ought to strengthen their defenses, while efforts were put into domestic affairs, prioritizing defending the duchy against the Empire's weapons. Meanwhile, Lucas advocated that efforts should be placed in retaking the Sauron Duchy in the name of justice, piercing the Amid Empire's shields and gaining glory for the Hartner Duchy.

### Cultivation project

*Main article: Cultivation Villages*
Believing that the Sauron refugees were the primary cause of public disorder, Belton began relocating them. He started a land reclamation project in remote regions, where he sent the refugees under the pretense of cultivation. These settlements would grow to become the Cultivation Villages. Inhabitants who failed, were to be sent to slave-run mines. This was to squeeze out the rest of the dwindling supply of metal while enacting policies to maintain forts and strengthen garrisons.

Meanwhile, Lucas believed that the refugees should instead be conscripted into the army, where they could be used as disposable, low-grade troops. All the while sinking funds into the army's budget to increase the number of regular soldiers, leaving the maintenance of public order to the guards and adventurers.

Although the plan was to simply leave the refugees to fend for themselves, Belton's cultivation project was going unexpectedly well ... If a cultivation project that had been designed to fail ended up succeeding, those of Belton's faction would praise his ability in managing domestic affairs, even more, advocating that he, who possessed the blood of the duke's legal wife, would manage the duchy far better than his boorish older brother.

### Succession feud

When Kinarp exposed information about Belton's faction, it sparked a scandal, since it became clear that many of Belton's close aides were traitors to humanity. Belton tried restoring his image by utilizing Heinz, and by executing the people responsible, but the damage had already been done. Belton withdrawed from the succession, making Lucas the new Duke Hartner.

Belton is still involved with the management of the duchy as the branch family. Even though it's impossible for himself, he believes he still has a chance to succeed in power, by entrusting things to his child.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Volume 4 Character Summary (Web Novel)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Chapter 73: *Scum approaching from afar and a scoundrel lurking nearby* (LightnovelBastion)