Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio The candlelight flickered, illuminating Laurist's furrowed brows. Below him stood Berunik, Paciko, and a voluptuous woman. The woman was carrying a two-year-old boy. The boy had just woken up and was looking around curiously.
The woman and the little boy were none other than Pachko's wife and son. The couple wondered why Lollister would invite them here with the child after dinner. Not only was Berunik there, but Morosinger, Wiligsan, and Edward were also standing opposite them.
The door to the hall opened, and four middle-aged maids brought in four underage boys and girls. Pachkov and his wife became even more curious, because they all knew that these four boys and girls were the same as Morosinger, Wiligsan, and Edward. They were all the illegitimate children of Lollister's father, which meant that these five boys and two girls were Lollister's half-brothers and sisters from the same father but different mothers.
After a while, the door to the hall opened again. This time, it was Spear and Redi. Redi was carrying a five-year-old boy, and behind them was Miss Bertha.
"Very good. Everyone is here." Laurist spoke up and waved at Redi: "Bring the child over …"
The boy was not afraid of strangers. He asked Laurist in a childish voice, "Who, who are you?"
Laurist laughed and kissed the little boy's face twice. "I'm your uncle. You have to remember that. Right, tell me, what's your name and how old are you? "
The boy thought for a while and said, "I-I'm Herr Harriles. I'm five and a half years old."
"What a good boy." Laurist touched Herriles' face and raised his head. He spoke to Paciko and Mrs. Paciko, who was sobbing with a handkerchief over her mouth. "Paciko, Madam, please come here."
Laurist placed Harriles on the ground and stood up. He bowed to Paciko and said, "I'm sorry, Madam. I've made you suffer. Today, I'll return your child to you."
Mrs. Pacifico shoved the little boy into Pacifico's arms and hugged Harriles tightly. "My child, my child …"
Pacico hugged his son, not knowing what to do. He did not understand what was going on.
"Knight Pacico, I beg you to become Herriles' adoptive father. Is that okay?" Laurist asked Pacico solemnly.
"My Lord, this is, this is …" Pacico stammered, not knowing how to answer. He knew that his wife was originally the Eldest Young Master's maid and gave birth to Harriles for the Eldest Young Master. Later on, Miss Bai Sha wanted Herrelette to be her own son, so she separated him from his mother the moment he was weaned. She then threw her maid to be her wife. This was also the reason why Pacico was not confident when he saw Miss Bai Sha.
When she first met Pacico, his wife missed Herriles very much. She often cried in the middle of the night until she got pregnant and gave birth again. No matter what, Herriles was her first child. No mother would ever forget their first child.
"Knight Pacico, you are a man of integrity and keep your promises. Herriles is the only descendant of my eldest brother. I hope that he can be like a normal child, with fatherly and motherly love, and brothers and sisters to accompany him. I hope that he will become your adoptive son. Under your guidance, he will also have a noble character of integrity and keeping promises. When he is twelve years old, I will bring him back and train him to be a knight like his father, "Laurist said.
Pacico handed the little boy to his wife again and bowed to Laurist in the same solemn manner. "My Lord, I am very happy to become Herriles' adoptive father. My wife is his mother. I am indebted to the Eldest Young Master, so I will treat him like my own child. I will not let you down."
"Thank you, my knight." Laurist once again bowed to Pacico.
Pacico and his wife retreated to the side with the two children. Laurist returned to his seat. "Morosinger, Wiligesang, Edward …"
The three of them walked to the front and bowed to Laurist.
"To be honest, I don't mind your identities. I only know that the blood of Norton flows in your veins. You are my brothers. However, due to the limitations of tradition and customs, I am unable to give you the family's Scarlet Dou Energy for you to cultivate. However, I have obtained these … "Laurist took out three high-grade Dou Energy manuals.
"Morosinger, you are an earth attribute Dou Energy, right? This is for you."
"Wiligesang, you are a metal attribute Dou Energy, this is for you."
"Edward, you are very talented. In just a year, you have cultivated from a newly awakened Dou Energy to a 2-star Bronze rank. I hope that you will continue to work hard. You are a fire attribute Dou Energy, this is for you. In addition, you will receive the family's Knight training and the education of noble etiquette. "
"This is what I, as your brother, should do for you. I hope that you will continue to work hard and advance to the Silver rank. You will become a Knight of the family and add the Norton surname to your names. When you have contributed enough to the family, I will grant you the title of a noble and a branch of the Norton family. I look forward to that day, "Laurist said.
The three of them bowed to Laurist again. "Thank you, my lord."
Lollister beckoned to four middle-aged maids with children, and they came forward with the children.
Laurist said to the four middle-aged maids, "You were once my father's maids and gave me four younger brothers and sisters. Now that you have your own families, I know that you have taken good care of my four younger brothers and sisters. I will keep them by your side and let them enjoy the happiness of a normal family. However, when they reach the age of 12, they must receive the Norton family's Knight training and the education of noble etiquette. As long as they work hard, they will have the same future as their three older brothers. As for you, from this year onwards, you will receive an annual pension to improve your family's life and let your half-brothers and sisters live happier lives. "
The four middle-aged maids bowed to Laurist. "Thank you, my lord."
"You can go back first," Laurist said.
After his half-brothers and sisters left, Laurist said, "Bai Sha …"
Miss Bai Sha walked over obediently. She felt very unfamiliar with Laurist tonight. It was as if she was seeing her father, the former Baron Norton, dealing with affairs. He was dignified, confident, and overbearing.
"Bai Sha, since you have chosen to lead the female battalion's garrison and serve the family, I hope that you will fulfill your duties and follow the family's rules to become an outstanding female knight. However, you must remember that without my permission, you cannot make any decisions on your own and change the rules of the female battalion. Do you understand? "Laurist stared at Bai Sha.
Miss Bai Sha nodded, feeling wronged.
"Today, with Brother Beck, Knight Pacico, and Manager Spear as witnesses, I grant you the position and authority of the female battalion's garrison. You must fulfill your promise, or else don't blame me for being rude. Also, if you are invited, you can visit Knight Pacico's house and visit Herriles. However, I forbid you to disturb them and disturb their peace. Remember my warning, you can leave now. "
… …
"Elina, thank you for giving birth to such a baby for me. He's so cute …" Laurist walked around the room with the baby in his arms. The baby who had just drunk enough milk closed his eyes quietly and wanted to sleep again.
Elina leaned on the bed and watched Laurist walk around with the baby in his arms with a smile of a mother for the first time …
Redi appeared at the door and called out softly, "My lord …"
"What is it?"
"The leader of the Five Swords Mercenary Group is here to receive his reward. He heard that you are here and wants to see you …"
Laurist nodded and gently placed the baby in Elina's arms, "Shhh, be careful. He just fell asleep …"
Elina rolled her eyes at him, annoyed and amused at the same time, "I know. Go ahead."
The Five Swords Mercenary Group brought their families and 1,174 villagers to the Rock Castle in November last year before the first heavy snow of winter. They were then arranged to live in Beiye Town by Steward Codan. Their escape from the old lord's territory was dramatic. They took advantage of the 36th day of the ninth month, when everyone was going to Winderbury City to participate in the harvest festival. They first took the water route and then rode a carriage to the north. Under the guise of escorting refugees to the Kenmers' territory, they successfully passed through the Grand Duchy's Hendriffo Bridge and arrived at the Norton Family's territory.
Leader Duboff saluted Laurist respectfully, and Laurist invited him to sit down and served him tea.
This time, Duboff and his mercenaries brought the heads of more than 50 mountain barbarians to Steward Spear in exchange for the reward and some weapons and equipment.
Duboff reported to Laurist the changes in the situation in the past few months. Since March, the Five Swords Mercenary Group had been stationed at the border between the Norton Family's territory and the Demonic Dragon Mountain Range. They had fought with the mountain barbarians several times at the military fortress at the intersection of the two mountains. At first, there were only three to five of them, but now there were dozens and hundreds of them. The scale was getting bigger and bigger. Duboff suspected that they would soon be besieged by a large number of mountain barbarian riders.
Laurist readily agreed to provide the Five Swords Mercenary Group with a batch of weapons and equipment. He also promised to equip more than 100 members of the Five Swords Mercenary Group with iron armor to improve their defense.
Duboff was overjoyed. He thanked Laurist again and again before leaving.
Laurist only enjoyed the happiness of his family for a little more than a month before an urgent letter from Fatty Shi summoned him back to Monolith Castle.
…
This was the first time the main castle of the Rock Castle was officially used after it was built. The spacious castle hall was filled with all the family knights and civil officials under Laurist. Even Paciko, Berunik, Steward Spear, and Miss Bai Sha from Maple Villa rushed over to attend this meeting.
This time, Miss Bai Sha finally saw the true strength of Laurist. This made her tremble in fear when she faced Laurist for the first time. As the only female knight in the family, there were curious glances at her from time to time. There were also some brave family knights who came up to introduce themselves. Miss Bai Sha was so embarrassed that she hid behind Berunik.
Laurist and Fatty Shi came to the castle hall, followed by Redi and Padt. They held a wooden shelf and a long roll of animal skin paper in their hands.
The hall gradually quietened down. Everyone knew that this meeting concerned the future of the Norton Family and the fate of more than 500,000 subjects.
Padt and Redi set up the shelf and hung the roll of animal skin on it. This was a map of a large family territory.
After Fatty Shi saluted Laurist, he directly explained to everyone in the meeting the grim situation the family was facing and the urgent issue of the settlement of the citizens. He picked up a long wooden stick and started pointing at the map.
"This is the wasteland between Mountain City and Northern Field Town. The family's next mission is to develop this wasteland and turn it into the Norton Family's granary. Everyone, we have divided this wasteland into seven parts and painted them with different colors. This is the wasteland we have divided into seven areas. We will build a town in each of the seven areas, and each town will have more than ten villages. Based on the calculation of one thousand to one thousand five hundred households in a town and three hundred to five hundred households in a village, these seven areas can accommodate at least three hundred to five hundred thousand people, and we can cultivate ten to twenty million mu of land.
This map is the result of a month of hard work by the light cavalry scouts and survey teams, and the sacrifice of dozens of family soldiers. There are still large herds of magical beasts in this wasteland. These are the magical beasts that cross the Demonic Dragon Mountain Range and enter the family's territory during winter. Many of them do not return to the wasteland after winter, but stay in this wasteland. If we want to develop the wasteland, we will first have to deal with these magical beasts.
We plan to use three years to develop this wasteland and build a happy home for our loved ones in this chaotic world. This year, we will get rid of the magical beasts in this wasteland. We will settle the citizens in the villages and towns in the seven districts. We will clear up the fields and sow the winter wheat. We will build the protective walls and shelters. We will repair the roads and prepare for the winter. Everything will be ready before the arrival of winter in November.
Next year, we will expand the roads and roads, build a large scale irrigation system, cultivate the fields, and distribute the fields to the families. Each family will have 50 mu of land, and we will also give each family the necessary farming tools and a horse. The year after next, our lord will fulfill his promise and build a new stone house for each family. All the people who follow us to the family's territory will have a new home.
The family is prepared to invest a million gold fords in this three-year development plan. After distributing the fields to the families, our lord also announced that we will give preferential taxes for three years. In the first year, we will only take 10% of the farm's output, 20% in the second year, and 30% in the third year. After that, we will use 40% as the standard, and no more. As the relatives of the family's soldiers, we will have a 10% discount. I believe that in three years, this wasteland will become a paradise on earth. "
Fatty Shi turned to Laurist, "Sir, you should give this wasteland a name."
"Alright," Laurist stood up, "With a bountiful harvest in sight, happiness, and health. Let's call it Fengle Plains. "
"Everyone has heard about Knight Shredder's plan to develop the wasteland, right? Today is the fourth of July, and there are only four months left until November. Time is tight, and I hope that everyone will be united, work together, and contribute to the family." Laurist bowed to everyone in a knight's salute.
Everyone in the castle stood up, "Sir, we pledge our lives …"
"Knight Josk …"
"Sir, we await your orders." Josk took a step forward.
"Where are my Fierce Tiger Knights?"
"Sir, your Fierce Tiger Knights are on standby at all times!" Rod Wales stood beside Josk excitedly.
"Where are my knights?"
Terman walked out, "Sir, your knights will always be your most loyal swords …"
"My eyes, where is Knight Yuri?"
"Sir, what you are pointing to is the direction we are heading in!" Yuri also stood out.
"Very good. Cavalry archers, armored spearmen, knights, light cavalry scouts, and light cavalry. I order you to wipe out the magical beasts in the wasteland, and exterminate all of them before September. "
"Yes, sir."
"Knight Vasimir …"
"Here, sir." Knight Vasimir walked to the front.
"Your cavalry platoon will be incorporated into the Cavalry, and you will be Knight Ross's assistant when you go into battle."
"Yes, sir."
Laurist looked at everyone in the hall, "Knight Bofinger's heavy armor platoon will be in charge of the security of the immigrant camp. Ovekis's guard platoon will be in charge of the defense of Monolith Castle. Pacico's guard platoon will be in charge of the defense of Maplewood Manor, and pay attention to supporting the Five Swords guarding the two mountain fortresses. Freya's three guard platoons will be escorting the citizens to the settlement area, and will be left behind according to the size of one platoon per village, and one platoon per town. El, lead the guard platoon to watch over the captives and build the roads. Everyone else, listen to Knight Shredder's orders. No mistakes are to be made. "
"Yes, sir."
"Knight Malek, please step forward," Laurist said.
"Sir …" Malek walked in front of Laurist.
"Knight Malek, as a lord, I order you to take a vacation from now until you reach the Gold rank," Laurist said with a smile.
"But sir, the family is at a critical juncture right now, I need to contribute …"
"No, no, no. You have already delayed the convoy for a long time. I have already ordered Knight Berunik to be Knight Freya's assistant, and lead the garrison platoon on your behalf. You should take your vacation in peace, and it won't be too late to serve the family when you reach the Gold rank. This is my request, and also my command. You cannot disobey. "
"Alright, thank you, sir." A rare look of gratitude appeared on Malek's unchanging face, and he gave Lollister a Knight's salute.
… …
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