Blue sky, white clouds, and a small town.
A few hundred people had gathered in the square, but they were now looking at Viscount Aslan, who was covered in feathers. Laurist did not join in the fun. He turned into an alley with Schwald and leisurely looked around at the scenery of White Bird Town.
The ground was made of large rocks mixed with pebbles, shells, and clay. Although it was not very flat, it was very clean. There were no piles of trash in the corners. The houses on both sides of the alley had stone walls and pointed roofs. Green moss grew in the cracks of the walls. There were wooden racks for drying dried fish in a few empty spaces, and the faint smell of fish wafted over with the wind.
The alley was very quiet and winding. After walking for a while, they reached the end of the alley. It was connected to another road that surrounded White Bird Town. This road was wider and could allow carriages to pass. On the other side of the road was a large beach full of green plants. It was low tide. Dozens of people were picking up something on the seabed with their baskets or on their backs. The adults were still fine. They had rolled up their pants and were barefoot. They were poking at the mud with a small wooden stick, but the children had taken off their clothes and turned into mud monkeys …
"Teacher, this place is completely different from the north. The scenery is beautiful," Schwald said.
Laurist looked into the distance. "This is an island, so of course it's different from the north. The north is vast and the sky is high, and the clouds are thin. It's desolate and heroic. However, this is a pearl in the sea. The sea is vast, and the water is blue. It's a good place. It's a pity that the second prince is blind and doesn't know that he's in such a good place. He actually abandoned this place and let us take advantage of it. I find it laughable. "
Schwald tilted his head, confused. "Teacher, why do you say that? It's inconvenient to travel to and from Syrovas Island, and the arable land on the island isn't large. It should be the right choice for the second prince to abandon the island and return to the capital."
"Ideas, Schwald, you have to change your ideas. The size of the arable land isn't the most important foundation for a family or a country to prosper. I told you last time that the conditions for winning a war are actually a battle of resources and manpower. It wasn't like how it was several centuries ago, when a single knight and several dozen attendants could decide the outcome of a battle. Battles involving tens of thousands of soldiers were a common occurrence in Galinthea. That was why I didn't think that His Highness Second Prince would be able to unify the Empire with just 300,000 soldiers.
The Andinac Kingdom has a total of six provinces, and His Highness is using almost one province to support an army. He can barely maintain it by relying on the output of the land. You've heard that the taxes in the territories under the direct jurisdiction of the royal family reach 70%. This is already considered tyranny. If this continued, it would be very difficult for the commoners to make a living. No matter how grand the second prince's excuse was, in fact, he was already sitting on the crater of a volcano.
Just look at the map and you'll know that Siroas Island is actually the center of this sea. Controlling Siroas Island is equivalent to controlling nearly a thousand miles of coastline. In terms of attack, we can attack the coastal provinces of the Andinac Kingdom or even the Redelis Kingdom at any time. As for defense, as long as we retreat to Cirvas Island, the enemy won't be able to do anything to us no matter how many ships they have. Of course, the prerequisite is that our family has to control a powerful fleet.
This is just a military consideration. Think about it, Schwald. What if we use Siroas Island as a trading hub? "Laurist asked.
Schwald thought for a moment and answered, "Just like attacking, our family can import snow salt and other specialties to the coastal provinces in exchange for money or supplies our family needs. Even if the arable land on the island is gone, we can still exchange for a large amount of food for our use. Isn't that right, teacher? "
"You're only half right. Our family also wants to build a powerful armed fleet and turn the sea from here to the north into our family's maritime territory. We can use Siroas Island to sail our merchant ships to any coastal city in Galinthea that we can reach. As long as trade continues, money will continue to flow in, and our family will become stronger and stronger. That's why I think it's a foolish decision for His Highness to give up on this place. He's still thinking the same way, "Laurist said sarcastically.
"Teacher, I think you're becoming more and more confident recently. Just like Sir Josk said, you're becoming more and more domineering. You're becoming more and more like a lord," Schwald complimented.
Laurist patted his head, "Good, you've learned to flatter me. Remember, Schwald, confidence comes from the family's strength. The stronger the family, the more confidence you have. Just like how we dealt with Viscount Aslan, we didn't have to give His Highness face. His 300,000 soldiers can scare other nobles, but it's useless against us. We all know that even if we fall out with His Highness, with the strength of our family's armed forces, His Highness won't be able to do anything to us.
Think about it, if this was a few years ago, when we led the caravan north to return to our family's territory, would we have thought this day would come? At that time, forget about His Highness' 300,000 soldiers, even that Count Kou something we ran into? His 10,000-strong family army already made us tremble with fear. For the past few years, we've buried ourselves in our family's territory like a turtle hiding its head in its shell. Even the Duke of the North and the second prince have treated our family like a soft persimmon that anyone can pinch. But now, the Duke of the North is paralyzed on his bed, and the second prince has become our prisoner.
We don't do things in one go, because even if you occupy a large territory, it's all for naught if you don't develop. Just like now, even if our family's armed forces are completely wiped out, we can still build a second or third family's armed forces in our territory. It's because of this that we're not afraid of any enemies. Development is the most important thing, understand? "
"Development is the most important thing? Teacher, your words are so awkward. But it does sound reasonable. It was just like how I felt indifferent when I heard that the Second Prince had 300,000 soldiers. You're right, it's because of our family's strength that I don't think 300,000 soldiers is anything to be afraid of. "Schwald nodded, and then a rumbling sound came from his stomach.
Laurist laughed involuntarily. "Brat, why didn't you say you were hungry earlier? Come, let's find a place to eat first. I've forgotten to eat since we got off the ship. "
There was a brown wooden sign at the corner in front of them. A white bird was drawn on it, and the words "White Bird Restaurant" were written on it.
"I didn't expect there to be a restaurant in this town. I thought we'd have to go to the Sailor Bar or the tavern in town to eat. Come, let's go take a look, "Laurist said.
The restaurant wasn't big. It was obvious that the wall between the living room and the dining room had been torn down, and there were only six small square tables. The small square tables were covered with a linen tablecloth with blue checkered edges, and there was a small flower basket filled with wildflowers on it. Although the decoration of the restaurant was a little crude, it was unusually clean and tidy.
It was around three in the afternoon, and there were only a few customers sitting at the two tables by the wall. A chubby old man with a red nose saw Laurist and Schwald push open the door and enter. He was stunned at first, and then shouted loudly, "Hey, look who's here. Isn't this the lord who just came to our Cilowas Island? I didn't expect the lord to come to this little restaurant … "
The red-nosed old man's face was red, and he had probably drunk a little too much. Laurist didn't mind his rudeness, and instead nodded at the other customers, then smiled, "I'm the lord, but I need to eat and sleep too. What's wrong with eating in a restaurant when I'm hungry? "
After saying that, he found an empty table and sat down. He gestured for Schwald to sit in front of him and asked, "How do I order here?"
The red-nosed old man stared at Laurist for a long time, then turned and shouted upstairs, "Natalia, you have a customer. You definitely didn't expect the lord to come here to eat. Right, tell little Martha not to come down. The lord is a pervert, he'll take her away the moment he sees her …"
Schwald was furious. He was about to slam the table and scold the red-nosed old man, but he saw Laurist shaking his head with a smile, "Don't you think this old man is very cute? Now that he's calling us, we know there's a beauty here … "
A middle-aged woman with a bucket-like waist hurried over and bowed respectfully to Laurist, "Sir, what would you like to eat?"
"What do you have here that can be served immediately?"
"Sir, we have oatmeal bread, small meatballs, sausages, grilled herring, and fried ones. There's also kelp soup, large conch, sea crab, fried bread, small stone crab, and small loach. There's also mashed potatoes, boiled apples, and seafood pie … "
"Let's have a seafood pie, small meatballs, oatmeal bread, two servings of fried herring and kelp soup. What's that fried bread and stone crab? Let's have some. Right, what do you have here to drink? "Laurist asked.
"Sir, we only have self-brewed mountain fruit wine. It's not bad."
"Then let's have some as well. If there's fresh fruit, bring some as well."
"Yes, sir. Please wait a moment, I'll bring the food to you right away." The middle-aged woman with a bucket-like waist left in a hurry.
Soon, Laurist and Schwald saw the beauty, Martha. She was about seventeen or eighteen years old. She had chestnut-colored long hair, large gray eyes, and a few freckles on the side of her nose. She looked exceptionally lively and mischievous. Coupled with her fair skin and graceful figure, Laurist gave her eighty out of ten.
Martha was here to deliver the food. She specially introduced each dish. Laurist didn't expect the food of this little restaurant to be so delicious. He didn't have time to admire the beauty, and instead focused on the food in front of him. What Laurist liked the most was the fried bread and stone crab. It was the kind of small crab found on the beach. After being cleaned, it was wrapped in bread crumbs and fried in oil until it was golden brown. Even the shell was crisp when one bit into it. It was delicious when paired with the sweet and sour mountain fruit wine. After Laurist finished one serving, he ordered two more in succession to satisfy his appetite.
"The food here is very delicious. Please help me calculate how much it will cost." Laurist wiped his mouth with a white linen napkin in satisfaction and said to the beauty Martha.
"Sir, we are honored by your presence. This meal will be our welcome to you …" The middle-aged woman with a bucket-like waist appeared behind the beauty Martha and bowed respectfully.
"Hehe, no need. I'm the lord, not here to eat and dash." Laurist took out a large silver coin and placed it on the table. "Is it enough?"
"Oh, no, sir. This is too much. You've only spent three small silver coins …"
One gold coin was equivalent to twenty large silver coins, and one large silver coin was equivalent to five small silver coins.
"This is more than enough as a tip. Schwald, give me another three gold coins. Bring me seventy meals tonight. There's a ship called Dawn's Flying Fish docked at the pier. Deliver 21 portions of food to me, and send the rest to the town hall. If there's any excess, I'll buy your self-brewed wild fruit wine. Oh, and when the food is ready, you can inform us at the town hall. I'll send some guards to help you deliver the food, "Laurist instructed.
The middle-aged woman looked at the three gold coins and one large silver coin on the table and nodded hesitantly. "Very well, sir. We'll do as you say."
After filling their stomachs, the two took a stroll around White Bird Town. Along the way, the townsfolk who recognized Laurist as the new lord would occasionally bow to them. Laurist would always return a warm and friendly smile.
In the end, Laurist's teeth were sore from laughing so much that he returned to the town hall. The sky was already turning dark, and Freya, Josk, and the rest had already returned with their troops. However, the town hall was as chaotic as a market. Apart from the crowd of onlookers, there were also three to four hundred people squatting on the ground with their hands tied. There were men and women of all genders.
"Sir, we're back. We've brought everyone from Seaview Manor back. We've left a squad of ten marines to guard the place," Freya reported to Laurist at the entrance of the town hall.
"How are the casualties?" Laurist asked.
"Sir, we didn't suffer any casualties. However, the manor's guards started to fight back. After we killed some of them, they tried to escape through the back door, but Aire and Padt stopped them. In the end, twenty-seven of the guards died. None of the eight nobles who occupied the manor escaped. We've captured them all. "
"Who are these tied up people?"
"Sir, these are the servants and maids of Seaview Manor. Didn't you say to bring everyone back? We did as we were told, "Freya replied.
"Ugh …" Laurist slapped his forehead. He didn't expect the nobles to treat Seaview Manor as their own territory and assign so many servants to serve them.
"Why are they being guarded by our marines and guards? Where's the garrison? " Laurist found it strange that he didn't see a single garrison member. Could it be that the hundred men retreated as soon as the battle started?
"Oh, they went back for dinner. They said they'll send another group over after dinner," Aire explained.
That's more like it, Laurist thought as he rubbed his chin.
"Sir, we've had a long day. We only managed to get some food to fill our stomachs in Seaview Manor. How are we going to settle dinner?" Padt came over. His armor was still stained with blood. It was said that he'd cut the last guard who resisted in half.
"Alright, I've already ordered food from a small restaurant in town. It should be here soon." Laurist looked at the sky.
"Sir, there's a woman who said the food is ready and wants us to get it." Speak of the devil, a guard came over to report.
"I'll go, I'm starving." Padt turned around and left.
Then, a shrill scream startled everyone.
Laurist heard the scream and went over to see the beautiful Marsha squatting on the ground, crying. Padt, on the other hand, was at a loss, looking confused.
"What's going on?"
Marsha stopped crying in embarrassment when she saw Laurist. She stuttered as she explained the reason. She was frightened by Padt's bloodstains, and Padt's ferocious expression as he charged at her, causing her to cry on the spot.
With the misunderstanding cleared, Laurist let Padt and a few guards follow Marsha to get food. He also cleaned his armor by the well behind the restaurant before returning to the town hall. As soon as he entered, he heard a hoarse voice shouting, "How dare you attack us! Our Reid Family will not let you off! You're declaring war on our family …"
Laurist walked in with a sullen face. "What are you doing? Listening to them talk about how powerful their family is? Someone, drag the loudest one out and give him a hundred lashes. The rest of you, fifty lashes each. Hang them for another night. Use more force. It doesn't matter if you die. "
A few guards came in and grabbed the loudest one by his hair and dragged him out. The screams were endless.
"Knight Shredder, have you become softhearted after staying in your family's territory for a few years? You don't match your title as a demon in the Andinac Kingdom!" Laurist's voice was stern.
"Sir, I just want to ask who instructed them to occupy the manor in our territory." Fatty Shi shrugged helplessly.
"Do you even need to ask? Didn't you see how many servants they have? It's obvious that their master is behind this. They're taking advantage of the fact that our two territories are too far apart to care. They just want to make it a fact. We just need to know which family they are from. When the thousand soldiers from our family arrive, we'll set off for the imperial capital to settle the score with their family. "
"Oh right, Knight Shredder, take some people with you to screen the servants outside tonight. Tomorrow, we'll move to Ocean View Manor. We'll also take some people to Faramar Village for a stroll. The sooner the pus is squeezed, the faster it will heal, "Laurist said.
…
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