PS. I have something to attend to today, so I'm updating early.
In May, in Brittany, within the domain of Baron Jean.
Ryan, along with Gaston and Kasenberg, was patrolling his territory.
Lopes was officially knighted as one of Ryan's ranger knights. At the same time, Ryan had planned to knight Alfred as well, but the paladin politely expressed his wish to continue serving the God of Justice.
This paladin requested a piece of land from Ryan to construct a chapel dedicated to the God of Justice and began spreading the faith among the serfs.
Although the town already had a temple dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy, Saria, the Church of Mercy raised no objections. This was partly because the gods had agreed to fair competition in faith without interference from each other, and partly because the Church of Justice and the Church of Mercy have always had a good relationship. Therefore, the construction of Alfred's chapel was not contested by the Church of Mercy.
Moreover, an outstanding wandering knight named Olivier, bearing a recommendation letter from the Duke of Marlinburg, Schultz, who is also the duke's relative, arrived in Ryan's domain. Only twenty-six years old, Olivier possessed exceptional skills in both lance and swordplay, and his handsome, rugged appearance added to his charm. His formidable physique was particularly eye-catching.
After testing Olivier, Ryan found his abilities to be genuine and promptly knighted him as a ranger knight.
Now, Ryan had two ranger knights under his command, with three more ranger knight positions and two kingdom knight positions still available for appointment.
As the weather fluctuated, Ryan, followed by a few of his soldiers, Gaston, and his new steward Kasenberg, continued inspecting his domain along the road.
Unlike many knightly lords, Ryan preferred not to travel with a large contingent of soldiers, given his formidable strength. He didn't need protection. As the baron generously funded various projects, his domain was engulfed in a vigorous atmosphere of building a new rural area for the Britannian Knight Kingdom. New buildings were erected every few days, dilapidated walls were reinforced, muddy roads were re-laid, and Jean's town was expanded. More wastelands were reclaimed, and the newly knighted ranger knights, Lopes and Olivier, led soldiers to repeatedly clear out bandits to protect these lands.
As for the orc tribes in the northern Charlon Forest, due to "special reasons," they had been quiet until now, focusing their attacks on villages along the borders of the Duchies of Bordelro and Bastogne instead.
This caught the attention of a significant figure, the Duke of Bastogne, "Beast Butcher" Berchemond, a Sacred Cup Knight of the Red Dragon family. He personally led his knights into battle, defeating the orc tribes on the brink of death and ensuring no orc scum trespassed on his territory. After confirming this, the Red Dragon Duke returned to his castle to rest.
To seize the brief period of peace, Ryan personally supervised the progress of many projects.
"My baron, we've been pushing these serfs as hard as we can, but no matter how much pressure the soldiers apply, their efficiency won't improve," Gaston reported the difficulties to Ryan, unable to comprehend their sluggishness despite the baron's generous provision of food.
"Let's go have a look, shall we, Kasenberg? Continue with your introduction," Ryan suggested, indicating for his entourage to return to his castle.
"Yes, my baron. We were discussing the previous Baron Jean, Daniel, who was knighted for his valor in the vampire wars about fifty years ago," Kasenberg explained clearly and concisely, ensuring everyone could understand him. "Baron Jean was considered an outstanding lancer, always fighting with a lance and earning glory on the battlefield."
After a two-week trial, Ryan found his new steward to be exceptionally capable and knowledgeable about the kingdom's history and various anecdotes, just as the Duke of Wintfort had claimed.
"Sounds like an outstanding knight. Did he embark on the path to the Holy Grail?" Ryan mused as he walked down the well-trodden path, greeted warmly by his subjects. Since his arrival, Ryan had adopted the same tax rate as Duke Wintfort, quickly earning the love and respect of his people.
"No... As far as I know, Baron Daniel devoted himself entirely to the war against the greenskins, joining King John II's army across the Black Mountains and into the southern realms, reaching the border prince's territory by the River Evilwater," Kasenberg continued, recounting the past as Gaston looked on with dismay.
Ryan knew what happened next. Initially, the Britannian knights achieved minor victories, prompting a deluded King John II to attempt a rapid crossing of the River Evilwater to engage the orcs directly.
In a sense, he succeeded, but when the knights were halfway across the river, they were met by an orc army numbering over a hundred thousand. The battle's brutality was said to have brought tears to the Lady of the Lake.
In the end, only about ten percent of the knights made it back to Britannia, and King John II was overthrown a few years later by the dukes and the Witch of the Lake.
It seemed the previous Baron Jean had died in the battle at River Evilwater.
"My baron, the furniture from the castle has been moved to the Jean vineyard, and the servants have also relocated there. You can reside in the vineyard for now until the castle renovation is complete, and then we'll proceed with the vineyard's refurbishment," Gaston interjected, cutting off Kasenberg, likely to spare him from recounting the defeat again.
"How long will it take to complete the castle renovations?" Ryan inquired, not dwelling on the subject.
"Four months should suffice to repair the castle walls and many other facilities. However, the independent tower and interior decorations you requested will take more time," Kasenberg replied, following Ryan closely. "The exact timeline depends on the rainy season."
"It seems I'll be residing in the estate this year," Ryan shrugged, indifferent to his temporary accommodations.
As they approached Ryan's baronial castle, hundreds of serfs were working systematically under the supervision of merchants' overseers and Ryan's soldiers. Amidst the shouting and clamor, the serfs transported various materials.
Craftsmen sent by the wealthy merchant Ismael were constructing the castle.
Ryan noticed the serfs' lack of enthusiasm. Their expressions were calm, even numb, complying with the overseers' demands without extra effort.
"This is the maximum number we can muster?" Ryan inquired, turning to Gaston.
"Yes, my baron. Recruiting more would affect the domain's defense and cultivation," Gaston observed the serfs' low efficiency, speaking with a tone of disgust and annoyance. "Such ungrateful wretches, despite the baron's provision of good food, still slack off. My baron, I'll urge them to speed up."
"Hold on, Gaston. First, tell me about the food we're providing these serfs," Ryan halted Gaston, remaining composed.
"My baron, please come this way," Gaston hesitated, then led Ryan behind a tent.
Inside, farmwomen were preparing lunch, consisting mainly of thin porridge and equally thin stew.
"Oh! My lord baron!" The farmwomen knelt upon seeing Ryan.
"Is this what we're serving the serfs?" Ryan frowned, approaching the large pot. "Get me a bowl and spoon!"
"Yes!" Kasenberg quickly fetched a plain wooden bowl and spoon.
"Oh, heavens! My lord baron, esteemed Holy Grail knight, this is mere peasant food. How could you partake?" A corpulent farmwoman protested as Ryan took the spoon from her, insisting she kneel.
Ignoring her, Ryan stirred the pot vigorously, scooped up a bowl, and tasted it. "You two, try it as well."
Kasenberg and Gaston reluctantly served themselves, sampling the thin flour and barley mixture with some unidentified vegetables. This was the free lunch provided for the serfs.
Surprisingly, the meal was decent by Holy Grail knight standards.
To Ryan, who had experienced life in the Celestial Empire, this was barely fit for swine.
Yet, in this world, such porridge was already an improvement for serfs.
What did Britannian serfs usually eat?
Breads made from buckwheat, rye, bran, and even mud mixed together.
Porridges even thinner than Ryan's, made from crushed peas or chestnuts.
Occasionally, serfs could hunt for some meat, though this was limited, as the law stated all animals on the domain belonged to the lord. Serfs caught touching the lord's property risked severe punishment, but some animals like rabbits and birds, considered pests, were exceptions allowed for serf hunting.
In spring and summer, serfs could also enjoy some fish.
Access to chicken, duck, goose, and pork was reserved for the Lake Lady's Descent Day in autumn. On this day, even the stingiest lords would open their storerooms, offering bread and some meat to the serfs, who could indulge to the point of bursting.
High-quality meats like beef, lamb, and turkey were beyond their wildest dreams, with even knights rarely partaking.
"My baron, this food is already generous. Any more, and those mud-legs might think they've become knights!" Gaston lamented, dismayed by the serfs' lackluster work despite the food provided. "Yet, with such provisions, they still slack off. Tomorrow, I'll cut off their food supply, forcing them to bring their own."
"My dear Gaston, I think the issue isn't with what we're providing but how it's distributed," Ryan set aside his bowl, addressing his tax collector and steward. "Consider, if you were a serf, guaranteed this meal just for working, would you prefer the project to drag on or finish quickly?"
"Ah!" Gaston realized the flaw, and Kasenberg instinctively touched his bald head, understanding the logic.
As long as work meant food, why rush? Their mindset was simple; tangible differences and incentives were needed to motivate them, not abstract principles.
"Order issued! From tomorrow, divide the serfs into groups! The fastest and best workers will enjoy meat soup and barley bread! Those who work somewhat quickly will have this meal," Ryan commanded, setting down his bowl.
"Those who lag behind the normal pace get only the poorest black bread, and the slowest group will receive no food supply at all, forcing them to bring their own!"
"Yes!" Gaston and Kasenberg immediately complied, both fully endorsing the baron's directive.
As they left to arrange matters, Ryan stood alone on the hillside, deep in thought.
Gaston, the competent tax collector, was the Lady of the Lake's emissary, her loyal servant.
Kasenberg, the exceptional steward, came recommended by Duke Wintfort, his man.
In a way, both were overseers sent by superiors, a fact clear to Ryan, Gaston, and Kasenberg.
Some truths required tacit understanding. Ryan knew he couldn't naively rely only on trusted allies; his circle needed capable, yet diverse individuals. This ensured his superiors' confidence and his trustworthiness to them, the Lady of the Lake, and Duke Wintfort.
Childish notions of good and bad were irrelevant; adults weighed pros and cons. Ryan's potential was vast, and precautions were necessary. Many human talents had fallen into chaos, noble exteriors hid devotees of dark gods, vampires lurked within the realm, and agents of chaos hid among the populace. Ryan would guard against others as they would against him, with the Lady of the Lake particularly wary of her champion being led astray.
Having such overseers ensured Ryan's actions were immediately known, showcasing his excellence. Convincing these men to pledge their loyalty was not just a matter of necessity but a source of satisfaction.
Mid-thought, Kasenberg suddenly returned, breathless. "My baron, a messenger from the Lady has arrived! Princess Morgiana herself has come to the domain of Baron Jean!"
"What?!";
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