Blood tax

"Good morning, Griffith~"

Sonia appeared in the halo of magic with thick textbooks and handouts, and happily greeted the knight outside the teleportation circle.

"Griffith, even if you don't go back to class, the final exam won't disappear~"

It is already May, and Sonia has carefully prepared the notes for each class, so there is no need to worry about omissions!Griffith, Lana and his team were still stranded in Verona after the victory in the battle. They didn't know what to do in Ravenel, and she asked for leave to come here.

Fiona arrived two hours earlier than her.

You have to make up homework for your own knights, and then ask carefully how you spend each Monday, three, five, two, four, and six.

"Thank you, Sonia~ I was worried about my homework~"

Griffith nodded slightly to the Countess.He was in military uniform, but not armor. The open collar of the light cavalry uniform revealed double swords, silver oak leaf knight eagle badges and a bronze-like broad chest.His sword-brows and black hair pierce the waves like a warship as he salutes the lovely lady, and the proudest bull in the arena would feel ashamed.

He has long been waiting on the mage tower.The damp morning mist has not dissipated yet, and there is a strange and long muffled sound outside the window.The knight looked sideways, and the profile of his face was reminiscent of the head of Julius the Conqueror on the Bayeran gold coin, every line was resolute and distinct.

Sonia looked up and stared blankly for a while.Until the knight turned his head back, the hot snorting heat wave scalded her small pink mouth, and the inexplicable taste almost made her suffocate, afraid that the strong and vigorous jaw would eat herself in one bite.

The countess took a small step back, lowered her head, and held the book in her arms a little higher.

"Sorry, the steam engines are out of order again," Griffith smiled awkwardly. "We shouldn't let them run at full capacity."

Sonia ignored her, hugged the textbook tightly and gasped for breath.

I mean, what's the matter, it's because I didn't study hard to make her angry... Griffith felt that he had made a mistake. Seeing the handout thicker than a shield in the girl's arms, he quickly stretched out his hand:

"I lay upon books as a hungry man upon bread—"

Sonia "Zeng" jumped back like a bunny.

Griffith was extremely embarrassed: "Well, I'm not particularly hungry, I can wait..."

Saying so, he raised his arms and turned towards the direction of the stairs.A moment later, there was the rustling sound of the skirt from behind, and the soft white hands obediently took his arm, and there was a faint sense of oppression, which made the mood of the whole day so good that it was about to fly.

"Show me your manor~"

Griffith's Verona estate is an estate surrounded by fields.

Everyone thought that it was a few cold, dry and simple stone houses, messy fields, swamps and woods, and they ate radishes and chestnuts for dinner every day, at least that's what Griffith told Sonia before.

In fact, the manor house is surrounded by a small stream with a small stone bridge over it.Inside the stone walls are the ancient hall, kitchen, laundry, bakery and wine cellar.There are swans and herons in the creek outside the walls, pigeons flitting around the dovecot and geese, chickens and partridges are kept in the yard.Various farmhouses, barns, windmills, stables and stables are scattered in the plains and villages outside the estate.

This is a very old place because it was once a bit dilapidated due to disrepair.

Soon after Roland's men took over, farmers, carpenters, blacksmiths, stonemasons, traveling merchants, militiamen and administrators kept the place in order.Immigrants sent from all over the place made the farms, mines and markets lively.They formed villages, surrounding the lord's estate in the centre.

There's even an abandoned mage's tower here.After strengthening and repairing, it can already provide convenience for wizards and extraordinary people who come and go.

"What are you doing?"

Sonia put down the textbook and asked the knight to take her around.Tonight, the manor will hold a banquet to entertain the allies who helped Griffith fight and manage the territory.

At a time like this, it would be impossible not to have a gentle and beautiful lady to entertain everyone... Sonia felt that she had an inescapable obligation.In order to do this job well, she needs to have an in-depth knowledge of the territory.

In addition, she was particularly worried about Griffith's safety.

The bad news spread in Baiyelan, and the mysterious world was rumored that a hand of God had been defeated, and the final miracle was one step closer.

Just offer enough sacrifices!
"Originally there were many swamps here, and the land was divided into small pieces. It was very laborious to cultivate and transport, and it also bred diseases."

Griffith is very relaxed, there is no pressure of the upcoming war.He took the countess to the outside of the manor's wall, pointed to the plain in the distance and said:
"Several wizards from the Ravenel family tried to transform this place, but they didn't gain much.

"We, um, mainly the people supported by Roland selected some ponds, built dams, built gates, and then used steam engines to pump the water from the swamp and drain it into the pre-selected pools."

Sonia followed curiously, and saw a stretch of newly reclaimed wasteland, with wooden bridges built on ditches and rivers, and flat-bottomed boats coming and going under the bridges.

A little farther away, you can see the shrubs that have just been cleared, and the waist-deep plants have been cut down and piled up with the roots of the upturned trees, extending towards the open field.

Farther away, some dark and heavy machines stood by the river, and workers around them kept adding coal to them.The steam engine made a huge roar, spewed out thick smoke, and pumped the stagnant water from the semi-dry swamp and poured it into the river.

Sonia understood after watching it for a while, "You use steam engines to drain the swamp and level the land. As long as there is enough fuel, this work can be done day and night. Wizards can't last long!"

"This is also one of the biggest uses of Roland's steam engine," Griffith said. "We just arrived, but we can also help. The landscape changes every week because of our work. This is much more interesting than the spell calculation. "

"But it's hard work!"

"That's natural. The most troublesome thing to clean up the swamp is a kind of small insect, which chases people and bites fiercely. The skin after the bite will soon appear red rashes, which are very itchy. Every day at noon, swarms of gadflies come again Then I harassed everyone until the evening. At night, there were countless mosquitoes, not to mention the blood-sucking insects in the water.

"Everyone thought of a way to cover their heads with a cloth, and only dug a few holes in the eyes, nostrils, and mouth.

"When I get up in the morning, I wash my face first, and then use mud on my face, neck, and arms, otherwise I will have to fight mosquitoes all day."

Sonia asked worriedly: "Then what should we do?"

"Just keep going, keep going, and all greatness requires sacrifice," Griffith said. "The swamp is receding, and we're killing the bug habitat. Their numbers, and the diseases they spread, are decreasing."

"Awesome!" Sonia grabbed the knight's arm excitedly, "I knew Griffith that you would be a good lord!"

Griffith grinned and shook his head:

"I've only been here for a few days and I've only done some minor work.

"It's amazing the hardworking and courageous natives and immigrants.

"The weather is much warmer now. In order to catch up with the progress in winter, they didn't stop to rest. On cold days, the accumulated water on the ground formed a thin layer of ice. After a day's work, they were covered with mud. The shoes are also covered with ice. No one dares to take off their shoes when they go to bed at night, because the next day they will be as cold as ice lumps and unwearable.

"Many people's fingernails were frozen. Some people's shoes were frozen together with their feet. If they couldn't take off their shoes, they went to warm themselves in the fire. Once they were baked, all ten toenails fell off."

"Oh~" Sonia trembled all over.

People and goods coming and going made the narrow road appear congested.Sonia didn't care, she touched here and there curiously, and avoided passing carts and puddles on the ground lightly from time to time.

The fluttering skirt and the girl's slender waist filled the air with a seductive fragrance, and the passers-by almost couldn't walk.

As far as the eye could see were plowed fields, or swamps being repaired.Finally, a huge camp came into view.

The camp consists of dense gray tents and wooden huts, stretching to the foot of the mountain in the distance.

"There is?"

"A temporary settlement for immigrants," Griffith said. "As more immigrants arrive, the rate of reclamation will increase. We also house many prisoners of war here, absorbing them. This is the most recent period of time for all of us. main job."

"Do they have something to eat? There are tens of thousands of people here!"

"Don't worry, the money from Weifu coupons allows us to buy machines, farm tools and seeds, as well as the initial rations. The new arable land will be harvested in a few months, and our harvest this year will be at least ten times higher than last year. .”

"Will there be so many?!"

"Of course, in other places where the wasteland was pioneered earlier, it took more than a month to harvest the grain on the newly reclaimed land.

"After the river channel is improved, canal steamships can pass, and the transportation efficiency of grain, minerals and other bulk goods has increased several times.

"We're just short of manpower.

"As long as there is enough labor, we can dye the world."

Griffith looked into the distance.Whenever he watched this thriving scene, he felt an irresistible pride.

If the mysterious world still clings to the ancient rubble, fear and resistance to the new civilization, the wheel of the times will run over them.

Griffith reached out and grabbed the bouncing countess, making her stop, staring into those blue eyes:

"Sonia, I have something very important to tell you."

Sonia's face suddenly turned pale.She was still very excited, trembling slightly, people could hear her heartbeat half a meter away.

"Sonia, the final contest of the Hand of God is approaching. Both Aaron and Commodus went deep into the mysterious forbidden area, asking the unspeakable existence for the key to victory.

"Before I face my fate, I want you to know that... I..."

I have found the key to victory.This new world will create an army for me against the apostles of the gods.However, I also want to unite all forces that can be united...

I needed Sonia, and I needed to enlist her and her friends in the living room to support me.

The next battle will inevitably be against the wizard class, as well as some elders and nobles.However, as long as you explain your strategy and principles clearly, and make it clear that some spellcasters can also become your allies, the empathetic Sonia will definitely...

The girl was staring at him starry.She even wobbled a bit, as if she was about to fall.A flush of excitement had already climbed onto her fair and pretty face.No matter how much she paid attention to the Countess's manners and etiquette, Sonia was so considerate and understanding when the two were alone.

Trust Sonia anytime, no doubt about it!
Griffith took a deep breath, and sincerely and seriously prepared to reveal all his considerations during this period of time.

"Griffith!"

The countess took a sudden step forward, almost leaning on the knight's chest.There seems to be a hazy golden light between the eyes, which brightens up the world.

"Well, what, what?" Griffith, who was planning a big plan to change the world, was a little flustered for a while.There was a strange, sweet and gentle premonition that came out vaguely, making him inexplicably aware of what was going to happen next.

"I like you!"

Sonia grabbed Griffith's hand, trembling and trembling, followed the soft and slender touch of her fingers, and took a small bite on the beating heart.Her voice was soft, but clearly heard by the whole world.

Then she repeated, at the top of her voice:
"I like you!"

……

Local officials and servants have been planning a banquet since the previous day.

The table was covered with a freshly laundered cloth, and silver goblets, salt dishes, and spoons were in place.The kitchen complements the roast with herbs, spices and dried fruit, as well as the morning's freshly baked bread.

The servants took the luggage, led the horses to the stables, combed the hair, fed them, and put the wooden boards on the ground to prevent the mud from getting dirty on the shoes.Freshly picked flowers adorned the manor.

Distinguished noble ladies are invited to sit in the best seats, wash their hands in the basin brought by the servants, and then pray and eat.Lana, Ophelia, Midianmaia, Murat, Russell, Warren Haydn and other officers of the participating troops and local administrators filled the banquet hall, drinking wine and ale from big glasses.

Griffith sat at the end of the long table in the host's seat, and everyone sat densely on both sides, watching Galadia and Sonia sitting next to him with smiles on their faces.

"Hmmm..."

Griffith was surrounded by the pleasant scent, thinking that Sidious and the count would show up at the gate of the manor to talk to him at any time, or the girls would say something by themselves, and he felt a stomach ache.

All this happened so suddenly.

"Griffith, what's the matter with you?" Seeing his pale face and sweating on his forehead in the cool hall, Miss Elf wondered if he would faint like Odessa again, and quickly put a handkerchief on his forehead Wipe away the sweat.

Sonia has already handed over a cup of herbal tea...

"Let's toast Commander Griffith!" Lana hurriedly raised his glass to the chief of the long table.

"Yeah!" Everyone shouted together.

"Long live Miss Sonia's victory, she is... ouch!" Midian Maier was stepped on by Ophelia as soon as he took the words, and he quickly changed his words, "Long live Galadia's victory, ouch... What's wrong!"

Griffith resisted not covering his face.

He pretended not to hear, and turned his attention to estimating the cost.

On this day, the Ravenel Estate serves a 36-course dinner, and also prepares evening snacks for overnight guests.In fact, the local officials appointed by Roland called local people who were engaged in various jobs to help, so that Griffith, who was short of manpower, could continue the banquet.Such a good meal is naturally indispensable to them.

The supper was very sumptuous, with fried and roasted swans, geese, herons, rabbits, pheasants, capons, partridges, pigeons, deer, cattle, and wild boars, with sole, haddock, plaice, mackerel, Oysters, crab, lobster, mussels and shrimp.Desserts made with milk, eggs and vanilla are pouring in...

"Griffith~" the Countess looked at her knight and found that his face was whiter than the tablecloth, "Don't you know which one to eat?!"

"This time I understand why the Lamorland can encounter floods and droughts even when the weather is good..."

Griffith said sadly.

Such a dinner is very expensive, and the expenses are recorded in the "household book" by the housekeeper and accountant for inspection by the lord.If there is no lord's wife, it can only be checked by the lord himself.

"I understand~" The considerate countess has a good memory, and of course she remembers the joke the count said when Griffith first came to La Moore's house, "I will check the family book for you later, my mother taught you I!"

"Kala!" Galadia, who was eating the crab, swallowed the shell in one gulp.She jumped up and tapped the crystal like a hostess:
"I'm here to announce good news!"

Everyone who was busy eating turned their heads around, and heard Miss Elf say:
"Griffith will be promoted to the banner captain in the near future, and will serve as the lieutenant general of the 10th Light Infantry Regiment of Verona!"

"..."

It took Griffith himself a few seconds to react.

What?Is there such a thing?I do not even know!