Lord blessed by the elves

Chapter 53 The So-Called Aristocracy

After several rounds of drinks, the aroma of the dishes had not yet completely dissipated. Most of the guests had a blush and a sense of satisfaction after their meal, chatting quietly about interesting stories from their territories or their hunting hauls. A lazy and cheerful atmosphere filled the hall.

Just then, Baron Hiddink, seated at the head of the table, gently set down his silver wine glass. The crisp clinking sound, though not loud, seemed to possess a strange magic, quickly silencing the surrounding noise. He cleared his throat, his polite smile fading slightly, his gaze becoming serious and profound as he slowly swept across the room.

"Distinguished gentlemen and ladies!" His voice was a few decibels lower than when he had toasted earlier, but it carried clearly to every corner of the hall. "I believe you have all heard about the two major events that have taken place in the southwest corner of Campnor County recently. This is one of the main reasons why I have invited you all here for this banquet."

The originally relaxed and pleasant atmosphere was instantly frozen as if by an invisible cold current.

All conversation abruptly ceased, wine glasses hovered in mid-air, and every guest, whether a knight with land or a landless noble official, straightened their backs, their expressions becoming focused and solemn, their gazes all fixed on Baron Hiddink in the main seat.

Now we're finally getting to the main topic.

This is the real purpose for the gathering of so many nobles tonight, rather than simply for eating, drinking, and socializing.

Baron Hiddink was pleased with the effect. He nodded slightly and continued in his steady, slightly worried tone, "Just recently, two loyal and brave knights under our Earl of Nokamp, ​​Sir Reyes of Lionfang Territory and Sir Haynes of Wolfhair Territory, had their territories attacked by large-scale bandit groups during the crucial summer harvest season!"

He deliberately emphasized the words "large-scale" and "bandit gang".

"As far as I know, both families suffered huge losses, especially their hard-earned harvest, most of which was looted! You must already know about this, right?"

His gaze lingered briefly on Kruze and the Wolf's Hair Knight Barto, as if seeking their confirmation, while also drawing everyone's attention to these two representatives of the "victims".

In an instant, the gazes of everyone in the hall became complex, a mixture of sympathy, vigilance, inquiry, schadenfreude... a variety of emotions intertwined in the eyes of different people.

Whispers broke out again, but this time, they were filled with tension and unease.

"We haven't thoroughly cleared the no-man's-land around our territory for many years," Baron Hiddink's voice suddenly rose, echoing through the hall. "Over the years, those places have become havens for refugees. They establish tribes, evade taxes, and even secretly cultivate and steal land that belongs to the lords—this is an unforgivable usurpation!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room like a blade, noticing that many nobles nodded in agreement, their eyes revealing both approval and indignation.

Some people seemed to have been inspired by something, and their eyes suddenly lit up.

"And now, they are no longer content with sneaking around!" the Baron emphasized, almost enunciating each word clearly. "They are gathering in swarms, launching armed attacks on noble territories, and plundering our hard-earned grain! If we allow these locusts to continue to breed and grow stronger, gentlemen, what will their next move be? They will no longer be bandits, but rebels!"

The room was silent except for the soft crackling of the burning wood in the fireplace.

Unlike the others, Kruse was not excited. He lowered his gaze slightly and fell into deep thought.

He knew all too well the composition of these so-called "vagrants"—nothing more than serfs who had fled from their burdens or free men who had committed crimes in their territories and had nowhere to go.

They struggled to survive in the gaps between the mountains and wilderness, gradually forming villages and living a life of semi-hunting and semi-agriculturalism.

However, agriculture in this world is very backward. Without the blessings of the spirit insects, the barren land simply cannot support many people.

When the pressure to survive outweighs the fear of death, attacking and plundering become their only options. A cold and clear thought surfaced in Kruze's mind: these refugees, in a sense, aren't they also livestock deliberately indulged and grazed on the fringes of the nobles' territories?
Let them multiply and grow stronger. When the time is right, we can launch a legitimate "purge" and seize everything from them—their labor, resources, and even the land they have cultivated.

This was a meticulously planned hunt.

The prey is already in the circle.

“Your Excellency!” A loud voice broke the brief silence.

Sir Hiddink's loyal follower, Knight Dink, strode to the center of the hall, placed his right hand heavily on his chest, and bowed deeply.

"I am willing to personally don armor and lead my soldiers to wipe out these damned bandits! To clear the way for peace in Campnor County and do my part!"

The DINK Knight's request to fight was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples.

The minor nobles present seemed to awaken from a dream, rising from their seats one after another to express their loyalty.

"My Lord Baron, I am also willing to send troops!"

"My soldiers are ready to be deployed at any time!"

"These parasites cannot be tolerated from threatening the safety of the county!"

The atmosphere in the hall instantly became heated and greedy, the previous solemnity replaced by an eager restlessness.

This is hardly a discussion about suppressing bandits; it's clearly the ringing of the bell to signal the start of a grand feast.

Everyone's eyes gleamed with the desire for their prey, fearing that if they were even slightly slow, they would miss the chance to get a piece of the pie.

Serfs were always a highly sought-after "property".

If you can't feed your family on your own land, you can sell it for a fortune. And those neglected villages are an unexpected windfall.

According to the unspoken rules within the nobility, neighboring lords only need to report to the higher lord, and if the higher lord is temporarily unable to take over, they can legitimately "manage on his behalf".

By paying only a symbolic small portion of taxes, they could seize actual control of the village and most of its output.

For minor lords, this is a golden opportunity to expand their power and earn substantial profits; while for high-ranking lords, having someone voluntarily develop those remote and wild lands and consolidate their territory is a highly profitable deal, whether it is formally bestowed upon the current administrator or awarded as a reward to other meritorious officials.

The current shared hatred of the enemy is actually the result of meticulous and ruthless calculations of self-interest.

This allowed Kruse to truly see what nobility was all about. He looked at his younger brother and sister. Rezal was full of fanaticism, clearly eager for war, while Elena was confused and not as attracted as the dessert in front of her.

(End of this chapter)