Lord blessed by the elves

Chapter 79 Manor
Kruze immediately straightened his back, his face showing utmost solemnity and gratitude: "Please reply to Baron Hiddink that Lionfang Territory will strictly carry out his orders! Thank you, Baron, for remembering our safety during this difficult time and for placing such important trust in us. We will guard our gates, keep a close watch on the mountains, and never let any disturbance slip by. We will never fail in your trust, Baron!"

His tone was sincere, and his posture extremely humble, perfectly portraying the role of a minor lord protected and assigned tasks by a powerful neighbor.

The knight seemed quite satisfied with Kruse's attitude. After explaining a few more details, he declined the invitation to have breakfast together and hurriedly left with his men to the next territory that needed to be notified.

After seeing the messenger off, Kruse returned to the hall, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips. Everything was going according to his plan.

Baron Hiddink's "understanding" was exactly what he wanted, and entrusting him with the task of monitoring the mountain area was tantamount to handing him the script of "the thief crying 'stop thief'".

Compared to the tense and war-torn atmosphere in other territories, Lion Fang Territory presents an unusual calm and vitality.

This tranquility did not stem from isolation or ignorance, but from a thriving scene within the territory.

The serfs awoke each day no longer fearing future famine; their hearts were filled with the land to be cultivated and the wilderness waiting to be cleared.

Their fulfilling and hopeful work consumed all their energy, making it difficult for external disturbances to cause any ripples.

At this moment, the fire in the blacksmith's shop in the castle was blazing.

Kruze was completely focused on giving Rezael the final quenching process on his soon-to-be-completed knight's sword.

The instant the scorching blade is immersed in the coolant, a piercing hissing sound and rising steam create an atmosphere where the Damascus steel patterns hidden within the steel, resembling flowing water and starlight, seem to be instantly awakened, clearly emerging onto the blade—beautiful yet deadly.

Just then, Wilstone walked quietly into the workshop and whispered, "Young Master, Cooper is back."

Kruze lightly flicked the still-warm blade with his finger, producing a crisp hum, and a satisfied look appeared on his face. He handed the sword to the old blacksmith Miller beside him for final polishing and hilt fitting, then turned to Wilstone, raising an eyebrow: "Oh? Looks like he was quite efficient this time."

“Yes.” Wilstone nodded, a hint of surprise in his voice. “He not only found the supplies that Kaldor and Sam had hidden, but he also brought back a message: he hopes to transfer a group of people to our territory. He said he can’t accommodate so many people on his side.”

Upon hearing this, Kruze's eyes lit up, immediately connecting it to the crucial [Newbie Quest 7: Population Development]. Suppressing his excitement, he pressed, "How many people?"

Wells reported a number that shocked even Kruse: "Mainly the elderly, women and children, but the total number... is more than six hundred."

"More than six hundred people?!" Kruse exclaimed in surprise. This number far exceeded his expectations, and a huge sense of joy welled up in his heart. "How could there be so many?" This sudden surge of people made his mission a success.

"Can our current territory accommodate all six hundred-plus people?" Kruze didn't give a direct answer, but instead posed a practical question first.

Wilstone helplessly spread his hands: "Young master, you've stumped me. For specific matters like land, houses, and food rations, you'll have to ask Butler Buffet."

Kruse nodded and led Wilstone to the butler, Buffett, who was checking accounts in the study, and told him everything about the news and problems Cooper had brought back.

After listening, Butler Buffet adjusted his monocle, his face showing little distress, but rather a calm demeanor befitting a businessman: "Young Master, the sudden influx of so many people is indeed a bit troublesome to settle. We need to plan new residential areas, cultivate corresponding farmland, and prepare sufficient food and supplies for the winter. But ultimately, it is not an insurmountable problem."

He then shifted his focus and offered a key suggestion: "In fact, I think what we should really be thinking about now is building a new estate."

"A new manor?" Kruze asked, puzzled. "Weren't we discussing settling refugees and building villages? What's the difference between a manor and a village?"

Seeing Kruze's confusion, Wilstone, a scholar among knights, spoke up at the right moment, his voice calm and clear: "Young master, this involves an ancient history. In the last century, at the beginning of the Holy Britta Empire, 'manor' in the ancient Brittany originally meant 'farm' or 'farmhouse,' a specific unit of production."

He gathered his thoughts briefly and continued, "As the empire developed to its mid-stages, the social structure solidified, and the meaning of 'manor' gradually evolved, becoming the smallest unit of noble fiefdom. A manor typically included the lord's residence, farmland, pastures, forests, and serfs dependent on the land, forming a self-sufficient small society."

"And in the later period of the Holy Brittany Empire, a far-reaching upheaval occurred—the 'Barrett Coup'." Wilstone's tone carried the weight of history. "This upheaval completely reshuffled the original ruling core of the empire. Emperor Barrett I, who successfully usurped the throne, carried out a complete recount and redistribution of the land throughout the country in order to strengthen the central imperial power and weaken the power of the old nobles."

“Since then, the vast majority of lands have been legally granted in the name of the emperor. The owner of a manor, that is, the manor lord, is first and foremost a vassal of the emperor, and is directly loyal to the emperor, rather than, as we are now, a vassal of the Earl of Campino, who in turn is loyal to the emperor.”

Wilstone points out the most crucial difference: "Baret I attempted to establish a vast vertical system of rule in this way, although this system gradually disintegrated after his death, but the concept of the 'manor' as a primary level of feudal organization was preserved."

Butler Buffett picked up the thread, bringing history back to reality: "Young Master, Wilstone is right. In our current context, establishing a 'manor' means more than just building a house. It represents establishing complete lordly power on that land—including justice, taxation, and conscription—and building a self-sustaining management system."

The influx of over six hundred people presents an opportunity, giving us the capability and the necessity to establish a truly independent manor belonging to Lion's Tooth Territory on the newly reclaimed land, rather than merely a settlement.

(End of this chapter)