Chapter 682: Chapter 424 The Merciful Lord of Tilamei
Night had fallen.
The banquet hall, awash in a beige hue, was brightly lit. Nobles dressed in extravagant attire held glasses of wine, gathering in small groups to converse.
The topic of discussion mostly revolved around the new laws recently issued by the Lord of Tilamei.
"It’s absurd, utterly absurd. Those lowly serfs are clearly our own property, to be dealt with as we see fit. Yet now, to expel them has become a crime?!"
This angry statement from a veteran noble, spurred by alcohol, resonated with many of the nobles present.
"The new Lord of Tilamei is indeed merciful, but ultimately, it is still us who have to support these serfs."
"Ah... speak cautiously."
At gatherings like this, they could only vent their frustrations. No one dared to openly criticize the Lord.
"Our family was actually planning to leave the Tilaimei Plain some time ago," Sandy, seated in a corner of the gathering, said after sipping his drink.
"The Stowe Family is also planning to move elsewhere?" Jeff, sitting across from him, asked, caught off guard.
"Yes, as you know, our family derives nearly ninety percent of its income from those farms, but now they are all destroyed... We were just two months away from the autumn harvest, but now everything is ruined; last year’s efforts were in vain."
Sandy’s tone was somewhat desolate.
"Maybe in a year or two, those farms might recover," Jeff said after a pause.
"I think so too. Our family was already preparing to leave, but now, due to the new laws, we have decided to stay for a while longer, hoping to see the day the farms recover..." Sandy raised his glass.
"It’s unlikely we will see that day when the farms are restored."
At this moment, a voice suddenly interrupted their conversation.
Following the sound, Sandy and his companion saw a middle-aged man with a beard approaching them, his face somewhat unfamiliar, gesturing with his glass saying:
"York, from the Tyren Family, I was previously in Neustadt."
No wonder his face was unfamiliar.
Sandy and his companion had no doubts and greeted York amiably.
York did not hesitate, naturally taking a seat next to them.
"Lord York, what you just mentioned—about it being difficult to see the farms restored—what do you mean by that?" Jeff asked.
"You may not know this," York set down his glass and lowered his voice, "those farms... they might be beyond saving."
"Some time ago, when the magic surge had just erupted, the Supreme Council had sent several teams of Wizards to the Roon Kingdom to address the farmland contamination. But now... those Wizards have all left, not one remains!"
York sighed, "This isn’t about going back for more support; they’ve given up on resolving the farmland’s contamination."
Jeff was inwardly shaken.
The Supreme Council had not widely publicized this issue. Even within the Roon Kingdom, many nobles were unaware, let alone nobles from other countries like them.
So when York mentioned this, Jeff was visibly unsettled and hurriedly asked:
"Are you certain of what you say?"
York took a sip of his drink and smiled, "Why should I deceive you two? I only know this because I have some connections in Neustadt City."
"Let me put it this way, the Supreme Council is already scouting new areas suitable for farming, and they plan to announce this once they find a suitable place... erm, I’ve said quite a lot. I wish you both a pleasant evening, I’ll go take a look elsewhere."
Watching York walk away, Sandy and his companion exchanged a glance and then fell into silence.
"Is the Stowe Family still planning to stay?" Jeff put down his glass and asked.
"I don’t know," Sandy swirled his drink, digesting York’s words silently, his irritation building.
"Do you think that Tyren Family’s York is trustworthy?" Jeff looked towards the distance.
The bearded middle-aged man was already engaging in another conversation, glass in hand.
Of course, it was quite normal behavior at a gathering, which was essentially about socializing.
"He’s a stranger..." Sandy shook his head, paused and then added, "But what he said is probably true."
Jeff nodded noncommittally and then asked:
"If the Stowe Family decides to leave, what will you do with the serfs? Abandoning them is now a crime."
Sandy frowned deeper, his irritation inexplicably growing, and his voice inadvertently raised, "It’s all because of that Lord of Tilamei..."
"Be careful with your words!" Jeff interjected hastily.
People nearby had started looking their way.
A discreet complaint was harmless, but openly slandering... no one knew whether the new Lord of Tilamei would be as merciful towards them as he was to the serfs.
Sandy knew he had misspoken and quickly took a deep drink from his glass, biting his teeth angrily before saying:
"That new Lord of Tilamei, what a merciful Wizard indeed."
Of course, this was intended sarcastically, as Sandy simply found the new Lord of Tilamei unreasonable.
Weeds, when had they ever been worth worrying about... If he was so capable, let him bear the cost of supporting the serfs!
"If only I had persuaded the family to leave with the Thomas Family a few days ago... at least to drive out the serfs first," Sandy muttered under his breath.
Jeff did not respond; there was no point in what-ifs.
Those nobles who had chosen to expel their serfs before the law had been implemented were mostly the first to leave the Tilaimei Plain.