Chapter 683: Chapter 424: The Merciful Lord of Tilamei_2
After all, serfs were wealth, too, and the nobles would not give up such assets lightly unless they decided to migrate away or had lost hope for restoring the polluted farmlands.
The two men continued to drink sullenly for a while, as the number of nobles at the gathering gradually dwindled. Then York from the Tyren Family approached them again.
"The night is deep—aren’t you planning to head back?"
"Let’s drink a bit more," Jeff said. Sandy did not reply, but simply lifted his glass to take a sip, his cheeks already slightly flushed.
"Is it the new decree that’s troubling you?" York asked, smiling as he sat down with his glass of wine.
Sandy snorted, "I’m afraid nine out of ten people at this gathering are troubled over the great Lord of Tilamei’s new decree!"
"Indeed," York chuckled, then added casually,
"But what can be done? On the Tilaimei Plain, isn’t it the new Lord of Tilamei who calls the shots?"
On the Tilaimei Plain... Sandy, somewhat dazed, seemed to catch a glimmer of spiritual light, pausing momentarily with his glass in hand.
"It’s getting late; I’ll be leaving now."
With a slight upturn of his mouth, York stood and said, before striding towards the exit of the banquet hall.
Sandy’s gaze flickered; he glanced at Jeff then hesitated before leaning in to whisper his sudden insight to his best friend.
"Are you suggesting taking the serfs away from Tilaimei Plain, then expelling them?" Jeff’s eyes widened.
"Mhm." Sandy nodded, "The Lord of Tilamei can only control Tilaimei Plain. Once we leave, he has no jurisdiction!"
Jeff took a sip of red wine in silence, then hesitated, "Has the Stowe Family decided to leave Tilaimei Plain?"
"I’ll go back and persuade the family... We had plans to leave already, but chose to wait because of the decree."
"Now, knowing that there’s no hope for the farmlands, and that Tilaimei Plain has no future—if we stay, we would still be feeding those serfs for the Lord of Tilamei..."
Sandy shook his head, looking around to make sure there weren’t many people left, and spoke lightly, "I think that the new Lord of Tilamei isn’t fit to manage the land. Staying might only lead to more foolish decrees... It’s better to leave sooner rather than later and seek development elsewhere."
Jeff’s eyes twinkled, and he sighed, "I will convey the information from York to my family. If we do plan to leave, perhaps our two families can travel together on the road."
Although influenced by the tainted babblings, the wild Demon Beasts had diminished considerably.
But that didn’t mean it was safe, especially during these times of war, where wizards turned to brigandage were even more fearsome than Demon Beasts.
Therefore, despite the new decree, Jeff’s Family had no intention of leaving.
But the information he had received from York of the Tyren Family now made Jeff waver...
...
"Yes, the nobles are all discussing the new decree... and I have successfully passed the information on," York reported through the small central Communication Ring Tower in a secret chamber, concealed by a Witch Array.
To be honest, he didn’t know whom he was serving, but it had to be a powerful wizard of the same standing as the Lord of Tilamei.
Had the task been anything but simple—just reporting the goings-on in Tilaimei Plain and passing some messages to the plain’s nobles—
And had the reward not been extremely generous, he wouldn’t have dared get involved.
Nevertheless, his task was now complete; the rest was up to his family to take the mysterious patron’s payment and leave Tilaimei Plain for another place to settle.
...
Neustadt City.
Nickler couldn’t help but sneer as he listened to the report from his subordinate.
What a naïve youth. Perhaps he did have some talent in magic, but when it came to managing a domain, he was abysmally inept!
To think he issued such a decree. Doesn’t he realize that the nobles capable of producing wizards are the most worthwhile faction to court?
To establish a decree damaging noble interests just to preserve serfs—ridiculous...
Nickler shook his head, then asked, "Has the Yista School already sent people to Tilaimei Plain to spread the message that the farmland pollution can’t be saved?"
"It’s unclear if it was the Yista School’s doing, but our sources noticed at multiple noble gatherings tonight that someone is deliberately spreading that message. It probably won’t be long before it reaches the whole of Tilaimei Plain."
Nickler nodded slightly. Though he had been keeping an eye on Colin, he was just watching and hadn’t made any moves yet.
To his surprise, someone had made a move first. It must be that individual from the Yista School...
Not that he had any animosity towards Colin; at most, he disdained his mixed-blood heritage. Acting now was probably just convenient.
After all, the inevitable spread of the Supreme Council’s inability to resolve the farmland pollution was just a matter of time.
Nickler leaned back comfortably, stroking the chair’s brown armrest, and continued to inquire,
"Has Councilman Johnson from the Yista School sent any good news? Have they found a new suitable place to cultivate farmland?"
Johnson was the wizard he suspected.
As far as he knew, Johnson had long coveted the whole of Tilaimei Plain, waiting for the Roon Family to decline so his own family could swoop in with a new councilman to claim it.