Chapter 693: Chapter 429: This Kind of Person
The dawn light was faint, and the cool air from last night turned into dew, condensing on the somewhat withered leaves of the parasol trees in the courtyard.
Colin pushed open the door and stepped out, feeling the meager chill of early autumn as Nasi yawned on his shoulder.
"Want to sleep a bit more?" Colin asked with a smile.
"No, if I sleep a bit longer, Colin will be gone again!" Nasi protested loudly, shaking her little head.
"I won’t be so busy later on."
"Really?"
"...Probably." Colin paused before responding.
Without reaching the pinnacle of this world and solving the Divine once and for all, there probably wouldn’t be any truly peaceful days.
Nasi clutched at Colin’s collar, her little face instantly fell.
"Do you think Sister Demi and Renee are doing well?" Colin, looking at the Renee sisters training in the courtyard, changed the subject.
"Yes! They are both so amazing!" Nasi nodded, her gaze shifting to the center of the yard, her attention successfully diverted.
"Does Nasi want to learn as well?"
The little sprite’s eyes lit up, "Really?"
"Really... It’s just that Nasi is a little sprite, like Sister Lillian, she also finds the Knight Breathing Method difficult to master, and I’m not sure if you’ll be able to practice it," Colin said.
The First Rank Knight Breathing Method was something he had actually begun to teach, on a small scale, to a few of his closest associates after becoming a Councilman.
But aside from the Renee sisters, the others like Shelley, Lillian, and Atbolde all found it difficult to even get started with their training.
Especially Atbolde, who was essentially unable to practice it.
This might correlate with the degree of body transformation; among the three, Atbolde’s body had undergone the most extensive modifications.
Whereas Shelley and Lillian, when advancing to Second Rank Wizards, underwent physical transformations that were actually different from those of ordinary wizards; both were strengthening their bodies using their own original bloodlines.
Lillian was already a High Level Elf hybrid, and during her visit to the Elf Kingdom, her bloodline was further purified, allowing her to break through to the Second Rank.
Shelley, on the other hand, strengthened herself with the power of the glaciers in the Extreme North, which was a power she originally possessed as a natural elf.
But even so, Shelley and Lillian’s talents in Knight training can only be described as "dull."
Just as the cultivation of a wizard is not only about the soul but also requires emphasis on physical strength, perhaps the training of an Extraordinary Knight is not only about the body but also about the soul, or rather—the coordination between body and soul.
Colin pondered inwardly.
However, this so-called coordination between soul and body was still just his speculation and had not yet been tested.
Perhaps he could find a First Rank Wizard who had not undergone body modifications to experiment with?
With this thought, Colin looked again at the little sprite before him.
Nasi had also never engaged in wizard training; if she could succeed, it would likely provide some evidence to support his theory.
After all, there was no risk in Knight training, and with him watching, there was no need to worry about the little sprite encountering any trouble.
With that in mind, Colin extinguished the thought of investing effort into finding a First Rank Wizard to study the Breathing Skill.
After all, there were more important matters at hand, as the time for the autumn sowing was approaching.
Although the means to resolve the widespread issue of farming pollution were almost complete, there were still some final details to be perfected, and before officially starting the rescue of the farmlands, there was much preparation to do.
"Knock knock knock."
After breakfast, as Colin was preparing to put the final touches on the plan to save the farmlands, Lillian suddenly knocked on the courtyard gate.
"What’s the matter?" Colin asked as he opened the gate.
"On the Tilaimei Plain, suddenly a lot of trade caravans we’ve never seen before arrived; apparently, they are here to buy agricultural slaves," said Lillian.
Colin furrowed his brow.
...
Outside of Golden Barley City, a wizard wearing a white robe led a caravan behind him, inquiring something of the knight overseeing slaves working on a construction site.
"Are these workers free people?"
"No, not at all, my lord, they are slaves."
Farmers expelled by nobles did not become free people but were restored to freedom, albeit with their status still as slaves.
Facing the leader of the caravan, a First Rank wizard, the knight spoke very respectfully.
"Whose slaves are they?"
"They have been abandoned by their noble masters and now should be without an owner," the knight said with some uncertainty.
"Can I buy some of them?" the wizard asked again.
"My lord... It’s not for me to decide," hesitated the knight.
"Would you like to come with me? To work on the farms, food provided, and you could still keep some of the grain you grow each year," the wizard ignored him and just asked the slaves directly.
The news of Councilman Johnson’s plans to open up new farmlands had already spread through Neustadt City, and at the same time, both the Yista School and the Carmen Family backing Johnson had put out notices to purchase slaves.
The slaves nearby the lands to be cultivated had been snapped up, but it still wasn’t enough; to make up the workforce needed for farming, the Johnson family had raised the price for purchasing slaves quite high.
These caravans, driven by profit, had converged on the Tilaimei Plain without prior agreement.
After all, when speaking of where slaves were most abundant in the entire Neustadt region, one couldn’t avoid mentioning the Tilaimei Plain.
And in their eyes, these caravans taking slaves away from Tilaimei Plain was a win-win situation.
They would gain wealth, and the Lord of Tilamei would reduce many burdens brought about by the slaves.
Facing the call of this wizard, the slaves working in the distance did not dare to delay, stopping their tasks, but they did not dare to promise and remained silent.
"I’m afraid you cannot take these slaves," a voice was heard from afar.
Seeing this, the supervising knight breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
"Who are you?"
"I’m in charge here," a Wizard Apprentice in a Wizard Robe replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Perhaps my knights aren’t quite clear on the issue, but these slaves actually already have a master."
"Oh?" The caravan’s wizard narrowed his eyes, "And who is their master?"
"Councilman Colin, Lord of Tilamei," Harry replied before gesturing toward the serfs behind him, "Although the great Lord of Tilamei has never shown himself, he took under his wing these serfs who had been expelled by their previous masters. So, strictly speaking, Lord Colin is indeed the master of these serfs."
"Did Councilman Colin explicitly say this?"
"Regardless, these serfs are currently being provided for by Lord Colin. If Your Excellency intends to take them away, you will at least need to consult Lord Colin’s opinion."
"Then, would you please inquire with Councilman Colin, or perhaps introduce me to him? After all, your Councilman Colin may just be in distress over how to deal with these serfs."
The trading caravan’s wizard was already growing impatient internally, but he continued to speak amiably on the surface.
"This..." Harry seemed uncertain.
His reason for coming here to stop them was actually because his superior, born into the Roon Family, had previously mentioned that these serfs were to be gathered here, and if anyone came looking to hire workers, they were to be refused as much as possible—that was the will of the Lord of Tilamei.
But now...
"Harry!"
At this moment, another Wizard Apprentice suddenly flew over.
"Renee, what’s the matter?" Harry looked doubtfully at his companion.
The latter did not answer but instead looked at the trading caravan’s wizard and asked:
"Is this the caravan here to buy serfs?"
"Indeed." The trading caravan’s wizard smiled and nodded, "Does Your Excellency wish to..."
"Apologies, Your Excellency, if you wish to buy serfs, please leave. The Lord of Tilamei has just issued a new decree, Deeming these serfs his private property, he does not intend to sell them for the time being."
The smile on the trading caravan’s wizard’s face froze.
Stunned alongside him were many other wizards from the trading caravan.
These merchants, who had taken great efforts to come to the Tilamei Plain, had not anticipated that the Lord of Tilamei would refuse their request to purchase serfs.
...
After dealing with the matter of the serfs, Colin spent half a day with Shelley and others perfecting the final details of the plan to save the farmland, then he headed for Neustadt City.
With his relentless expenditure of Magic Power, he arrived at Neustadt City just past noon.
He traversed the streets and headed straight for the Council hall at the city’s center.
Nois would normally be working in the study on the second floor.
Stepping through the main entrance, Colin hadn’t walked far before he encountered two councilmen, one of whom was an "acquaintance."
If memory served, that was Nickler... As for the councilman beside him, Colin had no recollection.
Nickler obviously recognized him too. He hesitated in his step and, with a forced smile, suddenly asked:
"Councilman Colin, why do you not greet us, two Great Councilmen?"
Colin stopped in his tracks and calmly exchanged greetings.
"Is this Colin?"
Johnson looked with interest at the wizard he had heard of but was meeting for the first time.
"If there’s nothing else, I will be taking my leave, gentlemen."
Nickler did not object, but Johnson by his side spoke up:
"Why are you unwilling to sell those serfs from the Tilamei Plain?"
Colin’s heart knitted slightly. He had issued a clear order forbidding the sale of serfs just half a day earlier, yet Johnson, now far away in Neustadt City, had already heard the news...
"There’s no particular reason, just that their work isn’t finished yet."
Those constructions, huh... Johnson narrowed his eyes.
His spy network on the Tilamei Plain sent messages to Neustadt several times a day, and as for anything important, the subordinate tasked with compiling the messages would inform him immediately.
Nevertheless, even with this system, many actions taken by the Lord of Tilamei baffled him.
Among these was the construction of those spacious buildings.
Colin gave a bow and continued on his way.
"If you’re planning to see Nois, then it’s unnecessary to go any further," Nickler suddenly said.
Colin paused before continuing to walk forward, the voice from behind carrying on:
"Nois isn’t here now."
"Of course, even if he were here, I hope you would have the self-awareness not to bother him any further. Or rather—" Nickler watched Colin’s receding figure, "not to bother the Tate Family any longer."
"Although I don’t know why Nois would help you, it truly is none of my business if he does. However, don’t imagine that you can continue to take advantage of the Tate Family. The family’s Council has already ordered him not to utilize any family resources for you..."
As Colin’s figure disappeared into the distance, Nickler ceased speaking and continued to discuss the previous topic with Johnson beside him.
"About how much can your farmland yield next year, Excellency? The Tate Family would like to make a reservation..."
Colin ascended the stairs to find Nois’s study.
He had always adhered to a principle: to treat an enemy’s words as wind passing by.
Although Nickler stated that Nois wasn’t there, whether he was or was not, if Colin were to simply turn back and not go upstairs to see for himself, that would be utter foolishness.
As for the rest of Nickler’s words, Colin cared even less.
Nois’s reasons for helping him were noble—intended for all wizards, something people like Nickler could never understand.
To discuss such matters felt like defilement.
Besides, his visit this time wasn’t simply to trouble Nois but to offer a mutual benefit.
The areas of farmland contaminated weren’t limited to the Tilamei Plain, but included Merredith City as well.
For the common good, he intended to share the method of saving the farmland with them, but for his own benefit, he needed to secure the rewards he deserved.
Yet his personal connections were limited, making such maneuvers inconvenient, so he thought to leave this part directly to Nois.
Unfortunately... Colin looked at the study door, tightly closed, and heaved a slight sigh.
It seemed he had no choice but to rely on himself.
He stepped toward the deeper recesses of the hall.