Chapter 36: 36 Servants in the Castle

Chapter 36: The Servants in the Castle

Within the Mountain Forest Fortress, under the search conducted by the guards, every servant from the castle was apprehended without exception.

They knelt trembling on the ground at that moment, their hearts shrouded in despair.

They already knew what Prinster had done, and they also understood that the person standing before them was the true master of Mountain Forest Town.

As servants of the betrayer, perhaps only death awaited them.

"Master, all have been captured!"

Chahar finished the tally and reported: "There are fifteen altogether, including one steward, four kitchen staff, three maidservants, five manservants, and additionally, two who were Prinster's lovers."

Chahar paused briefly before adding: "According to Tom, Prinster's wife and son are in Saine Territory, not within Mountain Forest Town."

Ronin's eyebrows twitched. He thought, what a fellow Prinster was, keeping two lovers in Mountain Forest Town while his wife was away.

Ronin scanned the group. Without Chahar's introduction, he could discern which two were that man's lovers.

Their figures were curvaceous and well-proportioned, their skin fair and delicate, surpassing the maidservants and cooks beside them by more than one level.

Chahar noticed Ronin's gaze lingering on these two women, immediately recalling the former reputation of the master. Considering that the master had been distant from women for some time, perhaps he was feeling some temptation?

Thus, he bowed and inquired: "Master, shall these two be kept for you?"

Ronin turned his gaze toward Chahar, curling his lips upward, "Do you think I would want them?"

Though smiling, though in his usual questioning tone, Chahar perceived only refusal and scrutiny directed at him.

"Apologies, master, I spoke out of turn!"

Chahar lowered his head; indeed, he regretted uttering those words even as he said them.

The former eldest grandson of the Marquis was of the past; now, this person before him was a transcendent individual with ample confidence, courage, and decisiveness in dealing with enemies.

He admonished himself, must forget all previous impressions of the baron in his heart!

Ronin withdrew his gaze and spoke to those below in a calm tone:

"Although you are lovers or servants of the betrayer, I ought to kill you, but I am merciful and willing to believe you are unrelated to this affair, so I intend to grant you the chance to live."

All fifteen kneeling individuals sighed in relief, offering uneven expressions of gratitude to Ronin.

"I may not kill you, but I will not employ you."

Not killing them was Ronin's belief that it mattered little whether they were killed or not; keeping them could add a few more people to Mountain Forest Town;

But employing them involved safety concerns; if they were too loyal to Prinster, then remaining in the castle would be inappropriate.

"Chahar, have this steward guide you in inventorying the grains, tools, and such within the castle, compile a list for me."

"Makken, arrange two guards to oversee these cooks, prepare the evening banquet for us."

"All other manservants and maidservants, tidy up several vacant rooms, remember to replace everything!"

"As for these two lovers, leave the castle now. Remember, I only permit you to leave the castle, not Mountain Forest Town."

Ronin waved his hand, signaling them to proceed separately.

For the servants, leaving the castle meant departing from privileged living conditions, yet compared to sparing their lives, privileged living mattered little.

Once the guards and servants departed from the hall, only Makken, Elron, and Tom remained.

"Master!" Makken respectfully said: "I shall arrange the guards for sentry duty."

Ronin nodded. Castle security was crucial; he did not want anyone casually entering or exiting the gates.

"Have the uninjured guards handle defense duties; the injured guards—have the servants quickly prepare rooms for their rest."

Ronin looked at Tom: "You are familiar here; guide Makken."

"Yes, master!"

Tom followed Makken out of the fortress.

"Come, Elron, accompany me in exploring this castle thoroughly."

"It is my honor!"

Thus, Ronin and the mage Elron together toured his base extensively.

Soon afterward, he ascended to the tower, gazing out at this Mountain Forest small town.

Under the twilight's lingering glow, this town appeared exceedingly crude and impoverished.

Apart from the main road from the castle leading outward, which could be considered a "street," other places seemed lacking even proper thoroughfares.

Prinster likely disdained improving the environments of other inhabitants; for him, living comfortably and securely himself sufficed.

And Ronin?

He hoped his living environment could approximate that of villages on Earth; that, for him, would be comfortable.

Improving the living conditions of inhabitants seemed to many nobles of this world a thankless task.

After all, with castles present, with transcendent individuals present, ordinary people could quietly serve as laborers; how arduously or comfortably they lived mattered little to nobles.

But Ronin did not share this sentiment.

If transcendent individuals were a lord's hard power, then the inhabitants of that lord were his soft power.

Soft power was easily unseen, untouchable, unperceived, yet it crucially supported the territory.

Not to mention else, simply elevating inhabitants' living standards, ensuring they ate satisfactorily daily, would likely yield more ordinary people like David capable of awakening qi seeds?

Without sufficient knight families following, these inhabitants formed Ronin's foundation.

Yet he knew, meals must be eaten bite by bite; paths must be walked step by step.

Ronin was not foolishly contemplating measures like land distribution; this did not suit local circumstances, nor align with his class identity's appropriate actions.

Adapting to aristocratic identity, enjoying this class's due authority and responsibilities, then making slight changes according to his will, this suited him.

Perhaps when someday he grew sufficiently powerful, powerful enough for any decision to garner others' support and following, then making slightly larger changes would not be premature.

Ronin shielded his eyes with his hand, gazing at the setting sun westward, "Elron, what do you see?"

Elron looked up at the sunset, smiling: "I see light will forever accompany you, master!"

"This town, under your leadership, will embark on an unprecedented path of light. I believe someday in the future, bathed in your radiance, this place will become a city of miracles!"

"Ha ha ha~"

Ronin laughed aloud, "Truly, you speak well, unlike Makken that sturdy fellow who merely says obey, good, as you wish!"

Elron smiled: "Makken Knight's loyalty and steadiness deserve my earnest learning."

Those fond of reading truly speak pleasantly.

"Let's go, work awaits, mage."

Ronin descended the tower first, "The guards' roles lie in protection and combat; their daily tasks are training and patrol, not completing chores like sanitation."

Elron followed behind Ronin: "You speak rightly."

"Thus, draft a recruitment notice for me. The castle expelled former manservants, maidservants, and cooks; we need newly hire a batch, to handle daily miscellaneous tasks."

Elron concurred: "You speak rightly."

"In addition, I merely toured the castle today and must take some time to inspect the entire domain thoroughly, so I can make proper arrangements for what follows."

"You are right!" Erlong added, "But I think it would be better to first spread the news that you have become the master of Mountain Forest Town."

"The intimidation effect on the streets today has made the commoners fearful. Although you spoke a brief word of reassurance, I believe your comfort may not necessarily reach everyone's ears."

"You are right, Erlong!"

Ronin nodded and said, "Then later, let Tom take David together to every place to spread the word. Tomorrow morning, find a location where all the commoners can meet me."

Thank you all lords for your voting support, and also thank the few lords for correcting the typos~

(This chapter ends.)