The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

Chapter 146: Offering Loyalty to the Landlord

The second day after returning to the castle, the four hundred and seventy-six serfs who had camped out in the wilderness overnight finally made their way to Fresh Flower Town. Having had a few full meals, the serfs’ complexions were still poor, but at least there was a significant improvement in their spirits.

In the afternoon.

As the sun began to set in the west, all the serfs lined up on the main thoroughfare of Fresh Flower Town, silently waiting.

Liszt, riding on the back of a Li Dragon Horse and escorted by the Knight Squad, arrived in front of the lines. Thomas, leading Douson, followed suit, now making a point of taking Douson with him when going out—a bit of a man depending on his dog for status.

“Lord, the quality of these serfs… is very poor,” Marcus remarked with a frown after scanning them.

“True, there are very few able-bodied serfs, but there are many children who can be well trained to become potential knights in the future,” Liszt replied simply.

During this conversation, Goltai had already come forward: “Lord, the serfs have finally made it to Fresh Flower Town, and not a single one is missing.”

“Well done. The losses at sea are unavoidable, but on Coral Island, I do not wish to see any further loss.”

“So, Lord, shall we now start arranging for them to kneel before you and pledge their loyalty?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

When serfs meet their landlord, they need to pledge loyalty, which is a form of servitude.

Old Geronte, having received instructions from Goltai, turned towards the serfs and shouted in Wind Language: “Lowly serfs, before you stands the great bloodline of the Tulip Family, the Landlord of Fresh Flower Town. Now, kneel before Lord Landlord, and pledge your loyalty!”

In an instant.

The serfs knelt to the ground, and in the newly learned, awkward Serpent Script, they called out: “Lord Landlord!”

It was not very orderly, but their voices were loud.

The cries of nearly five hundred people, even if they were just a group of ragged, varying heights, malnourished, and weak serfs, still carried a kind of overwhelming momentum.

Such scenes had become routine for Liszt. In Fresh Flower Town, kneeling and shouting to him happened every day. So, he merely looked over this group of serfs with a smile on his face, all of whom buried their heads deeply in the ground, not daring to look directly at their future master.

A moment later.

Liszt, having prepared his lines, spoke up: “I accept your loyalty. From now on, you are part of Fresh Flower Town. Work hard for me, and you will receive my protection and a stable life.” He then glanced at Old Geronte, the interpreter.

Old Geronte got the message and translated: “Lord Landlord has accepted your loyalty. Lord Landlord tells you that from now on you are part of Fresh Flower Town. Work hard for Lord Landlord, and you will receive his protection and can live a stable life in Fresh Flower Town. Do you all understand?”

“Understood.”

“Yes.”

“Thank you, Lord Landlord.”

“I will work hard.”

The serfs responded sporadically. Many people still did not know what to say and were just kneeling.

Seeing this, Liszt said, “Old Geronte, let them stand up.”

And so.

The brief serf reception ceremony came to an end.

Liszt did not linger and returned directly to the castle. Marcus continued to lead the Knight Squad back to Thorn Forest to guard the Lumberjack Team. Goltai and other officials began to get busy, as they had to arrange the living and working conditions of these four hundred and seventy-six serfs in a short time.

Fortunately, the town and the various settlements already had many wooden houses built.

The commercial district, workshop area, and residential area, not yet completed, also have many wooden houses that can provide temporary shelter.

There is certainly no shortage of food, with bread and vegetables perhaps in short supply, but seafood is abundant. If that’s not enough, a few more trips out to sea by fishermen from Oyster Village will be sufficient.

“We need to complete the distribution of serfs as quickly as possible; the autumn harvest is fast approaching,” Goltai said loudly.

“The resource survey is not yet complete. There are too many women, children, and elderly among the serfs. The original arrangement plan is no longer appropriate; we need to make adjustments,” Isaiah replied.

Blair looked at the serfs squeezing into the wooden houses to prepare for the night and said with a chuckle, “Let’s set aside the small children and nursing women for now. The other able-bodied serfs could all be sent to Thorn Ridge. Let them transport timber or stones and be responsible for road repair.”

Goltai interjected, “That’s an irresponsible distribution plan.”

“I mean, let’s not make arrangements for now until the resource survey is complete. Then we can make comprehensive plans,” Blair clarified.

“Hmm, that is a solution. It is indeed difficult to make arrangements in a short period, and we can’t just feed them for nothing. It’s better to send them to the lumberjack team,” Goltai conceded.

During dinner, Goltai relayed Blair’s suggestion to Liszt.

In response, Liszt agreed and added, “Try to arrange easy tasks for the artisans. Among the serfs who are physically weak or sick, do not assign any work to them. Let them rest and recover.” He valued the artisans the most among this batch of serfs.

The skills of artisans are the technology of this world and an indispensable part of a prosperous domain.

Suddenly thinking of something, he said, “Stay up a bit late tonight and compile a list of the artisans, especially what skills they possess. I will have the castle’s servants assist with recording. I want to see it first thing tomorrow morning.”

In today’s Fresh Flower Town, Liszt’s word was law.

By the next morning, after he had walked the dog and got up, a thick list on parchment paper was already laid out on the dining table. After a bath and changing into comfortable clothes, he then sat down at the table to enjoy breakfast.

It was time for Carter to instruct the male servant to bring breakfast.

A cup of creamy fresh milk, a pineapple bun and a milk-flavored bread, a fried egg, a large piece of fried Magical Beast meat, a vegetable salad, and several pieces of fruit.

This was his standard breakfast.

Worth at least a dozen or more silver coins, especially the Magical Beast meat, which was quite valuable.

But after all, he had recently come into money. As a hidden rich man on Coral Island, he was not willing to skimp on himself. He had never been one for frugality; if he could enjoy life, he would make sure to do so.

He took a big gulp from the glass of milk.

“The milk produced by the castle itself tastes better. I think the climate and environment in Fresh Flower Town are definitely suitable for raising dairy cows.” He licked the milk froth from the corner of his lips and made his judgment.

“Sherlock has already bought three calves. Currently, the pasture is occupied by horses, and there is no room to raise more dairy cows, my lord,” a servant informed him.

Liszt affirmed with conviction, “Once Thorn Ridge is developed, the dairy cattle farm will definitely be expanded, at least doubled. I want to raise more dairy cows!”

Because of the increasingly delicious milk tea, he had specifically looked into the dairy cattle farm and found no reason that could account for the improved milk production quality of the cows—it certainly wasn’t the earlier speculation that the cows had entered gestation. Compared to the milk from other cows outside, one could clearly taste the difference in quality.

The milk from the dairy cattle farm in Fresh Flower Town was not only creamy but also more refreshing.

Liszt later surmised that it could be due to the new variety of forage, Corn Grass. But after feeding them separately, it turned out to be unrelated to Corn Grass. Therefore, he concluded that the climate of Fresh Flower Town was suitable for breeding dairy cows.

He bit into a pineapple bun.

Liszt then turned his attention to the thick parchment on the table, casually flipping it open to examine the information about the artisans.

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