The Lord Arrives

Old Barton squatted at the edge of the field, drawing hard on the ceramic pipe in his mouth as sparks rose with the burning tobacco.

Once he had finished the tobacco in his pipe, he removed it and carefully tapped it against the edge of his palm, knocking out the ashes.

He didn't dare use too much force for fear of damaging the ceramic pipe.

Back when he used a pipe made from an old tree root, he never had to worry about breaking it. He could bang it against a stone as hard as he liked and it wouldn't crack.

But ever since his daughter, who worked as a servant in the castle, had bought him this ceramic pipe, he treasured it dearly. This pipe had been fired from clay produced by Baron Lord's dragon. Anything connected to a dragon was no small matter!

He loved taking out his ceramic pipe to smoke whenever there were lots of people around.

Not only could he show off how pretty his pipe was, but he could also show off that his daughter worked as a servant in Baron Lord's castle.

However.

Today, Old Barton had no mood to show off his ceramic pipe.

After refilling it with tobacco, he said worriedly, "The Ice Age ended too late this year. It'll definitely delay the wheat planting. If the manor's harvest drops at the end of the year, Baron Master will surely be angry."

Several serfs dressed in rags, just like Old Barton, squatted nearby with pipes in hand.

One old serf spoke, spittle flying everywhere. "What kind of nonsense are you talking about? He's not Baron Master anymore! Didn't you hear what the manager said a few days ago? Our Wuyou Snake Manor has been given to a new master. We're farming for the new master now!"

Old Barton said in surprise, "A new master? Which knight is it? How come I haven't heard?"

"You spend all day wandering around the fields. What the hell would you know? Baron Master gave Wuyou Snake Manor to Young Baron Master!"

"Which Young Baron Master?"

"Who else could it be? It has to be Young Master Russell. Could it be Young Master Roland?" The spittle-spraying old serf began flaunting his vast knowledge. "Young Master Roland will inherit Baron Master in the future. Young Master Russell is the one coming to be our master!"

At those words, the old serfs all pressed their palms together.

"Praise Young Master Russell!"

"No, praise Master Russell!"

"Master! How dare you call Master by his name!"

"Praise Master!"

In the simple understanding of the serfs, Lord Master was the sky above the territory. Even in private, calling Lord Master by name was a grave offense.

The spittle-spraying old serf also pressed his palms together. "Praise Master!"

As they continued chatting, no one dared mention the name "Russell" again. They only dared call him Master.

"Do you think Master will fly into a rage if this year's wheat planting is delayed?" Old Barton began worrying again. "Do you remember five years ago? The wheat harvest was poor that year, and every one of us serfs who planted wheat got ten lashes."

Even the spittle-spraying old serf lost his enthusiasm and sighed. "I just hope the new master is merciful and takes pity on us."

The threat of ten lashes was indeed intimidating.

But soon, one serf said, "Do you think the new master will bring Spirit Worms and have us grow magic potions instead?"

"Ah!" The spittle-spraying old serf perked up again. "That's right! Baron Master and the noble lords all grow magic potions. If we're assigned Magic Potion Fields, we won't have to worry about whether the Ice Age ends early or late. We can farm all year round!"

"Would we get that lucky?" Old Barton hesitated.

"Come on, let's ask the Serf Manager!"

"Let's go together."

The old serfs got to their feet and dusted off their backsides, smoking their pipes as they headed for the Serf Manager's house.

Meanwhile.

The setting sun hung at the horizon, casting a gentle glow. Though it was nearly May, the weather was still somewhat cold, and the melting ice had yet to fully thaw.

Russell's convoy steadily crossed the small bridge over the Glimmering River and entered Wuyou Snake Manor.

"Young Master Russell, we'll wait here for the moment. Once all the Tunic Chiefs and managers of the manor have arrived, I'll announce Baron Lord's decree." Escorting Russell's party was Kendall, the territory's Patrol Knight Captain and a Phantom Beast Knight.

Although Kendall had not yet accumulated enough military merit to be granted the title of nobleman.

The fact that he had contracted a Phantom Beast and advanced into a Phantom Beast Knight meant he possessed the potential of a nobleman. In the future, he was very likely to leap from retainer to vassal.

Thus, Russell treated him politely. "Thank you for your trouble, Patrol Knight Captain Kendall."

"You're too courteous."

Kendall signaled for the Knight Retainers he had brought to go door to door and summon the Serf Managers. These Knight Retainers had patrolled the fief for years and knew every manor well.

In less than a moment.

They had gathered forty or fifty Serf Managers, five Tunic Chiefs, and one Manor Supervisor appointed by the baron before the gates of the manor's secondary residence.

Baron Lord's decree had already reached the manor a few days ago, so the Manor Supervisor, Tunic Chiefs, and Serf Managers were unsurprised by the current situation. They stood quietly in two rows, waiting for Patrol Knight Captain Kendall to read Baron Lord's new decree.

"Young Master Russell." Kendall looked toward Russell.

Russell extended a hand. "Please."

So Patrol Knight Captain Kendall no longer hesitated and faced the Serf Managers.

He shouted, "All serfs of Wuyou Snake Manor, heed this order! The master of Guangguang River Valley, Companion of the Clay Dragon, the lord of every one of you, Baron Gloomlight Lord, has bestowed Wuyou Snake Manor upon his second son, Nobleman Russell Fluorite Mushroom!"

He pointed behind him, and Russell cooperatively offered the Serf Managers a smile brimming with gentlemanly charm.

Patrol Knight Captain Kendall continued shouting, "From this day onward, Nobleman Russell Fluorite Mushroom shall take over everything in Wuyou Snake Manor. The land, serfs, livestock, and property—including the stones, water sources, trees, and your children—shall all belong to Nobleman Russell Fluorite Mushroom."

He paused.

A great number of serfs had already gathered around the manor's secondary residence, but they only dared watch from afar and did not dare approach.

Patrol Knight Captain Kendall concluded, "At this very moment, Russell Fluorite Mushroom is your new lord!"

Russell stood with his hands behind his back, taking it calmly.

Patrol Knight Captain Kendall stood to one side.

The Tunic Chiefs and Serf Managers were at a loss. Many of them had already forgotten when the last change of lord had taken place.

But the Manor Supervisor did not hesitate in the slightest. He was already the first to kneel. "Great lord, honored Master, Old Hans kneels before you in peace. Praise Baron Lord! I've waited for the stars and the moon, and at last, Old Hans has waited for you to arrive, Master."

With Old Hans taking the lead, the Tunic Chiefs and Serf Managers immediately dropped to their knees in a rush, then began shouting in a disorderly clamor.

There were countless cries like "Praise Master," "Great Lord Master," "This one kneels before Master," and "May Master prosper."

Russell didn't like this kneeling business.

But at this moment, he could only follow local customs and use the opportunity to establish some initial authority. "I am your new lord, Russell Fluorite Mushroom. Like my father, Baron Lord, I will continue to protect you and provide you with safety, homes, and food. In return, you must offer me your loyalty."

Old Hans was once again the first to react, shouting joyfully, "Old Hans offers Master his most unwavering loyalty!"

The Tunic Chiefs and Serf Managers followed suit. "We offer Master our loyalty!"

Even the serfs gathered nearby to watch began kneeling one after another in the atmosphere, without anyone taking the lead.

"We offer Master our loyalty."

"Praise Master, loyal to Master!"

"Little Sam will be forever loyal to Master."

"Hey, you poked my butt..."

"Lame Rice praises Master!"

"Bo, bo, bo... Bob prai, prai, prai... praises Mas, Mas, Mas, Mas, Mas, Mas..."