Servants in the Castle

Inside Mountain Forest Fortress, the servants in the castle were all rounded up by the guards during their search.

They knelt trembling on the ground, their minds consumed by despair.

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

As servants of a traitor, perhaps only death awaited them.

"My lord, everyone has been brought here!"

After finishing the count, Chahar reported, "There are fifteen people in total: one butler, four kitchen staff, three maids, five manservants, and two of Prinster's lovers."

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

Luo Ning raised an eyebrow. What a fellow this Prinster was. While his wife was away, he had kept two lovers in Mountain Forest Town.

Luo Ning swept his gaze across the group. He did not need Chahar to introduce them to recognize which two women were that man's lovers.

Their figures were curvaceous, their skin fair and delicate. They were far more refined than the maids and cooks beside them.

Noticing Luo Ning's gaze land on the two women, Chahar immediately recalled his master's former reputation. Perhaps he had gone too long without women and could no longer hold himself back?

So he bowed and asked, "My lord, shall we keep these two for you?"

Luo Ning turned his gaze toward Chahar, the corner of his mouth lifting. "Do you think I would want them?"

Though he was smiling, and though his tone was as casual as ever, Chahar felt nothing but rejection and scrutiny.

"My apologies, my lord. I spoke out of turn!"

Chahar lowered his head. In truth, he had regretted it the moment the words left his mouth.

The Marquis's eldest grandson from before was the man from before. The person standing before him now was an extraordinary individual with sufficient confidence, courage, and decisiveness when facing enemies.

He warned himself that he had to completely forget his old impression of the Baron!

Luo Ning withdrew his gaze and addressed the people below in an even tone:

"Although you are lovers or servants of a traitor, and I should have killed you, I am merciful. I am willing to believe you had nothing to do with this matter, so I will give you a chance to live."

All fifteen people kneeling there breathed sighs of relief and thanked Luo Ning with varying degrees of gratitude.

"Although I will not kill you, I will not employ you either."

Luo Ning did not kill them because he did not particularly care whether they lived or died. Keeping them alive would at least add a few more people to Mountain Forest Town.

But employing them was another matter entirely. It involved safety. If they were too loyal to Prinster, then it would not be appropriate to keep them in the castle.

"Chahar, have this butler take you through the castle's food, tools, and other supplies. Make a list for me."

"Macken, arrange for two guards to watch these cooks and have them prepare a dinner banquet for us."

"As for the other manservants and maids, go clean up several empty rooms. Remember, everything inside must be replaced!"

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

Luo Ning waved his hand, signaling for them to get to work.

To the servants, leaving the castle meant leaving behind their comfortable lives. But compared to keeping their lives, comfort no longer mattered.

After the guards and servants had all left the hall, only Macken, Elrond, and Tom remained.

"My lord!" Macken said respectfully. "I will arrange for the guards to take up their posts."

Luo Ning nodded. The castle's security was important. He did not want just anyone casually entering and leaving through the gates.

"Have the uninjured guards handle the defenses. Tell the servants to quickly prepare rooms for the injured guards so they can rest."

Luo Ning looked at Tom. "You are more familiar with this place. Show Macken around."

"Yes, my lord!"

Tom followed Macken out of the fortress.

"Come, Elrond. Accompany me as I take a good look around this castle."

"It would be my honor!"

And so, Luo Ning and the mage Elrond thoroughly toured his new base.

Before long, he arrived atop the tower and gazed out over the small mountain town.

In the lingering light of the setting sun, the town appeared exceptionally crude and impoverished.

Other than the main road leading from the castle to the outside world, which could barely be considered a "street," there did not seem to be a single proper road anywhere else.

Prinster probably could not be bothered to improve the conditions of the other residents. To him, as long as he himself lived safely and comfortably, that was enough.

But what about Luo Ning?

He hoped his living environment could be closer to the rural villages of Earth. That was what comfort meant to him.

Improving the living conditions of the residents seemed to be a thankless, laborious task to many nobles in this world.

After all, with a castle and extraordinary individuals, ordinary people only needed to work obediently. What did their hardship or comfort have to do with nobles?

But Luo Ning did not see it that way.

If extraordinary individuals were a lord's hard power, then the people of his territory were his soft power.

Soft power could not easily be seen, touched, or felt, yet it was extremely important in supporting a territory.

Setting everything else aside, if the residents' standard of living improved and they could eat their fill at every meal, would there not be more ordinary people like David who could awaken a Battle Qi Seed?

Without enough knightly families to follow him, these residents were Luo Ning's foundation.

But he also knew that food had to be eaten one bite at a time, and roads had to be walked one step at a time.

Luo Ning was not foolish enough to think about implementing measures like distributing land. That did not suit the situation here, nor was it something his social class should be doing.

He needed to adapt to his identity as a noble, enjoy the rights and responsibilities of this class, and then make small changes according to his own wishes. That was what suited him.

Perhaps one day, when he was strong enough that any decision he made would receive the support and following of others, it would not be too late to make greater changes.

Luo Ning shaded his eyes with one hand and looked toward the sinking sun. "Elrond, what do you see?"

Elrond looked up at the sunset and said with a smile, "I see that light will forever be with you, my lord!"

"Under your leadership, this town will embark upon a path of light unlike anything it has known before. I believe that one day, bathed in your radiance, this place will become a City of Miracles!"

"Hahaha!"

Luo Ning laughed heartily. "As expected, you know how to talk. Unlike that big oaf Macken, who only knows how to say, 'As you command,' 'All right,' and 'As you wish!'"

Elrond smiled. "Knight Macken's loyalty and steadiness are qualities I should study carefully."

People who loved reading really knew how to speak pleasantly.

"Let's go. It is time to work, mage."

Luo Ning took the lead in descending the tower. "The guards are meant for protection and battle. Their daily duties are training and patrols, not chores like cleaning."

Elrond followed behind Luo Ning. "You are right."

"So, help me write a Recruitment Notice. The castle has driven out its former manservants, maids, and cooks. We need to hire a new batch to handle the daily chores."

Elrond agreed, "You are right."

"Also, I only toured the castle today. I need to find time to inspect the entire territory so I can make the necessary arrangements afterward."

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

"Today's display on the streets intimidated the residents. Although you said a few simple words to reassure them, I do not think your reassurance necessarily reached everyone's ears."

"You are right, Elrond!"

Luo Ning nodded. "Then later, have Tom take David around to spread the news everywhere. Tomorrow morning, find a place and have all the residents gather there to see me."

Thank you all, my lords, for your votes and support. And thank you to several of you for pointing out typos~