Nobles

By noon, the maids had already gotten busy, and Claire woke from her nap.

After heading downstairs, Regan immediately approached him.

"Young Master, no one has come to apply for the scribe position you wanted to hire."

"Hm? Is the pay not enough? Didn't we offer fifty Silver Coins?"

"That isn't it. The pay you're offering is considered quite generous among the nobles, but there probably isn't anyone in Nafu City who can read, write, and do arithmetic. Otherwise, they would have come to apply long ago."

Claire pondered this for a moment. He had not expected even basic education here to be so backward. It seemed his plan to open an elementary school would have to be postponed.

"It's fine, there's no rush. If we really can't find anyone, we can recruit someone from another noble's territory."

"As you command."

By the time Claire came downstairs, Regan had already instructed the maids to prepare lunch. He personally supervised the Young Master's meals; otherwise, he would never dare serve anything made by these newly hired maids to the Young Master.

Seated at the dining table, Claire looked at the huge grilled steak before him. He was not particularly hungry, but he still cut off a piece with his knife and fork and put it into his mouth.

"Mmm, it tastes good." Claire praised it. Though it could not compare to the delicacies he had eaten in his previous life, it was indeed much better than the last meal.

Yuna stepped forward, her face flushed as she lowered her head and cried, "Thank you, Young Master!"

"Hm?" Claire looked at Yuna. He remembered this black-haired girl who had come to apply for work. "Did you make this?"

"I... I learned it from Butler Regan." Yuna's voice was barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.

"You did well." Claire smiled.

However, Regan pulled a stern face and snapped, "Who allowed you to disturb the Young Master while he is eating? Leave at once!"

Like a startled deer, Yuna shuddered before fleeing the dining room as though for her life.

Claire gave a wry smile. "You don't need to be so strict with them."

"There is a distinction between high and low. Those are the rules."

Claire did not say anything further. This was Regan's job, and he did not want to interfere too much. After all, the entire world operated this way. Modern ideas had to be introduced gradually; Regan could not change his mindset overnight.

"Her food is good. Let her be in charge of the kitchen from now on."

"I was thinking the same." Regan bowed in acknowledgment.

Outside, Yuna panted heavily and thought, Butler Regan is so awful. This is already the seventh time he's scolded me. He kept calling me clumsy while I was cooking, but the Young Master is so kind. He wasn't nearly as harsh as he was during the interview, and he spoke so gently just now.

As she thought this, a smile appeared on Yuna's lips. Being able to work at the Baronial Manor was truly wonderful.

"Young Master, there is something."

"Speak."

"The minor nobles and some merchants in the city intend to hold a welcome banquet for you tonight."

The minor nobles of Nafu City were nobles without territory. After the Magic Ore was discovered, Viscount Griffin had given the minor nobles under him a large sum of money and bought back all the land in the territory. After all, who knew whether the plots held by those minor nobles might contain Magic Ore?

In the kingdom, noble land could be bought and sold legally. Many nobles who had lost their fiefs sold their territories to other nobles. If the Griffin Family had not risen through Magic Ore, they likely would have sold this remote viscountcy after moving to the royal capital.

Claire chuckled. "Why didn't they hold it on the night we returned? Why did they only think of hosting a welcome banquet after I got rid of the Knight Captain?"

Regan was indignant as well. "Then we won't hold it! I'll tell them to get lost!"

"No." Claire waved a hand. "We'll hold it. Why refuse when people are coming to give us money?"

Those nobles and merchants must have seen him get rid of the Knight Captain and only now remembered to curry favor with him.

But if they were attending a banquet, could they come empty-handed?

"Welcome, Lord Wilbur! His gift to the Viscount is the Glacial Frost Sword, valued at five hundred Gold Coins!"

Standing at the entrance, Regan raised the greatsword that had been presented and deliberately shouted toward the minor nobles outside.

The nobles outside were stunned. They hurriedly glanced at the gifts in their hands, which were only worth around a hundred Gold Coins. They could not possibly compare to Lord Wilbur's gift, which was supposedly worth five hundred Gold Coins!

And this butler had announced it so loudly. If their gifts were worth less than that, how could they ever hold their heads up before these nobles again?

They were not the only ones surprised. Even Lord Wilbur, who had just presented the gift, was utterly shocked. How could he not know the value of that sword? It was worth fifty or sixty Gold Coins at most, and no more.

Could the butler of the Baronial Manor have mistaken it?

At that moment, Baron Eugene, second in line, also presented his gift, though his expression did not seem quite so relaxed.

After accepting the gift box, Regan smiled. "Welcome, Baron Eugene! His gifts to the Viscount are the Nightweave Robe, valued at one hundred Gold Coins, and a ruby-inlaid ring valued at four hundred and fifty Gold Coins!"

Baron Eugene looked somewhat embarrassed. He covered his right thumb as much as possible to keep others from seeing it. That ruby ring had been hastily pulled off his own hand.

Six or seven more nobles and several wealthy merchants from Nafu City entered one after another, each presenting gifts worth no less than five hundred Gold Coins. Even the government official who had pretended to be poor before offered a bracelet worth more than seven hundred Gold Coins.

Lord Wilbur, who had been the first to offer a gift, was beginning to panic. After the other nobles had gone inside, he quietly returned to Regan and added another gift worth more than four hundred Gold Coins before finally breathing a sigh of relief.

As Regan accepted the gifts, his grin stretched wide. If the Young Master hadn't taught me this method, we probably wouldn't have received even a thousand Gold Coins in gifts. Now they add up to over five thousand Gold Coins!

The banquet was held in the reception hall, its tables piled with all kinds of food. Regan had led the maids in hurriedly preparing everything.

Though they did not welcome these nobles, the Griffin Family's dignity still had to be upheld.

Once the nobles and merchants entered, they saw Claire seated in the place of honor.

"Greetings, Lord Viscount!"

"Greetings, Lord Viscount!"

"Please, take your seats!" Claire waved a hand, yet did not even rise.

The nobles' expressions visibly stiffened, but they were all seasoned veterans with thick skins. After giving awkward smiles, they found places to sit.

Claire did not speak. He merely listened as the nobles greeted him, praised his accomplishments in Nafu City, and spoke of how delighted they were by his return.

Anyone could say pretty words. Without even thinking about it, Claire knew these nobles were probably the ones who least wanted him back in Nafu City. As long as Claire did not return, they were the local emperors of Nafu City.

After the pleasantries, all the nobles and merchants exchanged looks, fell silent, and turned toward Baron Eugene.

How could such an obvious move escape Claire's notice? With a faint laugh in his heart, he thought, Are they trying to force my hand?

"Cough, cough!" After coughing twice, Baron Eugene straightened his posture and looked at Claire.

"Lord Viscount, I do not think abolishing so many taxes is a good thing."

Before Claire returned, all those extra taxes had been divided among them. Cutting those taxes so drastically would reduce their yearly income by more than half!

"Does Baron Eugene have some thoughts on the matter? Let us hear them."

After considering it, Baron Eugene replied, "The city's operation and construction certainly require tax revenue. If Lord Viscount reduces taxes so drastically, I fear it will be detrimental to the city's development."

Claire almost laughed aloud. These people actually had the nerve to talk about the city's development. When he first saw Nafu City, he had nearly thought it was a city abandoned for decades.

Seeing that Claire did not react, Eugene probed further. "If Lord Viscount maintains the previous taxes, then we would also be willing to contribute some tax ourselves. We could raise the tax revenue to roughly four or five times its original amount."

The other nobles immediately echoed him.

"Yes! Yes!"

"Baron Eugene makes sense."

In their eyes, it simply meant one more person would be sharing the money taken from those lowly commoners. It did not matter if they took a little less; after all, it was profit for nothing.

Claire's eyes narrowed. Using my money to bribe me—these people really could think of anything.

"But it was Frank who suggested reducing the taxes. He has served as the government official here for more than ten years, so I believe his opinion should carry some weight."

Claire narrowed his eyes at Frank, the government official who had worn ragged clothes yesterday but was now dressed in fine garments from head to toe.

Huh? I remember there used to be only one update before signing a contract. Does that mean there have to be more updates now? Well, since you asked, I'll add another chapter. Since I'm updating more, how about some recommendation votes?!!!!!