Imperial Crown.

Chapter 46 Damn Charm

When he arrived at the Town of Shining Gold with his private soldiers, Raven finally understood the meaning of Mosing Gan's words.

These "deployed" subjects are simply the epitome of the oppressed and exploited serfs of this era.

The dirty hair was stuck into a messy shape by sweat and dust, the shriveled face was as dirty as the bottom of a pot, and the pairs of turbid eyes were hidden in the deep eye sockets, dazed and numb.

The tattered strips of cloth were completely ineffective in covering the body, and the thin bodies covered with dirt, dust and blood were exposed to the air. It was impossible to tell the gender, or age, and one could only barely distinguish between children and adults by their height.

Their bodies were hunched, but they could not hide the eye-catching burn marks on their chests: the outer circle was a ring, and the inner was a square F, representing their identity as serfs belonging to the Fox family.

In order to erase this identity, a new X-shaped wound was inflicted on it.

What impressed people most were their hands. Rough hemp ropes were passed through their palms, tying dozens of them together. They were stained with dark brown blood, and flies were flying around on them.

The wounds on some people's hands had festered and became foul-smelling, with maggots wriggling inside.

The center of some people's palms have rotted away completely, and the pale and dry metacarpal bones can be seen.

For some people, their palms grow together with the hemp rope, and the growth of flesh has deformed blood vessels.

The sound of horse hooves attracted Raven's attention. He turned around and saw a knight riding his horse in front of him.

Through the Eye of Truth, Raven could clearly see the azure light flowing in his body. The intensity of the light was similar to that of Donald back then. He was obviously a second-level Azure Wave Knight.

This man looked less than 30 years old, with long brows, walnut eyes, and an inherent arrogance at the corners of his mouth. Although he looked tired, his enchanted plate armor was well-maintained and shiny, forming a sharp contrast with the subjects next to him.

Not only him, but even the three cavalrymen behind him who were not extraordinary were wearing a full set of enchanted plate armor, with enchanted weapons hanging around their waists.

Enchant weapons!

The equipment of these four people combined would be worth at least 5000 gold coins.

The Earl's family is really wealthy.

Raven couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

"Townsend." Although he was exhausted, the knight still pounded his left hand heavily on his chest and gave a standard military salute: "It's an honor to meet you, Baron!"

"Raven Ota Griffith." Raven nodded in return and said with a smile, "You've worked hard on the journey. Would you like to take a rest in Shimmering Gold Town so that I can show my hospitality?"

Townsend's eyes flickered a few times, and he was obviously quite interested, but he still shook his head: "I have a mission to fulfill. Please allow me to reject your generous offer."

"Please pay the remaining balance and we'll leave now."

"What a pity." Raven sighed with pretended regret, and when he touched his belt, a box appeared in his hand, which he handed to the private soldier beside him.

Taking the box from the private soldier, Townsend asked, "Baron, don't you want to count the number of goods?"

Raven shook his head and said, "I believe in the credibility of the Fox family."

Townsend nodded, opened the box and counted the coins carefully. After confirming the number of gold coins, he raised his eyebrows and said, "Lord Eagle, you are truly a noble baron with integrity!"

Although Townsend's words were very nice, it was obvious that this behavior was somewhat rude.

Raven smiled and said, "You are also a knight with a cautious character."

Raven deliberately emphasized the word "cautious".

Raven had to show a little "unhappiness" for this behavior of "counting money in person and showing complete lack of trust".

Otherwise, he would not be a "qualified" nobleman.

Because on the Middles continent, only the untouchables don't care about their dignity being offended.

But Townsend, as a second-level knight from one of the only two earl families in the entire Nord Province, obviously did not care much about Raven's feelings.

Who made the Griffith family so famous for being poor?

After handing the box to his attendant, Townsend said indifferently, "Thank you for your understanding. I will take my leave now."

As he spoke, he turned his horse and galloped away in a cloud of dust with the three cavalrymen.

This brief meeting made Townsend quite surprised by Raven's performance, because Raven's performance was really inconsistent with the rumors.

More importantly, he just noticed a detail - that is, Raven actually has a space belt!

Judging from the skillful way he used it, he had probably already become extraordinary without making any noise.

This is a very important message!

The divine potion is not cheap, and the space equipment is even more in short supply. It is not something a small baron family in a small border town can afford.

Could it be that... Griffith has already sided with the Slater family?

Townsend was filled with doubts.

This information must be reported to Count Montreal as soon as possible.

Raven, however, did not pay attention to Townsend. After he left, he immediately turned around and ordered, "Send someone to bring the prepared food and water over to feed these serfs first."

"Understood, sir." Mosingam turned and left, calling upon the new recruits he was commanding.

Eric was a little unhappy. Seeing this, Raven teased, "What are you thinking about?"

Eric came back to his senses and said seriously, "My Lord Baron, this Townsend is so rude to you!"

"It's fine if you don't dismount and salute, but you're actually worried that you'll default on your debt!"

He was not as angry as Eric. After two lifetimes, Raven had already become indifferent to such things.

It's nothing more than treating people differently, there's no right or wrong in it.

If he were a viscount, or had strength above level three, Townsend would definitely dismount and bow properly.

But who can blame him for being just a small baron?
Raven sighed first, then shook his head: "Eric, remember, if you want to become a qualified noble, the first lesson is to learn 'forbearance'!"

"As long as I am a baron, I will encounter such things."

Eric was full of energy in his heart: "Baron is just the beginning, you will become a viscount sooner or later."

Upon hearing this, Raven looked at his retainer in surprise. It seemed that after spending some time together, Eric's impression of him had changed a lot from the bottom of his heart.

"You seem to have a lot of confidence in me." Raven said with a smile, "How can it be that easy to become a viscount?"

While the two were talking, the food had already been delivered.

These transferred subjects ate like hungry wolves. In just a few minutes, they had eaten up all the black bread they were given. Their eyes, which had originally been like dead fish, now seemed a little more lively.

After calming down, Raven dismounted from his horse, stood on a makeshift platform, and coughed lightly a few times, attracting everyone's attention.

If you want to become a viscount, you have to be down-to-earth and start from the present.

Clearing his throat, he said loudly: "Nice to meet you. My name is Raven, Raven Ota Griffith. From today on, I will be your lord."

"I know you have endured a lot of hardships along the way, but I want to congratulate you for finally escaping from the sea of ​​suffering and coming to my territory."

"The fact that you have made it this far shows that you are strong and patient enough, and that you have not given up on your children. It shows that you still have hope for the future."

Having said this, Raven paused for a moment.

He saw some subtle emotions in the eyes of these serfs: disgust, disdain, and hostility.

Anyone who had the same experience as them would not have any expectations of the nobility.

But Raven didn't care. As long as these people responded, it meant they were still listening to what he said:

"Welcome to Eagle Territory."

“There are many job opportunities here. As long as you can move, you can get paid, get food, clothes, and the most precious dignity.”

"This winter, you can help me repair roads, build houses, and collect ice. I hope that during this time, you can keep yourself fat and white, because next spring, that's when you'll really be needed to contribute."

He glanced to the side and saw Volaf hurried over and handed a wooden board with parchment nailed to it to Raven.

Raven stood the wooden board upright and placed it in front of his chest. He said in a clear voice, "This is the decree I am about to issue."

"Starting from January next year, I will distribute the 1 mu of cultivated land in Xiongying Territory and the 500 mu of abandoned and uncultivated land."

"Each man, including you, will be given 2 mu of land, each woman will be given 1 mu of land, and children and the elderly will be given half of that."

"As a lord, I only want 4% of the harvest as tax, and the rest is yours."

The serfs looked at each other, some with intention in their eyes, but most of them were filled with disgust and suspicion.

The words of the nobles are always full of traps. How could anything truly beneficial fall into their hands?
As if unaware of this, Raven continued, "What is a human?"

"There should be food in the stomach, clothes on the body, and preferably a few silver and copper coins in the pocket."

"In Eagle Territory, as long as you work hard, you can become such a person and live a wonderful life you have never imagined."

Raven looked around the room and raised his right index finger: "One gold coin." "This is the price I'm paying you. Whoever among you can give me one gold coin will be freed."

"No future offspring will be branded as slaves at birth!"

"Try to make money, even if it's for your own children."

Soon, Raven finished his speech. There was no applause, no cheers, only pairs of confused and empty eyes.

Raven didn't even look at them, turned around, mounted his blood-eyed warhorse, and rode away.

Not long after he left, private soldiers came up and gave the serfs sets of clean old clothes, and told them that each piece of clothing cost 50 copper coins.

They looked at the clothes in their hands and looked in the direction where Raven left with some disbelief.

The clothes that could be paid for just dispelled the serfs' doubts.

But it made them feel the dignity of being a human being for the first time.

He... seems to be a little different from the other lords!
Seeing this scene, a hint of surprise flashed in Lux's eyes, and there was a little more admiration when she looked in the direction where Raven was leaving.

There was no doctor in Eagle Town, so Raven asked her to provide simple diagnosis and treatment for these serfs. Her main job was to prepare some herbal decoctions and clean the wounds to prevent them from becoming festered and infected.

I didn't expect to hear what Raven said as soon as I got here.

How should I describe Raven’s speech just now?
It was truly a successful “speech”!
There have been many famous speeches in history, including the accession speech of Keynes I, the pre-war mobilization of Keynes VI, and the speech of Frederick, the "Mad King" of the Insa Empire before executing the Orc King.

Like those nobles of old, Raven's speech was simple, clear, and to the point.

There was no excessive pep talk, nor the redundant and fancy words commonly seen among the nobles today... nor the mindless flattery of oneself!
With just a few simple sentences, he explained his policies clearly and in an easy-to-understand way, and also planted a seed of "stability" in the hearts of these anxious serfs.

"He is indeed an outlier among the nobles today." Lux thought.

At the same time, there was another woman muttering about Raven.

"Damn bastard!" Nancy sat heavily on the bed and pounded the soft bed with her pink fists. An angular crystal slipped from her hand and fell to the ground.

It's called [Photo Crystal]. Although it's only a first-level magic item, it's very valuable, usually costing more than two hundred gold coins each, and can store images and sounds for no more than 30 minutes.

Nancy brought it with her to find something to hold against Raven.

The serfs that were transported here this time were all half dead, having difficulty breathing, and it was obvious that they were unable to do any work.

Since Raven dared to do such an excessive thing to her last time, he would definitely not accept those serfs obediently this time.

If he had a conflict with the knight in charge of escorting him, Nancy could record the scene as evidence.

But to Nancy's surprise, Raven acted so calm!
Damn dog!

Why has he suddenly become so tolerant now? !
"Miss, please don't be angry." Jenny picked up the crystal on the ground and put it on the dressing table: "He is just a small baron. It is not worth your trouble."

"It would be great if that were true. Have you ever seen a baron who dares, dares to..." Nancy said, her face flushed.

"Spank, spank your butt?" Jenny prompted.

"It's not like I forgot!" Nancy yelled in shame and anger, "If you mention that word again, I'll spank your butt so it's swollen than mine!"

Nancy used her white and tender fingers to gather her messy hair back to her back. She pouted, puffed up her cheeks, and twisted her eyebrows together in grievance. "Raven, you stupid pig who deserves plague, a groundhog in a manure pit, a slug in the mud, why can't I catch you?"

Seeing this, Jenny, in order to save her image in the mistress's heart, echoed: "Yes, he is a scumbag, a gangster, a low-class bastard, and dried cow dung..."

"Who allowed you to scold him?" Nancy's voice interrupted Jenny.

The latter was stunned and stood there at a loss, not knowing what mistake he had made.

"Eh... why did I choose such a stupid guy like you?" Nancy sighed: "What he said today was simply trampling the face of our Fox family into the mud."

"You speak so badly of him, what has become of our Fox family?"

Jenny’s face was shocked when she heard this, “Ah? Why didn’t I hear that? He didn’t mention the words Fox Family at all!”

This is what annoyed Nancy the most.

She suspected that Raven was doing something bad, but she had no evidence.

This guy Raven is really a natural aristocrat.

The unique aristocratic qualities of a hidden and subtle ambiguity, as well as the hypocritical and cunning character, were fully reflected in him.

When he was speaking, every sentence was clearly implying that the Fox family was too harsh on the people, but there was no solid evidence, and no one could find any evidence to prove it.

You can't say he was too kind to these serfs, right?!
If we really make a fuss about this, it will only make people think that the Fox family is too sensitive.

Looking at the younger generation in the Nordic province, few people have this level.

Nancy's three brothers are all second-generation rich men who only know how to spend their time in debauchery and hanging out with women all day long. Although they are better in terms of personal strength, they can't compare with Raven in terms of how to deal with people.

Another earl family, the Slater family, is not much better. They have many descendants, but only one Minsk has achieved something, and he is already 33 years old.

As for Hyde, whom his father let him meet this time, he was only as good-looking as Raven.

If he could really defeat him, Hyde wouldn't have run away in disgrace.

Nancy pushed aside the soft fur on the carpet with her pink toes, muttering to herself in confusion and depression: "This guy, really, really..."

Jenny thought about Raven on the podium today, recalling his handsome face and magnetic voice, and blurted out, "Really... too charming?"

"Yes, charm!" Nancy pounded her right hand on the palm of her left hand, biting her lip and said:

"That's the damn charm!"

Raven is like a succubus in human skin. No matter where he goes, he can make people around him believe his lies.

Even though I may not necessarily approve or like it in my heart, but... at least I can't hate it.

He is always so confident!

The people of Eagle Town, the Chamber of Commerce of Shining Gold Town, and this time the serfs of the Fox family, all proved this point.

Especially the serfs, who were like walking corpses, but Raven's "words" seemed to bring them back to life, and even a little light of "hope" could be seen in their eyes.

The Fox family had raised them all their lives and had never seen them like this.

"Don't just stand there, give me some advice." Nancy became angrier and angrier as she thought about it. She said angrily, "Last time you asked me to sneak into the workshop, but the wall was five meters high. There were more than three of us, so I couldn't get in at all."

"Do I keep you around all day just for you to give me these bad ideas?"

Jenny felt so wronged. It was clearly Nancy who suggested climbing over the wall.

Besides, she was just a maid, and maids were not responsible for giving advice.

Miss Nancy would certainly not listen to any explanation, but I could make her realize this.

Thinking of this, her eyes turned: "You are a second-level magician, and there is no stronger person in the entire Eagle Town. Otherwise, why don't you go in and kill him yourself...?"

This was undoubtedly a stupid idea. Jenny had already thought about it. She would take this opportunity to let Miss Nancy scold her. In this way, she would definitely not let her make any suggestions again!

But Nancy's eyes suddenly lit up: "Yes, there is such a way!"

"I am the daughter of the Fox family. I can visit him and live in Eagle Castle in the name of my family. In this way, no matter what secrets he has, he can't hide them from me!"

Jenny was stunned.

Is this what I meant?

But since Nancy is happy, then it's fine. Anyway, it's much safer to live directly in than to climb over the workshop wall.

She also didn't have to serve as Nancy's ladder every day while she practiced climbing over the wall...

"It's decided so happily!" Nancy shook her head proudly: "Jenny, you still have some brains. When this matter is done, there will be a big reward!"

Jenny looked a little strange, there was something she wanted to say but didn't dare to say it.

Miss Nancy, you wanted to find fault with Raven because you were worried about damaging your reputation.

But if you live in Eagle Castle...

"Since we are going, we have to make a big show. We must not lose face for our Fox family! Jenny, go and prepare. I need eight... no, ten carriages!"

"I'm going to put a dent in this bastard's prestige!"

"Let him understand from the bottom of his heart! The dignity of the Earl's family cannot be offended by a small baron's family!"

Seeing her young lady's excitement, Jenny didn't dare to disturb her interest, so she could only bite the bullet and answer:

"Yes, Miss Nancy!"

……

(End of this chapter)