Chapter 76: Chapter 76: First Inspection of the Territory
The news Bard brought had only caused a localized stir.
And after a night, many had calmed down.
Except for Kaelon and Benur.
These two had both eaten the Sauce Meat Fruit, and for days on end, they couldn’t stomach a single bite of food. Even drinking a little water would make them throw up.
They were both strong and robust Warriors, but after a few days of this, they had become listless and drained.
And because they had to keep the matter quiet, they couldn’t complain to anyone, which only made it harder to bear.
With no other choice, Duane could only summon the two of them to offer some words of comfort and ease their minds.
However, it had little effect. It seemed only time could wash away their feelings of guilt and disgust.
Time passed quickly, and in a flash, another ten days had gone by.
During this period, Duane remained busy with various matters.
First, the improved version of the Fire Source Beast Bone Soup was proven effective.
He soaked Fire-attribute Demon Beast Meat in spring water mixed with dried chrysanthemum powder, then brewed a special meat broth with the addition of Willow Tree Juice.
Although the taste was much worse, even a little bitter.
But its effects were similar to the Fire Source Beast Bone Soup.
Even Duane, after drinking a bowl, had unprecedentedly gained 0.1 attribute points.
Unfortunately, only the first bowl he drank had any effect; there was no change after that.
Since one bowl of the improved soup only required half a pound of meat and Duane had plenty of Fire-attribute Demon Beast Meat, he expanded the soup-making operation.
With a battle imminent, Duane used multiple large pots for brewing, ensuring all twenty-four of his remaining men got to drink the soup.
It was precisely this large-scale brewing that allowed him to raise his Fire Source Beast Bone Soup Skill Level to Perfection on the sixth day.
Starting on the evening of the sixth day, Duane no longer entered the kitchen.
The task of brewing this improved medicinal soup was handed over to Auntie Mara.
Reaching Perfection in the Fire Source Beast Bone Soup Skill Level didn’t yield a new recipe like reaching Perfection in Basic Cooking did.
However, it did update with a new ingredient for Duane.
[Adding "Red Sun Grass" to the brew will create a medicinal soup that provides a certain boost to Intermediate and Advanced Warriors. Temperature control during brewing is extremely strict, or the pot will explode.]
Following the Vigorous Grass, Duane began to draw pictures of the Red Sun Grass.
But for now, no trace of either grass had been found.
Besides reaching Perfection in Fire Source Beast Bone Soup, Duane had made other progress over the past ten days. His freshly brewed beer was ready, and after being barreled, its Skill Level reached (Entry 55/200).
By feeding the chickens, ducks, and other livestock, his Basic Breeding Skill had also reached Entry (3/200).
After days of arduous training in Fighting Qi Slash, a move commonly used by Middle Level Warriors, he had ground it to (Skilled 23/300).
One Skill at Perfection, one at Skilled, two at Entry, plus the improved meat broth, earned Duane a total of 1.1 attribute points.
His Strength had now increased to 11.2, making him much stronger than when he had just broken through.
He was one step closer to being able to use the Storm Greatsword and Heavy Armor.
On this day, after breakfast, Duane followed his schedule. Led by Julian, Haien, and Monbodt, and escorted by a squad of Guards led by Raymond, he set out to inspect his Territory.
Speaking of which, despite having been in his Territory for over a month, this was the first time Duane had traveled so far from the Lord’s Mansion.
As the Lord here, he was naturally looking forward to this inspection tour.
After all, he had only ever heard about the situation outside from Julian and the others; he had never seen it with his own eyes.
Only by going out and seeing it for himself could he get a more direct understanding of his Territory’s condition.
Broken Wave City was large, but the area he lived in was not.
The surrounding houses were dilapidated, and even the "commercial street" at the very front could only be described as primitive.
Rough-hewn stone, wooden huts, and thatched cottages—these were the types of houses most people lived in.
To welcome their Lord, Julian had specially gathered a group of people in a more densely populated area to line the path and greet him.
While greeting them, Duane also took the opportunity to enter some of their homes for an inspection.
Livestock, kitchen, and bedroom were all in one space, and the smell inside was, unsurprisingly, atrocious.
The floors in some homes were so damp, they were little better than a muddy road.
This housing situation completely shattered Duane’s hopeful expectations, grinding them to dust.
"The housing situation must be changed!"
After visiting a few more houses, he gave an order to Julian, who was beside him.
"There are few people on this island and many resources. Why are they building houses with drafty, rough-hewn stones? Why are there so many hazardous buildings that could collapse in a strong wind?"
Julian explained, "Forgive me, My Lord. Before we arrived, the people here were busy farming and working every day. They had little time or labor to spare for improving their own living conditions."
"Moreover, every resource here has a price, and they don’t have surplus grain to buy them!"
Duane looked at Monbodt with extreme displeasure.
The latter felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles. He couldn’t help but wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, lowering his head, not daring to look at the Baron’s face, and not knowing how to defend himself.
Julian added, "I believe that after your policies are implemented, they will have the time to improve their living conditions."
Duane looked at the crude environment and the filthy, barely-clothed commoners standing like minions before their homes, his heart heavy.
’It’ll take a hell of a lot of work if I want to get anywhere with this group of people.’
"After we get back, you Civil Officers in charge of political affairs are to draft some rules. Any commoner who wants to build a house can submit an application to the Lord’s Mansion."
Duane said after a moment of thought, "A homestead of up to two hundred square meters will be granted to them for free use. It will be their private property and can be inherited."
Julian was stunned for a moment.
This was another sweeping reform!
"My Lord, you..."
He was about to offer a suggestion but was cut off by Duane raising a hand.
"I’m giving you three years. By then, I want there to be no more thatched huts on Black Forest Island. They should all be replaced with mud-brick houses, at the very least!"
Three years...
Julian, Haien, and the few assistants beside them all felt immense pressure.
Three years wasn’t a short time, but it wasn’t long either.
Seeing their Lord’s ambitious expression, it was clear he was serious.
If they failed to accomplish this, they would likely be reprimanded.
Fortunately, however, mud for bricks was everywhere, and building houses was the farmers’ own affair; they wouldn’t need help from the administration.
As long as the policies from above cleared the way, the people below would act—even pulling all-nighters—for their own benefit.
’Three years... that shouldn’t be a problem, right?’
Monbodt, standing to the side, was so shocked by this command that he was at a loss for words.
’Doesn’t the Baron plan on making any money?’
Giving away land for free, and even letting the houses built on it be passed down as private property to the serfs’ next generation... he could have made a fortune from all that.
’This Baron’s... brain... is broken.’
Monbodt simply couldn’t understand.
The reserved and timid farmers standing not far off didn’t understand either.
But they had heard clearly: this noble Baron, their Lord, was going to give them land to build on, and for free.
Combined with the tax reduction policies announced a couple of days ago, a ray of dawn had pierced their dark lives.
They were not Slaves, not yet so numb that they were without thought, or had forgotten how to pursue a better life.
One by one, their hearts began to burn with fervor.
Someone in the crowd took the lead, kneeling and shouting praises of the Lord’s benevolence to Duane.
Soon, everyone had knelt.
Sometimes, winning people’s hearts was just that simple.
Duane didn’t need to give away much of what he already had; he only needed to let them see hope.
His methods were completely different from those of the Holy Hand Association, the Broken Wave Gang, and Monbodt.
Regardless of their past relationships with those three parties, as long as they could have a better life under Duane, they would naturally support their new Lord.
With both military power to back him up and the hearts of the people on his side, it would be much simpler for Duane to unite Black Forest Island and transform and develop it according to his vision.
Seeing this, he naturally couldn’t resist giving an impassioned speech.
He spoke in simple terms that everyone could understand, the gist of which was about letting everyone have full bellies, warm clothes, and a good life.
The people were very receptive.
Before long, Duane left the crowd and passed through the commercial street.
"We need to properly plan the urban area."
Duane added, "Land must be reserved for a commercial district, a residential district, and possibly an educational district in the future. The farmers’ homesteads should, as much as possible, not be located near the urban center."
Although he had no intention of becoming a real estate developer in this Otherworld, some planning had to be done in advance.
"Yes, I’ve made a note of it."
Next, the group inspected the rice paddies, waterworks, mill workshop, and linen fields.
Duane gave instructions for each.
For example, for the rice paddies that lacked sufficient irrigation, he had Haien take the lead on managing water allocation.
He also ordered new waterwheels to be built to lift water from the low-lying river to irrigate the high-ground fields, and so on.
In short, in Duane’s eyes, the current Black Forest Island was like an uneducated Warrior who insisted on brandishing his sword—full of openings everywhere.
There were too many things he wanted to improve, but with limited manpower, he could only plan for a longer timeline.
CLIP-CLOP-CLIP-CLOP~
The sound of urgent hoofbeats approached.
Raymond looked up, and after a moment, he said, "My Lord, it seems to be Jeremy, the First Squad Leader of the Third Team."
’Third Team?’
"The Third Team is on duty in Lingang Village recently, aren’t they?"
"Yes," Raymond replied.
Duane watched Jeremy ride towards them with some curiosity. ’Did something happen?’
Soon, the sturdy Guard arrived before the group.
Jeremy dropped to one knee. "My Lord, this is bad! A pack of Demon Beasts has appeared to the South of Lingang Village!"
Everyone’s expression changed.
’Demon Beasts?’
’And a pack of them?’
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