Chapter 30 Infrastructure: Unusual Changes
Outside the simple stone window without glass, water drops are falling regularly at regular intervals, dripping and dripping on the stones where moss and ferns grow in the cracks, splashing monotonous music that does not make people feel boring or impatient.
The sky was gray, and the water vapor was mixed with the unique fishy smell of the Kass River.
Xiao Yun stood at the window and looked at the village below Rydburg. He saw the gray stone houses built by the pioneers scattered around like dried tofu dropped on the ground. He seemed to hear the chattering of children playing and the dissatisfied scolding of their mothers.
John Deere walked into the room.
Xiao Yun did not react to his arrival until——
"—Last night, I received a report from the magicians in the Talia Mountains. It has rained frequently in the Gola region over the past six months, which is quite unusual."
"Um?"
"For thousands of years, due to the curse and the Great Desert of Death, although the climate in the Ghora region is humid, the annual rainfall has always remained at a low level. Now, the Ghora region is beginning to rain more frequently... I hope this climate change is a sign that the curse is about to end, but..."
"Are you worried about the misfortunes that will come from drastic climate change in the short term?"
"Yes."
John Deere speaks frankly.
"For centuries, restricted by the dangerous natural environment, the settlers have only cultivated agriculture near the banks of the Kashi River, maintaining a non-aggression and bartering relationship with the indigenous barbarians living in the dense forests. Now, increased rainfall has caused the Kashi River to rise, submerging the original farmland and settlements. The settlers will inevitably consider claiming new land from the forest. When the landless refugees in the territories near Gaola learn that Gaola is no longer a cursed land, they will also cross the river and come here. Then..."
"Bloody conflict between the indigenous people and the settlers will inevitably occur."
"Yes."
John Dill's face was grim. "According to reports from the mages who have been stationed here for a long time, the barbarians living in the dense forest are divided into four major tribes: the Shem, the Hamites, the Yami, and the Sioux. Each of these tribes is further divided into several smaller tribes, totaling over 200,000 people."
"Two hundred thousand!"
Xiao Yun was surprised.
"Compared to the Imperial Knights, the barbarians' weapons are very primitive, and their civilization is also very low. However, these barbarian tribes have lived in the dense forests for thousands of years. They are familiar with the terrain, know how to control the monsters in the dense forests, and are also skilled in collecting poisonous herbs and making various mysterious medicines with strange uses... In addition..."
"What else?"
"Deep in the dense forest there are not only barbarians and ghouls, but also hidden magicians."
"Mage?"
"The Magic Guild's report shows that the area surrounding the ruins of the ancient city of Gola is densely packed with detection barriers set up by magicians who have lived for at least two hundred years."
John Dill smiled wryly. "Compared to the Eternal Empire, which dared to raise the banner of rebellion against the gods, the sorcery of our subsequent civilization is as low as a child throwing a stone into the water. Magicians, dedicated to the pursuit of cosmic truth, are fascinated by everything in the Eternal Empire, especially the ruins of the ancient city of Gola, still shrouded in an ancient curse, and the Eternal Empire's capital, said to be hidden deep in the heart of the Great Desert of Death."
"The secluded magicians usually don't interfere in worldly affairs, but if the war between the settlers and the barbarian tribes affects their research, they will take action to destroy our army and the settlers."
"Even at the cost of annihilation, the empire's proud mage army could only kill a few of the weakest among these old monsters."
John Deere added.
"Of course, if your brother comes forward, he will definitely be able to negotiate a cooperation with these old monsters. The only condition for the cooperation is..."
"Don't tell my brother about what happened here. I will find a way to solve it myself."
Xiao Yun made a prompt decision.
"yes."
John Deere obeyed the order respectfully.
Xiao Yun asked again: "Where are the barbarians?"
"Well?"
"Two hundred thousand barbarians have lived in the dense forest for thousands of years. It's impossible that they have never had any conflict with the magicians."
"According to poems like 'The Last Days of Gora,' the barbarians and ghouls living in the Gora region are descendants of the Eternal Empire's survivors and are their subjects of study. Therefore, even if a conflict arises, they will not attack the barbarian tribes."
"I see……"
Xiao Yun narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment: "Has the Demonic Guild found the magic barrier of the 'Dark Night Mentor' near the Gaola Ruins?"
"This question..."
John Deere showed a rare hesitation.
"'Dark Night Mentor' is one of the three most powerful legendary magicians in the world. If he set up a magic detection barrier at the Gaola Ruins... unless he wants us to find it, otherwise..."
"I see."
"——How do you plan to deal with the Black Count's matter?"
"Suppose he refuses to come to Driburg to see you?"
John Deere added.
"Then I won't see you."
Xiao Yun shrugged indifferently, planning to go to the settlers' village at the foot of the mountain after the rain stopped, to learn about the local situation and prepare for resolving the conflict that was bound to occur in the future between the settlers and the indigenous barbarians.
(Given the Empire's current situation, environmental changes in the Gora region will inevitably lead to a large influx of foreign population. A large population increase in a short period of time will easily lead to conflicts between people and land, exacerbating the conflict between immigrants and natives...)
The rain gradually stopped.
Xiao Yun slowly walked out of the dark stone castle and headed towards the open courtyard, intending to ask Count Bruno to pick a few local knights to accompany him to visit the village.
…
…
Count Bruno was horrified when he saw the young Marquis of Gaura striding towards him.
"Your Excellency, the Grand Marquis, you... you actually..."
You should know that the great nobles in the royal capital often hold balls all night long, and sleeping in the early morning and getting up at noon has become the norm in the lives of the nobles. Only the court jesters and small nobles who are of low status and need to rack their brains to please the great nobles will get up at dawn and wait respectfully outside the doors of the great nobles' rooms.
Unexpectedly——
(The Grand Marquis of Gaura, the younger brother of the Holy Grand Duke and the cousin of the Emperor… a noble among nobles… actually got up early in the morning…)
(Could it be that some loudmouth in the castle forgot my orders and made such a commotion so early in the morning that he interrupted the young master's dream?)
(Or is it that the nights in Gaola are too dull and boring, with no entertainment, so the young master can't fall asleep?!)
(But……)
Count Bruno glanced at the beautiful face of the Grand Marquis of Gaura, which looked like a famous court painting by a famous painter.
(In a borderland like Gaola, where barbarians roam the mountains and unruly people roam everywhere, even worse than the countryside, where can I find entertainment that would satisfy the Grand Marquis who grew up in the Little Love Palace and the Silver Moon Palace!)
"Count Bruno—"
"Yes! Yes!"
Count Bruno stepped forward quickly and asked, "What are your orders, Your Excellency the Grand Marquis?"
"I want to go to the village to find out what's going on."
"ah?"
Count Bruno was so shocked that his mind went blank.
"What did you say? You want to go to the village at the foot of the mountain?"
"They are my subjects, and I am their lord. A lord has an obligation to understand the living conditions of his subjects."
"But--"
"how?"
The young marquis raised his voice, his eyes as blue as the sea seemed to be able to see through Bruno Li's thoughts at the moment.
"You doubt my ability?"
"—I dare not! I am only worried about His Excellency the Grand Marquis."
Count Bruno raised his head tremblingly, gazing at the handsome, clear face of the Grand Marquis of Gaura. "Your Excellency, Grand Marquis, have lived with His Highness the Grand Duke for many years and are accustomed to His Highness's extraordinary beauty. You may not realize how noble your status is, or how magnificent your face is."
"Go on—"
"For the pioneers living in the border areas, your noble status makes them afraid, and your beautiful face is enough to make them lose their minds."
"If you approach them as the Grand Marquis of Gaura, they will be afraid to tell you the truth. But if you appear among them as a bard, I'm afraid they... they will... they will fight over you..."
"Most people at the border are strong, aggressive and aggressive, regardless of gender or age."
Bruno added.
"...I understand what you mean."
Xiao Yun looked up at the gray sky that seemed to be sleeping. "Is there any response from Lewis?"
Lewis is the name of the current Black Earl.
"The Black Earl..."
Bruno hesitated to speak.
"He doesn't want to come? That's okay, I'll deal with him when I'm free."
"ah?"
Bruno was stunned.
What does Grand Marquis Gaura mean by this? Could it be that... the Black Earl, renowned across the border, is nothing more than... in his eyes?
Bruno couldn't help but gasp.
"Your Excellency, Grand Marquis, with all due respect, Lewis is a nobody in the capital, not even qualified to meet your brother the Grand Duke alone. But this is Gora... the border... your Excellency? You, you, you—"
Where are you going?!
Bruno looked at the empty space in front of him and the Marquis of Gola who was walking towards the castle gate as if being summoned by something, and was getting farther and farther away. He felt that the noose of execution was already around his neck.
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