Chapter 122 - Trouble (2/2)
Gawain inquired Heidi who stood on his other side, “When did Byron start announcing the information to purchase slaves in Tanzan Town?”
Heidi had a serious expression as she already thought of a possibility. “Four days ago.”
“It would mean that serf Sam was already abnormal before Byron reached Tanzan Town. He might have already been controlled by sorcery back then, and he was originally supposed to be delivered to Viscount Andrew’s castle…” Gawain spoke while observing the surroundings. “It was just an accident for him to arrive in this place.”
Heidi took a deep breath. “Our neighbor is probably in trouble.”
“His trouble will quickly turn into our trouble.” Gawain spoke slowly, “The Oblivion Association originated from the druids. Their sorcery was developed from magic-of-life and nature energies. Living humans aren’t just their magical materials, they are also carriers for sorcery diseases. Tanzan Town has too much population, and we are too close to them as well. No matter the case, Sir Byron is still at Tanzan Town, and he hasn’t discovered anything yet. We cannot leave him there.”
Heidi looked at the territory’s only druid and asked with concern, “Pittman, do you think they will spread a disease in Tanzan Town? And deliver infected people into the castle to deal with the feudal lord…?”
“It is hard to say. The minds of evil cult followers are different from normal humans’. Their minds are mainly made of rotten flesh and mud from the ditch.” Pittman then said with a grave expression, “We need to plan for the worst.”
“The kingdom’s support will not arrive in time. We will have to do it ourselves.” Gawain stood up and said, “We need to eliminate the source of the problem before things go out of control. But we don’t have any method to confirm the number and strength of our enemy.”
Pittman said, “I can make an estimate. Sam was transformed into a living bomb by the sorcery spell ‘Call of the Dead’. According to the power I detected back then and the remaining presence, the spellcaster is not over intermediate rank and might have just reached the standard of a grade-five dark druid. Furthermore, their numbers are small. The Oblivion Association seldom organizes large-scale operations, especially for causing destruction to towns. They would usually send out one or two elite members and rely on crafty schemes and strange sorcery spells to create a huge amount of destruction.”
Gawain muttered to himself, “So we are probably facing one or two grade-five or inferior sorcerers. The number won’t be a problem. The only thing we need to worry about is the strange spells of those dark druids. In worst case situations, Viscount Andrew might be controlled by sorcery as controlling living beings is also a dark-druid specialty.”
After a brief silence, Gawain gestured to ‘Golden-Eyed Piegel’ who had nearly dehydrated from all his ‘cold-sweat’ perspiration. “You can go. But I advise you not to go near Tanzan Town for the next little while. Head towards the north.”
The slave trafficker trembled as he left, leaving behind a pair of serf siblings who lowered their heads and stood in place. They were so nervous that they almost fainted.
However, Gawain didn’t know what they were thinking. Even if he had the inherited memories, even if he had stayed in this era for a few months, he still wasn’t able to fully immerse and understand the thoughts of this world’s people. He would never have guessed that the siblings were worried about receiving punishment. Gawain carried on with his own thoughts and consoled them, “Your brother is already dead, and the dead cannot revive. [E/N: Well, one of them could.] My condolences. I have already asked someone to collect and prepare Sam’s… remains. He will be buried in a graveyard by the forest. The two of you should live well on this land and work hard to obtain your freedom. The Cecil Clan will protect your safety.”
The siblings lifted their heads in astonishment and looked at Gawain as though they couldn’t believe what they had heard.
Despite Gawain’s opinion, he was saying and doing everything according to the simplest logic.
The two serf siblings left while feeling bewildered. After they left, Amber couldn’t help but say, “I thought you would just let them become free citizens as compensation for their brother’s death.”
Gawain looked at Amber with an amused expression and asked, “Why would I do that?”
“Because you are benevolent.” Amber put on a face as though it was a matter of course. “I know you’re a good person, and isn’t it normal for you to act benevolently?”
Gawain shook his head. “I can act benevolently, but I cannot do it randomly. I cannot let them believe that the sacrifice of a relative could be exchanged for their freedom. Especially not to serfs that don’t know the inside story and allow them to think foolishly. Freedom must be strived for with their hands. I have already set this system in place. Therefore, I must also follow the system. Only by doing so will there be order.”
Amber looked at Gawain with surprise and said, “Is that why you insist those slaves go through the two-month ‘buffer’ period and for them to continue working as serfs and slave workers so that they can obtain freedom after they have worked enough, instead of just announcing you are freeing them their slavery?”
“…Actually, your understanding has plenty of problems, but it is generally okay.” Gawain laughed and said, “I indeed want them to realize that freedom doesn’t come so easily. But there might be a day when I will directly announce the abolition of slavery instead of making small changes like now.”
Amber was dumbstruck. “You actually have such thoughts?! Then… when will it be?”
“When people are aware that the children of serfs and slave workers can also eliminate the King with the launch of a Fireball,” Gawain spoke without thinking. “But for now, we still have to discuss the problem of Tanzan Town.”