Chapter 113: Gawain’s Morals

This suggestion that Byron put forward made everyone present slightly confused, especially Heidi. She raised her question directly, “Buy slaves at a price that is thirty percent of the market price? And in the form of issuing a mercenary authorization? How could there be anyone willing to accept this? Don’t mention this unusually low price, the mercenaries’ remuneration probably still has to be taken from this thirty percent… To those mercenaries, this is nothing but a losing deal.”

With regard to this question, Byron only said coolly, “So we have to add an extra line — We do not require slavery or contracts.”

Heidi and Rebecca stared at each other, while Amber had already understood. This half-elf was just about to say something, but unexpectedly, Gawain spoke up before her, “If that’s the case, the mercenaries will capture refugees to act as slaves and sell them for money.”

Amber glanced at Gawain with a slight surprise as if she hadn’t expected this Duke to actually understand such things, whereas Sir Bryon added, “A strong serf or slave laborer with a complete slavery contract and a clear family background would often cost 20 to 30 small inlaid coins or 16 to 17 silver coins. And the greatest cost among everything was actually their slave record as that held a tabulation of their identity, so that has to be bought through proper channels. Other than the cost of purchasing the slave itself, the owner of the slave, the tax collector of the feudal lord, the local churches, the slave market, and even the ‘slave association’, usually made up of local ruffians and crooks, would draw tiers of commissions from this. This would make the price several times or even tens of times more. However, refugees… refugees do not need capital to acquire. No one would protect them, nor is there any information on their identity. If they go missing or die, it wouldn’t attract any attention.”

At this point, Byron paused for a moment, seeming to be giving Rebecca and Heidi some time to think. Then he went on, “In normal circumstances, aristocrats will not buy slaves with no slavery contracts as such slaves have no safeguard of their background. The aristocrat could also wind up miserly and poor if the slaves turn out to be less than satisfactory. Moreover, if such slaves are killed or captured by other slave owners, there would be no way of getting compensation. Despite this, there are still people who send out requests to buy cheap slaves with no citizenship. This was a tacitly approved black rule… But this was actually simply referring to refugees.”

Heidi held her chest. Despite herself already being an example amongst the aristocrats who had close ties to commoners, she had yet to come into contact with such dark truths at the deepest level. “There are actually such things?”

“Not only do they exist, they also happen all year round everywhere, Madam,” Sir Byron said in a deep voice. “In some unethical mercenary communities, such refugees are called ‘money with legs’. They would even treat the gathering points and hideouts of refugees as valuable intelligence and circulate them secretly, keeping an eye on those homeless people like sharks and hyenas. They only wait for the time when someone wants to buy cheap slaves with no citizenship — usually, these would be bulk purchases — then they would rush forward together to capture them.”

Rebecca instinctively tightened her grip on the iron staff in her hand; her knuckles even turned slightly white from the force she’d put in. She spoke under her breath as if murmuring to herself, “Mercenaries… I heard their stories in the taverns. I heard stories of them wiping out bandits, killing monsters, exploring old castles, and arcane lands. I thought that was the life of a mercenary, but…”

“Viscountess, when you were in the taverns, the mercenaries there were no longer behaving like mercenaries.” Sir Bryon gave Rebecca a deep look. “Of course, not all mercenaries would do what I’ve just said. What you’ve mentioned is indeed also the life of some mercenaries, but there’s one more thing — the hands of mercenaries are destined to be dirty. It’s merely a question of how much evil they’ve done.”

Following that, this middle-aged knight lifted his head and looked towards Gawain. “Lord, what do you say? About issuing the—”

Gawain looked at this knight with a subtle smile. This knight had told those darkest truths in the presence of everyone; his unspoken words were already very obvious, but Gawain didn’t want to expose this halfway knight who seemed to have quite a past. “I do not intend to save on this sum of money.”

Both Heidi and Rebecca evidently heaved a sigh of relief.

“We’re not short of money. The gold and silver in the treasury are enough for the entire territory to spend for a very, very long time. However, if we use a way that encourages vices in order to save money, the debts borne by our souls won’t be that easy to atone for,” Gawain said unhurriedly. “Do it according to the usual process. Put up notices at the territories close by, and dispatch people to read them out. Communicate with aristocrats that we are able to. Rent horses and carriages and prepare rations as well. If we buy serfs, do it according to the usual process. There’s no need to be miserly with money. I only have one request. Ensure that everyone who will be coming to this land understands one thing — regardless of what they have done in the past, they must obey the laws here.”

Byron held his chest and bowed his head. “That is their duty.”

Gawain nodded. “You are good at associating with people of this type, so you shall assume full charge of this matter. Get the money you need from Heidi, but there must be clear accounts and spending plans. In addition, if you have the channels, it would be best if you could get a line on the refugees’ gathering points.”

As the foundational work was on track, they now had some extra manpower. The work for the mint had begun on a small scale. Gawain had already designed the currency and ordered people to forge their very first few coin denominations. He then sent these currencies to the neighboring Tanzan Town and several other relatively further towns and notarized them with the merchants and aristocrats. These currencies had now become official.

When Byron and the others left, it was only Gawain and Amber left in the tent. The latter kept surveying Gawain with an odd gaze, making Gawain uneasy all over. “What are you looking at again?”

“Having those mercenaries who only recognize money capture refugees and send them here is clearly less trouble, less effort, and less money spent. I’d have thought you would definitely pick the more practical proposal. Don’t you always claim to be a pragmatist?”

“I am indeed a pragmatist, but I’m not a villain. What ways would those mercenaries use to capture the refugees to serve as slaves? I can imagine just with the back of my teeth. How many people would be killed on the spot in this process? How many people’s families would be broken up? How many people would die of hunger and illness during the brutal ‘transportation’ process of those mercenaries? Even if I were to especially emphasize ensuring the health of the ‘slaves’ in the authorization, how many mercenaries do you think will really obey? These things might not be personally done with my hands, but they would be impelled by me. It would violate my principles.”

“But do you know, even if you’re not doing it, there are others who are. Miserly farm owners and black mines would approach mercenaries to buy slaves with no citizenship. The amount they would buy every year is enough to fill this small camp of yours several times over.”

“I intend to destroy such a present situation and build a new order. Not only do I myself have to comply with these criteria, every piece of territory that I found will also abide by these norms — Whether they are slave owners, mercenaries, local hoodlums, bandits, unscrupulous merchants, or hereditary peers and occupational powerhouses, all are to do so. I do no evil, and neither are they allowed to.”

Amber looked at Gawain with a stupefied air, mouth agape. She only spoke some time later. “You sound pretty confident… but why are you so set on protecting the weak? Is it really because of those so-called ‘classic virtues of aristocrats’ or ‘knights’ chivalry’?”

“No, this is only basic morals.”

Amber acted as if she was intentionally being spiteful, wanting to find some faults. “You’re simply being naive. How could you bring so many changes alone? You must know that in this world, the weak falling prey to the strong is a rule. The strong being above the weak is a moral itself.”

Gawain watched Amber and suddenly could not help but burst into laughter. “That’s right. The weak is prey to the strong. This is indeed the rule of the world or even the rule of nature. The strong ought to set the rules, and the weak can only obey.”

Amber batted her eyes. “Then you—”

Gawain’s smile became even more unrestrained. “So haven’t I already started laying down the rules?”

“…It could work this way too?!”

…

Meanwhile, on the ship White Oak, which was now far from the Cecil territory and currently sailing on the White River, Veronica was in her own praying room.

She was still dressed in a plain white nun gown, long pale-blond hair softly spreading behind her head; there were no luxurious accessories on her at all. She knelt before the statue of the God of Holy Light, her hands crossed on her chest, imitating the form of the two intersecting rays of Holy Light on the emblem. Plenty of light elements circled and danced around her, like many translucent little angels, surrounding and protecting this matchless pious believer of the Holy Light.

She prayed sincerely, letting the radiance gradually envelop the statue of the God of Holy Light whose features were blurred and could not be distinguished with the naked eye. When she finished a passage of prayers, she then opened her eyes and looked towards the thick candle that was burning before the statue.

The flame of the thick candle danced a few times and abruptly changed from orange to a pure white color. The flame also expanded several times, turning into a pure light beam. This radiance shook and shrunk, slowly becoming the image of an old man.

The old man sat in a chair. Though he appeared to be rather dignified, he was clearly aged and frail. And if there were any believers of the God of Holy Light here, they would recognize at first glance that this was the Church of Holy Light’s supreme ruler, Pope Saint Ivan III.

Veronica bowed her head slightly. “Your Holiness.”

The slightly distorted voice of the Pope sounded from the light. “Child favored by the Holy Light, you’re on your return journey?”

“Yes, I’ve left the Cecil territory. The fleet should be approaching the mouth of the Dolgon River now.”

“Has everything gone smoothly during this trip? Is Gawain Cecil opposed to our Lord?”

Veronica pondered for two seconds and replied with a gentle voice. “Everything has been going well. Gawain Cecil is indeed that legend from seven hundred years ago and not an ignoble evil soul in the mortal world that has stolen a hero’s body. He spoke composedly under the illumination of the Holy Light and is a person with a noble and pure character.”

“In that case, that’s good. I’ve been hearing the voice of the Lord frequently in recent years. He wants me to teach the right way of the Holy Light to the common people, and Gawain Cecil happened to resurrect at this point. It was truly a matter of concern. However, now that you’ve confirmed he isn’t an opposer of the Lord, I am much at ease.”

Veronica’s hands overlapped as she bowed deeply. “My Lord’s way will definitely spread throughout the entire world.”

The candle was gradually burning out; the power of the theurgy had also reached its end. The voice coming from the radiance became weaker. “Come back as quickly as possible. Do not be held up en route lest the filthy commoners affect the purity of your Holy Light. Return to the Church of Holy Light…”

The light disappeared; all that was left of the candle were some pale ashes. The Pope’s aura had also left this place.

Veronica waited for another few seconds before slowly standing up and quietly gazing at the statue of the God of Holy Light.

She spoke softly, as if murmuring to herself.

“That is actually a nonbeliever, right?”

“Yes, not only does he have no beliefs, he opposes the way of the Holy Light.”

“He seems to only be against gods and not the Holy Light…”

“In short, he is neither a servant of the Holy Light nor a pawn of the darkness.”

“Very interesting…”

“Very interesting.”

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