Chapter 1321 - 567: Winning Nonstop, Feeling Great Nonstop

Chapter 1321: Chapter 567: Winning Nonstop, Feeling Great Nonstop

If Laine’s forces lack manpower, then Emperor Carl Franz is troubled by how to alleviate population pressure, as a large portion of the Emperor’s annual fiscal expenditure is on relief food.

Unlike the relatively indifferent citizens of Nuer, who are satisfied with civilian class autonomy and a wealthy life, and the Middenheim people, who advocate survival of the fittest and valor, the Rick people, under Emperor Carl Franz’s control, are like the proud and arrogant jewel of the Empire. This province is the most prosperous, enlightened, and also the most arrogant, comparable only to the Nuer people.

However, Nuer is ultimately just a city with a population of fifteen to twenty thousand, while Rick Territory is a province with a population of five million.

Compared to the arrogance and indifference to external affairs of the small-town mindset of the Nuer people, the nobility of Rick Territory, influenced by history and culture, tend to think "Since I am so strong, I should help others more" and "Since I am so rich, I should do something." Under the influence of this cultural ethos, whenever any province of the Empire is in trouble, the nobles of Rick Territory loudly demand military aid for their compatriots at the Emperor’s court. Emperor Carl Franz cannot and will not just refuse most of the refugees like Nuer does, as this would attract much opposition from the nobility and would lose the people’s favor.

In the eyes of the Rick people, becoming a soldier is a shortcut to becoming a noble and getting rich. Over the years, the expanding middle class sees joining the army as an important way to cross social classes.

However, the Rick people are also famously arrogant and rude, known for their strong desire for control. They love to loudly ignore others’ opinions while expressing their own views, and many male nobles from other provinces find their wives being enticed by Rick playboys, much to their anger. However, amusingly, these male nobles from other provinces also yearn to marry a Rick female noble because their beauty and pride are famous throughout the Old World.

If a "country noble" can marry a Rick female noble, it’s something worth bragging about for a lifetime.

Just like how Laine married Surya.

"Then I can go to the Empire with you." Alfred finally spoke, having been busy eating with his only functional arm, which made it difficult for him to speak, appearing very embarrassed: "Good friend, take me with you. I happen to report to the Church headquarters. Since you have given me such a large piece of land, I’m planning to write to Archbishop Vicma to dispatch more Paladins and Ascetic Monks here."

"Hmm, that’s a good idea. By the way, Afu, do you know why it’s two thousand Gold Crowns?" Laine smiled slyly.

"Two thousand?" Alfred was stunned for a moment, then suddenly remembered something, blushed, and whispered: "Ah, yes, exactly two thousand."

"So?" Laine looked playfully at his childhood friend.

Now Laine is thirty-four years old, and Alfred is thirty-three. Neither of them can be considered young men anymore; they are now in their prime, at the best and peak of their lives.

For men in the Old World, there is a saying: grass at twenty, silver at thirty, gold at forty, meaning twenty-year-olds are not worth much, common as dirt; thirty-year-olds are at a crossroads in life, if they have achieved nothing by now, they likely never will, but if they are already a bit famous, the future is bright; and forty-year-olds are starting the pinnacle years of their lives.

(As for why it’s forty, I won’t analyze it here, to avoid accusations of word padding.)

This is why, during the election of the Emperor of the Empire, forty-five-year-old Boris Todbringer was more favored by the Prince-Electors compared to the thirty-two-year-old Carl Franz.

"That matter... let’s talk about it later." Alfred was indeed a bit excited. He thought carefully before shaking his head: "Right now, I need to be faithful to my duty. Good friend, since you have granted me the Freya Ancient Church District and the nearby land, I must fulfill my obligations. I will rebuild that land and restore it to its former state."

"Hmm, Afu, you’re doing the right thing." Laine nodded repeatedly. He thought for a moment and decided to add: "All my forces have been dispatched to maintain law and order, eradicate remaining bandits, and deal with the roaming Beastmen in the territory. Afu, I can’t spare any troops to help you right now, so you’ll have to manage on your own."

"No problem, I still have dozens of Paladins and dozens of Ascetic Monks under my command." Alfred nodded. These men were a force sent after he wrote a letter to the Justice Church headquarters in Brunswick, dispatched by his superior, the Great Chant Master, to assist Alfred. They arrived late and missed the war, but now they just happen to be of use.

The Freya Ancient Church District is located in the middle of the Duchy of Musillon, north of the Sharp-Top Palace, surrounded by small hills in a relatively peaceful marshland. It is home to an entire section of ancient church districts, once a site for High Elf worship. When the High Elves withdrew from the Old World, the "Old Faith" inherited this area (the Old Faith refers to humanity’s original belief in nature, where they don’t worship a particular deity, but revere nature as a whole).