Chapter 1371 - 585: Five-Year Study Abroad Plan

Chapter 1371: Chapter 585: Five-Year Study Abroad Plan

Prosperous Gene Town, bustling district.

A member of the Old Guard is walking down the street, his attire instantly recognizable to those who see him.

The envious and jealous gazes of the peasants and the somewhat complex looks from the knightly nobility give Remon a unique feeling.

Who would have thought that a runaway slave from Leonais would have such a day?

The Old Guard?

Remon feels rather proud. In truth, there is no need to wear the bear skin hat in this hot weather; it’s already late July, past the hottest season in Brittania, but wearing the bear skin hat still makes him feel a bit warm. He clearly knows why he chose to wear the Old Guard uniform home.

With a few gold coins in his pocket, he walks along the familiar yet unfamiliar streets on his way home.

Familiar, because there are signposts along the way. Since joining the army, Laine has conducted a certain amount of literacy work with the soldiers. Then, upon becoming a company commander and being appointed as a sergeant, Remon was almost forcibly indoctrinated. This Old Guard’s level of education is now equivalent to Brittania’s common village elders, able to read and write hundreds of words.

Unfamiliar, because Gene Town has changed so rapidly.

This town seems to be blessed by the Lady of the Lake. Almost every year, every month, every day, astonishing changes occur. It’s as if the Fairy of the Lake drew a circle in Brittania’s south, bringing together all nearby peasants and knights to form today’s city—truly a miracle.

This miracle has been crafted into songs by many minstrels, widely sung, named "Spring Story."

Nowadays, the market in Gene Town has become a large trade market, where any kind of goods from the Old World can be seen. The Empire’s black beer and various specialties have become a part of the lives of the locals—from the lowest grade Half-Elf pigswill (Half-Elf foot-made grape wine) to the highest-grade Winford premium wine "Lysa Lus," from the poorest rough cloth to the highest-grade Zhendan silk, dyes, oil, grains, flour, from the poorest black bread to the finest black pepper roast beef steak, all can be found in Gene Town’s market.

However, some luxury items remain beyond the reach of the peasants, such as Lustria’s spices and enchanted golden statues, imported coffee from Tiriel, wood elf handmade gemstone jewelry and clothes, venison strictly banned for peasant consumption, and the most expensive High Elf chocolate, rumored to sell for seventy to eighty gold crowns per pound, only tasted by Great Nobles.

Remon thinks he’ll have a chance to taste it someday, but not now. He arrives at the entrance of a butcher shop, amidst the bustling crowd. This meat shop doesn’t seem familiar; it is likely new. The owner is clearly a Kakasong shepherd. Since Duke Laine succeeded in winning the Musillon reclamation battle, Duke Hubert decided to fully learn from Laine.

Locals say recently many "sheep" have come from the south.

This statement has two meanings: one, indeed many sheep came from Kakasong, directly causing a drop in lamb prices, making it possible for every household to eat lamb. Shepherds from Kakasong bring batches of sheep to sell and leave satisfied with bags of gold coins and silver coins.

The second meaning is that many free people from Kakasong are entering the town to attempt settling, making the already crowded town even more overcrowded. This has irked the locals, especially those peasants who settled here before Laine arrived. However, due to improved living conditions and less employment competition, coupled with both sides being from the Knight Kingdom, conflicts remain manageable, and Laine has already issued a decree to develop Musillon, preparing to migrate a sufficient number of peasants from crowded towns to the new territories in Musillon.

Families like Remon’s that have obtained free people status are not keen on moving to Musillon, but several peasants are willing to seek opportunities to change their fate in Musillon.

Seeing an Old Guard, the market is in a stir. People curiously and slightly fearfully approach, pointing and talking about Remon.

"Wow~ That’s the Old Guard!"

"That’s someone who can only become the Old Guard after experiencing three major battles and serving at least five years!"

"Look at the medals on him! He followed His Grace the Duke in the Battle of Black Stone Stronghold, the La-Mesnil Abbey battle, and the subsequent Musillon conquest war!"

"What...what handsome clothes!"

"When my child grows up, I must send him to join the army! To become the Old Guard!"

"You’re thinking too much. Is it so easy to become the Old Guard? Do you think your son can survive three major battles?"

"But it’s better than being a peasant for a lifetime!"

Compared to the reverence and worship for the Holy Grail Knights, the town residents feel a closeness to the Old Guard. They know the knightly class may be unreachable, but the Old Guard indeed can be reached through effort. Who wants to be a peasant all their life? Who doesn’t want to become free people and honorably free people? Therefore, when Remon appears, people dare to point and discuss more freely.