Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 421 The Righteous Ruler Has Arrived
In recent years, the remaining residents in the northwest of High Cliff have been forced to retreat again and again due to the increasingly rampant monsters. They have almost given up the farms and villages they had previously established and fled the area around the castle to settle down and cultivate relatively safer corners of the land.

Many fertile fields were painfully abandoned, and in harsh times, people even had to fight monsters and beasts to protect the fruits of the autumn harvest.

Even though survival is so difficult, they still choose to stay here.

As I said before, there was no choice. Those with connections had already abandoned their land and left. The rest had nothing but a few acres of meager land on this high cliff. Where could they go after abandoning their families and property? The best outcome was to become a member of the beggars' den, living a life of aimless wandering, waiting for the pity of others and a virtually impossible chance to turn their lives around.

The high cliffs have long suffered from banditry.

Unexpectedly, this situation changed in just two months. With the regular patrols and crackdowns by certain outsiders, the security of this land improved almost visibly.

The grateful villagers of Gaoya found an opportunity to thank him in person, only to find out that the person in front of them was actually a pioneer knight appointed by the new lord of Gaoya.
This wretched place has been taken over again?
The villagers were both surprised and delighted that the other party was actually their own knight.

Seeing the new lord's abundant martial prowess, the remnants, who had been wild children for several years and had tasted the joy of fighting closely with jackals and wild beasts in this no-man's-land, were filled with surprise and anticipation, but also with some worries.

But things couldn't get any worse.

With this in mind, the villagers of High Cliff took the initiative to contact the Canaan garrison members who were leading a mercenary squad on patrol to clear out the remaining scattered monsters. After expressing their gratitude, they tactfully explained that due to their extremely difficult living conditions, they were unable to afford the previous tax amount for the High Cliff territory and asked if they could ask the lord for leniency.

As for the matter of tax exemption, they never dared to even think about it. Only in their most triumphant and arrogant dreams would they occasionally have the audacity to fantasize that their master would suddenly have the heart of a holy knight and, with a wave of his hand, exempt them from rent and interest.

But how could Münster and his companions make decisions for their leader in such a matter? They patiently explained that the mage lord was not currently present and would soon return to his fiefdom to assume his post, and that it would not be too late to discuss the matter then.

Of course, the big guy was usually taciturn, but he was not confused when things happened. Although he could not guarantee any conditions, he praised and admired his boss's abilities and character to the extreme. If Master Zhang were there, he would be surprised by how eloquent this barbarian was. His flattery skills would make even himself feel ashamed.

However, Münster, who was earnestly telling the remaining people about the strength and benevolence of his leader, would certainly not agree with this statement. In his view, what he said was simply the clear truth, so how could it be considered embellishment or boasting?
As one of the first people to meet, acknowledge, and follow that man, Münster felt that all he had seen and heard along the way was comparable only to the strange little tunes that bards used to murmur along with the strings of their lutes.

He was grateful, not only for what he had already gained, such as the knighthood that ordinary mercenaries could hardly achieve even after a lifetime of struggle, but also for the scenery he had encountered along the way.

The barbarians from Rossiman have been far from their homeland, wandering the bustling Sword Bay for more than a year or two. From a naive young man full of dreams and aspirations to a seasoned warrior who is now dull and silent, they have gained and grown, but it seems that they have also lost something.

Compared to the hardships and dangers of venturing out alone, the relatively stable life and companions he made after joining Flame Fist certainly made him happy. However, the restless blood flowing through his veins, as cold as ice and snow, sometimes reminded him of the pursuit he had when he took that step and his dream of becoming an Ice Troll Berserker.

For Münster, who had undergone rigorous training and trials in his youth and later received systematic training in the Flame Fist, his accumulation and tempering were sufficient. However, step-by-step training is never the way for a warrior, especially a berserker, to break through himself and reach a higher level.

To confront formidable foes on a battlefield strewn with blood and flesh, to feel death lurking at your side, to carve a path to survival with your weapon, and to forge and elevate yourself amidst blood and fire—this is the path of a warrior. Of course, even in the Canaan Squad's adventures, there weren't so many life-or-death battles. After all, with the mage captain providing backup, many previously unimaginable and terrifying enemies met increasingly miserable ends. But to have experienced and witnessed all of this and still survive is itself a rare and valuable experience.

Having some understanding of his boss's strength and ambitions, Münster did not believe that his ambitions were merely like those petty noblemen who only cared about their own little corner of the world. It was foreseeable that he would rise to a larger stage in the future.

But will it have its own place?

Oh, it's been so long since I've seen my beautiful and noble witch, Lily. What a beautiful name. I wish the boss could give her more screen time.

After regaining his senses, the tall man told the villagers about the power of his lord, and also emphasized the mage's "benevolent rule" in Luskan, solemnly telling them:

Our Lord Chanem is not a bastard, not a beast, not a monster, and not a parasite!

He is our good lord!
The remaining people were skeptical, but since the other side said so, they had no choice but to believe it, especially since the other side's displayed military strength was real.

It's rare to see a knight who possesses power yet can still reason with his farmers in such a peaceful and approachable manner. And a lord who can gain his admiration and support can't be too bad.

Right?
Now that the mage has returned to Neverwinter and is on the high cliffs, and the Canaanite team is once again in full force, it is only natural that they need to have a proper discussion about the resettlement of the two groups of people.

"Just as you told me in the communication crystal last time, the remaining villagers of Gaoya Territory are currently facing not only the predicament of being unable to pay their grain and tax burdens, but also the chaos of their farmland and property?"

The monk tapped the lid of his teacup, looking questioningly at Münster and Telinda, who were on duty behind the scenes:

"It's not convenient to go into details over the phone, so let's talk about it properly now?"

Münster glanced at the elf whose eyes were slanted to one side, then at Rick and Morty with their goofy expressions, sighed, and took out a parchment scroll, spreading it out in the center of the round table.

"Since that incident, many farms and estates have been abandoned, especially in the area centered around the High Cliff Castle, which has almost become a paradise for monsters and beasts."

Münster pointed and drew a circle around a mark on the map.

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(End of this chapter)