Being a knight is not easy

Chapter 338 Warning
Inside the allied forces' camp, the generals and nobles sat together, intensely discussing the situation.

"The Guardian Knight is dead. This is a golden opportunity for our Western Territory to rise," a burly nobleman said excitedly, his eyes gleaming with greed.

“That’s right, we can’t miss this opportunity. The royal family only has that gatekeeper left, and he can’t leave the Middle-earth at all. This is our chance.” Another general chimed in, slamming his hand on the table.

However, some people remain cautious.

“Although the Knights of the Kingdom are gone, we cannot underestimate the royal family’s strength. Moreover, other regional powers are certainly watching closely. If we act rashly, we might become the target of everyone’s criticism,” an elderly nobleman warned, frowning.

Viscount Wilke was also weighing the pros and cons in the castle.

This is a time of both danger and opportunity.

On the one hand, if the Western Alliance succeeds, the Wilke family may be able to gain huge benefits;

However, the destruction and uncertainty brought about by war are also enormous.

Moreover, Robin's plans were still unresolved, and he didn't know if his son would be drawn into the impending conflict.

"What exactly is Robin planning to do?" Viscount Wilke muttered to himself.

Robin's son is very opinionated, but at this moment concerning the fate of the family and the Westerlands, he still hopes that his son can be by his side to deal with this complex situation together.

In other parts of Wilke territory, the people also felt this tense atmosphere.

Panic gripped the market, and merchants began stockpiling goods in anticipation of potential turmoil.

The soldiers are undergoing intensive training, ready to be dispatched to the battlefield at any time upon receiving orders.

The entire Western Region is like a volcano about to erupt, calm on the surface but full of turbulent undercurrents inside.

Upon learning the news, Robin immediately summoned the merchants in his territory and instructed them to ensure price stability.

In such a turbulent situation, price stability is crucial for the livelihood of the people and the stability of the territory.

Robin stood on the high platform in the lord's hall, his serious gaze sweeping over the merchants gathered below.

"Gentlemen, I know the situation is turbulent right now, but I hope you understand that the stability of Wilke Territory is in everyone's common interest. I demand that you guarantee price stability and not engage in price gouging, or you will bear the consequences." Robin's voice was calm and powerful, echoing in the hall.

His gaze, like sharp arrows, swept across the face of every merchant, the warning in his eyes all too clear.

This public warning has brought a slight sense of relief to the people of the territory.

Unfortunately, some people still don't take his words seriously.

The moonlight stained the map in Robin's study a dark blue, and sweat stains were left on the parchment as his fingertips traced the market area.

"The Sonata emblem has appeared in the granary." The old knight Edmund handed over a secret letter, the thorn pattern on the sealing wax seal melting away.

A rhythmic knocking sound came from the attic—three short knocks and two long knocks.

The spy, covered in night dew, knelt on one knee: "Bauhinia unloaded twenty carts of coarse salt at the dock, but," his Adam's apple bobbed, "each bag was mixed with three parts mud and sand."

Robin suddenly chuckled.

He pushed open the window, and the night wind, carrying with it the curses of the distant market, rushed in. "Give the order!" The young lord untied his sash, a symbol of power. "Before sunrise tomorrow, I want to see all the windmills in the Westerlands turning simultaneously." In Bread Lane, before dawn in Pioneer Town, the widow Maggie's hand trembled as she clutched her empty purse. Suddenly, she grabbed the miller's son's arm: "You said the lord's granary is selling cheap grain?"

The boy shook his head in terror, but then heard more gruff voices emerge from the shadows: "The dockworkers have found bags of salt mixed with sand!"

"My cousin saw the Marquis's coat of arms carriage." The crowd stirred like ants before a storm, until a moment of sudden stillness—the shadow of the windmill's giant wings swept across the morning mist, and sixteen mills roared simultaneously.

The people who were initially panicked by the soaring food prices quickly calmed down and flocked to the various mills in Pioneer Town.

Their faces were filled with hope, and their steps were hurried yet orderly.

In this turbulent time, the lord's mill was like a beacon in the darkness, bringing peace of mind to the people.

The mills in Pioneer Town all belong to the lord. People only need to pay a small fee to use the mills, but they also need to send one laborer from their home to help maintain the mills for three days each month.

This approach not only reduced the manpower burden on lords managing mills but also allowed the people to use mills at a lower cost, achieving two goals at once and making it a significant policy that benefits the people.

Behind the mill is the lord's granary, where the production of purple melons has been increasing in recent years.

Purple gourd is a magical crop with a very high yield. It can not only feed the people of the territory, but it can also feed the population several times over.

However, the lord never sold any grain to outsiders; instead, he ground the purple melons into powder and stored them in large quantities.

This seemingly conservative approach is actually a manifestation of Robin's foresight.

In this unstable situation, sufficient food reserves are the cornerstone of territory stability, which is why Pioneer Town has more and more granaries.

Outside the mill, soldiers from the Warhorse Legion were already maintaining order.

They stood tall and straight, their expressions serious, diligently fulfilling their duties.

"Come one by one, register each household, and each person can only buy one day's worth of food to prevent anyone from causing trouble!"

The soldiers shouted loudly, their voices echoing around the mill.

People lined up in long queues, and although each person could only buy one day's worth of food, they did not complain.

They knew that this was to ensure every family had a basic food supply and to prevent hoarding.

An old man, leaning on a cane, slowly walked toward the registration desk, muttering, "The lord is so thoughtful. We are so lucky to have such a lord."

A woman holding a child nearby nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes, if it weren't for the lord, we really wouldn't know what to do. Although the situation is not good now, as long as the lord is here, we are not afraid."

As the procession moved slowly forward, the millstones in the mill turned incessantly, emitting a dull thud.

That was the sound of hope, a steady melody, echoing over Pioneer Town, allowing the town to maintain its vitality amidst the turbulent situation.

Alina, who had originally planned to confront Robin, stopped and silently watched everything unfold.

Alina had never seen a lord who cared so much for the people.

"Perhaps this is the true path of a knight to protect the weak!" Nottman couldn't help but sigh.

(End of this chapter)