Manor Lord of the Elf World

Chapter 249 Public Sentiment
The transformation of Weimei City, like the sea breeze of the west coast, spread silently yet irresistibly.

Thanks to the combined efforts of the craftsmen and Pokémon of Unova, the once dilapidated and impoverished fishing port has undergone a complete transformation in just half a month.

Steam engines brought by the craftsmen of the Union were running with a roar in the port, and the originally narrow dock was widened and reinforced, enough to accommodate several giant steamships.

The wide streets leveled by Diggoo Rabbit and Mighty Mechanic run through the entire city. Hardy flowers and trees transplanted from Unova are planted along the roadside, and a faint fragrance wafts in the wind. The dilapidated buildings have been repaired and rebuilt.

Outside the town, people and Pokémon are working together on that vast land.

With the help of Ground-type Pokémon, vast tracts of land were cultivated.

Farmers led Tauros to cultivate the land, scattering high-quality wheat seeds into the soil. Along the field ridges, Pokémon like Oddish and Squirrel slowly distributed nutrients to the crops, accelerating their growth.

Upon witnessing this scene, the ordinary people of Galar who originally lived in this city were moved to tears.

The great man from the Commonwealth did not deceive them; they were indeed helping these commoners and slaves to cultivate land and build homes, and they even distributed the cultivated land to them.

This deeply moved the common people of Weimei City.

That night, the area in front of the city lord's mansion was piled high with gifts from these commoners.

Eggs, fruits and vegetables, sausages, beer...

Chelsea were stunned.

"Your Majesty, what is this?!"

Raven smiled slightly and said, "It's the sentiment of the people living on this land. Please accept it, Chelsea."

"Yes!"

Chelsea quickly directed his staff to move the gifts into the storeroom.

The civilians who had not yet left watched this scene from afar and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

That's wonderful, the sir didn't mind their gifts.

You're so kind, sir!
Although the renovation of Weimei City is nearing completion, Raven is not content with the status quo.

Every morning, he would take Serperior to patrol the city, either walking into the fields to talk with farmers, or stepping into the fishing port to inquire about the livelihoods of fishermen. Occasionally, he would squat on the street, watching children play and laugh around Jigglypuff, while Jigglypuff hummed a soft lullaby.

After spending half a month together, the originally timid Galar children were no longer afraid of these gentle Pokémon, and instead regarded them as their closest friends.

Thanks to Raven's vigorous efforts, the city is now thriving.

However, this stability did not last long.

That afternoon, several caravans from nearby cities arrived in Weimei City to conduct trade.

They stared at the familiar yet unfamiliar city before them, and froze in place.

"Boss, did we go to the wrong place?!" a young man asked a burly man next to him.

Gus initially thought he had gone to the wrong place, but soon he saw a familiar figure at the city gate.

Those were the guards stationed in Weimei City.

Guss quickly stepped forward and asked the other person, "Boggs, what exactly happened?!"

They haven't been here for a month, how did it become like this?

The guard named Boggs was beaming with excitement.

"His Majesty Raven did all of this!"

“Raven… Your Majesty?” Guts looked bewildered upon hearing this unfamiliar name.

“That lord is the king from the distant Kingdom of the Union!” Boggs explained, “I heard that our king detained the Union’s ocean-going caravan. To protect his people, His Majesty Raven traveled alone to Galar and defeated the famous Armored Raven army with a powerful magical beast.”

"Therefore, King Partis ceded the city of Weimei to the United Kingdom as compensation!"

"What?!" Guts and the others were shocked. Didn't this mean that the city of Misty Dreams was no longer under Galar's jurisdiction?
“Hey, what kind of look is that?” Borgs frowned. “We’d rather have His Majesty Raven rule the City of Slumber than go back to that kind of life!”

Upon hearing this, Guts and the others were stunned.

"You'll understand what I mean when you go into the city and see for yourself."

With some skepticism, Gus and his party led their camels, laden with goods, slowly through the city gate.

At a single glance, everyone was completely stunned. The camels and horses beneath their feet stopped involuntarily, and the young attendant couldn't help but gasp, almost dropping the reins in his hand.

This is no longer the dilapidated, muddy, and garbage-strewn fishing port town it was just two weeks ago! It's clearly a vibrant, newly built city!

The road beneath my feet is a smooth and compacted stone pavement, without a single pothole, and without the sewage and mud that used to be everywhere after rain. When the wind blows, only the fragrance of hardy flowers and trees along the roadside lingers in my nostrils.

On both sides of the street, the original crooked and leaky wooden houses have been renovated and even replaced by several sturdy brick and stone houses. The doors and windows are clean, and the eaves are hung with dried fish and wheat ears that the villagers have dried themselves, exuding a strong sense of everyday life.

The streets were not as oppressive and chaotic as one might imagine under enemy rule; instead, they were bustling yet orderly.

The soldiers of the Union were dressed in neat armor, their swords securely sheathed at their waists. They patrolled quietly and never scolded the people, unlike the arrogant and domineering guards of Galar.

The market in the center of town was bustling with activity.

Although the residents here still wear rough linen robes, their faces are full of hope as they happily stroll through the market.

The market was filled with many goods and commodities that they had never seen before.

It's obvious without even thinking that those goods must have been transported from Hezhong!
The young follower beside Guts swallowed hard, his voice trembling, "Boss, is this...is this really Weimei City? Have we stumbled upon some kind of paradise?"

Gus didn't answer, but just gripped the riding crop tightly, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

He has been doing business with border caravans for more than ten years, and Weimei City is his usual stop. In the past, the people here were all emaciated and gloomy, and people begging for food could be seen everywhere on the streets.

Heavy taxes and hunger made it hard for everyone to breathe; let alone being able to eat and stay warm, even surviving the cold winter was a luxury.

But now, the people here wear clean clothes, have rosy complexions, and their eyes are full of hope for life, no longer showing the numbness and despair of the past.

He pulled over a local fisherman who was tidying up his stall and asked in a hoarse voice:

"Brother, what exactly happened? The people of the Alliance occupied the city, but they really didn't cause you any trouble? They even gave you land and food?" Upon hearing this, the fisherman immediately stopped his work, his face showing heartfelt gratitude, and said excitedly:

"Difficult? His Majesty Raven and the adults and monsters of the Unicron treat us better than family!"

“When the Galatian royal family was in charge, we worked hard fishing and farming. Seventy percent of our harvest had to be handed over to the government. If we couldn’t pay the taxes, we would be forced into labor. Life was incredibly difficult.”

"But now, His Majesty Raven has exempted us from the poll tax and grain tax, and distributed land to us. As long as we are willing to work, we can eat our fill and stay warm. If we get sick, we can even get free magical beasts to treat us. We never dared to dream of such a life before!"

As the fisherman spoke, he pointed to the lucky egg that was treating the local people not far away.

The Chanseys were surrounded by pink healing energy, gently soothing the wounded villagers. The people who had been clutching their wounds and looking pained soon relaxed their brows and bowed to the Chanseys to express their gratitude.

"Not only that, His Majesty also said that once the port is fully built, he will help us open up long-distance trade routes. In the future, the fish and grains of our Weimei City can be sold directly to the United Kingdom, and we can make a lot of money!"

The fisherman's tone was full of longing, and when he spoke of His Majesty Raven, the reverence in his eyes was impossible to hide.

"We all hope that His Majesty Raven can continue to govern our Weimei City and never go back to the old days."

Gus and his group were stunned and remained speechless for a long time.

They traveled far and wide, but they had never seen a ruler treat the common people so kindly, let alone distribute land to the commoners, exempt them from heavy taxes, and allow monsters and humans to coexist peacefully.

Because that's simply impossible.

The caravan members put down their camels and horses and began to explore the city with curiosity.

They saw the artisans of the Union Kingdom leading local carpenters to build the trade post station, saw many monsters carrying building materials steadily moving forward, and saw that every citizen of Weimei City had a genuine smile on their face.

Guts walked to the harbor and looked at the wide and sturdy dock, where several United States steamships were moored.

The workers on the ship were carrying seeds, farm tools and cloth in an orderly manner. Watching this scene, Guss was filled with mixed feelings.

He suddenly understood why Boggs had said he would rather be ruled by the United States. If he were in that situation, he would probably make the same choice.

Guss stayed in the city of Weimei for two days. During those two days, he witnessed the beauty of the city firsthand and completely let down his guard.

He traded the furs, ores, and other goods he brought with the merchants of the Union. The prices were fair, the process was smooth, and there was no exploitation or harassment whatsoever.

Before leaving, he made a point of buying several extra bags of high-quality grain produced in Weimei City, intending to take them back to his hometown so that his family could also taste this grain full of hope.

As Ges's caravan left the city of Misty and embarked on their journey back to the Galar interior, they talked about the tremendous changes in the city all the way, telling the people in the towns along the way about everything they had seen and heard in Misty without reservation.

"Do you know what? The city of Weimei in the west is now practically paradise on earth!"

"The king of the United States distributed land and exempted taxes, even having monsters help the people with their work. They didn't have to pay for medical treatment, and everyone had enough to eat and wear!"

"The people there are now living more comfortably than the noble servants of Galar!"

These words, as if they had sprouted wings, spread swiftly throughout the towns and villages of Galar.

The people of Galer, who had longed for life in the City of Dreams, were filled with longing upon hearing about the city's life, and their eyes ignited with hope.

Some people even began packing their bags and bringing their families, heading towards Weimei City, hoping to seek refuge there and live a peaceful life.

The news from the city of Weimei finally reached the capital of Galar and the ears of Patis IV.

The atmosphere in the royal palace's council chamber was extremely oppressive.

Patis IV sat on his throne, clutching a secret report in his hand, his face terribly grim.

The ministers below were trembling with fear, their heads bowed, not daring to speak, and the only sound in the hall was heavy breathing.

"Your Majesty, the rumors about the city of Weimei have spread throughout the country, and people from all over are flocking there. If this continues, Galar will be thrown into chaos!"

An elderly official stepped forward, his voice trembling with anxiety.
"That Raven is ambitious and seemingly friendly, but in reality he is trying to win over the people and nibble away at my Galar territory!"

Another minister stepped forward and loudly requested permission: "Your Majesty, I request permission to lead the army to recapture Weimei City and drive those rabble back!"

"Your Majesty, you must not act rashly!" Another minister stepped forward to dissuade him.

"Now the people of Weimei City are in harmony and live in peace and contentment. If we send troops to stop them, it will not only cause public resentment, but also ruin the peace agreement with the Union."

"Moreover, the United States has a strong military force and its monster army is exceptionally powerful. We are simply powerless to resist it. Moreover, Raven's actions in Weimei City have already spread throughout Galar. Many people in the fiefdoms are complaining about the royal family's heavy taxes and yearning for life in Weimei City. If war breaks out now, the country will surely descend into chaos!"

Patis IV remained silent, tapping his fingers lightly on the table.

He was well aware of the implications. When he handed over Weimei City, it was a case of sacrificing a pawn to save the king, especially since that remote little town offered virtually no profit.

But he never expected that Raven would have such means, transforming an abandoned fishing port into a paradise in just one month, winning over the hearts of the entire city, and his influence continues to expand.

Although Partis IV was unwilling, he had to admit that he was inferior to that man.

As for retaking Weimei City, that's even more impossible.

With their limited forces, the Steel-Armored Raven Legion was defeated by Raven alone. Now, Raven enjoys the support of the people in Silent City and has the United Army and powerful magical beasts in his stead. What can they possibly use to fight them?
Once war breaks out, regardless of victory or defeat, Galar will inevitably be engulfed in flames of war, and the people will be displaced. At that time, the already wavering public sentiment will completely turn away from them.

Patis IV was not without anger and resentment, but he knew that he no longer had the means to contend with Raven.

With just one person and one magical beast, he could instantly freeze his army of hundreds of thousands.

With such divine power, how could mortals like them possibly be a match for it?

Raven's methods were far more sophisticated than he had imagined. Without resorting to violence or tyranny, he won over the hearts of the people simply by treating them kindly. This was more terrifying than a thousand troops.

A cold sweat broke out on Parthia IV's back.

He slumped on the throne, his eyes filled with exhaustion and helplessness.

After a long silence, he slowly spoke: "Issue the order to reduce taxes in all regions by 50%, open the granaries to distribute grain, appease the people, and strictly prohibit anyone from obstructing people from going to Weimei City. In addition, prepare generous gifts and send them to Weimei City, saying that I acknowledge His Majesty Raven's achievements in governing Weimei City."

He knew that he could only compromise and endure. Galar was no longer a match for the Unova, and Raven was not someone he could easily shake.

King Partis IV knew perfectly well that Galar no longer had the resources to contend with the United States, and they could only endure and wait and see.

(End of this chapter)