Mystery: But the Witch's Path

Chapter 163 Grain Act Repealed

Audrey asked, puzzled, "What about the common people?"

Altair thought for a moment: "Commoners?"

"Grain is too expensive; they can't afford it."

"With low grain prices, wages will be driven even lower."

"No matter which side wins, they will never get any benefit."

Audrey sighed softly: "So this dispute that has lasted for nearly two years is essentially nothing more than—an unequal distribution of benefits."

Altair nodded and said, "Exactly right."

Seeing Audrey's disappointed expression, Altair added, "Actually, there are some benefits to abolishing the Grain Law."

"When cheap foreign grains come in, food prices plummet and bread becomes cheap, so ordinary people can finally have enough to eat."

On August 25, 1348, as dusk fell on Backlund and laborers in the streets returned home, the city's administrative center, the Senate Hall of St. George, was already brightly lit.

The moment the bill to repeal the Grain Act was read out, the entire room erupted in cheers.

Duke Negan abruptly stood up, his crimson tunic heaving violently. Pointing at the bill, he roared, "Betrayal! This is a betrayal of us landed nobles! A betrayal of the very foundations of Runegen! Once cheap grains flood in, land rents will plummet, manors will go bankrupt, and the millennia-old order of the lands will crumble! You are burying this nation with your own hands!"

His voice reverberated through the dome, and countless Conservative nobles rose to their feet, slamming their fists on the table, their faces ashen, and a chorus of curses erupted.

"Bowing to capitalists! Shameful!"

"You are destroying the countryside! Destroying the farmers!"

"This is going to turn us all into beggars!"

The new party leader rose calmly, his short blond hair gleaming coldly in the candlelight. His tone was calm yet carried an undeniable power as he spoke, "Your Grace, the plague is spreading, factories are shutting down, and the people are starving. High grain prices are killing the nation. Abolishing the Grain Law is not about destroying order, but about saving the country. The old-fashioned land rents cannot come at the cost of millions of people starving."

"What do you know!" an old count trembled with rage, slamming his cane heavily on the ground. "All you see are railways, banks, factories! All you see is that dirty money! Have you forgotten that you too are a landed nobleman!"

"I haven't forgotten." The new party leader's sharp gaze swept across the room: "But I also remember that the power of the nobility comes from the guardians..."

"If we continue to exploit the people and maintain high food prices, what awaits us is not stability, but revolution!"

"Revolution? Are you threatening us?" Duke Negan's eyes widened in fury.

"I am stating the facts," the New Party leader said with a resolute look in his eyes.

From that moment on, the hall descended into complete chaos. The new aristocracy who supported the abolition and the conservatives shouted at each other, their insults, arguments, curses, and warnings swirling in a cacophony. Some were pounding their fists on the table, some were waving documents, some were roaring with flushed faces, and some were too angry to speak.

The landed aristocracy lamented that their wealth would vanish.

The new aristocracy denounced the corruption and cold-bloodedness of the old system.

The elders of the royal family looked grave as they tried to maintain order, but were drowned out by the clamor.

"Quiet! Quiet!" The speaker's scepter struck the ground heavily, completely drowning out the sound.

Duke Negan stared at the new party leader, uttering each word as if cursing, "Today you pass this bill, and the landed nobles of Rune will hold a grudge against you for life!"

The leader of the New Party nodded slightly, showing no hesitation, and said, "History will remember this day."

The candlelight crackled. Arguments, shouts, and table-pounding filled the solemn hall.

The speaker struck his scepter again and again, shouting "order!" but his voice was swallowed up by an even more violent roar.

The lights swayed amidst the clamor, and shadows danced across the faces of the nobles, whether fierce or resolute.

A war over food, rent, power, and survival has officially broken out in the House of Lords.

After a long while, the speaker slammed his fist on the table again and roared with all his might, "Vote!"

The clamor suddenly froze.

All that remained was heavy breathing and the palpable sense of impending death filling the room.

Several tens of minutes later, the clerk's voice was dry but clear as he read out word by word in the eerily empty hall: "In favor of repealing the Grain Act — 231 votes."

"Against — 118 votes"

The moment the words left his mouth, the entire Upper House fell into complete silence, as if a giant hand had gripped his throat.

On the New Party side, someone clenched their fists tightly, their knuckles turning white. Their tense shoulders finally relaxed for a moment, but they dared not utter a single cheer.

In the Conservative seats, after a deathly silence came gasps, uncontrolled panting, and incredulous mutterings.

"—It's approved?"

"It actually passed?!"

Duke Negan stood frozen in place, his face ashen white against his deep red tuxedo.

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out; only his chest heaved violently, as if he were about to suffocate.

Those eyes, which had just been burning with anger and majesty, were now empty, cold, and shattered.

The land order that had existed for millennia, the foundation upon which countless generations of nobles had built their lives, was completely severed in this string of numbers.

Land rent will fall.

The manor will be empty.

The pasture will become deserted.

Those gentry, tenant farmers, stewards, and craftsmen who have depended on the land for generations will collapse layer by layer.

And he, Duke Negan, the largest landowner in Rune, will soon witness firsthand the rise of his wealth and power.

Glory was gradually swallowed up by the tide of cheap grains.

Beside him, an old nobleman slumped back into his chair, his cane slipping from his hand and striking the stone floor with a crisp, despairing sound.

"It's over—" he murmured. "Everything is over—"

The new party leader slowly turned around and looked calmly at Duke Negan.

There was no triumph of the victors, only a profound and overwhelming sense of sorrow.

He knew that from this moment on, the old era of Rune had truly come to an end.

The golden age of land is over.

The era of factories and capital will ascend the throne, stepping over hunger and corpses.

The Speaker raised his scepter, his voice hoarse but undeniably authoritative: "The bill to repeal the Grain Act is officially passed!"

No one cheered.

No one applauded.

There was only deathly silence and countless pairs of eyes filled with despair, coldness, and burning hatred.

Duke Negan slowly raised his head, looking at the leader of the new party and all the new party nobles who had cast their votes in favor.

He didn't roar or howl.

That silence was more terrifying than any curse.

The candlelight cast a deep shadow on his face, swallowing all his emotions into darkness.

He left behind only one sentence, so soft it was almost inaudible, yet carrying the weight of a thousand pounds: "You will regret this."

"The entire Ruen will pay the price for this."

Outside the hall, the night was deep.

The wind swept through the streets of Backlund, carrying the scent of plague and hunger, silently proclaiming:

An era has died.

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