Better Not Cause Trouble

Translator: Cinder Translations

...

"Our kind of people are the foundation of Lord Grayman and Alden!"

Lord Walter's statement resonated with everyone at the banquet.

"That's true. Although it might sound disrespectful, Lord Grayman can't do without us! Of course, we can't do without Lord Grayman either."

Eldo enumerated with his fingers: "Tax collection, military service, and corvée labor. In this countryside, it is us who convey the lord's will. We collect the taxes, summon the soldiers, and find the laborers. We are the ones doing the actual work, which is much harder than just paying a bit of money like those merchants."

Someone shouted: "And our young family members, if it weren't for these young men serving as officers, those peasants would probably not even be able to stand in formation."

"Hahaha!" This comment elicited laughter from everyone.

Lord Walter summarized: "Therefore, we gentry and Lord Grayman are one and the same, sharing glory and misfortune together."

He stroked his beard, speaking solemnly: "Those scheming outsiders and greedy merchants are like cancers on our body, eroding Alden's health day and night!"

"Exactly, that's a perfect description!"

"Lord Walter is right!"

Seeing that everyone in the hall agreed with his point, Old Walter seized the moment and called out: "Ladies and gentlemen, true Aldens! Esteemed people! As those who were born and grew up on this land, we cannot sit idly by. Who is willing to join me in petitioning Lord Grayman to expel those outsiders and suppress the merchants' arrogance, and restore Alden to its former peaceful days?"

Walter's proposal immediately silenced the entire hall.

After a while, Fergus, sitting near him, finally stammered: "Well... there's no need to go that far, is there?"

Others quickly reacted as well.

"Yes, although the outsiders are annoying, directly expelling them is too... Of course, I would support expelling Hansel Abbott with both hands."

"Merchants may be profit-driven, but we really can't do without them. Who would we buy things from?"

Old Walter shook his head: "You all seemed so indignant just now, but now that it's time to actually do something, you're backing away? Eldo!"

Eldo, who was called out, straightened up immediately, "Lord Walter?"

Old Walter stared at him: "Let me ask you, if they need more workers, what will you do? Will you just hand over your farm workers?"

Eldo shook his head vigorously: "I certainly won't do something so foolish! But do they really need that many people?"

"Hmph, they use the money they earn to open new factories. As they make more money, they open even more factories. The demand for labor is like a bottomless pit."

Eldo scratched his head: "But they can't just snatch people away."

Walter gave him a sidelong glance and then looked around at everyone: "What if they persuade Lord Grayman to allow them to recruit people from the countryside? Will you block them? Or not? Hmph, remember the preaching team from the church I mentioned earlier? I suspect that the real instigators behind this are those merchants. I guess they will use paying higher taxes as an excuse to lure Lord Grayman."

"And those outsiders, haven't they all caused trouble for you, Shank?"

Shank carefully asked: "Can you really make money by opening a factory? Can't we also learn from them and start some factories? The labor force is already available."

Hey! I'm trying to rally the troops here, and someone wants to become a traitor? Old Walter was quite upset.

"Are you stupid? Food! Food is the foundation of this world. With money, we can buy more land and grow more crops. Whether noble or commoner, people can do without paper or porcelain but can't go a day without food."

"You need a market to run a factory, and you need connections. Can you compete with those who have already gained a foothold? You might end up losing money for years trying to establish yourself."

"Farming is a reliable business. In bad years, we can close our doors and live off our stored grain. Others will have to beg us, depending on our goodwill."

Without Old Walter needing to intervene personally, Shank was immediately criticized by others.

"Well?" Lord Walter stroked his beard again and asked: "Is there anyone who wants to join me in writing a letter to Lord Grayman?"

To his surprise, the hall fell silent again.

"You..."

Old Walter pointed at the crowd, unsure of what to say.

Those pointed at shrank back, avoiding eye contact.

A joint petition to Lord Grayman sounded like a form of collective coercion.

After all, he was the lord, a noble!

Two years ago, it might have worked. Back then, the Grayman family only controlled the nominal title of a Earl and managed only a few towns. The gentry were deeply involved in local affairs.

But now it's different!

Byerldine and Emden were under Lord Grayman's control, and he held an army... What if we angered the earl and he retaliated?

"Lord Walter... I think it's better to take it slow with this matter."

Biden, who had been silent, timidly spoke.

Walter snorted and didn't look at Biden. He hadn't expected much from him anyway. Biden had suffered from the last riot and had lost half his fortune. This was well known.

"Yes, as long as the earl is on our side, they can't really do anything to us."

"Let's not stir up trouble."

Each unprincipled response echoed in Lord Walter's ears.

"Fine, I see now. When the time comes, you... you... cough cough!"

Lord Walter was so distressed he began to cough violently.

"Forget it, forget it. I'll just consider it as me worrying too much! When your misfortune arrives, I hope you remember today!"

The atmosphere at the banquet shifted abruptly, and everyone quietly resumed eating, not uttering another word.

The awkward silence lasted for quite a while. The host sighed again, "Alas! Today, I invited everyone here. I shouldn't have ruined your mood! I drank a few too many cups and lost my temper. I let my mouth run away."

Everyone quickly sided with him, "No, no, Lord Walter was just thinking of us gentry!"

"Yes, thinking of Alden and Earl Grayman!"

Lord Walter clapped his hands, "To make up for this, I've picked some girls from the estate. Let's enjoy ourselves today!"

With his clapping, the doors of the hall opened, and a group of young women in revealing clothes, heads bowed, slowly walked in.

The guests were all smiles, and the earlier awkward atmosphere vanished in an instant.

"Haha, Lord Walter is truly generous!"

"Indeed, Lord Walter is so generous!"

Laughter filled the hall again.

TL Note: Disgusting 🤮

(End of the Chapter)

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