C165

Shirou used Merlin's Clairvoyance to select the optimal route for their journey. After traveling for a day and a night, everyone's faces were marked by exhaustion, but they knew they were getting close to Cornwall.

To ensure a seamless entry into Cornwall, Shirou had dispatched Agravain ahead to inform the lord of their arrival.

As to why Agravain had been chosen over Bedivere, it was simply a matter of selecting the most suitable person for the task at hand.

Bedivere had a forgiving nature and was easy to approach, but he also conveyed a sense of vulnerability and weakness. In contrast, Agravain's serious and gloomy countenance made him appear unapproachable and commanding, leaving a strong impression of a stern master.

Above all, he was apprehensive that the lord of Cornwall might refuse them entry.

Ever since Cornwall had become a territory of Camelot, it had been subjected to successive oppressions by Baldwin and Ywain. Consequently, although the territory was extensive, it had fallen into a state of poverty and disrepair.

Shirou was concerned that the lord of Cornwall might harbor ulterior motives, so he had instructed Agravain beforehand to prioritize the means of gaining entry into the city, regardless of the cost.

Even though he had not worked with Agravain previously, he trusted the man implicitly, partly based on his familiarity with Type-Moon lore.

The outcome was precisely as he had foreseen. Agravain executed his mission flawlessly, securing their entry into Cornwall. Yet, to Shirou's amazement, he discovered that the lord of Cornwall at that time was none other than one of his future Knights of the Round Table, Geraint.

Although Geraint greeted Shirou warmly upon his arrival, the people of Cornwall were less hospitable. They harbored hostility towards the people of Camelot, particularly towards "Arthur," the son of the legendary Uther.

This was primarily due to the fact that Uther had dismantled the Kingdom of Cornwall and transformed it into a territory of Camelot. Furthermore, during the reigns of Baldwin and Ywain, Cornwall had suffered continued oppression, leading to a pervasive poverty and low quality of life in the region.

As Shirou surveyed the area, he noted with dismay that nearly every person in Cornwall appeared emaciated and weary, and their eyes were brimming with animosity.

He let out a deep sigh, recognizing that a difficult road lay ahead of him.

Geraint guided Shirou towards a castle that appeared resplendent from the exterior. This was the palace fortress that had served as the seat of the King of Cornwall during the kingdom's heyday, and it could be considered the final bastion of Cornwall's power.

In actuality, the interior was exceedingly plain and did not resemble a palace in any sense. But for a lord's residence, the administrative hall was not bad. Geraint proceeded to introduce Shirou to some of his subordinates and other prominent nobles in Cornwall.

Although the nobles smiled and extended greetings to Shirou, their eyes betrayed a sense of caution. Evidently, while they may have been apprehensive of Vortigern's invasion, they were likely even more anxious about Shirou encroaching on their interests.

Shirou had no intention of making any moves at the moment and merely laughed off their apprehension, opting to settle in for the time being.

At that moment, Bedivere approached Shirou and spoke softly, "My King, the provisions brought from Caerleon by each household are meager. They will last no more than five days. Beyond that, we will have nothing to sustain us."

He acknowledged Bedivere's words and turned to address Geraint, "Sir Geraint, how much food is available in the lord's warehouse? Would it be possible to lend it to us for a time?"

Geraint expressed his regret and replied, "I apologize, Your Majesty. As a loyal vassal of Camelot, I am willing to contribute all that I have for the kingdom's cause. However, I regret to inform you that food scarcity has long been a chronic problem in Cornwall."

Geraint escorted Shirou to the castle's food warehouse, where they discovered a mere shallow layer of oats and rye.

Geraint spoke solemnly, "This represents the entire food supply of the Lord of Cornwall."

Bedivere voiced his dissatisfaction, "Is this all there is? This quantity wouldn't even suffice for the daily rations of a thousand people, would it?"

"Bedivere!" Shirou chided him before turning to Geraint and offering an apology, "Please do not take offense, Sir Geraint. Bedivere, like yourself, is a noble knight whose loyalty to Camelot is unwavering."

"Your Majesty, I bear no ill will," replied Geraint with a wry smile. "It's simply that this is the reality of our current situation in Cornwall. Ever since it became a territory, food scarcity has been a pervasive issue."

Geraint provided a detailed explanation of Cornwall's dire circumstances to him.

Shirou's heart was filled with a sense of despair. The situation was dire indeed.

Owing to the repressive policies of Baldwin and Ywain, as well as the abundance of mineral resources in Cornwall, banditry had become rampant. The shortage of troops made it difficult to contain this issue.

What was even more alarming was that these same policies led people to focus solely on stealing and selling minerals, without taking self-sufficiency into account. As a result, farmland in the surrounding areas was abandoned, food production plummeted, and people struggled to secure even basic sustenance. Starvation had become a prevalent issue, with even the lords who collected food taxes having scant food to their name.

Shirou had brought along more than thirty thousand people with him, but this meant that he also had to account for more than thirty thousand mouths to feed. Although some people had brought their own food, it was unlikely to last long before it was exhausted.

Despite the internal issues of abandoned farmland, banditry, and resentment, as well as external threats from Vortigern and the Dead Apostles, Shirou maintained a positive demeanor. He wore a broad smile on his face as he spoke, "I understand the challenges that you face. This is precisely why I am here, to ensure that every person in Cornwall has a prosperous and fulfilling life!"

Geraint observed Shirou's expression carefully and was taken aback by the brightness of his smile.

As he had previously taken over the reins of power in Cornwall, Geraint knew firsthand how challenging the situation was. He had always been consumed with a sense of gloom and despair. However, this new king's optimistic and cheerful demeanor surprised him.

Recalling the rumors that he had heard about "Arthur," Geraint pondered to himself in silence, 'Perhaps... this king truly has the ability to improve our lives!'

Shirou opted to gather the people from Caerleon in the northern part of the city, for the time being, avoiding any confrontations with the hostile residents of Cornwall.

He instructed Agravain and Bedivere to accompany Lucan and other negotiators in engaging with the local nobles of Cornwall. Meanwhile, he embarked on a tour of important locations in Cornwall, accompanied by Geraint.

During their travels, they encountered frequent instances of thievery in the tin mines, abandoned farmland, and dimly lit alleys.

The state of disrepair was profound, surpassing all expectations. The city resembled a medieval slum, with decrepit buildings and unkempt streets.

Despite the dilapidated surroundings, Shirou maintained a confident smile on his face, which did not go unnoticed by Geraint. Geraint, who had been feeling downtrodden, looked upon Shirou's profile with a newfound sense of hope.

Perhaps, he thought, this king already had a grand plan in mind for the region's development.

Unbeknownst to Geraint, however, Shirou was struggling with a profound sense of bitterness. The problems that he faced were daunting. Everywhere he turned, he saw destruction and despair, with seemingly insurmountable problems looming over him.

Their situation was comparable to that of a weathered and battered ship, struggling to stay afloat amidst a vast and tumultuous ocean. The hull was damaged, with water leaking in from all sides. The crew had lost all hope, and as the new captain, Shirou faced a daunting challenge in guiding the ship safely to shore.

Of utmost concern was the fact that the people from Caerleon had migrated to Cornwall without any place to call home, and their food supplies were dwindling rapidly!

Although Shirou wore a smile on his face, his heart was heavy with the weight of their collective troubles. At that moment, Bedivere approached him, looking visibly troubled.

"What is it, Bedivere?" Shirou inquired, sensing the urgency in Bedivere's voice.

"We've come across a decision that we're unable to make, my king," Bedivere replied hesitantly.

Bedivere led Shirou towards the northern edge of the city, where tensions between the residents of Caerleon and Cornwall were reaching a boiling point. The two groups stood on opposite sides of a boundary, eyeing each other warily as though a fight was imminent.

The nobles of Cornwall and Caerleon's nobles stood between the two factions, looking troubled and hesitant. Even Agravain appeared to be at a loss.

"What's going on?" Shirou asked.

Agravain provided a brief explanation, stating that a crime had been committed. Bedivere proceeded to describe the details of the incident to him, causing his heart to sink.

The incident began when a young man from Cornwall was caught stealing food from a resident of Caerleon. In retaliation, the Caerleon resident broke the young man's leg. On the surface, it was a relatively minor issue that could be resolved through legal means. But, unfortunately, it ignited a powder keg of deep-seated resentment and hostility between the people of Cornwall and Caerleon.

The people of Caerleon had been forced to abandon their homes, leaving them in a highly sensitive state. On the other hand, the people of Cornwall had suffered under the oppression of Camelot for a decade, which made them hypersensitive to even the smallest hints of provocation. As a result, tensions between these two groups rapidly spiraled out of control, resulting in a mounting sense of hostility.

"My King, how should we proceed?"

Bedivere's question hung in the air, causing all eyes to shift towards Shirou. Agravain, Lucan, and the other nobles from Caerleon, along with Geraint and the Cornwall representatives, ministers, and common people, all awaited his response.

Shirou felt his heart sink. He understood the weight of his decision. If he showed favoritism towards Caerleon, it could escalate the conflict with Cornwall. On the other hand, siding with Cornwall would mean losing support from Caerleon. Remaining neutral might disappoint Caerleon, who had expected his backing, while also intensifying the sensitivity of Cornwall.

How could he find a solution that wouldn't cause further harm or worsen the situation?

...

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