Warhammer Divine Throne-Chapter 529 - 229, A Quiet Winter_2

"The number is about right." Several sergeants, along with a dozen infantrymen, continued to recruit some workers before Deni turned to a sergeant beside him and said, "What do you think? Amade?"

"About right." Another sergeant responded, so Deni waved his hand to signal the end of recruitment.

The young sergeants attracted the peasants' extreme envy. A sergeant's annual income was as high as 20-30 Gold Crowns (total income, pre-tax). They lived in the outer fortress of the Baron Castle, enjoyed double salaries and excellent living conditions. Their meals were good, often eating white bread and meat, and they could follow the Baron on hunts and missions.

Sergeants and Rangers were almost the ultimate dream for many peasants, so whenever they saw sergeants proudly parading in chain armor and robes through the streets, every peasant secretly resolved to become an honored sergeant.

Deni could feel the peasants' envious eyes and thought about his life during this period, he himself felt like he was living in a dream.

Ever since he risked his life in the Knightly War expedition against Beastmen to inform Lord Laine about the impending rain, luck had followed this hunter's son. During the bloody battle in the rainy night, he was awarded the rank of sergeant by Laine for his military merits.

Delirious with joy, Deni returned to his hometown within the Red Dragon Duke's permission to share the news with his father, mother, and brother. Then, the entire family left their ancestral home and moved to Baron Gene's Domain.

The family lived a happy life; Deni had two days off every ten days, and he lived in the castle for most of the time while on duty. His generous salary allowed the family to live well, and thus, the young sergeant also vowed to serve the Baron wholeheartedly.

Young and particularly skilled in combat, Deni performed exceptionally well while dealing with bandits. He had exceptional longbow skills, as a descendant of the Bastogne Longbowmen. Deni's longbow could shoot up to 280 meters with good accuracy. Such skill earned high regard from Laine and his brother Angerong, leading to Deni being promoted again. He was now the Company Commander of the Gene Bowmen Company.

Gripping the hilt of the Longsword at his waist, Deni could feel the exquisite craftsmanship of the Dwarven weapon. After a period of re-equipment, virtually all the sergeants in the domain had switched to a full set of Dwarf Masterwork Equipment, each equipped with a Crossbow, and the soldiers praised the Dwarf weaponry.

Deni was among the few sergeants who didn't prefer using the Crossbow. He admitted that the Crossbow was simpler to operate, but he still chose to use his own longbow. Every time he drew the inherited longbow, he felt the power of his ancestors protecting him. It was as if his great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were all fighting alongside him. He had been using this longbow since he was eight.

"Deni? What's wrong? Still thinking about your wife?" One of the accompanying sergeants teased, "No worries, although it's her first childbirth, she's in the hospital now, surrounded by so many Priests and the Lady Prophet of the Lake God present, there won't be any issues."

"Hahahahaha~" The sergeants roared with laughter, the infantrymen also joined in.

Young and a sergeant, with the Lord's regard, naturally no shortage of people introduced him to potential matches. He quickly married the daughter of a town shop owner, and like most in the domain, his wife soon became pregnant, now already nine months.

"Haha, true, sorry, I got a bit distracted." Deni deliberately laughed a few times to ease the awkwardness, then continued urging the peasants to work. If necessary, several sergeants would also go up to help.

About four months ago, the Baron announced cooperation with the Merciful Goddess Church, Saintess Order of the Lake Fairy, Justice Church, and Wood Elves to jointly establish a hospital. This hospital had dozens of beds with several Priests from the Merciful Goddess Church and two Lake God Prophets permanently stationed, along with a Wood Elf doctor overseeing it. Deni's wife was currently in the hospital awaiting childbirth, with such care, Deni felt quite at ease.

The medicinal level of the Elves was a thousand years or more advanced compared to humans. In all of Brittania, perhaps only Laine had the capability to establish such a hospital because only he could import large quantities of valuable medicines from the Wood Elves that were priceless in the Human Realm.

Deni knew that previously in Bastogne, peasants faced great difficulty when sick. Most couldn't afford treatment; they could only endure. A few with some savings who could afford to miss work for a few days would go to the Church, where Priests of the Merciful Goddess would offer them black bread, give them hot water to drink, and have them pray.

Yes, pray—pray to the Merciful Goddess for healing, unrelated to medication or Divine Art. The value of medicines had been previously discussed; they were for the enjoyment of the nobility, tightly controlled due to their scarcity and preciousness.

Divine Art was also out of reach—a First Ring Divine Art which could only ease pains within forty-eight hours cost fifteen Silver Coins, while a Fourth Ring and above Divine Art that could genuinely cure illnesses often demanded tens or hundreds of Gold Coins, and the Sixth Ring Divine Skill Life Regeneration, capable of healing most diseases, had a casting cost of 600 Gold Crowns—that was just the casting cost! A priest of Regional Bishop Level could cast it only three times a month! The priests themselves needed sustenance, and the true price was at least 20% higher.

"Amade, was it a few days ago that several hundred more refugees came from the Paragon Duchy?" The hospital's establishment attracted many refugees who crossed the Oracle Mountain Range to seek shelter in Baron Gene's Domain.

"Yes, a lot, I don't even know how they managed to cross; each one seemed starving." Fully armed sergeants chatted leisurely, recently educated by the Lord in arithmetic, most sergeants learned some basic math during months of intensified training.

"Indeed, when Mr. Kasenberg provided porridge to those refugees, they were like a pack of stray dogs." Another sergeant, Amade, remarked, his face showing some sympathy: "Mr. Kasenberg announced unlimited porridge supply, yet they scrambled for it, causing a chaotic scene. I think Mr. Kasenberg's decision to temporarily halt registering them is wise, don't you think, Deni?"

"A very good decision, we need to distinguish who are bandits, who are real refugees, who carry diseases—to prevent an outbreak." Deni replied with half-understanding, he had been hearing Kasenberg say this, but as a sergeant, he didn't fully grasp the meaning.

Watching the peasants work for a while, Tax Officer Gaspardon appeared, finishing a round of tax collection with the soldiers.

This year, in three quarters, the tax revenue of Baron Gene's Domain approached 2,000 Gold Crowns. Gaspardon uttered the name of the Lake Fairy, feeling genuinely pleased for the Baron, as the Tax Officer of the Lady's Divine Chosen Champion he felt honored.

At the same time, Gaspardon also fretted over how to process the numerous fleeing peasants. Those with the ability and courage to escape were naturally quality population, but whether these people would comply with management or if any spies from other duchies were among them, he couldn't say.

Therefore, the registration of these new arrivals was temporarily halted. Kasenberg's idea was to put them to use first, offer them slightly lower-level treatment, and after one to two years, gradually absorb them into the Baron's Domain.

This needed a process, hence ensuring stability, without disorder. Several incidents of friction between incoming and local populations had been personally handled by the Baron. As the Divine Chosen Champion of the Lady of the Lake, his prestige ensured no dissent.

The prosperity within the domain attracted covetous eyes from various forces. Recently, the Baron was met with a group of Rogue Knights during a patrol, about twenty or thirty, now locked up in jail with bruises.

At this moment, the Baron appeared, wearing a formal Baron's Uniform, draped with a white Holy Grail Cloak. After a few months of recovery, Laine had grown some stubble: "Gaspardon, come over here."

"My Baron?" The tax officer hurried to Laine's side, "Is something wrong?"

"Expedition Knight Tristan visited my domain with his Jester Jule. He told me a large rebellion occurred in Borelion Duchy. We need to hold a meeting, immediately." Laine whispered.

"Yes!"