Warhammer Divine Throne-Chapter 603 - 264, Collective Surrender_2

"In the future, you'll definitely carve one for your lady knight, even if she doesn't perform magic. So, will our Princess Jialan get one too?" Veronica continued to inquire, seemingly quite interested.

"Surya will definitely have one in the future, as for Teresa... she wasn't part of the plan. Actually, she was never in my plan all along, and I didn't expect the Jialan Council to switch personnel right when I set out from Nord." Laine shook his head with a bit of distress, "But she's pursued me all the way here..."

Amusement flashed across Veronica's beautiful almond eyes, "That's because you're too outstanding, my dear. Alright, go take a bath, I want to sleep a bit more."

"Hmm." Laine gently kissed Veronica's lips, then turned and headed towards the bathroom.

......

If anything has caused a stir in Count Glamorgan's domain recently, it's certainly the numerous edicts issued personally by the Count himself.

The announcement of the fixed agriculture tax did not elicit much reaction from the knight class, because on the surface, their interests were not significantly affected. At most, the knights would chat idly over meals, expressing that this was an act of compassion from the Count, allowing the hardworking peasants to retain a bit more grain. As for those lazy peasants, the knights couldn't be bothered with their survival.

The peasants, on the other hand, were somewhat apprehensive about the fixed tax. To stabilize their minds, Surya sent out numerous clan knights and knight's squires to post notices in all the villages, loudly explaining the changes in tax rates. Then, they had the peasants memorize and recite them. Those who could recite well received a copper coin and two black breads. Even those who couldn't recite but joined in the loud repetition twenty times received the same reward. Through this method, the peasants' anxious hearts were finally calmed down. However, most peasants were illiterate and couldn't count, thus the true difference would only be felt when they faced the tax after the autumn harvest.

The real controversy was ignited by Laine's issuance of the "Edict of Virtue," which declared that all robbers and bandits within the territory must unconditionally surrender to the Count within a month. Those who surrendered could earn a reduction in punishment or even complete amnesty. There are vast tracts of uncultivated land within the Count's domain and Charon Forest that need laborers; first come, first served. If past the deadline, these bandits will face the wrath of the Holy Grail Knight Commander, the Divine Chosen Champion of the Lake Fairy, Count Glamorgan Laine-Macado.

A sunny morning on the fifth day after the Edict of Virtue was issued.

The gates of the Count's castle welcomed a large group of unexpected visitors. Numerous soldiers surrounded them, enclosing these people. The sergeants all cast hateful glances at the unexpected guests, gripping their sword hilts, hearts filled with anger and perplexity. To them, these bandits were their military merit. The Count's Edict of Virtue deprived the soldiers of opportunities to earn accolades.

But there was no choice, Laine's prestige and reputation were too great. The soldiers did not dare to question or oppose the Count's orders. Leading them was Sergeant Deni, clad in chain armor with a masterwork longsword from the dwarves hanging at his waist and a large bow slung across his back, attending to these bandit leaders.

Seeing is believing; the sight was truly shocking. On this day, all the bandit leaders within the Count's domain brought their lieutenants to the castle to surrender to Laine. Outside the castle stood dozens of men as the bandit leaders offered all their accumulated wealth to Laine. They let the sergeants search them before accepting Kasenberg's arrangements.

The bandit leaders cooperated wholeheartedly. Steward Kasenberg ordered all the bandit leaders to rest in a room in the outer castle, awaiting the Count's audience.

Upon entering the room, the bandit leaders quickly began to bicker.

"Petti! You bastard! I thought I was the first to arrive, turns out you got here first!" A bandit leader shouted discontentedly, "Damn it, it would have been great if none of you came so I alone could surrender to Lord Laine!"

Petti, the head of the Long Spear Thief Gang, led dozens of thieves skilled in the long spear array.

"Give it a rest! Gross, you scoundrel! You live the farthest from Gene Town, yet somehow arrived with me?" Another bandit leader exclaimed exaggeratedly, "Alright, it's like everyone is here! I was the first to think of surrendering!"

Gross, head of the Polak Robber Gang, his first thought upon hearing the Edict of Virtue was to surrender to Laine.

No one wanted to confront a Holy Grail Knight, the Divine Chosen Champion of the Lady, whose reputation in the Kingdom soared like the sun. The bandits originally lived in fear due to Laine's presence, thinking they were destined for death. Now seeing the chance for leniency through surrender, all the bandit leaders instinctively thought to surrender, rushing here eagerly.

A dozen bandit leaders bickered fiercely in the room, the scene was chaotic, practically a mess.

"Hugo, you little rascal! Your men never worked within the Count's domain, yet you came to surrender too?" After arguing, the bandits noticed an unspoken familiar face hiding in the corner, "Get out of here, you're a bandit from Borelion Duchy, what are you doing here?"

"Who... who said Borelion's bandits can't surrender to Lord Laine? I-I came just to surrender!" The bandit leader named Hugo was clearly uneasy, yet he persisted in defending himself, "I've brought all my brothers to the Count's place. Starting two days ago, I'm now a bandit under Lord Laine."

"Hahaha! What do you mean you're Lord Laine's bandit, you think you're worthy?"

"You're not worthy, I am!"

"You're worth nothing!"

The bandit leaders knew they couldn't fight in the Count's castle, but that didn't stop them from frantically undermining each other, eager for Lord Laine's recognition.

Nobody genuinely desired to be a lifelong bandit; they all longed to return to society with respectable identities.

"Speaking of which, where's Bertrand? He's not surrendering? Has he lost his mind?"

"No idea."

In the room of the outer castle, the bandit leaders continued their squabble, while in the inner castle, a man with a little moustache wearing a green hat with a wing, green attire, and tight green pants, looking in his thirties, was kneeling before Laine, presenting a few scrolls of parchment, "My Count, these are all the assets and personnel lists of the Berelac Thief Gang. We have three hundred fifty tents, over eight hundred people, of which almost five hundred are adept at using swords and bows, good lads for organizing long spear arrays. Now, I, Bertrand, on behalf of all members of the Berelac Thief Gang, wish to unconditionally surrender to you, requesting your leniency, willing to accept any punishment."

Laine walked out from behind the desk, reaching out to lift Bertrand to his feet, smiling, "I never expected you to arrive with your men on the second day after my Edict of Virtue was issued. It's my fault for the lack of hospitality, having you endure hardship."

"No, no, no! My Count, please don't say such things; it's our honor to surrender to you. All members of the Berelac Thief Gang thank you for your kindness and mercy." Bandit leader Bertrand knelt, kowtowing, "We had no choice but to become bandits. The Count is willing to give us this opportunity for reform, and we sincerely thank you."

"..." Seeing Bertrand kneel and kowtow made Laine somewhat speechless. He had underestimated people's yearning for so-called 'returning to the right path' in a world with gods; no one wanted to be an unbeliever, their soul becoming fertilizer for Chaos after death. Most became bandits out of necessity or desperation.

Laine initially thought that after issuing the Edict of Virtue, bandits would remain hesitant, requiring him to send envoys with the edict to find them: "The Count asked me to convey a message, as long as you agree to surrender..."

This is only the fifth day since issuing the Edict of Virtue—let alone the bandits within his domain—bands from even other duchies traversed mountains and rivers to surrender to him!

This is the power of reputation; after years of accumulation, Laine's meticulously cultivated reputation finally bore its fruit.

"Then I shall appoint you as..."