At least when he attended the Holy Day festival of the White Wolf War God as a White Wolf Knight, at most he was given some roast meat and grape wine to drink.

The thirty pounds of refined wheat flour sent by the Lake God Witch were truly high-end luxury goods, many duke families might not have this much in stock. This not only demonstrated the wealth of the Lake Fairy but also her favor towards Laine. Laine understood he should only express gratitude.

Of course, deep down, Laine knew that such things absolutely shouldn't be given in large amounts, nor allowed to become a regular occurrence. It's enough for everyone to taste a little. These things are too precious; they mustn't let people think Baron Gene has plenty and is stingy for only distributing a small amount, nor let them become accustomed to such luxurious fare.

Blessings from a pound lead to resentment from a peck.

Laine's strategy to halt food provisions for peasants and grade them by labor efficiency follows the same reasoning. Eating well, no one will be grateful to you. Once these peasants get used to the leader's superior food, this project might not be completed for years to come. Later, when conscripting labor without such provisions, peasants may even riot, forgetting that labor duties do not come with food provisions.

After tasting the queen's bread, Laine coughed and said, "Speaking of which, the news of conscription has been announced. How's the response?"

"The response is very enthusiastic, my Baron!" Lops smacked his lips, seemingly savoring the taste of the queen's bread: "Peasants are scrambling to join the Infantry Corps or send their sons there. Everyone is asking the leader what kind of young lads he wants."

Laine nodded. His Holy Grail Knight badge was strong enough, so peasants having such a reaction was unsurprising.

In Brittania, there are two ways to join the Infantry Corps: The first is when the Infantry Corps suffers severe losses, the Lord will select people from among the peasants. This is viewed as the last resort by the peasants because the Master Knights will sharply reduce their pay for providing poor substitutes, making their income levels similar to that of ordinary peasants.

The second option is during the Midsummer's Eve recruitment festival. Peasants will bring all their boys to the leader's castle, hoping their sons can be chosen by the knights as part of the Infantry. To peasants, having their child become an Infantry is an honor as they can enjoy shelter from the elements, food allocation, and a salary much higher than peasants.

Militiamen even have a chance to be promoted to sergeant or ranger. Achieving that status would be the utmost glory, earning them an identity as Free People, allowing them to move into castles or towns and completely change their lives.

(The positions of sergeant and ranger generally represent the highest achievement for peasants unless extreme circumstances occur, as peasants cannot become Knights.)

The Master Knights naturally wouldn't let peasants think it's easy. A peasant's chance to become a sergeant or ranger is incredibly difficult. Some peasants fight a lifetime without being promoted by the Master Knights, only Holy Grail Knights will fairly assess the peasants' contributions.

The only way to become a glorious sergeant and earn the identity of Free People is through war!

Peasants even desire war more than their Master Knights do! The hope to survive lies within the spoils of war, Master Knights' rewards, and the opportunity for advancement!

After discussing recent internal affairs for a while, a noise of wing flapping and horse neighing came from outside.

Upon hearing this, Laine directly said, "So please continue, enjoy the drinks. I have some matters to attend to first."

"Alright, my Baron!" "No problem, brother."

So Laine left the banquet hall on the first floor.

Outside the castle, under the moonlight, a proud Pegasus stood delightfully in the beautiful moonlight, its white wings fully extended, its silver mane shimmering, its robust limbs filled with grace.

On the Pegasus was a beautiful blonde-haired, blue-eyed lady knight removing her helmet, and behind her was Amelia in her Winford College summer student uniform. Seeing Laine waiting below, the little maid waved excitedly: "Mr. Laine! I'm back!"

"Welcome back, Amelia, and welcome, Miss Surya." Laine's tall figure stood upright, the Baron smiled warmly: "Why is it that Miss Surya personally brought you back?"

"Uh..." The college's standard uniform of vest, white shirt, and checkered knee-length skirt looked like budding blossoms on Amelia. Seeing his doubt, the girl hurriedly replied, embarrassed: "Miss Surya kindly brought me back because of some matters at the college. When I wanted to return, it was already late, and Miss Surya was worried about my safety, so she rode the Pegasus to bring me back."

"Hey, if busy, returning late is nothing." Laine said with a wry smile, the lady knight indeed only did a courtesy to bring the little maid back. From Brynhild, she could ride the Pegasus at full speed fly straight over the mountains to the Gene Territory within fifteen minutes, for the lady knight, it was merely a pleasure ride.

Laine, however, had to accept this kindness: "Thank Miss Surya for her goodwill."

"No worries, Lord Laine, Miss Amelia hasn't returned to Gene Territory for quite some time. She seemed anxious, so I brought her back." The lady knight nodded, indicating it was nothing.

Since Amelia went to study at Winford College, it had been weeks since she returned to Baron Gene's domain. Being newly enrolled, she had many tasks, the college only rested one day a week, she often didn't have time to come back.

Regarding this matter, Amelia felt a bit guilty. With three days of vacation for the Midsummer Festival, she felt she must come back no matter what.

Laine said nothing, he nodded, indicating for Amelia and Surya to follow him.

On the way back, Amelia cautiously spoke to Surya: "Is he angry?"

The lady knight shook her head with a smile: "Rest assured, Lord Laine is not narrow-minded, otherwise he couldn't have become a Holy Grail Knight."

Returning to the small Wine Castle in Gene Territory, Laine took the King's Order from behind the table, handing it to the lady knight: "This is a decree from His Majesty Richard. The General for this year's Knightly War is Marquis Angxi, do you know anything about him?"

Amelia looked a bit worried, sensing this, Laine lightly patted the little maid's shoulder, signaling he held no grudge against her, just needed to handle urgent matters.

The Baron clapped his hands, and Ollica brought juices and queen bread from outside for the lady knight and the little maid to enjoy. Seeing queen bread here at Laine's place surprised Surya; she didn't hesitate, after expressing thanks, started to eat directly.

Observing Laine's lack of objections, Amelia also took small bites, seemingly familiar with this kind of food.

"Marquis Angxi? His Majesty Richard choosing him, quite surprising indeed." The lady knight, wearing a white female shirt and blue checkered short skirt like Amelia today, had her long, slender, and beautiful legs wrapped in black stockings, wearing a pair of fiery red stiletto heels. Hearing Laine's words, Surya expressed bewilderment: "Marquis Angxi is similar in age to Lord Laine and has participated in numerous wars, yet commanding as a General personally is his first time."

"Has His Grace the Duke received the King's Order?" Laine felt even more perplexed, hadn't the Duke of Winford received the King's Order?

Her shining blonde hair tossed as the lady knight shook her head: "He hasn't. His Majesty the King generally doesn't issue the King's Order directly to my father, usually an envoy arranges with my father for participation in Knightly War troops and the taxes amount."

The Baron started realizing something was wrong.

Clearly, as a Baron under His Grace the Duke of Winford, why would the King's Order come directly to him?

Could His Majesty the King not understand "the liege of my liege is not my liege"?

No, the King definitely wouldn't overlook this concept; otherwise, he couldn't have been King for twenty-four years.

Thus, the only explanation is.

His recent actions seemed to have raised concerns among the great nobles of the Knight Kingdom.

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