Chapter 1739 - 487: There Are Still Plenty of Good People

"But... even if it's cheaper, not everyone can afford it. According to my investigations, many people in the suburbs of the Royal Capital only earn 800 copper coins a month. They can't possibly spend all that money on buying cotton clothes."

"What about the coal from the Rhode Kingdom? If they can't afford firewood, they can use coal, right?"

"That's exactly it... I've noticed that some wealthy people in the city have already chosen to use coal instead of firewood. But what about those who were already using coal? Roland City doesn't have a seaport, and the coal imported via the northern trade routes can't alleviate our urgent needs at all. Soon, coal will rise to the same price as firewood."

Observing the King's expression, Wickton carefully proposed a suggestion: "Perhaps... we should issue an order, for example, letting the Lords around the Royal Capital lift the restrictions on winter logging to stabilize prices."

It's common knowledge on the Aus Continent that those living by the sea burn coal, while those inland burn wood. He believed the King was well aware of this too.

Theoden, after listening, moved his cloudy eyeballs, but did not show the attention that Baron Wickton expected. Instead, there was a trace of weariness.

"Baron Wickton, you are the Minister of Economy, you understand this better than I do. Since you discovered the problem, then I'll leave this matter to you to handle."

Wickton was taken aback.

He, a small baron, was indeed above thousands in front of the commoners, but how could he possibly command those Earls and Dukes who held fiefs?

"Your Majesty, but..."

"Just take my verbal order and go to those nobles, tell them to open up their forests, saying it's my command."

It's just issuing an order.

Well, he issued it.

"You, Your Majesty..."

Looking at Baron Wickton, who still wanted to say something, Theoden spoke with a bit more impatience.

"Not enough? Then take my steward Skylar with you and let him assist you."

"Your Majesty! Your, your Mr. Skylar is in Twilight Province overseeing Erin for you, as well as the envoys from the Academic State and people from the Judicial Court, we..." Wickton couldn't help but use a slightly heavier tone, though he quickly lowered it cautiously.

He was truly getting anxious.

However, the King remained indifferent, merely waving his hand wearily, as if those few words had exhausted all his energy for the day.

"Then wait for him to come back before talking about it. Enough, although I care about them, I am also very busy... Such a small matter doesn't need to trouble me."

Waiting for Mr. Skylar to return... I'm afraid winter will be over by then.

Wickton sighed in his heart and finally retreated respectfully.

The King always liked doing such things.

He had the baron deal with the Earls who he couldn't control at all, then had the unruly peasants fight the extravagant Lords, and finally brought in the Judicial Court to clean up the unruly peasants.

Feudal order in his hands was like blocks, manipulated by this politically cunning king to the fullest. Perhaps, other than the throne, there was nothing in this world that he truly cared about.

Including Saint Sith.

To him, it was just a tool as well.

...

As he watched Baron Wickton leave, the drowsiness and cloudiness in Theoden's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a playful smile.

He truly didn't care much.

If the citizens became poor, they could just leave his Roland City and go to Twilight Province to become peasants. If they couldn't go that far, attaching themselves to the nobles' manors in the suburbs would also do.

He just thought there were too many "lower-class people" in Roland City.

These muddy-footed people flooded into the Royal Capital, raising the price of food and making the air stink. They'll be better off farming outside.

What's worse, just recently, on a whim, he took a stroll by the river, and the fishmonger squatting there didn't even recognize his face as King!

These people, with no sense of reverence, merely made him feel disgusted.

Now there was just the right invisible hand to help him clear the trash from his doorstep, so why not?

It's best if they leave on their own.

After all, Theoden still had to save face. He couldn't just send guards to throw them out like a brash princeling. That would be too undignified.

Compared to whether the citizens of Roland City could afford firewood, there were more important things for him to attend to.

He flicked his thumb, tossing the silver coin in his hand lightly into the hearth, watching the flickering flames of intertwined yellow and green with a cold smile on his face.

"...I want to see what tricks you can play."

There was no doubt that the "Laine Iron Coins" was a slander, as the Ryan Kingdom's mint mixed in more copper and some special alchemical minerals.

Contaminating it with iron was what the barons did when they minted copper coins.

If Edward intended to challenge his authority in this way, it could only be said that the young Duke was a bit naive.

No matter how he used the merchants' mouths to slander the authority of the Ryan Kingdom, it couldn't change the fact that the Laine silver coin remained strong, and the one seemingly dying was the Campbell Duchy itself.

Soon that guy would suddenly realize that the crown is forged with human heads, and if he wanted to take it from his hands, he'd have to exchange it with a head!

At this time, a figure as light as black smoke appeared silently in his court, kneeling humbly on one knee.

"Your Majesty, a letter from the Earl of North Stream Valley."

The voice was deep and hoarse, like a broken dry branch.

Theoden said calmly.

"Bring it up."

"Yes."

The confidant kneeling on one knee slowly stood up, respectfully presenting a sealed missive to His Majesty, then nodded and withdrew.

Theoden opened the letter and glanced at it, gradually showing a bright smile on his face, then crumpled the letter into a ball and threw it into the hearth.

Earl Derek was ready to make his move.

He didn't disclose the timing of the uprising, but clearly informed him in the letter—[The change will come in winter, and the Campbell people are ready to embrace the new spring.]

The old King showed a contented smile. The glow of the fire replaced the sinking sunset, illuminating those murky eyes.

"There are still more good people."