Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World

Chapter 9: Observations in Lakeheart Town

"Has something happened?" Ford's heart tightened with worry, fearing the old injuries of Count Grayman might have resurfaced.

"The count has taken the newly recruited soldiers out for training and is not expected back in Lakeheart Town for a few days."

"What, you just let him lead a bunch of new recruits out there? Don't you know how rampant the pirates are now?"

"We tried to persuade him, but in vain. We had no choice but to have Lord Claude lead the castle guards to protect them."

Relieved, Ford quickly said, "Send someone to fetch the count. Tell him a royal envoy has arrived and is waiting to meet him."

"Yes, I'll send someone right away."

After Philip bowed to Hansel and hurried off, Ford turned to Hansel, "I'm terribly sorry, Sir Abbott, but it seems you'll have to wait a while."

"That's alright. Since the count is temporarily away, would you mind if I took a walk around here?"

"Of course, you're a distinguished guest from afar. Please feel at home. However, I need to return home, so I won't accompany you." Ford then assigned his personal servant to guide Hansel and excused himself to go home.

Hansel, wanting a drink, instructed the guide to take him and his servant Tom to a tavern in town.

The tavern was bustling with chatter until a well-dressed young nobleman, accompanied by Ford's servant, walked in. Some knowledgeable patrons recognized the nobleman from his attire and the subservient demeanor of the servant, causing the noise in the tavern to subside.

"Landlord, three beers, please. I prefer unused cups."

"Right away, my lord," the tavern owner, a man in his forties who had never been so close to a foreign noble, hurriedly went to prepare the drinks.

"People in small places really have limited experience," Hansel thought, amused. He chose a window seat, had Tom lay cloths on the seat and table, and then sat down.

Taverns are excellent places to gather information, and Hansel, having come this far, didn't plan to just sit and drink. He was contemplating how to inquire discreetly when the tavern owner brought over three beers. Hansel took one for himself and handed the other two to Tom and the pleasantly surprised guide.

Observing the patrons, he noticed most were avoiding his gaze, fearful of offending the nobleman with an improper gesture. Only one person, wearing a leather cap, kept sneakily glancing his way.

"You, come here! Yes, you, the one with the leather cap."

"Me?" The young man pointed out by Hansel quickly shifted from astonishment to fear, worrying his peeking had angered the nobleman. Could he be beheaded for this?

The people sitting around him quickly distanced themselves, not wanting to get involved.

Trembling, the young man approached Hansel and immediately knelt, tearfully begging, "My lord, I was just curious, I meant no harm, please, have mercy on me..."

"Alright, alright, don't be scared. I'm not going to harm you! Just a few questions, that's all. Stand up!"

The young man stood up, relieved.

"Sit there," Hansel gestured to a nearby seat.

"How could I dare..."

"Sit down when the baron tells you to!" Tom played the part of the enforcer.

Gratefully, the young man sat down.

"I want to ask, is the situation with the pirates really that severe?"

"Yes, they haven't appeared nearby, but everyone is scared. Now, people only travel in large groups even between villages."

"And your lord, he just lets them be?"

"Not at all. You might have heard, our old lord sacrificed himself fighting pirates. The new lord started recruiting soldiers as soon as he took over, both for public and private reasons."

"Is it true your new lord is just a child?"

"Yes, and it's unclear if he can bear the responsibility. Honestly, young master Paul... ah, our current Count, was quite spoiled by the old lord. As a child, he was mischievous and..." The young man suddenly stopped, realizing he was speaking ill of his lord before another noble.

Hansel smiled, ordered another beer for the young man, and continued his inquiries. He soon found the young lord quite intriguing.

For instance, the lord had forbidden public urination and defecation, encouraging every household to build their own toilets and even funding public ones in town.

He also banned dumping waste into the lake, instead placing "trash bins" at intervals on the streets. Residents and passersby were required to use these bins for their garbage, with the lord's men organizing daily cleanups.

Hansel's respect for the young lord grew: "Not bad at all. A countryside lord who's more refined than city nobles. Hopefully, he doesn't have the usual faults of rural nobility."

Standing up, Hansel tipped the young man a few coins and motioned for Tom and the guide to continue exploring other areas.

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