“Lord, may I stroll around the territory at my leisure?”
Caroline elegantly lifted her dress beside Claire and added, “I don’t much like socializing; I want a bit of private space. You don’t need to escort me; after all, an ordinary guard wouldn’t stand a chance against me.”
Although her gestures were polite, there was a hint of aggression in Caroline’s tone, as if it were not a request but a demand.
Lind, who was very tempted to question why someone who disliked socializing would follow Claire to the Northern Border, eventually held back. Facing this NPC he’d never seen in the game, Lind nodded and said, “Miss, please feel free, but be careful not to leave the territory. You know, the Northern Border isn’t very safe.”
Caroline nodded, smiling, and detached herself from the group.
Lind wasn’t worried about any confidential information leaking from the territory. Aside from the gunpowder, the security at the gunpowder factory was already top-notch; it was guarded by Lena’s knights in full armor. Even that couldn’t completely prevent outsiders.
Watching Caroline and the others depart in the distance, she took out paper, a pen, and a magic drawing scroll, ready to record everything she saw and heard in Graywhite Territory, uncovering the darkness hidden in Lars’s domain. For this moment, she was even prepared to make sacrifices.
First, she headed directly toward the houses near the dock, without even glancing at them, walking straight toward the edge of the territory.
These must surely be the facade projects that Lena used to deceive her; the Northern Border must be like the hell on earth described by Caudic. Perhaps the people in the territory had already started selling their children to survive, and she just might be able to save some innocent kids here.
However, as Caroline walked on with that thought, she increasingly felt something was off. Why was every house like this?
Not only that, but Graywhite Territory didn’t have the revolting smell of waste found on the outskirts of the royal city. Not to mention the cruel harvesting and selling of children described by Caudic, there wasn’t even a single ordinary beggar.
Everyone she encountered was hurrying about their own tasks, appearing vigorous and showing no signs of hunger whatsoever.
“Excuse me, sir.”
Caroline stopped a worker who was pushing a wheelbarrow.
The wheelbarrow was filled with bricks, clearly intended for construction.
“I’d like to ask you a few simple questions, if that’s alright?”
Although the other person was a commoner, Caroline still used formal language. This was not only a long-standing habit but also because the worker’s attire didn’t resemble that of a serf or slave.
Only serfs and slaves were not considered human, and when facing free individuals, cultured nobles didn’t mind showing extra respect to display their generosity.
“Sorry, I still need to move stones, the worksite over there is waiting.”
Though this simple worker didn’t know who Caroline was, he recognized her noble attire and, not wanting to compromise his work score and performance, might not even give her a second glance.
Caroline didn’t say much more but instead fished out two silver leaf coins from her pocket.
The worker’s eyes lit up at the sight of the coins, but his hand quickly pulled back.
“Sorry, I need to move stones; if I’m late, Old Joe’s group next door will surpass me, and there won’t be any meat soup left for dinner.”
After saying that, the worker pushed his wheelbarrow and quickly left.
Though her attempts had been unsuccessful, Caroline became even more convinced that these people were all actors. There was no way to explain why everyone was dressed so well, even looking down on two silver leaf coins.
However, Caroline recalled a saying from her family: money is omnipotent. If it didn’t work, it was simply because the amount of money wasn’t enough.
Finally, after raising the offer to ten silver leaf coins, roughly a half-month’s income for a wealthy farming family, a worker who had just come out of the lumber yard, preparing to change shifts and rest, stopped in his tracks.
“Go ahead, did Lena get wind of something ahead of time and have you all change clothes to act out a play in the territory?”
Caroline’s initially gentle demeanor gradually turned a bit irritable, even somewhat impatient.
After wandering around the area and finding not a single person attempting to sell their children, not even a beggar, everyone was working, all were on the job.
“Act? What play? The lord only said that there will be guests visiting today, instructing us not to approach the docks.”
The lumberjack looked at Caroline in confusion, completely unaware of why this noblewoman was attempting to give out silver leaf coins, and found her questions baffling.
“Are you saying that people in your territory have already started selling their children? Has the Northern Border truly turned into a living hell?”
Caroline stepped forward intently, startling the lumberjack into retreating repeatedly.
“Sell what? Is it considered selling if the lord insists that the children over seven must attend the academy for half a day of classes? If they don’t send them, their performance will be docked, even their work points. You’d think a seven-year-old could help with household chores; my kid has no future, so why not come home to help his mother farm? But at least it’s only half a day of school, and he can still lend a hand at home.”
Although the lumberjack’s face was full of worry, Caroline seemed to hear something completely incomprehensible, taking a surprised step back.
Were all these people really acting? How else could they afford to send their children to school? Families that could send their kids to school couldn’t possibly have one working in the lumber yard and another at home farming!
It must be noted that this era was all about elite education; schooling only offered two choices: the best or not attending at all.
Even though a recent initiative by the church introduced some basic knowledge classes, those were mostly theological in nature.
Caroline couldn’t comprehend or imagine that every child in this territory was required to go to school.
Right! This must be the method used by that noblewoman, Lena, to exploit the people! Using high tuition fees to oppress them, then brainwashing their children in school, making these people continue to serve as her slaves for generations.
So malicious, Lena!
Just as Caroline began to indulge in her imagination, the lumberjack’s face revealed a look of contentment.
“But at least it’s free education; we don’t have to worry, and the school provides breakfast and lunch. We still have to attend school. Teacher Neubert teaches well; my kid even secretly brought home a lunch egg to my wife. He’s definitely learned more than before.”
“But I still gave him a beating; that egg was given by the lord. Our family isn’t short of that one egg, but he dared to defy the lord’s command!”
Looking at the happy expression on the lumberjack’s face, Caroline suddenly felt a collapse of her worldview. Why did these people seem different from what Lord Caudic had described? These commoners were even boasting about how their children were becoming more understanding at the school in the territory.
To be honest, she didn’t dislike this feeling—deep down, Caroline hoped that what the lumberjack said was true.
But mental conditioning isn’t something that can easily be broken.
Moreover, Caroline’s doubts continued to grow. Not only did this territory enforce mandatory schooling for children, but they were also not charging tuition? And Neubert, that surname—wasn’t that reported by the church recently, known for rebelling under the guise of the saintess?
With that thought, Caroline took out two more silver leaf coins and asked the lumberjack, “Can you take me to see your school?”
