Westheid’s voice was light and airy, but it struck the Knights’ ears like a thunderclap, instantly setting off a chorus of astonished cries.

"Wait, abolish serfdom?!"

"Did I hear that right?"

"Lord Westheid, are you in your right mind?"

"..."

The handsome, black-haired, purple-eyed young man exchanged a look with Mivana and nodded.

"That’s right, abolish serfdom. Yonglan’s vast population of serfs is the foundation supporting this country. I’ve thought about it—we give them some benefits, relax restrictions on movement, eliminate exorbitant taxes, give them a day off each week, and maybe even improve their welfare a little."

Even the visiting Yonglan Knights, who had come with sufficient goodwill, couldn’t help but instinctively object upon hearing Westheid’s proposal.

"You should reconsider!"

"Abolish serfdom? Yonglan won’t be able to compete on the international stage!"

"The laws of our ancestors cannot be changed!"

Seeing this, Westheid sneered.

"Is this some kind of ironclad law? Or did the Yonglan Riding God himself issue a divine oracle to establish serfdom?"

"Among the Realms of Order, the Country of Yonglan is the most backward in its social structure. Don’t you realize that? Open your eyes and look at the world! Do you see what this stagnant system, with no potential for development, has dragged the Knight Country down to?!"

"As it happens, I have some experience with social reform. Making the Country of Yonglan more prosperous wouldn’t be much of a problem. This benefits the nation above and you below. I just don’t understand—why can’t it be done?"

The Knight Lords: "..."

’Wait, isn’t that the kind of rhetoric we usually use on our subordinates?’

Compared to the prosperity of the other Realms of Order, with their towering buildings and fertile plains, the Country of Yonglan was geographically a harsh, cold land. Furthermore, they had barely invested in their technology tree, excelling only in a few niche areas.

If not for the ridiculously overpowered Knight Path propping up their combat strength, the Country of Yonglan would have a very hard time comparing itself to other nations.

In the past, such comparisons were unnecessary. All countries with a Divine Ancestor were more or less the same; under the might of a Celestial God, differences in national power were negligible.

But in this day and age, that was no longer the case. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

However, even knowing this full well, the Yonglan Knights found it difficult to accept.

Uther explained with a grave expression:

"Lord Westheid, please understand something. For us, this system is not a simple matter of economics."

"Knights are what truly built this country. Only with a constant influx of new blood can we maintain our legacy. This is a necessary hardship."

In the Country of Yonglan, Knights and serfs were worlds apart, yet the two groups were not entirely separate.

In fact, one could say that the former was born from the ranks of the latter.

To be sure, Knight Clans would raise their own members to be Knights, pouring all their resources into cultivating talent. But Knights from such backgrounds were actually few in number. Moreover, many Knight Clans were wiped out entirely—the Yonglan People were not like the Imperial Nobility, who would try to preserve their family line. In many battles, everyone would take to the field, and a single defeat meant death for the individual and extinction for their clan.

For example, the old Hero’s family in Jinquan Territory... was driven to extinction by Mivana’s slaughter.

The true Source Blood of the Knight Clans came from the vast population of serfs. These common folk, who toiled without complaint in times of peace and served as cannon fodder in times of war, would always produce exceptional individuals forged in the crucible of blood and fire.

And these serfs with outstanding Talent would be accepted as Knight Apprentices and join the ranks of a Knight Lord.

If they could then achieve military merit and advance in Tier in the years to come, they would be granted a territory and could start a Knight Clan of their own.

The vast majority of today’s Yonglan Knights, if you go back five or six generations, were descended from serfs.

It wasn’t that the Yonglan Knights didn’t know that serfdom hindered the country’s development. But so what?

"...We follow the path of the Divine Ancestor. Only in a Mortal World fraught with thorns and tribulations can one forge a character and soul of supreme resilience. People with such wills of steel are the seeds of Knights. How could we abolish this tradition for the sake of mere pragmatism?"

’That was how the venerable Divine Ancestor himself endured and rose. How could it be wrong to emulate him?’

The abuse and harsh treatment of the serfs were deliberate. Extremists like Lionette who resorted to direct slaughter were rare, but most Knights agreed with making the common people suffer a bit more.

They didn’t even exploit the common folk to make their own lives more comfortable, because the Yonglan Knights themselves revered asceticism!

They created suffering simply for the sake of suffering. Not only did they have to suffer, but everyone else had to suffer too!

Even though Westheid already understood this, listening to the Grand Knight pound his fist on his chest before him, looking so self-righteous, he couldn’t help but press a hand to his forehead and laugh out loud.

"This is why I say you old Yonglan folk are a real riot."

"Sir! Do not slander our way of life! The Country of Yonglan has weathered every storm to stand here today! We are born to fight! Suffering cleanses the soul and purges weakness. This is the source of the Land of Knights’ strength!"

’Yonglan has its own unique circumstances! You’re jumping to conclusions because you don’t understand Yonglan!’

"But suffering is never worthy of praise."

Reiya said with a frown. She hadn’t wanted to say anything, since the affairs of the Country of Yonglan were none of her business. The White-haired Dragon Lady was just going along with Westheid’s general plan. But after overhearing such a speech, she simply couldn’t hold back any longer.

"Suffering can indeed temper the spirit, but that is not a virtue of suffering itself. Do those who experience hardship accept it willingly?"