"Never expected it to be him, nor did I expect to meet here, in such a way..."

Reynard sighed with emotion, uncertain if he was lamenting the lost youth or the fate connecting the two.

Lance understood; the two weren't closely related, just acquainted, enough to know of each other.

No wonder he didn't recognize him at first.

Back in the day, when they met, Reynard was probably still a handsome young man, and now they're both weathered with age, donning big beards.

Just like Baldwin back then, as a king, naturally wore luxurious clothes and various ornaments representing his status, always followed by a retinue, exuding the imposing aura of a monarch.

Now, he's become a bald and hairless man in tattered clothes, with the former arrogance of a superior completely worn away, leaving only a mundane transformation.

Lance recalled a famous saying, "Being down and out isn't scary; what's scary is being recognized by acquaintances."

It's a blow to one's pride; the more glorious the past, the greater the pressure now, so much so that even Baldwin found it intolerable and chose to avoid it.

From Lance's outsider perspective, it seemed both had suffered unspeakable hardships, and both ended up in Hamlet by the whims of fate, where they would find redemption.

One could only call it destiny.

"Everyone has a past; since these matters are in the past, let's leave it at that and not mention it again." Lance patted Reynard on the shoulder, the meaning clear.

Reynard understood the lord was trying to protect Baldwin's dignity, and he agreed with a nod.

He's not the type to gossip, more astonished by the chance of meeting again.

"Alright." Lance nodded with a smile, then shifted to the serious topic, "How did Walter respond? What's the situation in Ovando?"

Reynard naturally took out the letter, also recounting some unwritten details...

In the eyes of those enemies, Lance was cunning and ruthless, but to Reynard and his companions, the lord always looked after them, considering their circumstances.

He would listen to them, offering guidance, like a family member, like a sage.

Even when issues arise, the first step isn't to punish anyone but to find ways to resolve the problem together, then revisit the issue.

The focus isn't on assigning blame but on learning lessons to prevent recurrence.

Amazingly, the lord always managed to convince everyone, something that astonished Reynard, knowing even "God" couldn't achieve that.

He's witnessed arguments, even fights in the Church multiple times. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Reynard had been in the Church, the Crusaders, and wandered as a mercenary across the Empire, visiting many places.

Compared to those places, Hamlet had strict rules and regulations, but it lacked the hierarchical pressure of the Imperial Nobles system present in other territories, fostering harmonious coexistence under the rules.

His harsh experiences stripped away his fervent faith, returning to rationality, made him appreciate the lord's greatness even more.

...

"So? Did that guy remember anything?"

"That fellow isn't tough at all; he's even remembered wetting the bed as a child..."

Lance approached to ask about that Michelle's situation, not out of fear, but he preferred understanding more information to make better decisions.

Know thyself and opponents, assured victory in every battle.

And Dismas naturally reported the information the lord needed.

Michelle wasn't as formidable as he boasted; in fact, their family's title was empty, a Marquis without an actual fief, essentially a new noble.

What are new nobles?

To understand, one must see how the Empire became like this.

The reason is simple; the Emperor dissatisfied with the Great Nobility's control over the Empire wanted reform to reclaim all power and land.

City development, the sprouting of capital, these people had wealth but lacked social status, so they sought political positions, that is, power in the Empire.

However, Empire power had been long divided, and those noble-held positions, why should they share power with you?

The Emperor saw their needs and chose to support them, and the Emperor-backed new noble forces mainly consisted of urban-based big merchants and small nobility allies.

This isn't just carving a piece of the cake; it's usurping the Old Nobility, making them desperate.

It's an empire laid down by grandfathers, and the Emperor is merely the greatest noble; their relationship isn't subordinate, but partners, unwilling to pander.

Those in power are Old Nobility, expressing "you're too urban," thus using the drought as a pretext to act.

On the surface, it's mobs and the Empire army, but everyone knew who the opponents were.

It's the Emperor-supported new nobles warring against the Old Nobility with fiefs and power.

To maintain the illusion of an undivided Empire, this facade emerged.

It represents the struggle between the new nobles of the emerging urban bourgeoisie and the Old Nobility of feudal landlords in the face of development.

Initially, the conflict wasn't this intense until the drought exacerbated the contradictions.

The Old Nobility had fiefs, relying on land with assured population and grain, forming self-contained systems, independent of the Empire Emperor.

The drought weakened this, and refugee turmoil favored the Emperor, so there was silence initially.

This situation forced the Old Nobility into action, dragging others down with them.

Although slightly disadvantaged, they had the resources, alleviating the pressure through refugee relocation, ensuring their grain supply.

In contrast, the new nobles had cities, people, and money but lacked farms and grain, hence the high purchase prices.

Both sides had their strengths and weaknesses.

Under such circumstances, to counter the Old Nobility, the Emperor issued many titles to win people's hearts, creating new nobles.

It had a bit of selling official titles in late feudal dynasties, but indeed gathered many people, seeing Gene was willing to ruin himself for a knight title.

Michelle was a failure, but his father was a figure; although just a minor baron, he saw through the situation early as an Old Noble, sacrificing all to join.

As one of the first to support, the Emperor naturally provided benefits, combined with actual ability, rising rapidly.

At that time, Dismas couldn't find him after escaping prison because Michelle's father got promoted, sparing him; otherwise, Michelle's personality would've continued tormenting Dismas.

Perhaps Michelle's descent into perversion began with the expansion of his father's power and indulgent parenting.

The Emperor promoted him, and now Michelle's father is indeed high-ranking in the Empire army, albeit as one among many.

The tens of thousands of troops he boasts about are exaggerated since those truly commanding are the Emperor's people, with Michelle's father in charge of logistics, linking up with Gene to amass wealth, also finding tasks far from the battlefield for his son.

For the remote and declining Hamlet, this identity was a considerable issue; otherwise, why would the Nobility in Ovando City support Michelle?

But Lance never cared.