Hardy sat in the living room, slowly eating bread and drinking warm milk.

Except for the two maids standing next to him, he sat alone at the long dining table.

Coupled with the huge and empty living room, it seems that this place is very deserted.

But Hardy didn't feel that way, and he's happy now.

It feels good to live again, a younger, healthier body, which is a rare 'capital'.

Even if he becomes a character in the 'game', he doesn't care.

I think therefore I am, whether this world is real, whether I am an NPC or not, what does it matter!

Moreover...... Is the world really just a game?

Hardy slowly enjoyed his lunch, the bread tasted average, and the milk was a little fishy because there were not enough additives to reconcile the taste, but compared to the time when he was eating and spitting, it seemed so good.

As he was about to finish eating, Lillian, the head red-haired maid, and an old man walked in through the door.

Lillian saluted Hardy from a distance, and stood aside very obediently.

The old man walked up to Hardy, bent down and saluted, saying, "Little master, I'm back." ”

"You haven't eaten yet, Jack, after you've finished lunch, come and talk to my study." Hardy turned his head to look at the head maid not far away: "Lillian, let the kitchen prepare everyone's lunch, and from today onwards, everyone's portion size for each meal will be increased by half." ”

All the servants were amazed.

Jack, the old butler, persuaded, "Little master, we have to save some." ”

"Don't worry, you can't eat poor." Hardy waved his hand indifferently: "There are only more than thirty people in our manor, and no matter how many people we recruit ten times more, we won't be able to eat poor." ”

Seeing Hardy's resolute attitude, Jack gave up persuasion.

Hardy felt that the original body was very picky, not to mention the pile of gold coins in the secret room, but also the property on the surface of the family, there were also thousands of gold coins' in the 'deposit'.

Not to mention that in the city, the Hadi family still has a lot of industries, and they continue to deliver gold coins to the family.

When Hardy had finished eating, he went to his study.

The servants began to clean and wash the dishes, and then began to make food for themselves.

Hardy is reading a book in the study, which is a travelogue, which is quite interesting.

After waiting for about half an hour, the old butler knocked on the door and came in.

"Jack, your monthly salary will be changed from two silver coins to three in the future." Hardy put down the book in his hand, looked directly into the old man's eyes, and said with a smile: "In addition, the monthly salary of all the servants in the manor has also increased by five copper coins, and Lilian will be informed of this later." ”

The monthly salary of an ordinary maid is 25 copper coins, and if it rises by five, it is 30 copper coins.

It doesn't sound like much, but a copper coin, under normal circumstances, can buy a pound of flour.

The vast majority of civilians are unable to eat and clothe themselves every day, often for two or three days, and then starve for most of the day.

And the servants were fed and lodging in the manor, they could eat enough every day, and they could also get money, which was an excellent job.

Jack couldn't help but say: "Little master, you are increasing the amount of food and increasing the salary, can the family hold it?" ”

Stewards generally ignore specific money and are only responsible for managing chores and maintaining the orderly operation of the servants' work.

So Jack didn't actually know the finances of the estate.

"It's okay, I have my own plans." Hardy smiled indifferently, then asked, "How's the situation at the blacksmith?" ”

When it came to business, Jack's expression immediately darkened, and he said with some resentment: "They opened their mouths and asked us to double our salary before they were willing to continue working." ”

"How's that order?"

Jack thought for a moment and said, "There are three orders that will not be delivered on time. ”

"Is the loss big?"

"It is estimated that at least twenty gold coins will need to be compensated."

Hardy leaned back, thought for a moment, and said, "You prepare a letter of greeting and hand it to the Earl of Virginia, saying that I intend to visit him and ask him when he is free." ”

Old Jack nodded.

"Orders that can't be delivered by the blacksmith shop, go and deal with them today. Lose money that should be lost, and apologize when it should be apologized. Each customer was given three bottles of wine from our estate, and the gesture was sufficient. Hardy thought for a moment and added, "The title deeds of the blacksmith's shop, all the contracts of the blacksmith and the apprentice, are ready, and you must take them out as soon as I need them." ”

The old butler nodded again and again, these were indeed his duties as a butler.

"Jack, are you homesick?" Hardy abruptly changed the subject.

Jack was stunned, and his voice was hoarse: "I haven't been back for more than ten years, of course I'm homesick." ”

"I heard that your youngest grandson is fourteen years old."

Jack nodded.

"When you're free in a while, I'll give you a few days off. You go back to your hometown and take your little grandson with you for a few years and teach him how to be a qualified housekeeper. ”

Jack was stunned for a moment, then his eyes flashed with tears, and he nodded lightly and said, "Okay, little master." ”

"Let's get to work." Hardy bowed his head and continued to read.

Jack walked away lightly, and then slowly closed the door.

Like Lilian, the red-haired maid, Jack is also related to Hardy.

Also distant relatives.

There are a lot of books in the room, and the original body is estimated to have not even finished reading ten.

Hardy is very interested, in his opinion, whether it is a travelogue or a biography, he can understand the world from the side and spy on the operating rules of the foundation of this world.

By evening, Jack had returned from outside.

"The compensation money, as well as the wine, have been given to three customers and they are very satisfied." After a pause, Jack continued: "In the afternoon I handed the note to the earl's butler, and before I could leave, the earl replied that he would meet the little master at about ten o'clock tomorrow morning. ”

Hardy was a little surprised: "So fast? ”

"Because the day after tomorrow, he will set off to meet the king in the royal city."

"Then you have to prepare a gift." Hardy laughed, "The title deeds of the blacksmith shop and the contracts of those employees are all packed in a beautiful box. ”

Jack immediately guessed Hardy's plan: "Little master, do you really want to do this?" ”

"Now we have to travel light." Hardy looked out the window, the stars in the night sky twinkling slightly: "The blacksmith shop doesn't mean much to us anymore, since it's already a piece of carrion that attracts flies, let's cut it for the time being and sell it in exchange for what we need more." ”

Jack was a little puzzled: "What do we need?" ”

Hardy laughed and didn't answer.

Jack didn't ask any more.

After supper, Hardy left the castle and went to the meadow of the manor.

Lillian followed, waiting for Hardy's orders.

Hardy looked at the full moon in the sky, raised his right hand, and then shook it hard.

Darkness beckoned, and dark clouds covered the stars and moon.

War horses roar!

The tall Nightmare Knight stands above the earth, merging with the darkness.

One man, one horse, two pairs of red eyes, cast at Lillian.

The red-haired maid was so frightened that her legs went limp, and she fell to the ground, unable to speak, unable to speak.

This is one of Nightmare Knight's most basic abilities:

Aura of Fear.