Chapter 69: The Soren Riverbank

Groups of commoners from the Soren domain gathered on the northern shore of the Soren River. They came with their families, carrying only the bare essentials. Many arrived empty-handed, hardly looking like people relocating their entire households.

In truth, it wasn't that they didn't want to bring belongings it was simply because these impoverished commoners had little to their name.

Even the few copper coins or silver shillings they possessed were hidden in the most inconspicuous places on their bodies.

With no bridge over the Soren River, the only way across was by ferry. However, the limited number of boats and their small capacity left many commoners looking anxious.

Thanks to the large scale efforts of Idar's spies, nearly every commoner in the Soren domain was well aware of the crises and tensions their homeland faced. The forced conscription imposed by the Earl of Soren had only reinforced their fears, making them all the more convinced of the rumors.

If they had to journey over mountains and through treacherous terrain, they might have hesitated. But moving just across the river into the neighboring Idar domain? That wasn't much of a decision at all.

After all, the southern bank of the Soren River had once been part of their land, and many had visited before. Thus, they felt little fear or discomfort in making the move.

One person spread the news to ten others, those ten spread it to a hundred, and soon, more and more commoners flooded the riverbanks, jostling for space in a growing sea of people.

Meanwhile, on the southern shore, Idar's soldiers and officials were well prepared for their arrival.

As the first head of the Idar Immigration Bureau, Lister was in charge of overseeing the entire operation.

Of course, since this was Idar's first large scale acceptance of refugees from the Soren domain, most of the procedures and regulations had been personally devised by Bruno.

Lister's job was simply to enforce those guidelines with precision.

Though the commoners gathered on the northern bank were numerous, each ferry trip could only transport a small number at a time. This limited flow allowed the still-inexperienced officials of the Immigration Bureau to manage the situation without chaos.

The Idar Immigration Bureau had set up three registration channels on the southern bank to document the arriving commoners.

Wagner, a commoner from the Soren domain, had finally managed to squeeze onto one of the ferries with his pregnant wife.

He had escaped from the Soren military in the dead of night.

Recently, after the defeat and capture of Soren's infantry by Idar's forces, the Earl of Soren had forcibly conscripted many young men into his army. Wagner had the misfortune of being among those taken.

Over a hundred unwilling recruits had been rounded up. Unlike the noble knights who served as cavalry, men like Wagner mere commoners received meager wages for their service.

If it were just himself, perhaps he could endure. But he had a pregnant wife at home!

And if he died on the battlefield, there would be no compensation for his family. In Soren, death was simply bad luck nothing more.

Thinking of his newlywed wife and unborn child, Wagner was tormented with worry.

So, the moment the officer overseeing their barracks fell asleep, he seized his chance, slipping away under the cover of darkness.

When he finally returned home, breathless and desperate, his wife told him about the rumors spreading across the Soren domain that Idar was offering land for farming or stable jobs to those who resettled there.

He didn't hesitate. That very night, he and his wife packed what little they had and set off for the river.

After all… he was now a deserter.

Even if Idar hadn't offered such a generous policy, he and his family could no longer stay in Soren.

The Soren River wasn't particularly wide, but its currents were strong. The surging water slammed against the boat, threatening to drag it downstream.

Eventually, he made it across. But Wagner only truly relaxed when his feet touched the soil of the southern bank.

This was Idar territory. He no longer had to fear being dragged back into the Soren army.

As he stepped onto this land, he felt both familiarity and strangeness.

In the distance, a massive fortress was rising along the riverbank, surrounded by vast, cultivated fields. He couldn't quite explain why, but there was an undeniable vitality in the air, as if the land itself pulsed with new life.

"Another boat just arrived! Baron, take them to Channel Three!" a soldier from Idar called out.

In no time, Wagner and the rest of the newly arrived commoners were led by a soldier to the leftmost registration channel, where they lined up in an orderly fashion.

Ahead of them stood two simple wooden desks and a pathway framed by long wooden poles. Seated behind the desks were two Idar officials, scribbling notes with their pens.

What are they doing?

Though filled with curiosity, Wagner obediently took his place in line.

That didn't stop him from sneaking glances at the Idar soldiers maintaining order nearby.

Having spent some time in the Soren military, he immediately noticed the stark difference between these men and Soren's troops.

These soldiers were commoners, yet they carried themselves with confidence and energy entirely unlike their counterparts in Soren. Their faces were healthy, their movements sharp.

Unlike the ragtag recruits of Soren, these men wore neatly fitted armor and carried uniform weapons.

Wait a moment…

Why do their weapons and armor look so familiar?

These were—

The armor and swords of Soren's cavalry?!

Realization dawned on Wagner. These must be war spoils seized by Idar after their victory.

But…

Instead of hoarding them in his treasury, Idar's lord had equipped his soldiers with these finely crafted weapons.

No wonder Soren's army was utterly crushed…

A deep curiosity toward this land took root in Wagner's heart.

Just then, a voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Hey! You, in the back! It's your turn!"