Lord: Starting from the Pit-Dwelling Courtyard

Chapter 72: Local Specialties

Ron didn't say anything.

He recalled what Harland had said: more than half of the lords who survived the first year would not survive the second year.

From the ruins of Stone Sheep Territory to the walls of this Rusty Sword Lord's stronghold, he saw not two territories, but two possibilities for Ashwood Territory.

He could become ruins, or he could become the man who couldn't even draw his sword but was still guarding the village walls.

But all of this will change because of his arrival; he will establish a new order in the Blackthorn Wasteland.

On the fifth day, we began to see caravans.

It was a caravan heading to the Blackthorn Wasteland, departing from Gorubak Castle to transport food and cloth deep into the wasteland, in exchange for animal hides and ore.

These caravans had one thing in common: they were very powerful.

There are two Earth Knights, dozens of official knights, nearly a hundred knight apprentices, and two hundred laborers and militiamen. With such strength, they could easily conquer a territory; otherwise, they wouldn't dare to do business in the Blackthorn Wasteland.

The caravan's guards instinctively kept their distance when they saw Ron's cavalry, but relaxed their guard when they saw the standard armor and weapons in the ranks.

"Even with the best equipment, we still have too few people," the guard leader muttered. "Including that half-goblin, there are only four and a half people."

In their eyes, Thun was just a goblin, possibly a combat slave in the party.

A man who looked like a caravan manager greeted Fanta and asked them which territory they came from.

Fanta said Ashwood Territory, and the other person thought for a moment and said he didn't know it.

Fanta didn't explain further, after all, Ashwood Territory had only been established for two months, and judging from their appearance, their main trading territory was still on the periphery.

Then they also saw caravans returning to the city.

The caravan returning to the city, laden with ore and animal hides, headed towards Gorubak Castle, their wheels leaving deep ruts in the cracked mud.

A caravan was traveling the same route as Ron, and the two groups walked side by side for an afternoon.

The caravan's guard leader was a retired mercenary who was talkative and loved to boast.

Leonardo da Vinci, being a veteran mercenary, quickly established a relationship with the guard leader.

"The wasteland has been quite turbulent lately. Several large goblin tribes have fled southeast, and the smaller tribes that were previously suppressed by the goblins have taken the opportunity to seize territory."

Upon hearing the guard leader's words, Leonardo da Vinci immediately tensed up.

Leonardo da Vinci hurriedly asked, "Brother Byron, what are the names of those big goblin tribes you mentioned?"

The guard leader laughed and said, "It seems you've just arrived in the Blackthorn Wasteland. The last goblin tribes in this area are the Earth Dragon Tribe, the Black Dragon Tribe, the Flying Dragon Tribe, and the Great Dragon Tribe. They are known as the Four Dragon Tribes of the Outer Blackthorn Wasteland, and they are top-tier tribes. These four tribes control most of the goblin tribes in the outer area. Every time these tribes take action, they bring tens of thousands of goblins."

Leonardo da Vinci nodded thoughtfully, but a flash of pride crossed his eyes.

That so-called Four Dragons Tribe was completely wiped out by us.

"Thank you, Brother Byron."

Leonardo da Vinci then asked, "I heard there have been quite a few unfamiliar faces at Gorubak Castle lately? The Border Lord's ball is coming up soon? The North and South Merchant Guilds are all shipping goods there? What special products does the Blackthorn Wasteland have?"

The guard leader grinned, pointing to an iron cage nearby: "Those are local specialties!"

Leonardo da Vinci looked over and saw that it was covered with a cloth.

The head of the guards pulled back a corner to show Leonardo da Vinci.

After reading it, Leonardo da Vinci's eyes widened in disbelief.

"The ball is held every year, but this year it's bigger than in previous years. It's said that the Border Lord is going to announce some important decisions. As for the North and South Merchant Guilds, the Blackthorn Wasteland is actually quite productive, but it has too little territory and the land is too barren, so it's not developed much, which is why it looks so poor. In fact, it has a lot of minerals, as well as many magical potions that can only be produced in the Blackthorn Wasteland..."

Along the way, Leonardo da Vinci and the head of the guards boasted to each other, and in the end, he even gave the other the light wood scale armor he was wearing.

The guard leader, Byron, smiled as he stroked the light wood scale armor. As an old mercenary who had been through countless battles, he could tell the performance of any weapon or piece of equipment just by touching it.

This balsa wood scale armor is a good thing. Although it is not as good as the heavy armor of knights, it is still better than the leather armor of ordinary infantry.

"This is good stuff!" Byron said with a smile as he accepted it.

Da Vinci immediately seized the opportunity: "This is produced in our territory. You should be able to tell what materials it's made of. If Brother Byron needs it, you can come to Ashwood Territory to find me."

Byron patted Leonardo da Vinci on the shoulder with a big smile.

That night, Ron had his men camp at an abandoned post station less than twenty miles from Gorubak Fortress.

The relay stations were built by the kingdom along the border of the wilderness in the last century to transmit military intelligence.

The wall was still there, but half of the roof had collapsed. However, since Ron was a building mage, he repaired one of the rooms in the inn in less than half an hour.

Fanta, Thun, and Da Vinci took turns keeping watch at night, while Sanlier simply cleaned up and prepared a clean place for Ron to sleep.

In a place like the wilderness, everything except sand and soil will be cleaned up and kept clean.

This is the most amazing thing about building magicians: they can decompose and reuse even the most useless materials.

Late at night, Shanlier, on his first long trip, lay in the shed tossing and turning, unable to sleep, his eyes shining brightly in the darkness.

Leonardo da Vinci slept soundly. He had been a mercenary for half his life and had slept in all sorts of dugouts. This post station at least had four walls.

Ron suddenly asked, "Da Vinci, what did you see in the cage?"

On the way, he dared not say anything carelessly, lest he expose Ron's identity. All along the way, they acted as territorial knights, with the purpose of purchasing some necessary supplies in Gorubak Castle.

"They are women from other races." Da Vinci quickly explained when he saw Sanlier's blank look: "There are at least a dozen people in that cage, mostly orc women, followed by winged people and Grin people."

"A Grimm?" Ron was very surprised.

Leonardo da Vinci explained: "The Grimm woman was very beautiful, perfectly in line with human aesthetics, but her skin was a bit green, which made me certain she was a Grimm."

Ron frowned.

The Green people are subjects in their own land, but here they are kept in cages and treated as "local specialties".

"Heh, the sexual interests of nobles are the same no matter what world they live in."

Fanta nodded thoughtfully.

Leonardo da Vinci awkwardly shut up, while Sanlier looked at him expectantly, wanting him to tell him about the appearance and stories of the foreign women.

Sanlier opened his mouth as if to ask something, but Fanta glared at him and shut him up.

"Go to sleep," Fanta said. The shed fell silent.