Chapter 92: Assigning the Task, Inspecting the Azure-Purple Horse Ranch

After everyone had left, Veylin summoned Randolph to his study.

“How has this year been working under Orlando? Did he ever make things difficult for you?” Veylin asked with a smile as he motioned for Randolph to sit.

“My lord, Orlando is very gifted,” Randolph replied with proper posture and respectful decorum. “In my twenty-two years of life, he is the most gifted knight I have ever seen in cultivation. He is no less remarkable in leadership. To reach such a level without formal instruction can only mean that, my lord, you have a truly discerning eye.”

“I only gave him the chance. Everything else was his own effort,” Veylin said with a wave of his hand, though inwardly he was immensely pleased, as if his own son had grown up and was now being recognized by others.

“Without a patron with such a discerning eye, even if Orlando were gifted, he would never have had the chance to display it.”

“All right, all right. Come, have some tea.”

Seeing Kael bring the tea over, Veylin said with a smile, gesturing for Randolph to help himself.

“For the coming year, you may have to work harder.”

At that, Randolph set down the teacup in his hand and straightened in his seat. “Please, my lord, give me your instructions.”

“I have three plants and two animals in my possession. They are vital to the future development of this territory, no less important than Iceblue Grass. Your task for the coming year is development.”

“If my lord is willing to trust me, I swear on my life that I will complete everything you assign to me.”

“I know your abilities. That is precisely why I chose you.”

After a brief word of encouragement, Veylin had Kael bring over the parchment from his desk and hand it to Randolph.

“On this parchment are the details of five species of flora and fauna, including their growing environments, cultivation requirements, and precautions. Over the next month, you are to find and adapt environments suitable for these five species according to the requirements written here.”

“The basic construction of the two ranches has already been completed. From here on, you only need to modify them as required.”

“If you need manpower or supplies, go directly to Baird.”

“Also, I will assign four companies of soldiers to you. They will obey only your command.”

As Randolph listened to Veylin, he scanned the information on the parchment and then carefully tucked it into his robes.

“My lord, I understand your orders. Please allow me to begin at once.” Randolph rose and said firmly.

Veylin stood as well and looked at him with approval. “You are indeed decisive. Then I won’t waste any more of your time.”

After Randolph left the study, Veylin changed into plain clothes and went to the training grounds to complete the day’s practice. Since drinking the Astral Mage’s mysterious fruit tea, he could feel that the high silver rank was not far away anymore.

Two days later, Veylin, together with Kael and several knight attendants, set out for Orlando Town to inspect the Azure-Violet Horse Ranch.

Riding a red-scaled horse and admiring the scenery along the way, Veylin could not help but recall the events from more than a year ago, when he had seized the Azure-Violet Horses. Back then, he had even gone out of his way to make a wide detour, sending false information from the border of Selop Province in an effort to exact some revenge on the Halse Family.

More than a year had passed since then, yet he had not heard of any centaur tribe harassing or retaliating against the frontier knights of the Hacks Family. That left him somewhat disappointed.

“Never mind. Why dwell on it?” he muttered to himself.

“This chance has passed. I’ll just find another. Anyone who dared ambush me on the road, even if they failed, is still remembered.”

Putting the matter behind him, Veylin urged his horse onward, intending to inspect the Azure-Violet Horses and then, while he was at it, visit the several outposts along the border.

Outside Orlando Town, Orlando, fully armored, leaned against a large tree and waited in silence.

Beside him stood the knights under his command, thirty-five in all. More than half had already reached the rank of Bronze Knight. Every suit of armor they wore had been reinforced with orichalcum, and their weapons were laced with a small amount of mithril. Judging by rank, each man’s equipment was of excellent quality.

On the left side of every knight’s breastplate was engraved a fire lion, a steadfast symbol of their loyal hearts, as well as a mark of their combat aura and war-beast form.

“Captain, my lord is here,” reported a Bronze Knight.

Orlando took the helmet handed to him by a knight beside him, set it on his head, and slightly straightened the red ribbon tied around his neck before shouting, “Mount up.”

The thirty-five of them moved in perfect unison, swinging onto their Azure-Violet Horses and forming ranks, waiting for Veylin’s inspection.

Orlando stroked his red-scaled horse, then mounted it as well.

“Salute our lord.”

All the knights drew their knightly longswords and held them before their chests, offering Veylin a solemn salute.

Young faces. Steadfast eyes. Upright figures.

Though all of them were still not yet adults, they already had the bearing of knights.

“Excellent.”

He placed great importance on these thirty-five knights.

However, from their posture and their strength, Veylin could clearly tell that five of them had likely only been incorporated into Orlando’s knight company within the past six months, leaving them somewhat weaker than the other thirty.

“Your red ribbon is loose again.”

Veylin rode over to Orlando’s side and adjusted the ribbon around his neck, setting it straight.

“Thank you, my lord.” Orlando smiled, his gratitude sincere.

“You little rascal.”

Though Veylin himself was still young, not yet twenty.

“Come, take me to the Azure-Violet Horse Ranch. I’ve entrusted the Azure-Violet Horses to you for more than a year now. Let me see how much progress you’ve made.”

“Please follow me, my lord.”

Orlando led the way. Veylin followed behind with Kael and several knight attendants, while the other thirty-five knights brought up the rear, all heading toward the ranch seven kilometers away.

Along the way, with Orlando’s explanation at his side, Veylin gained a general understanding of the ranch’s scale.

The entire Azure-Violet Horse Ranch covered roughly eight hundred twenty-five acres. It employed fifty-one soldiers and one hundred twenty-five herdsmen, and housed three hundred eighty-seven Azure-Violet Horses. Nearby stood a village, and half of the village’s tax fields were planted with Windgrass, a plant greatly favored by the Azure-Violet Horses. It served both as reserve fodder and as provisions for campaigns.

There were no monster clans there, nor any magical beasts or wild beasts. The fields were filled with busy farmers wearing genuine smiles. When they saw Veylin’s party, they all set down their work and bowed low to show their respect for the lord.

Seeing this, Veylin’s mood grew even better.

More than ten minutes later, the group slowly arrived outside the Azure-Violet Horse Ranch.

At the gate, ten soldiers stood guard diligently, showing no trace of laziness or slacking off.

“My lord.”

The officer in charge stepped forward, struck his chest in salute to Veylin, and then ordered the gate opened.