Chapter 97: The Money-Bringing Youth Charles, Part One

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Qingteng Mountain was the new name Verin gave to this previously unnamed hill. The entire mountain rose over eighty meters high, covering an area of about three square kilometers. At the foot of the mountain, looking upward, a large section had been cleared, and even the path up had been paved with stone slabs. Not far from the base, a temporary camp had been set up, where numerous soldiers were training.

Verin did not go to the camp. Instead, he took Kyle and Randolph up the mountain to plant Qingteng trees at a suitable spot before leaving the area. The next day, a force of five hundred troops departed from Orlando Town, heading northwest with the intention of occupying the nearby canyon.

At the same time, a pioneering group arrived near the canyon from the north. “Young master, this is the location we have selected,” a knight respectfully reported from outside a luxurious carriage.

“Have we arrived?” A man dressed in wizard robes lifted the curtain and jumped down from the carriage. Surveying the desolation around, he grumbled, “What a miserable place. Go check nearby for any suitable spot to gather.”

“Yes, young master.” The knight obeyed.

The young noble jumped down from the carriage, glanced at over two hundred gaunt slaves behind him, and ordered the captain of the guards, “Keep those wretches far away. I don’t want to see them near me.”

“Yes, Lord Charles.” The newly appointed captain, barely two weeks on the job, answered nervously. He had no desire to end up like his predecessor, who had been publicly burned alive for merely muttering a slight objection.

If he had a choice, he would never serve a capricious and cruel lord of such an erratic temperament as this pioneer noble.

At that moment, two blushing maids stepped down from the carriage, carrying an exquisite set of chairs from the rear carriage and arranging them on the grass. Two male servants carefully laid out milk and bread before Charles.

“This tastes awful. I really miss the capital,” Charles complained after biting into a soft piece of bread, tossing it aside carelessly.

The starving slaves stared longingly at the white bread on the ground. Even the guards standing watch swallowed hard, struggling to resist looking at the tempting food.

“What a bunch of scum,” Charles sneered, showing the arrogance and disdain befitting his noble birth.

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“If it weren’t for offending people at the Magic Academy, someone as noble as I wouldn’t have to come to this godforsaken place.”

Suddenly, the knight sent to scout returned to the caravan and reported to Charles, “Young master, there are large troop movements nearby. We might need to relocate.”

“Relocate? Impossible,” Charles shouted in defiance. “I was humiliated and forced to leave the capital. Is there anyone in this forsaken wasteland that I can’t offend?”

“Young master, this is the border, not like other places,” the knight cautioned hastily.

“Shut up. You’re just a servant. No need for your opinion.” Charles poured his unfinished milk over the knight and scolded him mercilessly.

Enduring such humiliation, the knight clenched his fists but bowed his head helplessly, avoiding eye contact with this mad dog.

“With the names of my father and uncle backing me, I’m not afraid of any provincial aristocrat from this backward countryside,” Charles boasted arrogantly, then ordered the knight to lead the way.

The knight could only swallow his pride and lead, hoping this fool would not cause trouble.

Meanwhile, Verin was surveying the canyon. As Randolph had said, the area was surrounded by a unique magical energy, and the soil’s energy nearly matched that contained in silver-grade flesh and blood.

“We can first build an earthen fort here, station a squad of soldiers, plant the red tea trees, and gradually relocate some population here to firmly establish control over this territory.”

“Your Majesty is right,” Randolph nodded in agreement.

Suddenly, a commotion arose from the camp.

“Let’s go, something’s wrong.”

Outside the temporary camp, a knight under Charles’ command was beaten by Orlando until he coughed up blood, terrifying Charles into collapsing on the ground. The knight, panic-stricken, said, “I’m telling you, my father is a count, a big figure in the capital, and my uncle is Fisk, governor of the Cadro Province. You can’t offend us. Stay away.”

Orlando hesitated upon hearing this.

Seeing Orlando’s hesitation, Charles grew even more arrogant. “You lowly commoner, apologize to me immediately!”

Nearby, the bloodied silver-ranked low-level knight lay in despair, feeling certain of death. If there were a next life, he swore to live prudently and stay far away from fools.

“What happened?” Orlando relaxed slightly as he heard Verin’s voice during his moment of indecision.

“Your Majesty, this noble brat came to the camp with his men, demanding we vacate the place and spoke insolently. I couldn’t hold back and struck him.”

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Verin frowned, looking down at the young noble on the ground.

Charles, seeing the lord himself had arrived, became even more arrogant. “You’ve caused a big trouble. My uncle is Fisk, the governor of Cadro Province. I’ll make you—”

“If you’re capable, have your uncle come try. Now take your people and get out of here, or we’ll leave you to feed the goblins in these wilds.”

“You, you—”

“My lord, we offended you. Please forgive us,” the bloodied knight suddenly stood up, covering Charles’ mouth and hurriedly apologizing to Verin before leading their group away.

After they departed, Orlando asked in puzzlement, “Your Majesty, you just let them go like that?”

“I told them to leave, but I never said to let them take their belongings with them.”

“Do you mean—”

“Send people to follow them and retrieve our stuff tonight. Make sure they wear masks.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Orlando received the clear instructions and set to prepare.

Randolph chuckled, “Your Majesty, if this noble goes to Governor Fisk to complain, do you think he’ll get his rear kicked?”

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