Chapter 226: Letters and Intelligence

Chapter 226: Letters and Intelligence

Buzz~

In the strange valley, the ground before the cave trembled as several earthen walls swiftly rose, completely sealing the cave's entrance.

Carlos, resting nearby, gazed at the place where he had been imprisoned for so long, now finally sealed, and felt a surge of excitement.

The previous day, inside the cave, Roning had asked if he wished to convert this underground palace into a nest for Carlos, but he had declined without hesitation.

To him, the cave was a dark shadow in his life, one he preferred to avoid, choosing instead the freedom of the wind and rain outside.

With the cave entrance sealed, the group officially concluded their mission, which had lasted eight or nine days.

Roning chose not to return with the team. After a night's rest and two meals of roasted wild boar, which helped restore his strength, Carlos felt somewhat better. Roning then rode on the dragon's back, flying all the way back to Shanlin Town.

As he watched the landscape swiftly change beneath him, he felt momentarily rejuvenated.

Their journey to the valley had taken nearly five days through dense forest. Now, from the dragon's back, Roning could just make out the town's location.

"That's the Wushan Monster Mountain Range over there," Roning pointed out, suggesting it as a hunting ground when Carlos was hungry.

Elated, Carlos's cry of joy pierced the clouds and startled a flock of birds into flight. His Frostfire Wings now had the freedom to soar and hunt as they pleased. Roning continued to advise him to avoid eating people and to steer clear of high-level monsters.

He also considered establishing a lair west of Shanlin Town for the dragon. Dragons, like all high-level magical beasts, claim their own territories. The dragon's presence alone would likely deter other monsters from encroaching on Shanlin Town.

This would alleviate the need for McKen and others to frequently patrol the Black Iron Forest, worrying about attacks on the workers in the ironwood workshop.

Eventually, man and dragon landed on a hillside.

"Remember my instructions and stay out of trouble," Roning warned as he patted Carlos on the head. "I'll summon you if needed. Now, go on your own."

"Understood, Master!" Carlos replied, eager to take flight. With a powerful gust, he soared into the air and soon vanished in the direction of the Wushan Monster Mountain Range.

"It looks like he's in for a feast," Roning mused with a smile, shaking his head. He then descended the hill, reaching a mountain path that connected Shanlin Town with Qingzhu Village.

Encouraged by Roning last winter, his subjects had built this road using felled trees to survive the harsh season. The logging continued, projected to reach Qingzhu Village by year's end.

"Yes, my Lord!"

"Greetings, Lord Roning!"

As he passed a wheat field, the workers noticed him and greeted him warmly. Life in Shanlin Town had stabilized under his governance, even if it hadn't improved drastically.

The policies Roning enacted were well communicated through the village chiefs, ensuring every citizen understood their role and the benefits they would receive. This clear communication and the lord's demonstrated generosity fostered trust and compliance among the people.

Notably, the new policy supporting pregnant women was popular, offering 300 kilograms of grain among other benefits to expanding families, prompting many in the lord's service to consider having children.

Some single men, unable to find wives locally, even considered marrying slaves—a status upgrade to serfdom after ten years of service promised them freedom from bondage and security for their children.

Amid the enthusiastic greetings, Roning paused to encourage his subjects, hoping for continued peace and prosperity in Shanlin Town.

By noon, Roning reached Hillwood Castle, now unusually quiet since Irene and Black Tiger had relocated to Swamp Town to study potion-making with Elrond and Jenny.

"Sir, why have you returned so soon?" Butler Chahar asked upon seeing him at the castle.

"The mission is complete; I've returned early," Roning replied, requesting lunch and inquiring after Knight Rogner.

"Knight Rogner is in town. He has brought over 500 people from Baron Corner, recruited by Anthony. Wilson is settling them in," Chahar updated. "Also, Pearson and his caravan are back from Wushan City. They've sold the ironwood armor and weapons, earning a total of 272 gold coins, which are now in your study drawer."

The Ironwood Workshop's production capacity had increased, allowing them to complete Galil's order ahead of schedule, just in time to escort Rognar to Wushan City for this trip.

"Also, a messenger bird brought a letter from Wushanbao."

Luo Ning's eyes brightened. The carrier bird path had been successfully established for some time, enabling him to finally communicate with the outside world through letters.

"Where is the letter?"

"It's on the table in your study."

Luo Ning entered the study and spotted the letter inside a linen bag. Upon opening it, he recognized the handwriting on the parchment as Lu Lans's. The letter began with a lengthy greeting, which Luo Ning attributed to Lu Lans's age or perhaps the aftereffects of the Soul Devouring Surge affecting his condition.

However, the letter soon turned to more personal matters. Lu Lans mentioned that May 25th was approaching and expressed his wish for Luo Ning to visit Wushanbao to celebrate his birthday and consider the possibility of getting engaged to Blanche.

"I didn't realize my birthday was so close."

Luo Ning chuckled, amused at his forgetfulness.

"The old man isn't very mobile, so I'll go visit him."

With the affairs of the territory running smoothly, Luo Ning's temporary absence wouldn't cause any disruptions.

Regarding the potential engagement with Blanche, it seemed that the princess herself was favorably inclined toward it. Luo Ning wasn't averse to the marriage; Blanche was attractive and seemed to have a pleasant personality. More importantly, marrying a princess would elevate his status significantly.

After some thought, Luo Ning took out a new piece of parchment and began drafting a response to Lu Lans. He decided to confirm his attendance for the birthday but left the discussion of the engagement for a later date.

"Boom, boom…"

A knock sounded at the door.

"Enter."

Rogner pushed the door open, smiling. "Long time no see, sir!"

"I just heard from Chahar that you had returned, so I came to report."

"Thank you for your hard work, Rogner."

Luo Ning returned the smile, then mentioned, "Krami is still en route. She should arrive in Black Soil Town in about four or five days."

"Thank you for looking after Krami."

"I didn't exactly look after her. Conditions were tough while I was stationed in the woods."

Luo Ning grinned, "You have a resilient fiancée. When are you planning to get married?"

Rogner scratched his head, seemingly unprepared for the question.

"We had planned for this year, but Krami and I decided to build a small courtyard in Swamp Town first. We'll consider the wedding once it's finished."

"They now have their own families, so naturally, the wedding will take place in their new home."

"That's no problem. Just tell Wilson which piece of land you like, and he'll give it to you for free."

Luo Ning smiled warmly. "We could even host the wedding at Swamp Castle!"

"Thank you for your generosity, sir!"

Rogner expressed his gratitude, then shifted to a more serious tone. "Sir, I gathered some important information on my trip that I need to share with you."

Luo Ning raised an eyebrow. Previously, Rogner had brought news of Baron Leisen's trial. He wondered what information Rogner had this time.

"Go ahead."

"I've learned that the Bolant Bandits in the southwest of Wushan Territory have been increasingly active since April."

Rogner continued, "Many are concerned that this group might again cause trouble at the border."

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