Chapter 168: The Weary Bird Returns Home

After speaking, Fody shook his head with a sigh, saying, "The kingdom will never allow the orcs, our mortal enemies, to become rampant in the rear. So, Rhett, be mindful of this when you return. Do not trade those two orcs away; it would be a violation of the kingdom's laws."

"I understand... Thank you, Assistant Fody. I'll keep that in mind!" Rhett nodded in realization. After learning that the orcs had been sterilized, his gaze toward them now carried a hint of sympathy...

After spending about ten minutes wandering around the slave camp, Rhett finally decided on a second-tier Minotaur and a second-tier Boarman.

Both were strong and robust, excellent for labor, and they appeared relatively young and vigorous, without the lethargy that plagued many other orcs. Most importantly, Rhett sensed a faint desire for life in their eyes, unlike the lifeless and numb expressions of the other orcs.

"It'll be them, Fody. Please register them," Rhett said after a moment of contemplation, pointing to the two orcs a few meters away.

Fody followed Rhett's gaze and nodded slightly. "Understood. You can take them with you now, but remember what I said—do not violate the kingdom's laws."

"I understand!"

After a brief two-minute wait, Fody completed the registration, and the two orcs were informed of their new master.

"Lord, we shall serve you from now on!" the Boarman grunted in a deep, muffled voice.

"We were forced into battle, not wanting to die. We just want to live, eat our fill each day, and be content!" the Minotaur said in a low, rumbling voice, rubbing its large bronze horns.

"No problem," Rhett replied with a smile, amused. "As long as you behave, those requests will be easy to fulfill."

After making some brief preparations, Rhett gathered his men and left the military camp.

Standing before the black fence of sharp spikes that marked the rear of the gorge's front line, Rhett took a final glance at the camp, accompanied by Tuck, Relay, Taylors, Henk, Tadel, Cools, Shirin, and McCoff, as well as the two orcs trailing at the rear of the group.

"Ah, after half a year of fighting, I feel a bit reluctant to leave!" Tuck said wistfully, looking up at the towering spikes with a mix of emotions in his eyes.

"Oh, then why don't you stay here, Tuck?" Taylors mocked, slapping Tuck's large arm. "Just don't end up as orc dung—it's bound to smell awful!"

"Oh, Taylors! After two months, you're still as annoying as ever!" Tuck grumbled, his face darkening as he pushed Taylors' hand away.

Tadel and Cools, the inseparable duo, walked at the back of the group, just in front of the orcs. They couldn't help but glance back repeatedly, sighing as they observed the clumsy Minotaur and Boarman.

"Why do you two keep sighing?" Rhett raised an eyebrow, looking at Tadel and Cools. "Is it because I didn't bring back any Nightcrawlers?"

"No, Lord!" Tadel quickly shook his head.

Cools added, "It's just that Tadel realized the Nightcrawlers aren't as beautiful as he imagined, so he's a bit disappointed."

"Tadel, you have a point!" Tadel responded.

"Oh? Tadel, you're unusually self-aware today. It seems that the battlefield has made you more mature!" Cools said, feigning a fatherly tone, as if proud of his son.

"No, I meant that if you replace 'Tadel' with 'Cools,' then your statement would be completely accurate!" Tadel rolled his eyes.

Cools smirked at his companion. "Oh, Tadel, you dare speak to me like that? You must be itching for a fight. Becoming a second-tier knight has given you the confidence of a Sky Knight, hasn't it?"

"Indeed, the gap between us is as vast as that between a Sky Knight and a commoner," Tadel taunted. "Just wait until we're back on the territory—I'll teach you a lesson!"

"Tsk, tsk, who'll be teaching whom is yet to be seen. Just don't use a stomachache as an excuse when you start losing again!"

Listening to Tadel and Cools bickering as they left the gorge front line, Rhett couldn't help but smile.

A little over a month later...

Winter mornings often bring thick fog, much like the fog they encountered when leaving.

As the sun rose, its light filtered through the gray haze, casting a faint glow on Rhett and his party, adding a strange gleam to their eyes.

The air was damp with moisture.

"Is that... Sun Lake?" Relay's voice suddenly broke the silence, filled with a mix of doubt, joy, and anticipation.

"Yes, that's Sun Lake!" Taylors confirmed, both to Relay and himself.

Taylors tossed his black, twisted wand high into the air. It flipped and spun before landing neatly back in his hand. With arms outstretched, he shouted, "We're back!"

His voice echoed through the sky, piercing the thick fog and startling the aquatic magical beasts, causing them to leap out of the water with a splash.

"I'm back too!" Tuck, excited by Taylors' enthusiasm, joined in with a shout of his own.

"Welcome back!" A faint voice responded through the fog.

As the mist gradually cleared, a figure emerged, becoming clearer with each step. Wearing a black eyepatch, Vides appeared before them!

"Haha, Vides, it's great to see you!" Rhett dismounted and walked quickly forward, embracing his old comrade with a big hug. "It's a relief to see you all safe!" Vides scanned Rhett from head to toe, then glanced at the group, confirming that their numbers were the same as when they had left. Only then did a genuine smile spread across his face.

He sighed, "You've all returned as seasoned warriors, with new, stronger feathers!"

"You're right, Vides! That's exactly how it is." Rhett raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"What brings you to Sun Lake so early?" Rhett asked, finally voicing his earlier curiosity.

"I heard that your Sun Lake has aquatic magical beasts, and I was worried that the defenses might not be enough while you were away at war, so I've been checking in regularly," Vides said, turning his gaze to Sun Lake. "By the way, in just two months, several of the aquatic magical beasts have advanced to the next tier—quite an impressive speed."

"And I also saw that they've laid eggs. It won't be long before they hatch again!"

"Hmm, I see..." Rhett nodded thoughtfully, noting that he must get Nina to bless the aquatic magical beasts and water plants as soon as possible. Otherwise, once winter passes, they'll have to wait another year.

Vides then turned his attention to the orcs behind Rhett. His eyes narrowed as his mind raced with possibilities.

"These... orcs look quite strong," Vides said after a moment of silence. "I imagine they cost a fair amount of merit?"

"They did," Rhett nodded. "But I haven't told you yet—during my return to the battlefield, I earned enough merit to be promoted to earl. So, wouldn't a couple of orcs on an earl's estate only serve to enhance the territory's strength and prestige?" He finished with a broad smile.

"You've been promoted to earl?" Vides's eyes widened in surprise. The astonishment quickly passed, and he sighed, shrugging. "I should've expected it—given your abilities, it wasn't difficult. Well, congratulations, Earl Rhett!" Vides emphasized the title.

"Thank you, my friend," Rhett replied with a humorous grin.

"Hahaha!" Vides laughed, shaking his head. "Alright, you'd better head back. I'll keep an eye on Sun Lake for you. Your steward has been quite worried about you lately. Every time I've seen him, he's looked more and more haggard."

Rhett's expression grew serious. "Is that so? I'd better check on him right away. Thank you for your help here!"

"No trouble at all."

Led by Rhett, the group soon arrived at the gates of the estate.

Steward Sveta stood in the middle of the gray stone road before the gate, wearing a thick black fur coat and last year's gray soft leather hat. He paced back and forth, his brow furrowed with worry.

"The lord left in June—it's been half a year since he's been gone. Sigh, how I long to see the familiar sight of the lord and hear the sound of hoofbeats approaching!" He looked up at the sky, the fog clearing as countless beams of sunlight fell on his face, highlighting the wrinkles on his forehead.

It was as if the light reflected the longing in his heart.

Clip-clop.

Clip-clop.

Clip-clop...

Sveta froze in disbelief!

It felt like a dream, but the sound he had longed to hear in his sleep was now real.

Unable to believe it, Sveta quickly turned around. There, under the clear sky, stood the familiar figure of a middle-aged man, with the rest of the equally familiar group behind him. Tears welled in Sveta's eyes, but he quickly wiped them away with his sleeve.

Overwhelmed with joy, Sveta rushed forward and bowed deeply. "Dear Lord, seeing you return in the midst of this harsh winter brings such happiness! You've been gone for half a year now. All of Eagletown has been trembling like a frightened little bird."

Rhett pulled the reins of his gray horse, halting a few meters from the northern wall of the training ground. He looked at Sveta's excited, joyful expression and the slight redness at the corners of his eyes. His own eyes filled with complex emotions. Dismounting quickly, Rhett placed a reassuring hand on Sveta's shoulder, adjusting his hat.

"Sveta, you're not mistaken—we're back. We return with the scars of battle, the glory of triumph, and hopes for the future. This time, the eaglet will soar even higher."

Sveta's emotions gradually calmed. He exhaled and smiled warmly.

"The happiest thing is seeing you return with your heirs, bringing back the spoils of victory. I've kept the estate running smoothly in your absence, and that's all I need."

After glancing around at everyone, Sveta bowed again. "Lord, after your long and dusty journey, would you like me to prepare a hot bath for you? And perhaps have Cook Maru prepare a sumptuous meal?"

"No need. I'm quite clean, and after being away from Eagletown for half a year, I'm eager to hear what's been happening during my absence," Rhett said after a moment of thought. "Sveta, my most trusted assistant, I need your report."

"Lord, I'm more than happy to oblige!"

Back at the estate, everyone needed a good rest—not just for their bodies but to soothe their weary souls.

The others retreated to their rooms.

Only Rhett made his way to the fifth-floor hall of the castle. He opened the central window and let the cool breeze wash over him.

He took a moment to survey the hall's layout, nodding slightly as any lingering sense of unfamiliarity from his six-month absence faded away.

Settling into a high wooden chair by the window, Rhett asked, "Sveta, now that we're alone, tell me—how has the territory fared during the six months I was away?"

Sveta stood respectfully at the edge of the red carpet, organizing his thoughts before reporting:

"Lord, your territory has been running smoothly overall. The last batch of knight trainees included a young man named Rien, who has broken through to become an apprentice knight."

"And Unica, that young girl, has successfully advanced to an apprentice mage."

"Flano also broke through to the second-tier knight level a few months ago, and his wife, Laurene, is pregnant."

"Of course, the most joyous news is that both Lady Kalina and Lady Mina have given birth safely."

Sveta paused, observing Rhett's expression. Seeing no change, and sensing he wasn't ready to interrupt, Sveta continued:

"The fire-stripe mine is being extracted at the steady pace you requested. Over the past six months, we've mined about half a ton of ore, most of which is stored in the estate's warehouse. A small portion has been distributed to the Brothers Iron Workshop."

"Bramble Village was completed two months ago, but without your orders, no settlers have moved in yet."

"The Nightingale Tavern in town has been doing increasingly well, expanding its space threefold just a month ago."

Rhett smiled. "The Nightingale Tavern, huh? It's been a while since I've tasted the Neon Swirl. I'll have to stop by again soon."

"Haha, that would be an honor for the Nightingale Tavern!" Sveta chuckled.

"And outside the territory, such as on the Southwest Border or elsewhere, has anything significant happened?" Rhett asked, casually curious.

"Well, there was one major event," Sveta nodded after a moment of thought. "I heard that in October, a large-scale battle broke out on the Coldstream front, with even saint-level draconians joining the fray!"

Feigning surprise, Rhett placed his cup on the table, his interest piqued. "What was the cause of this battle?"