Chapter 99: Pyrethrum

Since the situation between the enemy and themselves was quite clear, there was little need for friendly negotiation. The caravan swiftly abandoned half of its goods and, under the watchful eyes of the Idar raiders, fled as fast as they could.

When faced with overwhelming odds, leaving behind half of their merchandise at least ensured they could recover their costs. If they tried to resist, they might not only lose everything but also their lives.

This was a tactic taught by Bruno, called "encircling three sides while leaving one open," allowing a path of retreat.

After all, even a rabbit will bite when cornered. By giving these merchants a sliver of hope and a chance to rebuild, their mercenaries would lose the will to fight to the death.

Watching the fleeing caravan, Krell grew even more impressed by the Earl, who remained far away in the lord's castle yet still orchestrated everything with precision.

To be able to serve Earl Bruno Stuart was truly a blessing he must have earned in a past life!

While Krell was busy leading his men to tally up the spoils, Lister finally arrived with Bruno's latest orders.

Bruno had decided to appoint Krell as the head of Idar's intelligence system, responsible for establishing the Idar Central Intelligence Bureau, which would report directly to Bruno himself.

The former deputy commander of the Idar standing army, Borimir Braun, was assigned as Krell's deputy to assist in the initial establishment of the intelligence bureau.

Given Idar's limited funds available for the intelligence bureau, Bruno did not expect it to produce significant results in the short term.

For now, the agency's main task was merely to construct its organizational framework and begin training competent spies.

Once Lister left, Krell silently stared at the appointment document, embossed with the Stuart family crest, for a long time.

In less than a year, Krell's life had undergone a complete transformation.

From a lowly serf, he had become a free commoner of Idar.

Then, he joined the Idar standing army, and due to his exceptional performance and rigorous training, as well as his outstanding contributions in the Battle of Grand Highlands, he was promoted to leader of the Idar raider corps.

And now, he had been directly appointed by Earl Bruno as the highest-ranking officer of the yet-to-be-established Idar Intelligence Bureau?

Though Krell had never heard any prior mention of this intelligence agency, just from the words "directly reporting to Bruno," he knew how critical this position was.

In just one year, he had risen from the lowest class of serfs to a high-ranking official with real power in Idar. His meteoric rise was nothing short of miraculous!

If this had happened anywhere else in the Norman Empire, it would have been impossible!

So, who were the most loyal people to Bruno Stuart, aside from the long-serving officials of the Stuart family?

The former serfs!

Especially those who had been granted freedom!

As a former serf himself, Krell knew this dreamlike reality could only happen in Idar!

That was why protecting Idar and being loyal to Idar was a conviction buried deep in the hearts of every one of them.

While Krell was overwhelmed by surprise and excitement, Bruno, accompanied by Shabi, was sitting rather unceremoniously in a field in southern Idar.

Nearby, a puzzled chef was carefully following Bruno's instructions to prepare a new dish.

First, he plucked a freshly slaughtered chicken, removed its innards, and carefully broke its joints while keeping its body intact.

Next, he stuffed its abdomen with onions, ginger, garlic, and a variety of seasonings before coating it with honey and wrapping it tightly in large lotus leaves.

Finally, he coated the wrapped chicken in a thick layer of clay about a centimeter thick and then tossed it into the charcoal fire.

This was the Beggar's Chicken that Bruno had once enjoyed in his past life.

Bruno hadn't been particularly fond of Beggar's Chicken back then, but ever since arriving in this world, he had begun to miss the flavors of his past.

It wasn't about the taste it was about nostalgia.

Though the recipe seemed simple, preparing it properly was not easy. Beginners often ended up burning the chicken into charcoal. Thus, Bruno had instructed the chef to prepare several, just in case.

A pink checkered picnic cloth was spread over the lush green grass, and Earl Bruno of Idar sat cross legged, sipping a rich soup while waiting for the chicken to cook.

Thanks to Bruno's training, the chefs of Idar had significantly improved their culinary skills. Both their cooking and soup-making had advanced greatly, and the food now met Bruno's high standards.

As Bruno sipped his soup, Shabi cautiously leaned over and asked:

"Master, are you sure these wildflowers you mentioned… really have such miraculous effects?"

As he spoke, he pointed toward a nearby hillside, where groups of commoners were diligently bending over, picking wildflowers that had just begun to bloom.

Indeed!

As a busy and diligent Earl, Bruno certainly wouldn't waste his time idly wandering the Idar countryside.

Enjoying Beggar's Chicken was merely a side activity his true purpose was to lead these commoners into the fields to pick flowers.

But these weren't just any flowers they were pyrethrum!

Pyrethrum!

This was a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Chrysanthemum genus, capable of growing up to 60 cm tall.

It had short rhizomes and upright stems, thrived in warm climates, and grew best in deep, fertile, well-drained sandy loam.

However, the most valuable aspect of pyrethrum was its use as a natural insecticide and as a key ingredient in mosquito coils!

With the warming climate and flourishing crops in Idar, pests had become an increasing problem for both commoners and former serfs.

And this vast field of pyrethrum before them was Bruno's solution, temporarily redeemed from the system's store.

Unlike the expensive blueprint for a three-masted ship, the cost of pyrethrum was astonishingly cheap.

The entire hillside, covered in thriving pyrethrum, had only cost five points—just one-tenth of what the ship's blueprint had cost!