Northern Wind Breath

The next day, Karl gave the newly recruited city defense soldiers a day to handle personal matters, bid farewell to their families, and make preparations before departure.

He himself, however, was not idle. Bringing Brendan, Roland, and Old Morrell, who was eager to contribute, he once again came to the chaotic and oppressive slave market in the western district of Fran City.

Before leaving, he had to solve the labor problem. Rebuilding Carnford required a large workforce; the soldiers under his command were far from enough.

The system notification that sounded in his mind at the opportune moment also confirmed his thoughts:

[Daily Quest Updated]

[Quest Content]: Purchase one hundred slaves. (Incomplete)

Karl quickly calculated: he currently had nearly seventy soldiers, including his original ones and the city defense troops.

Based on the experience that one soldier could manage three to four slaves without major issues, he could purchase at most two to three hundred slaves.

The system quest required one hundred, which was a minimum. He actually needed far more than that.

Entering the market, the sounds of various shouts and pleas once again assailed him.

Karl directly ignored the prisoners of war and those who looked unruly. His target was clear: to find those who looked honest, capable of work, and preferably those who had become slaves due to debt or minor crimes.

The market price for a male slave was about eight silver coins, while a female slave was four.

Rebuilding the fortress was undoubtedly heavy manual labor, and male slaves would be the main force.

However, Karl knew well that if he bought only young and strong male slaves, three hundred men with nothing, filled with resentment, gathered together would be a huge ticking time bomb, extremely difficult to manage and prone to riots.

Introducing a certain proportion of female slaves was necessary. Not only could they perform some lighter physical labor and logistical work, but they could also utilize human nature, causing the male slaves to compete and divide amongst themselves for the women, making them easier to manage.

Furthermore, male slaves who formed families with female slaves would be more settled.

After some selection and bargaining, Karl finally decided to purchase two hundred and seventy male slaves who looked reasonably strong and had relatively numb rather than fierce eyes, along with thirty female slaves who looked healthy and capable of work.

The total number was three hundred, right at the edge of his management capacity. This was a considerable expense, costing nearly three hundred gold coins, but he considered it a necessary investment.

During the selection process, Old Morrell played a huge role.

Relying on his past memories and connections, he actually recognized a few familiar faces among the slaves.

They were engineers or craftsmen who had participated in the Carnford construction project back then, were held responsible after the fortress fell, stripped of their status, and reduced to slavery!

"My lord! Look! That's Hans, the best stonemason back then!"

"That's Vali, he's extremely skilled with wood and building structures!"

"And that one... yes, that tall, thin one, that's Firth, a master of water management!"

Upon hearing this, Karl immediately singled out these technical workers and redeemed them on the spot.

After regaining their freedom, these men looked at Karl and Old Morrell with complex expressions, a mixture of gratitude, bewilderment, and a hint of fear.

When they heard that Karl intended to take them back to rebuild Carnford, their faces showed disbelief and worry.

"My lord... Carnford... it has fallen three times already..." the old stonemason Hans reminded him in a hoarse voice, seemingly still shaken.

Old Morrell immediately stepped forward, grasped his old friend's shoulder forcefully, and said excitedly, "Hans! Vali! Firth! Listen to me! This time is different! This is Lord Karl! He is completely different from the noble lords of the past! He is brave, wise, and respects knowledge! He is willing to invest real resources and trust us! This is our only chance to get back to our work and wash away our shame! Do you want to die rotting in this cage?"

Old Morrell's words, combined with Karl's previous act of saving them, had an effect. The craftsmen looked at each other, and finally, they all slowly nodded.

No matter what, following a lord willing to re-employ them was a million times better than being slaves.

Seeing this, Karl immediately announced solemnly, "Hans, Vali, Firth, and all of you, from this moment on, you are no longer slaves! You will be like Old Morrell, engineering consultants for my territory of Carnford, enjoying the proper treatment and respect! I hope you will dedicate all your knowledge and experience to the great cause of rebuilding our home!"

These words completely dispelled the craftsmen's last doubts. They were so moved that tears welled up in their eyes, and they bowed to Karl, pledging their utmost loyalty.

[Quest]: Purchase one hundred slaves (Completed).

[Reward Information Issued]:

[Information Content]: In a corner of the "Camel Bell" market in the southern district of Fran City, a small private merchant caravan from the Northern Border is secretly selling a magical crystalline powder called "Northern Wind Breath." This item is produced deep in the northernmost snow mountains and has miraculous effects in stabilizing and purifying the Battle Qi of low-level knights, aiding in breaking through minor bottlenecks. The caravan wishes to keep this quiet and requires private contact.

Karl's eyes suddenly lit up! This was exactly what he needed most! Brendan and Roland had been stuck at the first-tier knight level for a long time and urgently needed to break through to improve their strength!

He immediately instructed Richter, "Richter, take men to bring all these newly purchased slaves back to the barracks. Keep them under unified supervision, give them a full meal, but also maintain strict vigilance to prevent any trouble. Brenda and Roland and I have some business to attend to."

"Yes, my lord!" Richter accepted the order and began directing the soldiers to herd the large group of slaves.

Karl, accompanied by Brendan, Roland, and a few attendants, quickly headed to the "Camel Bell" market in the southern district.

This market was more formal than the slave market in the western district, mainly consisting of stalls set up by traveling merchants.

Following the information's clue, they found the small, dust-covered merchant caravan with resting camels in an inconspicuous corner.

The caravan leader was a shrewd man. Seeing Karl's group's distinguished attire, he immediately came forward enthusiastically.

Karl cut to the chase and asked in a low voice, "I heard you have 'Northern Wind Breath' here?"

The caravan leader's expression changed slightly. He glanced around warily, then lowered his voice, "Your Excellency's information is truly accurate... We do have a small stock, but the price is not cheap."

"Bring it out for me to see. As long as it's genuine, money is not an issue," Karl said calmly.

The leader nodded, carefully took out a small leather pouch from a secured pack on a camel's back, and opened it. Inside was a fine powder, like crushed ice crystals, shimmering with a faint blue light. As soon as it was opened, the surrounding air seemed to become a few degrees cooler, and a subtle, pure energy fluctuation could be felt.

Brendan and Roland felt the aura, and their breathing hitched. Their eyes blazed with desire! They could feel that this substance would be of great benefit to their stagnant Battle Qi!

"How much?" Karl asked.

"Fifteen gold coins, take it or leave it. That's all there is," the leader quoted an astonishing price.

Karl nodded to Brendan without hesitation.

Although Brendan felt a pang of pain, he immediately counted out the full amount of gold coins and handed them over. This sum was almost equivalent to buying twenty more slaves.

The transaction complete, Karl held the small pouch of precious "Northern Wind Breath" powder in his hand. He turned, and under the incredibly expectant and excited gazes of Brendan and Roland, he divided the powder into two portions, handing one to each of them.

"Brendan, Roland," Karl said, looking at them with sincere sincerity, "You are my earliest and most trusted knights. Your strength concerns the safety and future of this territory. I hope this 'Northern Wind Breath' can help you break through your bottlenecks and become even stronger. This is my expectation and investment as your lord."

Brendan and Roland looked at the faintly glowing powder before them, then at Karl's unwavering and generous expression. Overwhelming emotion and loyalty instantly washed over them!

Such a precious and rare cultivation resource, and their lord had bought it without batting an eye to give to them!

This trust and generosity far exceeded their imaginations!

The two men knelt on one knee, their hands trembling slightly as they accepted their respective portions of "Northern Wind Breath." Their voices choked with emotion as they spoke:

"My Lord... such great kindness... Brendan (Roland) will repay it with his life and loyalty! We will not fail your expectations!"

"Get up," Karl said, helping them to their feet. "Go back and refine it well, and strive to break through as soon as possible. Carnford's future needs your strength."