At dawn, just after Karl awoke from his brief sleep, the precise notification sound rang in his mind right on schedule:
[Daily Quest Updated] [Quest Details]: Go to Fran City and purchase ten thousand jin of grain. (Incomplete)
The quest had come at exactly the right time, like an alarm bell reminding Karl of something crucial that had nearly been obscured by the hectic reconstruction work.
They still relied heavily on external grain supplies! Carnford was far from self-sufficient.
He had just sat down behind the crude desk in the castle's main hall when Old Morrell hurried in, carrying a roll of fresh accounts. His face was plainly anxious.
"My lord, I have an urgent matter to report!" Morr's voice was hurried. "I checked the grain stores last night. Our current reserves, mainly rye and wheat, have fallen below five thousand jin! At our current rate of consumption, they can last half a month at most! The dried and salted meat are almost completely gone, and there are hardly any soybeans left. The crops for the spring planting have only just been sown, so they won't help us anytime soon..."
Karl's heart tightened. The situation was more serious than he had imagined.
He immediately cut in, "I was just about to find you about this. I plan to personally lead a group of people to Fran City and purchase grain at once."
At his words, Morr let out a long sigh of relief, and his anxiety immediately eased by more than half. "Excellent! You are wise, my lord! I'll draw up the purchasing list right away!"
He immediately bent over Karl's desk, picked up a quill, dipped it in ink, and began writing rapidly on a sheet of parchment. He listed not only the types and quantities of grain, but also roughly estimated the required amount of money based on market prices.
Karl, meanwhile, rose to arrange the manpower. Brendan was now the Military Chief, responsible for the defense and training of the entire territory, and could not leave easily. Richter was the core commander of the City Defense Army and also needed to remain behind.
The obvious best choice was Roland. He had recently become a Second-Order Knight, possessed enough personal strength to handle ordinary dangers along the road, and was steady and reliable by nature.
"Roland!" Karl summoned the young knight. "Pick five of the finest soldiers and prepare to leave at once. We'll ride to Fran City. Get there and back quickly!"
"Yes, my lord!" Roland accepted the order and immediately went to choose the men.
Before long, the seven-man squad had assembled.
Karl, Roland, and five veterans selected from the soldiers for their outstanding horsemanship and combat abilities.
They brought the territory's only ten remaining horses: three to carry supplies and seven for riding. They planned to travel light and save as much time as possible.
Just as they were preparing to leave, Brendan and Richter arrived together, worry written across both their faces.
"My lord!" Brendan spoke first, his tone grave. "Fran City is a considerable distance away. Although we've basically cleared the monsters from the road, there could still be Bandits or straggling monsters. For you to go personally is far too dangerous! Let me or Richter lead the group instead!"
Richter echoed him. "That's right, my lord. Carnford can do without us, but it cannot do without you! Please reconsider!"
Karl looked at his two loyal subordinates, warmth filling his heart, but his attitude remained firm.
Of course, he could not tell them that this was a system quest, so he could only find another reason.
"Precisely because I am the Lord of this territory, personally going to purchase the supplies will demonstrate our sincerity and urgency. Perhaps it will help us obtain some concessions in price and quantity." Karl patted Brendan and Richter on the shoulders. "Besides, Carnford's defenses and internal management cannot do without the two of you. Your roles here are more important than mine. Don't worry. With Roland and the elite soldiers accompanying me, nothing will happen."
His reasoning sounded perfectly reasonable. Although Brendan and Richter remained worried, they could no longer insist. They could only bow solemnly. "Please be careful, my lord! Return soon!"
At that moment, Morr had also finished the list. He took the corresponding gold coins from a locked chest, packed them into a heavy bag, and handed it to Karl.
Karl accepted the list and Moneybag, slung the bag over his back, and mounted his horse. Roland and the other five soldiers mounted as well.
"We're leaving!" Karl tugged on the reins and led the way toward the newly installed wooden gate on the gentle slope below the mountain.
Under the worried and hopeful gazes of the soldiers, craftsmen, and civilians staying behind, the small cavalry unit rode out of Carnford, raising a trail of dust as they galloped south toward Fran City.
Karl and his six companions spurred their horses onward, hardly stopping along the way. Finally, on the afternoon of the following day, they saw the familiar, reassuringly massive walls of Fran City in the distance.
After announcing their identities and purpose to the guards atop the walls, and after a brief confirmation, a small gate in the side of the wall, wide enough for only a single rider, slowly opened.
Karl led the group in one after another.
As soon as he entered the city, Karl was surprised to discover that the expressionless clerk from the Governor's Office was waiting not far inside the gate.
Karl quickly dismounted and hurried over to the clerk. He struck his chest with his right fist and gave a standard military salute. "Esteemed Clerk, I am deeply honored that you came here personally to wait for me. I am truly overwhelmed."
The clerk still wore his usual impersonal, businesslike expression. He nodded slightly. "Lord Karl, there is no need for such courtesy. Waiting here was Count's order. His Excellency the Count wishes to see you. May I ask whether you are free at present?"
Karl's heart stirred, and he immediately replied, "Of course. Certainly! Please lead the way, Esteemed Clerk."
The clerk nodded and instructed a follower behind him, "Take these warriors to the relay station to rest and see that they are properly received."
Then he gestured for Karl to follow. "Lord Karl, this way, please."
Roland and the others glanced at Karl worriedly. Karl nodded to indicate that everything was fine, then followed the clerk once more toward the center of power in the Northern Territory—the Governor's Office.
The familiar route. The familiar, heavy oak door.
The clerk pushed open the office door, and he and Karl walked inside.
Earl Rochefort was sitting behind his enormous desk, apparently reviewing documents.
Hearing the noise, he raised his head. When he saw Karl, that signature smile, tinged with amusement, immediately appeared on his face.
"Oh? Well, well, who do we have here? Our brave 'Carnford Dog-Slayer,' Lord Karl von Schmidt?" The Earl set down his quill and leaned back against his chair. "What happened? It hasn't even been half a month, has it? And you've already rushed back to Fran City? Were you driven back by a large force of Sauron? Or was Carnford's desolation beyond the imagination of a duke's son like you?"
Karl had long grown accustomed to the Earl's teasing manner. He stepped forward and bowed respectfully without being obsequious. "Your Excellency, you jest. Although Carnford is difficult, everything is developing in a positive direction. I returned this time to report on the reconstruction of the territory and purchase some urgently needed supplies."
"Report?" Rochfort raised an eyebrow, appearing slightly interested. "Let's hear it. How are your pile of broken stones doing?"
Karl took a deep breath and began his clear, concise report. "Thanks to your support, the initial reconstruction of Carnford has gone smoothly. We cleared the main ruins, repaired part of the defensive fortifications, built semi-subterranean shelters sufficient to see everyone through the winter, restored key facilities such as the barracks and Blacksmith Shop, found a stable water source, and begun sowing the spring crops."
He paused, then delivered news even more shocking. "During that time, we defeated and completely wiped out a goblin tribe called 'Blacktooth' that attempted to raid our camp at night, seized the savings from its lair, and discovered a high-quality Flint Mine with a small amount of associated iron ore on the cliffs north of Carnford. We have already begun building platforms for extraction. At present, the territory's population is stable and morale is high."
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