The Heavy Investment

The next day, Karl was awakened by Roland's somewhat urgent knocking and hushed calls from outside his door.

"My lord! My lord! Wake up! The secretary from the Governor's Office is waiting outside!"

Karl abruptly tore himself free from his chaotic dreams, his mind still hazy.

He glanced out the window and saw that the sky was already bright.

He hurriedly got up, splashed his face with cold water, and forced himself fully awake. After straightening his clothes, he opened the door and quickly made his way to the inn's lobby.

The expressionless secretary was indeed waiting there. When he saw Karl, he bowed slightly. "Lord Karl, I'm sorry for disturbing your rest, but the Count has urgent business and requests that you go to the Governor's Office immediately."

"No problem. I'll go right away." Karl nodded, suppressing the slight irritation caused by his lack of sleep as he followed the secretary once more toward the familiar building.

When he entered the governor's office, Earl Rochefort was holding a wineglass. Seeing Karl enter—and especially noticing the fatigue and sleepiness he could barely conceal—the Earl immediately wore his usual teasing smile.

"Oh? Our hardworking Lord of Carnford seems to have slept in for once today. That doesn't seem like your style. What, did you visit some tavern last night to experience Fran City's nightlife?" the Earl teased.

Karl thought, Sorry about that. I had dinner with your daughter last night.

He naturally didn't dare say that aloud. Instead, he answered vaguely, "I had trouble sleeping last night and didn't rest well. Why have you summoned me so early, Your Excellency?"

Earl Rochefort set down his wineglass and became slightly more serious. "There is indeed something I'd like to ask you for help with."

Karl immediately stated his position. "You put it too seriously, Your Excellency. You are the Governor of the Northern Territory and my direct superior. It is my duty to relieve your burdens; it can hardly be called a favor."

The Earl nodded in satisfaction. "Very good. Here's the situation. In two days, the final departure deadline stipulated by the Northern Border Reclamation Order will arrive. Those 'noble companions' who came with you and are still in the city must set out, no matter what."

His face showed undisguised contempt and helplessness. "But judging by their appearance, they're taking a mob of useless soldiers with them, and their heads are empty apart from alcohol and women. If they rush into the Northern Territory wilderness like this, I'm afraid they won't make it fifty miles before goblins or wolves gnaw their bones clean. Their deaths wouldn't matter much, but I would have no way to answer to the Kingdom's Ministry of Internal Affairs or their families."

He looked at Karl, his tone turning serious. "I know you're eager to return, and Carnford has plenty of matters waiting for you. But I hope you can stay two more days and set out with the main force. You have experience, know the routes, and understand how to avoid danger. I hope you can... look after them to some extent, at least ensuring that they arrive safely at their respective territories. What do you say?"

Upon hearing this, Karl quickly weighed his options.

Delaying his return by two days would indeed affect Carnford's progress, but the Earl's request was perfectly reasonable. Moreover, it could be an opportunity to deepen his relationship with the Earl.

He immediately nodded. "I understand, Your Excellency. Ensuring the safety of the reclamation forces is also part of consolidating the Northern Territory's defenses. I'm willing to stay and set out with them when the time comes."

"Excellent!" Earl Rochefort smiled. "I knew I was right to ask you."

Seeing that the Earl was in a good mood, Karl felt that the timing was right. He took a deep breath and said, "Your Excellency, I have no objection to staying behind to assist with the force's departure. However, I would also like to make an unreasonable request concerning Carnford's survival and development."

"Oh? Let's hear it." The Earl leaned back in his chair, signaling for him to continue.

"Carnford is only just beginning its reconstruction. Everything needs to be rebuilt. What we lack most right now isn't gold coins, but actual supplies," Karl said clearly. "We need breeding stock for livestock such as cattle, sheep, pigs, and chickens to restore animal husbandry. We also need large quantities of farm tools, such as iron picks, hoes, and Ploughshares. Most urgently, we need pig iron! Our tools are damaged beyond repair, replenishing our weapons is difficult, and we're even nearly out of nails."

He raised his head and looked at the Earl candidly. "I hope to obtain your investment—not a loan of gold coins, but a direct supply of the materials we urgently need."

Earl Rochefort tapped his fingers lightly on the desktop, shrewd light flickering in his eyes. "Investment? Certainly. But business always requires collateral and returns. What will you offer as collateral? That ruined stretch of Carnford isn't worth much."

Karl had prepared for this. "We've discovered a high-quality Flint Mine with considerable reserves. We can use the mining rights as collateral."

The Earl snorted and shook his head. "Young man, a Flint Mine? Perhaps you consider it precious, but by any true measure of value, it isn't worth as much as a few cows from my pasture. That won't be enough collateral."

Karl's heart sank. He truly had nothing more valuable to offer as collateral.

Just as he thought the matter was hopeless, Earl Rochefort suddenly sat upright. The teasing and shrewdness vanished from his face, replaced by the cold gravity of the Governor of the Northern Territory.

"I can give you those supplies—even more than you want," the Earl said in a low, powerful voice. "Livestock, tools, pig iron... I can give you all of it. I don't even need you to offer anything as collateral."

Karl froze and stared at the Earl in disbelief.

The Earl's gaze was as sharp as an eagle's as he fixed it on Karl. "I only need you to agree to one thing. A promise."

"Please, go on."

"This autumn, the Sauron will certainly raid south again. I want you and your Carnford to remain at the front line of Amber Bay like a nail driven deep into the ground! No matter how many enemies come, no matter how fierce the battle becomes, you must hold it! You cannot retreat even one step! Even if you have to fight to the last man, even if you die in that ruined castle, you must never abandon your position and withdraw!"

His words struck Karl's heart like a heavy warhammer.

"Use your castle, your army, and your life to buy time for me and ease the pressure on Fran City's front line. That is the return and 'collateral' I want. Can you do it?"

The office fell utterly silent.

Karl could clearly hear his own heart pounding.

It was an unbearably heavy, even cruel, transaction.

The Earl wasn't investing in Carnford's development. He was investing in its value as a flesh-and-blood millstone!

After a long silence, Karl raised his head and met the Earl's oppressive gaze. Slowly, with absolute resolve, he uttered one word:

"Yes."