A Heavy Investment

The next day, Karl was awakened by Roland's urgent knocking and low calls.

"Sir! Sir! Wake up! The Recorder from the Governor's Office is waiting for you outside!"

Karl jolted awake from his chaotic dream, his mind still groggy.

He glanced out the window; the sky was already bright.

He quickly got up, splashed his face with cold water to force himself awake, tidied his clothes, and then opened the door, hurrying to the inn's main hall.

The expressionless Recorder was indeed waiting there. Upon seeing Karl, he bowed slightly. "Lord Karl, I apologize for disturbing your rest, but the Earl has an urgent matter and requests your immediate presence at the Governor's Office."

"It's no trouble, I'll go now." Karl nodded, suppressing the slight irritation from lack of sleep, and followed the Recorder back to the familiar building.

Entering the Governor's Office, Earl Rochefort was holding a wine glass. As he saw Karl enter, especially noticing the barely concealed fatigue and sleepiness on his face, the Earl's usual teasing smile immediately appeared.

"Oh? Our diligent Lord of Carnford, seems like you're unusually sleeping in today? This isn't like you. What, did you go to some tavern last night to experience Fran City's nightlife?" the Earl teased.

Karl thought to himself, Sorry, I had dinner with your daughter last night.

Of course, he didn't dare say that aloud and merely replied vaguely, "I had some trouble sleeping last night and didn't rest well. My Lord Earl summoned me so early, what are your orders?"

Earl Rochefort put down his wine glass, his expression becoming slightly more formal. "There is indeed something, and I'd like to ask for your help."

Karl immediately stated, "My Lord Earl is too kind. You are the Governor of the Northern Border and my direct superior. Helping you is my duty, not a favor."

The Earl nodded with satisfaction. "Very good. The matter is this: in two days, it will be the kingdom-mandated final departure deadline for the Northern Border Reclamation Order. Those 'noble companions' who came with you to the city must set off, no matter what."

A look of undisguised contempt and helplessness crossed his face. "But looking at them, leading a group of ragtag soldiers, their minds empty except for alcohol and women, if they rashly enter the wilderness of the Northern Border like this, they probably won't make it fifty miles before being gnawed to the bone by goblins or wolves. It's one thing if they die, but I can't explain it to the Royal Ministry of Internal Affairs or their families."

He looked at Karl, his tone becoming serious. "I know you're eager to return, and Carnford has many things waiting for you, but I hope you can stay for two more days until the main force departs together. You have experience, you're familiar with the routes, and you know how to avoid risks. I hope you can... to some extent, look after them, at least ensure they can safely reach 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 reasonable, and it could also be an opportunity to deepen his relationship with the Earl.

He immediately nodded. "I understand, my Lord Earl. Ensuring the safety of the reclamation team is also part of stabilizing the Northern Border defenses. I am willing to stay and depart together."

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

Seeing the Earl in a good mood, Karl felt it was the right time. He took a deep breath and said, "My Lord Earl, I will not shirk my duty to stay and assist the team's departure. However, I would also like to make a humble request, concerning the survival and development of Carnford."

"Oh? Tell me about it." The Earl leaned back in his chair, gesturing for him to continue.

"Carnford is in its initial stages of reconstruction, with everything to be done. What we lack most right now is not gold, but tangible resources," Karl stated clearly. "We need to restore our livestock industry, requiring breeding stock of cattle, sheep, pigs, and chickens. We also need a large quantity of farming tools, such as pickaxes, hoes, and plowshares. Most urgently, we need pig iron! Our tools are damaged and cannot be repaired, weapon replenishment is difficult, and even our nail reserves are nearly depleted."

He looked up, his gaze honest as he met the Earl's eyes. "I hope to receive your investment, not as a loan of gold, but to directly obtain these much-needed resources."

Earl Rochefort tapped his fingers lightly on the table, a shrewd glint in his eyes. "Investment? Possible, but business always requires collateral and returns. What will you use as collateral? That ruin of Carnford isn't worth much."

Karl was prepared. "We have discovered a high-quality flint mine with considerable reserves. We can use the mining rights of the mine as collateral."

The Earl scoffed at this and shook his head. "Young man, a flint mine? It might seem precious to you, but on the scale of true value, it's not even worth as much as a few cows on my ranch. This thing isn't enough for collateral."

Karl's heart sank. He truly had no more valuable collateral to offer.

Just as he thought the matter was hopeless, Earl Rochefort suddenly sat up straight. The playfulness and shrewdness on his face vanished, replaced by a cold seriousness befitting the Governor of the Northern Border.

"I can give you these resources, even more than you want," the Earl's voice was low and powerful. "Livestock, tools, pig iron... I can give you all of it, and I don't even need you to offer anything as collateral."

Karl was stunned, looking at the Earl in disbelief.

The Earl's gaze was sharp as a hawk's, fixed on Karl. "I only need you to agree to one thing, one promise."

"Please, say it."

"This autumn, the Sauron will surely descend south to raid again. I need you, and your Carnford, to be like a nail, firmly pinned to the forefront of Amber Bay! No matter how many enemies come, no matter how fierce the battle, you must hold your ground for me! Not one step back! Even if you fight to the last man, even if you personally fall in that broken castle, you must never retreat!"

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

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

The office fell silent.

Karl could clearly hear the rapid beating of his own heart.

This was an incredibly heavy, even cruel, transaction.

The Earl was investing not in Carnford's development, but in its value as a meat grinder!

After a long silence, Karl looked up, meeting the Earl's oppressive gaze, and slowly, with immense determination, spoke a single word:

"Yes."