Mother's Letter, the Count's Transport Team

Soon, Edgar wisely excused himself Karl, saying he needed to "inspect the Flint Mine to more accurately assess the territory's potential," and left the Lord's Hall, leaving Karl alone.

Silence returned to the hall, broken only by the crackling of the burning wood in the fireplace.

Karl took a deep breath and took out the letter from his mother, Eileen, from his pocket.

He opened the envelope and unfolded the letter.

The handwriting was delicate and slightly thin, with a subtle tremor, as if the writer was not at peace when putting pen to paper.

"My dear Karl,"

I hope you are well when you read this letter.

Mr. Edgar is about to head north, which is a rare opportunity for me to finally write to you. I have written to you many times before, but they may have been lost during the long journey. This time, I will surely be able to deliver them to you in person.

I'm doing well in Franklin, no need to worry. I spend my days pruning roses in the garden and reading books. Life is peaceful and stable, but I often think of you. I wonder if the Northern Territory winds are biting, if there's enough food, and if there's someone to take good care of you.

I read your previous letter many times, and only when I learned that you had arrived safely in Carnford and started a new life there did my anxiety finally subside.

You said you cleared the ruins, repaired the castle, and defeated the monster... My child, it sounds so difficult and dangerous. You must be very careful and protect yourself.

Karl, I know that your father sent you to the Northern Territory, perhaps not out of goodwill.

But please promise your mother that no matter how difficult it is, you will never give up hope. You have the blood of the Schmidt Family flowing in your veins, and you have inherited my resilience.

I believe you will definitely be able to create your own success in that land.

Don't worry about me, I've already gotten used to life here, and the quiet has its advantages.

But... if you truly establish yourself there, and have a safe and warm home, perhaps... perhaps one day, your mother really will come to see you?

I'm enclosing some rose petals and lavender that I dried myself; placing them under your pillow might help you sleep better.

Take care of yourself and be cautious in everything you do.

I will always love you.

Mother: Eileen

The letter was more concise than Karl had expected, without much complaint or sentimentality. It was filled with restrained yet sincere concern, careful encouragement, and a deep-seated expectation that he dared not express too much.

The letter also included a small sachet sewn from fine gauze, emitting a faint, dried floral scent.

Karl stared silently at the letter, his fingers unconsciously stroking the sachet.

A complex emotion spread through his heart; it was not a strong longing, but a heavy sense of responsibility and a faint bitterness.

This unfamiliar "mother" placed all her emotions and hopes on this "son".

He sighed softly, carefully folded the letter, and solemnly put it back into his inner bag along with the sachet.

I will give you a peaceful old age, Mother.

He made a silent promise in his heart.

After composing himself, Karl got up and left the hall. After inquiring about Edgar's whereabouts, he headed towards the Flint Mine on the north cliff.

Upon arriving at the mine, they indeed saw Edgar standing boldly on the sturdy, suspended platform, watching with great interest, his eyes occasionally flashing with amazement.

Seeing Karl approaching, he immediately went to greet him, his tone filled with undisguised admiration. "Young Master Karl, I must say, what truly amazes me is not the Flint Mine itself—such veins are not uncommon in the Northern Territory —but rather the exceptional skill displayed by your engineers and workers!"

He pointed to the sturdy platform beneath his feet and the efficient pulley system in the distance. "To be able to design and build such a stable and safe mining platform on such a precipitous cliff face."

"The value of this system itself far exceeds that of flint! It requires extremely high engineering skills, organizational abilities, and fearless courage."

"Forgive my bluntness, but this mature model of exploration, excavation, transportation, and security can be applied to any other type of mineral extraction with slight modifications, and the potential benefits will be enormous!"

Karl felt a slight stirring in his heart, secretly praising Edgar for his keen eye, recognizing the value of technology and management models so quickly, rather than just focusing on the ore in front of him.

Just then, the Schmidt Family knights who had accompanied them finished dealing with their horses and personal matters and came to bid farewell to Edgar and Karl, preparing to return to Franklin immediately to report back.

Out of courtesy, Karl suggested, "You've all had a long journey, and it's getting late. Why don't you rest in Carnford for the night and set off before dawn tomorrow? That way you can travel a longer distance and it will be safer."

Several knights looked at Edgar with some hesitation.

Edgar thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Since the young master is so hospitable, why don't you stay the night and leave tomorrow morning?"

"Yes!" The knights bowed and accepted the order.

However, at that moment, an unusual commotion suddenly arose from the direction of the outer gate of Carnford, as if a new convoy had arrived.

Following the sound, everyone looked and saw another sizable transport convoy slowly passing through the checkpoint and entering the outer city.

The flags hanging on the carriages of the caravan were clearly the emblem of Fran City —the support of Earl Rochefort had arrived!

Since the Count's transport caravans frequently traveled back and forth, Karl had already ordered the sentries to let them pass directly without having to report each time.

Edgar's gaze sharpened instantly as he carefully examined the convoy.

The heavy wagons left deep ruts, clearly carrying a large amount of supplies. The guards, dressed in standard leather armor of the Fran City Defense Army, looked solemn. The junior officer leading the group was obviously familiar with the captain of the Carnford, greeting him with a smile, the process executed with practiced ease.

Earl Rochefort's support? And it seems to be a regular occurrence?

Edgar was deeply shaken, but his face remained impassive. He simply looked at Karl meaningfully, his tone calm yet carrying a barely perceptible hint of inquiry. "Young Master, it seems... your relationship with Governor Rochfort is far deeper than what you just described as 'business dealings.' This is real, continuous, and substantial support in the form of money."

Karl felt a pang of embarrassment; he hadn't expected the Count's caravan to arrive so conveniently, just as Edgar had spotted it.

He was just casually talking about it in the lobby, but reality has exposed his true colors in the blink of an eye.

However, since Edgar is going to stay here for a long time, he will probably discover sooner or later that the Count is providing him with a steady stream of support.

He simply said, "Count Earl certainly values Carnford's strategic location highly, and has therefore provided some extra convenience and support in terms of supplies. I think you can understand that."

Edgar didn't speak, but looked at Karl with an "I understand" look, a faint smile playing on his lips, which made Karl feel even more awkward.

At that moment, the leader of the transport team, a Sergeant Major from Fran City, saw Karl and immediately jogged over, giving a crisp military salute. "Lord Karl! By order of the Count, I have delivered a shipment of building materials and tools! Here is the list!"

He handed over a document, then lowered his voice and added, "The Count also asked me to pass on a message to you: it's time to clear the ruins of Amber Bay and rebuild the docks. From now on, supplies from Fran City will be transported by sea, which will be much faster and cheaper than traveling overland across mountains."

Karl took the list, a thought suddenly occurring to him.

The Count's suggestion was indeed extremely strategic; opening up sea routes would bring about a qualitative leap in Carnford's supply of goods and future trade.

He nodded immediately. "I understand! Please thank the Count for me! His advice was very timely!"

Karl then immediately instructed Roland behind him, "Roland, as usual, treat each of the brothers in the transport team to a good reward."

"Yes, sir!" Roland accepted the order and left. The soldiers of Fran City immediately let out a low cheer, clearly this was not the first time.

Edgar, standing nearby, observed everything, including the "old routine" and the soldiers' familiar reactions.

His smile deepened, and his assessment of the true relationship between Karl and Earl Rochefort instantly rose to the highest level. "Strategic ally."

It's likely that the relationship between Karl and Charlotte, the Count's daughter, was more than just that of ordinary comrades.

This seventh young master has really kept his secrets hidden! And the "secret" he discovered for the Schmidt Family is probably worth far more than a mere thousand gold coins and pig iron.

The waters of Carnford were much deeper and more interesting than he had imagined.