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Loyd was deeply tempted. He had never been content to obediently hunt and farm.

As one of the Hidden Folk, he had even less chance of leaving the mountains.

So becoming a Mountain King was the best choice.

Derek's suggestion was impossible for him to refuse.

It was a win-win. That was how he convinced himself.

Loyd finally nodded. Their conversation was destined to remain a secret.

Derek would not let his reputation rot, so he would not directly involve himself in Loyd's enterprise.

As for other people's suspicions, which noble did not have a few dirty dealings? As long as they were not put on display, it was fine.

Believe it or not, every Horse Bandit or Robber with a name and reputation had noble support behind them.

Before returning to the camp, Derek made another small request.

"I need a small piece of land too. Just a hilltop will do. Somewhere that makes it easy to transport a small amount of supplies. Do you know of any suitable places?"

"All the suitable farmland in the mountains already has owners. Reclaiming new land would cost too much."

"No, no, no. I only need a place to settle down, not to reclaim land."

"Then that's easy. I'll find you a place."

With friendship as witness, the deal was struck. The two agreed on a meeting place and approximate time before parting ways.

When he returned to the Caravan, Steward Vincent was still waiting for him.

"Knight Derek, I heard you went to see that Mountain Folk from last time?"

"That's right. Don't worry, I'll let you handle all these bundles of Furs. I won't break the rules."

Steward Vincent's expression eased slightly. He sincerely warned him, "Doing business is not as easy as you think. Rashly meddling in the trade here will bring a lot of trouble.

"If you have doubts, you can go back and ask your Father. Old Baron Ferrera will surely give you some advice."

Given their relationship, Steward Vincent had already been more than considerate to say such things.

Derek thanked him and repeatedly assured him, "I definitely won't rashly meddle with things I shouldn't touch. I understand the rules among nobles very well."

Compared to Steward Vincent, Derek was merely born into a minor rural noble family, but his lineage was perfectly legitimate. There was no way he could be ignorant of such matters.

Seeing him say this, Steward Vincent did not press further. Speaking too deeply to a casual acquaintance was not necessarily a good thing.

After this incident, their relationship seemed to enter a temporary cold spell.

On the journey back, they both tried their best to pretend nothing had happened, but a faint estrangement had already emerged.

Perhaps only after time passed, and Derek proved that he was not an adventurer who broke the rules, would that estrangement disappear.

After returning to Watch City, Derek reviewed the accounts and began preparing to depart.

Food, weapons, Refined Iron, and daily necessities.

Derek prepared two carts, then quietly set off.

Steward Vincent, who had been keeping an eye on him, learned of it immediately.

"Is he still planning to do business with the Mountain Folk?"

Steward Vincent shook his head, feeling that Derek had been blinded by profit.

Going there was easy enough, but how was he supposed to come back?

The mountain goods trade in the city had fixed quotas. Once he drew the attention of others, something would definitely happen to him on his next trip.

Just once would be enough to wipe him out completely.

As one of those benefiting from the arrangement, all Steward Vincent needed was one letter to stop Derek's trip.

But considering their relationship, and more importantly... there was no need for him to step forward and play the villain.

"Two carts of goods aren't much. Once he comes back battered and bloodied, perhaps I can buy them back cheaply."

That was how people handled the world. What benefit was there in reporting him now? Instead, a relationship that had been difficult to build would turn into bitter enmity, leaving him with another formidable enemy.

What if Derek escaped? That would become future trouble.

As an experienced old hand, Steward Vincent would not be so foolish.

After instructing his subordinates to keep a close watch on Derek's movements, Steward Vincent temporarily put the matter aside.

Derek did not stop along the way, heading straight into the mountains.

He moved quickly and arrived in only five days.

When he reached the agreed location, someone was indeed waiting there.

Seeing the two carriages and the convoy of more than twenty people, a Mountain Folk sprang out of the grass.

"Are you Lord Derek?"

Derek rode forward and looked down at him. The man seemed familiar; he was one of those Derek had met that night.

"Loyd sent you?"

"Yes, my lord."

The Mountain Folk nodded and bowed. Having witnessed Derek's strength, he could not straighten his back in front of him.

"Wait here for a day. I'll return and notify Brother Loyd. He'll come see you right away."

So Derek set up camp where he was. This was only the outer edge of the mountain range, and they certainly could not stay long.

The next day, Loyd emerged from the forest with around twenty men.

Several Bandits carried new swords, and they looked somewhat presentable now.

The two warmly embraced. Loyd eagerly said, "I found the place for you. It's extremely secluded and safe."

"Thank you. Once I'm settled in, I'll treat you to a proper drink."

Derek had already prepared himself for a difficult trek, but Loyd led him through winding paths before they finally followed a Mountain Stream for half a day.

Then the stream suddenly joined a larger current, which turned out to be a river.

Loyd's men pushed several Wooden Rafts out from the nearby bank.

"See that? Follow this river inward. Going with the current is easy as can be, though getting back out will be a little troublesome."

They would travel downstream going in and upstream coming out, so there would certainly be trouble later.

But Derek did not think so. He was not planning to transport anything out of the mountains anyway. Besides, having a river was far easier than trekking through the mountains.

They traveled for an entire day. The supplies were placed on the Wooden Rafts while the people struggled onward along the riverbank.

There was almost no path, and scarcely any sign of human presence.

Then the view suddenly opened up. Loyd did not even need to say anything; Derek's sixth sense told him they had arrived.

The river bent here, and because of the shape of the mountain range, a large stretch of open land had been left behind.

A river lay ahead and mountains rose behind. If the ground had not been covered in small broken stones, it would have been an excellent place to reclaim farmland.

When it came to reclaiming land, many people thought digging out a plot was simple.

But soil fertility was limited, and all sorts of gravel and plant roots had to be dealt with.

Everything had to be cleared little by little with manpower, and every year large clumps of earth had to be broken apart bit by bit.

For a place as rocky as this, it would probably run at a loss for the first ten years, and it would be difficult to turn into good farmland even within twenty years.

If there were more large rocks underground, then one could take their time and suffer through it.

Only a madman would come reclaim land in a place like this. Even the Mountain Folk would go around it.

Moreover, it was deep within the mountain range. Hardly anyone would ever come here.

For Derek, it truly was the perfect place.

"Thank you very much, my friend."

Derek hugged Loyd tightly. Loyd let out a breath of relief. As long as he was satisfied, that was enough.

He had no intention of asking Derek about his purpose. Friends needed a few secrets too.