Juicy Prize

Two mini manors, valued at ten thousand Gold Coins.

This price was low, because aside from the value of the land, the value of the serfs within the manors had not been included.

This was the Baron's consideration for Derek.

This decision also made the other brothers reveal strange expressions.

No one could be certain whether this was merely the Baron's excuse. Perhaps there was still suspense over the inheritance rights?

Naturally, the Baron would not let the others indulge in such fantasies.

"Derek, I want to know what kind of return you can offer the family."

"Warhorses, weapons, armor—the lowest prices and priority purchasing rights. And once I obtain my own fief, the manors will be returned to the family."

"Not enough. Still not enough."

"Then let Eldest Brother bring his soldiers to train with me. I guarantee I can train a batch of elite troops."

"Looks like you're very confident in training soldiers? Still, the soldiers under your command are indeed quite good."

The Baron agreed, taking the opportunity to make his position clear: this was merely a special transaction.

Though it could not completely dispel the doubts, it could at least steady people's hearts.

"Sergei, you need to work harder. I'll pull some strings for you and strive to get you promoted as soon as possible."

The Baron intended to use his resources to give his second son a push. Otherwise, low-ranking officers were nothing but cannon fodder in war.

"I can provide a little help. I'm sure the Iron Lion Legion won't refuse a batch of cheap weapons," Derek interjected.

"Sheriff, complete your knight training as soon as possible, then go find your Third Brother."

The Baron was once again making plans for his fourth son.

"Marco, prepare yourself for training. Even if you can't charge into battle, you must still be able to hold the family estate steady. Go train properly with your Third Brother."

After several generations of inheritance, the Ferrera Family's generation had begun transforming from purely military nobles, so Marco was more like a kingdom noble.

The Ferrera Family swiftly adjusted its strategy and actively prepared for the coming war.

This was merely a microcosm. Next, the Baron would intensify the adjustments.

He reassigned soldiers, stepped up training, and prepared all kinds of contingency plans.

The Ferrera Family could not obtain firsthand news from the kingdom, so they could only make preparations in advance.

Once the New Year had passed, Derek swiftly took over the family's manors.

The first thing he did was recruit soldiers.

Then he launched major construction projects and expanded the manors.

He built all kinds of facilities and, after receiving approval, even fenced off a plot of land for raising horses.

He even abandoned the most profitable serf-based business model and openly recruited free citizens in an attempt to expand the population.

At the same time, he transferred some manpower back to build a new base.

He stockpiled supplies, people, and equipment.

Derek barely stopped for a moment, handling affairs while training soldiers.

Fortunately, the knight squires he had trained proved useful.

They could train soldiers in his place and go out to handle matters.

With Baron Ferrera's support, he had more resources at his disposal.

In the blink of an eye, two months passed. Then Derek suddenly received word from Loyd: a large Slave-Hunting Team would soon pass through the Northern Lands.

The Slave-Hunting Team needed to pass through the Mountain Trail and had sent people ahead to scout the route, giving Derek an opportunity.

Derek gathered nearly all his soldiers and hurried to the Mountain Base.

Loyd had been waiting there for a long time.

"My friend, tell me about the situation."

"This Slave-Hunting Team has passed through here five times already, and each time it's been larger than the last. Though they never said so openly, the brothers who dealt with them said they heard Holy Cross Kingdom accents. I collected tolls, but this route is also the safest, so lately they've all started coming through our side. This time, they notified us in advance that they would be passing through."

Five trips in less than a year meant these people were doing serious business.

"Is there any chance we can pay more to buy them?"

"No. I heard the goods belong to some important figure. The Slave-Hunting Team seems to be working for the buyers, and they're extremely cautious."

"An important figure? Someone connected to the Holy Cross Kingdom, I'd say. They must have forgotten the War of Secession. The Barbarians' humiliation has yet to be washed away, and the lost lands have yet to be reclaimed."

Derek sneered. This was a business that could not see the light of day.

Though the slave trade was legal, there was an eighty percent chance this batch had problems.

What good could come from sending them to the Holy Cross Kingdom?

During the War of Secession, the Divine United Kingdom split into three. The overlord of the southern continent fractured, waging war against itself and suffering a great loss of strength.

It was also then that the northern Barbarians invaded, seizing vast tracts of land that remained in their hands to this day.

The Holy Cross Kingdom bordered the Northern Province, and yet they shared the same enemy: the Barbarians.

But after the War of Secession, both sides had wanted nothing more than to kill the other.

Compared to their wars with the Barbarians, they had fought each other more often.

Only in recent years had things become somewhat calmer. Some people even dared to traffic people into the Holy Cross Kingdom.

Clearly, these people had not come by legitimate means.

After analyzing the situation, Derek was not afraid that the other party would come looking for trouble.

What could a noble from the central or even southern regions do to him? Besides, they might not even be able to trace it back to him.

"We'll take this juicy prize."

Derek made his decision swiftly.

Loyd felt some regret. Though the two had a close relationship, and everything he had today was inseparable from Derek's support.

Still, rashly breaking the rules to swallow such a juicy prize would definitely damage his reputation.

Without a reputation, there would be no business.

And if the person behind them bore a grudge, it might become a major problem someday.

"Derek, should we negotiate with them again? Maybe we can buy them."

Derek stared at Loyd until the latter could barely withstand it and rolled his neck.

Only then did he say, "I won't act here. Once they pass through this mountain route, they can only enter here... directly into Holy Cross Kingdom territory. I'll act here."

Derek pointed to a spot on the map. It was already within the Holy Cross Kingdom.

Why did so many people use this mountain route?

On one hand, it bypassed the checkpoints. On the other, the mountain range connected the two countries, making it easy to cross the border.

Did anyone really think they all conducted business honestly?

Smuggling. Smuggling was where the real money was.

The Holy Cross Kingdom's church held the greatest power. It was corrupt and conservative, and many goods from the Locke Kingdom were in high demand there. Those high-ranking church officials certainly did not lack money.

Loyd breathed a sigh of relief, then felt somewhat embarrassed and quickly said, "I'll bring some men to help you."

"No need. I can handle it myself."

Derek refused decisively. Loyd could know about it, but he could not participate.

That would be a hidden danger.

Loyd thought Derek had some other idea and hurriedly explained, "It's not that I don't understand you. It's just that, you know, my reputation is very important to me."

"I understand. We're friends. I won't make a friend suffer losses to do work for me."

Derek reassured Loyd. Only after he left did Derek begin his formal preparations.