Gift

The scorching summer arrived with sudden intensity.

After a heavy downpour, Aaron stared at the dark red potion in his hand, feeling slightly dazed: "Finally... success."

After countless failures, he had finally succeeded in concocting a potion that, when used gradually in conjunction with exercise, should provide some benefits for strengthening the body.

"In terms of effectiveness, it's about on par with some of the potions from my past life..."

"And... there is no way it could ever break through the limits of humanity."

"What exactly have I been doing, spending so much time and energy on this?"

A faint sense of frustration welled up in Aaron.

He realized that at some point, his hair had grown down to his shoulders.

After a moment's thought, he drew his dagger, gave himself a simple haircut, and then called for Daili to help him take a proper bath.

"Bring the scholar here!"

After bathing and grooming himself until he looked refreshed and spirited, Aaron summoned the territory's scholar, Albert.

"My scholar, have there been any major events in the territory recently?"

Aaron asked casually.

"Blessed by the Green Grandmother, all is peaceful in the territory. It is only that there are some unpleasant rumors in the prison, and some people fear that you, my lord, are passing sentences too harshly..."

Albert's chubby face wore a look of trepidation.

"That is necessary."

Aaron offered no explanation; was he supposed to say that he needed to pass harsh sentences to obtain enough test subjects?

"But rest assured, such things will become less frequent in the future."

After a moment's thought, he looked at Albert's greying hair and offered a word of comfort.

"Your benevolence is as brilliant as the stars!"

Albert hurriedly bowed: "Other than that, your birthday is approaching, my lord, and gifts have already arrived from Sothoth Castle..."

Aaron was taken aback. He was born in the summer, on a night of thunder and lightning, but he hadn't really celebrated his birthday since growing up and had all but forgotten it.

He hadn't expected that after becoming a lord, it would be treated with such importance again.

It had to be said, it was slightly ironic.

"So... do you think I should return to the castle and host a banquet?" Aaron asked offhandedly.

"According to the customs of the Green Foresters, once a family member becomes independent, their relationship with their original kin is no longer as close..." Albert wiped the cold sweat from his face.

He didn't know why, but he always felt that the master he served possessed a majesty that could almost rival the Count of Green Forest himself.

"However... this is your first birthday since being enfeoffed as a knight, so perhaps returning to the castle is not a bad choice."

He tactfully suggested: "Furthermore, Lady Sylvie is nearing her due date, and you will need to prepare a gift."

"That is true..."

Aaron nodded, then suddenly smiled: "I should indeed return to the castle for a visit. As it happens, the first batch of spring wheat has matured, and it can serve as a gift."

Several days later.

A caravan slowly traveled to the town outside Sothoth Castle.

Leading the way was a carriage, followed by many flatbed carts loaded with bags of wheat, which emitted a fragrant and enticing aroma.

At the castle gate, the carriage stopped. Aaron jumped down and stretched his back.

He had taken the opportunity to sleep in the carriage, utilizing the [Danger Perception] ability from his dreams.

With the strengthening he had experienced each time he entered a dream these days, although his dream consciousness had not awakened any other supernatural powers, the [Danger Perception] ability seemed to have increased.

His intuition was becoming sharper, indeed beginning to develop in the direction of something like 'dream divination.'

"Am I being too paranoid?"

Casually sending a guard to deliver the message, Aaron looked at the massive wooden gate of the castle and couldn't help but think to himself.

Before long, the castle gate rumbled open, and Theodore, dressed in a wolf-fur coat, came out to greet him in person: "So our wanderer finally knows how to return home?"

"Greetings to you!"

Aaron bowed first, then pointed to the carts behind him: "I have brought the latest harvest from my territory. I hope you like this gift."

"This spring wheat..."

Theodore stepped forward, drew a dagger, and casually pierced a sack. Feeling the plump vitality of the wheat flowing out, he couldn't help but be moved: "This is... a superior variety. What is the yield per ram in your territory?"

As a lord, he also attached great importance to farming.

"Roughly 1,500 pounds or so..."

Aaron answered with a smile. This couldn't be hidden from others anyway; even if he didn't say it, his own people were bragging about it all day, and any passerby could look at the fields and make a rough estimate.

"Hiss..."

He immediately heard Theodore gasp: "That much? Then your current territory can bring in 1,000 Nar at once..."

Green Forest had no local currency, and Nar was a monetary unit that had spread from the Kagash Kingdom.

"In reality, it isn't that much, because I split the harvest fifty-fifty with the farmers, and on top of that, grain needs to be stored and cannot all be sold to merchants... Therefore, having 200 Nar would be considered good."

Aaron shook his head and said.

"Fifty-fifty? You are too merciful..." Theodore instinctively frowned: "That doesn't align with your previous actions of enforcing strict laws."

"I believe that mercy and severity are like the two wheels of a carriage; without either one, you cannot effectively make the subjects submit..."

Aaron said: "On one hand, I provide them with full bellies; on the other hand, I also need strict laws and harsh punishments to ensure they dare not defy my decrees."

This was actually all nonsense; he was simply making up an excuse to find test subjects for himself.

As for the land rent, fifty percent was already terrifying enough...

Theodore wanted to say something, but it ultimately turned into a sigh: "Fine, suit yourself. After all, it is your territory. Come in with me!"

He led Aaron into the massive castle: "You have come at just the right time. Thanks to the blessing of the Great Grandmother, Sylvie has just given birth to a baby boy. Our castle is going to hold two celebrations in a row, and I think... we can hold a tournament to celebrate."

The customs of Green Forest were filled with a barbaric and primitive side.

For instance, when encountering grand celebrations, they enjoyed using gladiatorial combat and similar methods to liven things up.

Later, with the influence of the civilization of the Kagash Kingdom, this evolved into a tournament with more rules.

Often, the winner would receive generous rewards; it is said that in the Kagash Kingdom, the champion would be knighted, and might even be granted a fief.

But in Green Forest, this was impossible; at most, one would receive the title of warrior, plus a large sum of money.

Aaron strolled into the hall and immediately saw Lady Sonia, Sean, and Ginny coming out to greet him. The lady's attitude was now very amiable, and she smiled and nodded at Aaron.

"Where is Colin?"

Theodore looked around and said with some dissatisfaction.

"The young master is in the delivery room..."

The old scholar bowed: "Lady Sylvie's condition after the birth is poor, and I fear... I fear she is about to be summoned by the gods..."