More money than sense

Council chamber

Lord Aldrius adjusted his monocle and carefully examined the list of plans Rowan had handed him.

Over the previous evening and midday, Rowan had clearly listed the supplies and personnel he needed for his trip.

Twenty thousand gold coins, a unit of family guards, two seasoned, skilled blacksmiths, a caravan with thirteen horses, a priest, a warrior, and basic daily necessities.

Morris Town in Hatherford was a remote settlement. Apart from the Norwington family's sailing shipyard and the coal mine on the northern mountain, it had almost no industry.

The town was far poorer than the other towns in Hatherford.

The family had little information about a backwater like Morris Town. Rowan had read quite a few reports from the shipyard and mine, but all he knew was that Troggs were causing trouble there. Pirates from Freehold also paid the place an occasional visit.

For Rowan, however, the "blackstone" there was what mattered most. It was crucial to his future plans. Otherwise, he would never have given up his life as a rich young heir in Boralus to develop Morris Town.

"Are you really going to Morris Town?" Lord Aldrius set down Rowan's list and asked in puzzlement.

"Yes, Father," Rowan replied.

Has this foolish boy really not noticed what Jaina wants? My future daughter-in-law wants Rowan to join the Military Academy, yet this idiot son of mine is determined to bury himself in the middle of nowhere.

Compared with the Military Academy in Boralus, living conditions in Morris Town could only be described as brutal.

"Are you sure you won't consider the Military Academy? Jaina will be taking a year's worth of courses there now that she's back. It's the perfect oppor... ahem, the perfect opportunity for you two to learn from each other," Aldrius reminded him.

A whole year? Rowan hesitated briefly, then said firmly, "Father, I really do have my own reasons. All you need to do is give me the people and supplies on that list."

Having ideas of his own was a good thing. A family as prominent as the Norwingtons would not force Rowan to do something he disliked. Besides, the plan he had submitted was clear and orderly, covering every aspect. That showed this was more than a passing whim.

As a good father, he ought to let his son gain some experience.

"All right, I'll get everything ready for you this year. When do you plan to leave?" Aldrius waved a hand, and the old steward took the list to arrange Rowan's supplies and soldiers.

Rowan was brimming with enthusiasm. He could hardly wait to build a steel fleet of his own in this real world.

"As soon as possible, of course, Father."

"All right. Be careful out there on your own, and don't go courting death again, or I'll seriously have to consider having a second child. And come home to visit when you have time." Aldrius slipped into nagging mode as he gave Rowan his instructions.

Rowan nodded slightly. "I'll remember, Father."

After securing his father's approval, Rowan returned to his quarters to pack.

That evening, Rowan had dinner with his parents. His mother, Elena, talked with him late into the night before letting him go back to rest.

Before going to sleep, Elena nudged the man beside her. "Have you gone senile, letting Rowan go to Morris Town?"

"My dear, our son wants to make his own way in the world. I can't stop him. I've thought it through this time, too. Going to Morris Town for some experience is a good thing. If he can't stand it and comes home, he'll surely go to the Military Academy. If he stays in Morris Town, that means he's grown up and can endure hardship. Shouldn't we be happy about that?"

Elena pinched Aldrius's waist and scolded him. "You always have an argument ready. Our son's going off to suffer, and you don't even feel sorry for him."

"A little hardship is good for him. Didn't I have to enlist and rise to become captain of the Second Fleet before I could marry you? If our son doesn't have any real ability, would that old fellow Daelin marry Jaina into our family?" Aldrius explained.

Hearing her husband's reasoning, Elena agreed with him, though she still did not believe their son could make a ship move without wind inscriptions.

"Then do you think our son can get our ships moving if he goes to the Morris Shipyard?"

"Absolutely not," Aldrius said bluntly.

Elena pinched his aging waist again. "Then why are you letting him go?"

"To find a way, of course. Why else would I send him?"

"Have you found a way, then?" Elena pressed.

Aldrius turned his back to her. "No."

"Ow, my dear, stop pinching. That hurts!"

Early the next morning, the old steward Terry had the people and supplies for Young Master Rowan's trip ready in Alliance Square.

Since he had been unable to find a priest, Terry had recruited a Paladin from Light's Hope Chapel to serve as the young master's priest for the trip.

The warrior was Leonard, the deputy captain of Lord Aldrius's guard. Seeing the longsword strapped to his back, Rowan guessed he was an Arms warrior.

The two blacksmiths were father and son. They had spent years forging anchors for the Kul Tiras Fleet at Hook Point and were highly skilled.

The blacksmiths' family name was Kobi. Who knew what that was supposed to imply?

The rest of the caravan and guards were thoroughly prepared, but none of them looked particularly happy.

Whenever the soldiers thought about following their foolish young master to a backwater like Morris Town, they wished they could shove Rowan into the sea and knock him witless all over again.

Looking over the group, Rowan noticed that only the Paladin seemed happy. He had no objection to going to Morris Town.

Rowan gave a brief, formal speech. The gist was that the journey had been arranged abruptly, and he was sorry for summoning everyone at such short notice, but he hoped they would bear with him for the sake of Morris Town's development and a few personal ideas of his own. From now on, they would be a team.

Out of respect for Lord Aldrius, everyone applauded, and then Rowan led the party away.

"Byron, was it?" Rowan found the Paladin rather interesting and took the initiative to greet him.

The Paladin named Byron had a silvery holy hammer hanging at his left hip and a book of Holy Light writings in a golden presentation case at his right. Judging by his appearance alone, he looked every inch a righteous Paladin.

"Were you calling me, Young Master Rowan?" Byron rode over alongside Rowan's carriage.

"Of course. I wanted to ask why you look so happy when everyone else has such a long face," Rowan asked curiously.

"Do I, Young Master Rowan?" Byron asked, looking puzzled.

"It's written all over your face!"

"Hehe, I've just been stuck in the chapel too long, so I wanted to get out for some fresh air. You have no idea, Young Master Rowan. Those priests go on every day about how the Holy Light is justice and the Holy Light is salvation. It makes my head spin. Rather than stay in the chapel, I'd much rather follow a young master with more money than sense and go, go... go..." Halfway through his explanation, Byron's smile froze.

Rowan now had a pretty good idea why Byron did not want to stay in the chapel, and why he was so happy about this trip.

"Wait, Young Master Rowan, let me explain! I wasn't saying you have more money than sense. I meant you're adorably innocent. You-Leonard, what are you doing? Why won't you let me ride my horse? Hold on, wait!"