“What is that?!”
A Nimrim Guard stationed at the outreach pointed at the company of riders on strange silver-scaled beasts. They looked both majestic and imposing.
Seeing the armored King Swordsman with their blue floating plume and capes on silver-scaled horses that had blue hooves and blue horns, the Nimrim Guards were awestruck.
“What kind of a beast is that?”
These kinds of questions refused to leave the lips of everyone that saw the company. The citizens of Nimrim kept chatting about them even after the King Swordsmen had returned to the camp with their mounts.
Once they returned to Nineveh, Asher planned for mass recruitment to fill up the troops, but before then, he stayed throughout the last week of the month waiting to stock enough barrels of pure evergreen olive oil.
He planned to introduce it to the feudal world. Surely, it would gain attention, and because of that, he wanted to build an outpost city, right at the heart of the northern wasteland, the connecting point of all the northern lord domains.
His plans were already sent to Kelvin while he spent time in Nimrim supervising the oil production, testing it, and spending some time with the Nimrim priestess.
Because of her, he grew to love green tea.
After a week…
Asher rode Bezerk. He was currently at the back of the convoy. There were about 10 large carts brought from Nimrim to transport the oil. Because of this, over 100 barrels could be found evenly split in the carts.
Desolate Wolf soldiers were on both sides of the carts, their spear facing the heavens and their eyes keen. Not one of them wore a smile and their armor dimly reflected the light of the blazing sun.
Olive Expanse looked mezmerizing as the sunlight cast its brilliant light on the wondrous tree, causing a cascade of light from the gaps in between leaves.
It was a beautiful sight that made this town a place of relaxation and sightseeing.
When Asher reached the front, he saw Alex and Nero on their silver blood horses. Well equipped with saddles that had an ashbourne sigil at the sides, the mounts looked even more regal.
The 70 King Swordsmen on the silver-scaled horses were more striking than the Bladebreakers and the Strombringers.
“My Lord, such war mounts are supposed to belong to a cavalry unit.” Lambert grumbled.
Asher shook his head while smiling softly.
“Eritrea would have said the same thing if she were here.”
“Well, she is busy training her recruits and you’re here grumbling about horses.” Alex retorted, causing Lambert to glare at him.
Lambert snorted as he turned his head away.
“My Lord, aren’t you going to say goodbye?” Alex asked Asher as he looked at the temple at the top of the mountain.
“There’s no need for that. As my counsellor, she will appear before my presence multiple times in a year.”
Asher responded with a soft tone and kicked his mount’s abdomen.
“Let’s go.”
With that, the convoy began to move. Sapphira stood behind one of the windows on her temple, looking at the departing convoy with an unreadable expression.
She kept looking until the convoy disappeared into the forest. Only then did she turn and walk away.
…….
An hour later, Asher entered his castle. His boots tapped against the polished floor as he walked through the hallways. His pace was hurried and the moment he removed his coat, he wiped off the sweat from his forehead before exhaling.
The heat outside was a little bit too much for his pale skin.
He pushed open the door leading to the castle’s main hall. The hall connected to the upper floors and underground floors. From this hall, one could see the spiral stairs leading to the upper floor and there was an open walkway around the hall where murals were hung on walls.
Asher saw Kelvin speaking to Cynthia, who was on the staircase, slowly walking down. Five male servants carried a large square object properly wrapped to the upper floor.
“Do not let it fall.”
Kelvin cautioned. Suddenly Cynthia gasped and hurried down the stairs, causing him to turn and behold it was his lord, standing there with his coat almost touching the floor.
“Your Lordship!”
He hurried over and lifted the sleeves that were about to touch the ground.
“You did not inform us of your arrival.”
“I did not want a grand welcome. What is that?”
Asher looked at the male servants still going upward. By the look of things, they might be heading for his quarters.
“It’s a surprise.”
“I see. The oil is here. Have you mapped out a way for us to gain customers?” Asher asked as he began to ascend the stairs.
“The outpost project is still ongoing, MyLord. We have thousands of workers from Ashkelon and Nimrim working there and it will be completed by the first month of the upper year.”
Asher paused
“That’s too long.”
“That’s the best speed.” Kelvin smiled wryly.
Cynthia bowed. “My Lord, Baron Flameheart did a trade with us last week and gave us 60,000 catties of wheat and…”
Asher lifted his hand. Why had I not thought of this since? They had been depending on their soil advantage to gain good wheat during harvest but if he could upgrade them through fusion, he might gain a better product and it would help him massively in the creation of an exclusive restaurant that would have the best food in the entire continent.
He knew this idea would give him lots of revenue, especially after he gained the trust of other nobles and opened branches in their dominions.
But in order to do that, he needs to build this outpost and make it a paradise for exquisite meals.
His Evergreen olive oil was the backbone of this plan, but he also needed professional cooks, at least several journeymen, seniors, and a few masters.
Unfortunately, not even one journeyman cook was in his domain.
“Send a letter to Baron Flameheart. Tell him I’m willing to trade protecting his market hub with a garrison of 100 Desolate wolves if he gives me 20 professional cooks, all of whom should be from journeymen and above.”
