Chapter 142: 142 Hitting the Road

Chapter 142: On the Road

Since the tenth, Gray Soil Village had entered a season of bustle—the inaugural Knight and Guard Tournament of Hilltown, presided over by Elron, had officially begun.

According to Elron’s rules, the competition was divided into preliminary rounds and finals.

Those who defeated their opponents in the preliminaries advanced to the next stage, until the final eight, then the final four, and ultimately the champion were determined.

To accommodate the daily patrols and defense of the domain, the preliminary matches were spaced out, so two or three duels were held each evening in the square.

Elron had arranged for the finals to take place on the twenty-eighth, as a grand performance prepared by the lord for the Yearly Festival.

Roden, through Riedal, had also conveyed word to Elron: all denizens of the domain—free folk, serfs, and slaves alike—except the guards, would be granted a day’s holiday on Festival Day to attend the matches.

This would not only stoke their anticipation but also allow Roden to strengthen the bond between the people and Hillkeep through collective participation.

Moreover, as spectators watched the contests, some would inevitably dream of standing on the stage themselves, claiming the generous prizes—fueling their drive to strive, to fight, to rise.

More such driven souls were, in Roden’s eyes, a small but valuable asset.

Regardless of the festive atmosphere swelling through the domain, once all arrangements were settled, Roden set out for Ushan Keep with only Macken and Tom in tow.

In truth, with his current strength, he could have traveled alone without fear of beasts or demons lurking in the wilds.

Yet, mindful of the potential dangers awaiting him at Ushan Keep, Roden chose to bring Macken—and had bolstered his power.

Thus, Hilltown gained its first Silver Knight.

From around October 8th to mid-December, Macken, through his own diligent cultivation, raised his level from 285 to 294/300.

Nearly two months had passed, and he had gained only nine points—a slow pace, a clear reflection of his mediocre talent.

But it did not matter.

After consuming 806 Essence Cores, Macken instantly ascended from High Knight to Silver Knight.

His stats now read:

【Macken Saliton】: Silver Knight · Earth (0/1500)+

Upon his breakthrough, he gained not only a new combat technique and mastery of the Aura Scripture, but also fragmented memories.

Yet these fragments were mere glimpses of daily life and battle—ordinary, unremarkable. After a brief inquiry, Roden let them rest, unexplored.

Even after spending 806 Essence Cores, Roden still had 381 remaining.

He did not pour them into Macken further; 1500 level points were too vast a mountain to climb.

Instead, he planned to allocate them to Riedal or Elron—Riedal to hasten his ascent to Silver, Elron to elevate him to Fourth-Rank Grand Mage.

Though elemental Light mages held limited combat prowess, having a Grand Mage within the domain was a foundation of power. When the time came for Elron to act, the stronger he was, the better.

The three rode hard, and soon arrived at a three-way fork.

Roden pulled his reins, gazing down the eastern path.

Alas, the rising slope ahead obscured his view.

But Roden had long known from Holwart’s map what lay beyond.

“Beyond that hill, we’ll reach the Sain Domain swiftly,” he said. “I suspect we’ll find time to pay them a visit.”

“Though Baron Rayson may not welcome us,” Macken chuckled.

Roden’s lips curled slightly. “Perhaps by then, he won’t be the lord of Sain Domain at all.”

Tom, riding silently behind, listened as his lord and guard captain spoke. Though he had no right to join such discussions, the purpose of this journey was unmistakable.

He was certain: his lord wished to become lord of Sain Domain.

Elsewhere, swallowing another baron’s lands might be an arduous feat.

Yet Tom, for reasons he could not name, believed wholeheartedly that whatever Lord Roden undertook would inevitably succeed.

“Let’s go!”

Roden tugged the reins. The Cloudstrider neighed joyfully, and they were on the road again.

Lightly equipped, they would reach Ushan Keep in four or five days.

But first, Roden made a detour to Pasture City.

He sent Tom to deliver a formal visitation letter at the Ironhoof Viscount’s castle, while he himself led Tom to two other places.

The Venomous Exchange.

Upon hearing the Lord of Hilltown had arrived, Overseer Anthony hurried out, nearly running.

“Long time no see, My Lord! Your presence graces our Venomous Exchange with unparalleled honor!”

Anthony’s eyes darted instantly to Roden’s steed—his heart lurched. He had not imagined Roden possessed a Cloudstrider, a horse worth a fortune.

“Long time no see, Master Anthony. You look as sharp and alert as ever.”

Roden handed the reins to Macken and followed Anthony into the slave exchange.

Anthony noticed: last time, this lord had arrived surrounded by a retinue of guards. Today, only one guard accompanied him—and that guard stood apart, not at his side.

Was this trust?

The thought warmed Anthony’s heart. He beamed.

“Lord Roden, have you come to purchase another batch of slaves?”

Roden nodded.

Anthony’s enthusiasm surged. “Ha! To be frank, I’ve just trained a fresh batch—exactly as you requested last time. Shall I show them to you?”

Merchants always claimed new stock had arrived, no matter the hour.

But Roden shook his head. “No need to inspect. I only wish to ask: how many slaves do you have now?”

Anthony’s pulse quickened. Such a question meant a massive order?

“Truthfully, My Lord, I currently hold over three hundred slaves. Should you require more, I can gather five or six hundred within a month!”

Roden had coin to burn—and he needed to convert part of it into labor.

“Five or six hundred is too few. I need at least a thousand.”

He stated his demand plainly: “Among every hundred, I require two or three artisans. The gender ratio must remain balanced. Can you deliver?”

Anthony froze. The number stunned him.

A thousand slaves? Such an order was rare even for the Venomous Exchange—many branches received one such order per year. And now it had fallen to him?

If he secured this deal, his standing within the Exchange would solidify. And with the Festival approaching, he could use it to beg for a bonus from above.

Roden watched Anthony’s stunned silence. Clearly, such a demand was no easy feat.

“Trouble?”

Anthony snapped back to himself. He could not let the customer doubt his capability.

“No! Not at all!”

He spoke with conviction. “My Lord, trust in the Venomous Exchange’s strength. Even if you demanded ten thousand, I would find them for you!”

Salesmanship, after all, required bravado. Roden was unfazed.

“When can you have them ready?”

Roden smiled. “This time, I won’t escort them back. Your Exchange will deliver them to Hilltown. And I require them to arrive alive.”

“Yes, no problem!”

Antonio pondered for a moment, then said, “My lord, transporting slaves in winter leads to high mortality. I suggest delivering them to you before next April.”

“You may send them in batches, ensuring a thousand are assembled by April.”

Ronin offered this suggestion—it would make his own arrangements easier, as overwhelming Wilson and Chahar with a thousand at once would be too much to ask.

“Your method is ingenious!”

Antonio immediately agreed. With the possibility of the deal settled, the conversation turned to price.

Ronin intended to have a thorough discussion with him at the Viper Exchange about long-term cooperation.

Apologies for the late update. There’s still one more chapter today, but it will come later (mainly due to family matters—my stepmother, my uncle’s wife, has spent years insulting my parents. I’m usually a gentle person and avoid meddling in elders’ affairs. My parents, too, planned to sever ties with that family after my grandmother’s burial. None of us expected them to cause a scene at her funeral, in front of so many guests. They insulted us, and worse—they laid hands on me. I couldn’t hold back anymore… Now my neck, waist, and legs ache; I suspect I’ve sustained some injuries.)

(End of Chapter)