Chapter 125: Chapter 124: Heading to the Negotiation

After arranging the work for the Artisans, Ronin immediately sought out Potter Jim to begin arrangements for firing porcelain.

Fortunately, refining kaolin wasn’t a complicated process, and it shared many similarities with making pottery, so Jim clearly understood Ronin’s ultimate goal.

Leaving aside the issue of firing the kiln, Jim could at least handle the process from refining the clay to drying the greenware.

As for the subsequent glazing, Ronin wanted to create white porcelain, which required a clear glaze. The necessary materials, feldspar and quartz, were quite common, and there was a source right in Mountain Forest Town.

By the time he finished arranging these matters, the sky had already dimmed. Another day had passed in a flurry of activity.

Back at the castle, Erin was already busy preparing her lesson materials.

Ronin walked over, scooped up the Black Tiger, whose eyes had just opened, and held it in his arms, gently fiddling with its soft ears.

The little guy had only just opened its eyes yesterday at noon, and the first thing it saw was both Ronin and Erin. Ronin wondered if that saying of Brown’s would still hold true.

But when Ronin played with it, the Black Tiger didn’t resist. It even let out a soft whimper, seeming to enjoy the attention.

Ronin planned to let it grow a little bigger, have it live with the dogs for a while, and then begin its special training.

“Brother, what do you think of the material I’ve prepared?”

Erin held a sheet of paper in front of Ronin. On it were written some simple words, such as “you,” “I,” “he,” “eat,” and “drink.”

“This is good.”

Ronin said with a smile, “Our first batch of students will be David, Wodun, Dandy, and Bella. I suggest adding their names to the list.”

People always learn their own names more quickly.

Erin’s eyes lit up. “I understand!”

“I’ll have Gallon make you a few flat wooden boards later. If you don’t have pens, you can use charcoal for now.”

’Although sheepskin parchment isn’t expensive for me, using it to practice writing would be too wasteful. It’s just that teaching with charcoal will certainly be a bit of a hardship.’

’When it comes down to it, we still don’t have paper.’

’Looks like I’ll have to find time to talk with Dan and have him set aside some time to reproduce the Papermaking Skill.’

Ronin remembered that Dan was busy with the loom and shook his head. ’Never mind. I’ll do it myself when I have time. It’s simpler than building a loom.’

Just then, a knock came from the door. It was Gallon. “My lord, Tom has returned.”

’Tom?’

Ronin was taken aback. “Why is he back?” he asked in surprise. “Did something happen in Grey Soil Village?”

“I’m not entirely sure, but he looked quite anxious.”

’Then something must have happened in Grey Soil Village.’

Ronin quickly set the Black Tiger aside and strode out of the room.

He soon found Tom in the first-floor hall. The eighteen-year-old Knight looked exhausted, likely from his long journey.

“What’s wrong, Tom?”

“It has been a while, my lord!”

Tom rose and bowed before speaking. “My lord, men from the Black-collar Tribe have trespassed on our land…”

He recounted the events that had taken place outside Grey Soil Village, concluding with, “The Commander sent me back to request your instructions on our next course of action.”

Ronin frowned. He had assumed that after both Mountain Forest Town and Sain Territory acquired management rights over the Wilderness Tribe’s lands, the two sides would coexist peacefully for some time. He hadn’t expected Baron Reisen to act so provocatively and so soon.

Disputes among nobles over territory were commonplace. Some of the greater nobility wouldn’t even concern themselves with the squabbles of their vassals; after all, it was sometimes a means of keeping the lesser nobles in check.

’For Baron Reisen to provoke him so brazenly meant he didn’t think Ronin’s Wushan bloodline made him special in any way.’

“Ridder did the right thing. If we don’t put a stop to this kind of provocation, they’ll only become more audacious.”

’When it comes to territory, if you give an inch, they’ll take a foot. Getting it back will inevitably lead to conflict.’

Ronin approved of Ridder’s actions. Besides, the Kaolin Ore Vein was to the north, and he was even more determined not to let outsiders get their hands on it.

“Tom, you’ve been in Grey Soil Village for over a month now. Go see your mother. Get a good night’s rest. We’ll set out for Grey Soil Village after breakfast tomorrow.”

“Yes, my lord!”

After Tom left, Ronin had Gallon summon Macken, telling him to bring all the Professional Knights.

Originally, Ronin had brought so many Transcendents back to Mountain Forest Town because there was little conflict with the Black-collar Tribe, while the town itself required a strong defense.

But now, with Ronin having secured management rights over the Wilderness Tribe’s lands from Wushan Castle and brought back so many Artisans from Wushan City, he had effectively proven that his position in Mountain Forest Town was secure.

The chance of Baron Reisen of Sain Territory launching a direct assault on Mountain Forest Town was virtually zero. Any conflict was far more likely to break out at Grey Soil Village.

Therefore, Ronin no longer needed to station so many Transcendents in Mountain Forest Town.

After some deliberation, Ronin decided to transfer three Basic Level Knights who were originally from Grey Soil Village—George, Tomasz, and Jisili—to be stationed there, along with Elron and Jenny Mage from Purple Fruit Village.

This would bring the number of resident Transcendents in Grey Soil Village to ten, including two Third-level Transcendents and two Second-level Transcendents—more than enough to handle any unforeseen incidents.

Ronin, Macken, David, Wodun, and Dandy would remain to oversee the defense of Mountain Forest Town, which would be sufficient.

’In fact, if it were necessary, I’d even consider sending Macken.’

’After all, I’m now a Dual-Profession Advanced Level. I can handle it even if a Magical Beast attacks.’

’As for Elron, if he takes the Magic Ink and Magical Beast Hide, he can not only create Magic Scrolls but also treat any injured Guards.’

…

「Meanwhile, in the great hall of the fortress in Sain Territory.」

Joffrey, the Black-collar Tribe Leader, was reporting to Baron Reisen about Finris’s capture.

The tribal leader was immensely tall, his powerful muscles faintly visible like sculptures beneath his armor, giving him a solid, imposing presence.

His eyes were especially striking—deep yet sharp, completely different from the gazes of other leaders like Sleirein and Horn.

“Lord Baron, what should we do now?”

SLAM! Reisen smashed his fist onto the armrest of his black iron throne, looking like a furious lion.

“Finris is a bitter disappointment!”

He was furious. Harassing Grey Soil Village and seizing its land had been his idea, and he never expected the man in charge of the operation to be captured on the very first day.

’I never expected Ronin to have another powerful Knight besides Macken.’

“For this Commander to defeat and capture Finris so easily means he must be at least an Advanced Peak Knight, possibly even a Bronze Knight.”

Philton analyzed, “If he’s Bronze Level, he won’t be easy to deal with.”

Reisen suppressed his anger. “All the Bronze Level Knights in Wushan Territory have powerful backers. I’ve never heard of anyone named ’Ridder’.”

Joffrey mused aloud, “Could he be a guard secretly assigned by Wushan Castle?”

“Impossible!”

Reisen was certain. “If Wushan Castle had really sent someone to protect him, the world would know. In all likelihood, this man is just like that Macken—recruited by Ronin himself.”

Philton sneered, “Then this Ronin is quite lucky to have found two powerful bodyguards.”

“Heh, and I hear he also has a Light Attribute Intermediate Mage,” Reisen added.

Reisen continuously fiddled with the Jade Ring on his finger. Tallying them up, Ronin really did have a surprising number of Transcendents under his command.

He didn’t understand how someone stripped of his inheritance rights had suddenly become so difficult to deal with.

“Philton, gather our men. We set out for the Black-collar Tribe’s territory tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Philton rose to obey, then asked with some hesitation, “My lord, you’re going as well?”

“Yes, of course I’m going!”

Reisen gave a cold chuckle. “Speaking of which, I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Ronin in person since he became the Baron of Mountain Forest Town!”

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