Except for incident with the wolf at Silvergrass village, my journey goes smooth and safe until I reach the castle town. Actually, its name is Harvard town, because built by Harvard family, but because our castle located in here, people also called it castle town. Although I already rushed my horse after leaving Silvergrass village, still I arrive at castle town after the dusk. That's also because I took times to inspect some area that I passed to assess the future development for that area like what I see on the Silver grass village. On Silvergrass village, I already made a plan what that place will be in the future, with its resources for farm and cattle raising, I wish to make that place for the dairy product like cheese and butter besides milk and meat. Of course, to make this happen, I must teach them the technique to make butter and cheese first.
With this two products as the main advantage, I believe Silvergrass village can be one of the main place to make our territory as food heaven in this continent. Side product like wool cloth can be another way to get income from the farm, and from its location that located between the beach and other towns, I believe at least Silvergrass can turn into an important trading post in our territory. From the conversation between Mr. Harold and Cecille, maybe I can use this salt as alternative ways to pay the labor for road making. Give something that they need now seems more appropriate than give them money that makes them must go to buy the things they need by their selves. Maybe 1 kilo of salt for 10 kilometers gravel roads is not a bad offer, I should discuss this with my father about using the salt as payment for road building labor.
The profit from this food industry, I'm intending to buy raw materials that can be processed in our territory and use to strengthen our forces. I checking the sword that I use to kill those wolves before, although it's standard weapon for our soldier in the castle, after killing some wolves it already has some chipped on the edge. This is not good if there's a battle happen, with the same soldier skill, the weapon they held will make the difference. Those with the better weapon will have an advantage while the one with the lesser quality of weapon will be on disadvantage. With my knowledge for iron smiting from my father, I believe I can make a better weapon with that. The current sword that I bring is just an ordinary iron sword, with smelting technique I know, I'm sure I can produce steel sword which far better than the ordinary iron sword. With the better weapon, although our soldier is lesser, I believe we can still win the battle if a war suddenly broke out in our territory. Well, this is no Japan, any war can break anytime without warning. But that still a long way to go.
I arrive at the castle gate in the night. It already passes the dinner time maybe. The guards that stationed in the gates looks at me with cautious eyes. I cover my head with the hood that makes them don't see my face clearly, that' why they look at me that way
"You! Hold there! State what's your business.in this castle!"
The guards stop me at the front gate while aiming their spear at me
"Relax guys, it's me"
I reply to them while putting down my hood, reveal my face to them.
"Young master Henry!! Please forgive us for our impoliteness"
They hurriedly lower down their spear and bowing to me
"It's alright guys, you do your job well. Can you open the gate now?"
"Yes, right away young master"
I watch them open the gate door and that big castle door slowly opened. I almost can't hold my feeling when I see the castle building inside. After several days adventuring outside, I finally return.
I lead my horse to enter the gate slowly, there are some guards that patrolling behind the gate door. When they see me coming from the gate door, they bowing as respect.
"Welcome back, young master Henry"
"Thanks, can you help me bring my horse to the stable? I also need one person to carry the luggage into the castle"
"Yes, young master"
One of the holds my horse reins and another one unloads the luggage from the saddle. After the luggage was put down, the one who held my horse reins takes the horse to the stable, while the other one carries the luggage that I brought with the horse.
"Did my father still awake?"
I ask the guard who carries my luggage.
"I'm not sure, young master. But when we go on patrol, I see there's still light from your highness' study room"
"Okay, let's go there. I have to report to my father about the result from my expedition"
We enter the castle and walk to my father study room in the west wing. When we arrive there I told the guard to put down the luggage on the floor.
"Alright, you can put the luggage there and return to your post. Thanks for your help"
"Yes, young master"
After the guard put down the luggage and return to his office, I standing in front of my father's study room and ready to knock on the door when suddenly the door was open from inside and an old man shows up from behind the door.