Landon said his goodbyes to Tim and rescheduled with him for tomorrow.
He then made a U-turn with Terry back to the upper region.
Those around him were very much confused as to why Landon looked so flustered all of a sudden.
What was going on?
Immediately as Landon stepped into Lucius' office, he said
"Uncle Lucius, there's a ship coming towards the sea coastline of Baymard. Please gather 100 men and come with me towards the coast."
Lucius jumped up from his chair, took his sword and ran out.
"How long do you estimate before they arrive?"
" 3 hours," Landon replied.
Everything happened so fast that the news left everyone utterly confused, but they still decided to trust Landon's analysis wholeheartedly.
Trey, who was with Landon this entire time, thought that when he and Landon made their way towards the lower region, Landon must have probably seen a tiny dot-like figure on the sea approaching Baymard.
After all, one could see the seas from the central region.
2 hours later, while they were gathering enough men, a soldier from the seaport ran up to them.
"My king, a large ship is approaching the coastline." Said the knight.
"You did well, soldier... Thank you for your report. Go back and tell the rest of the soldiers stationed there that we will bring enough men for safety before the ship docks on the coast."
As the man was about to leave, he turned around and realized that many knights were already gathered in the courtyard with Landon.
'Did his highness already know of the approaching ship?
Or is there another training routine I'm not aware of.' the young knight pondered.
Just like that, 1 hour more had passed by.... and Landon started moving towards the sea coasts with his men.
Once at the seaside, Landon had the villagers go back for safety reasons and waited for this unexpected ship to dock.
The first time Landon came out here during the inspection, he knew something fishy was going on.
There was an already built ship dock here.
Most citizens had said that every 4 months, Landon's father, king Barn, would come to Baymard in his ship for visits.
The city lords and Barons had lied to the poor villagers so as to stop them from being nosy.
During the time when the ship docked, the city lord would always ban people from coming to the coastline or even going towards the lower regions.
The city lord claimed that they would bother his majesty and get killed if they showed up at any of these places.
The villagers were so afraid to die that once the ship docked, they would hide in the central region and only hunt for food in the forest outside the city gates.
At first, he didn't understand what the barons and city lord's plans were.
But after visiting the mines in the lower region, he had finally completed the puzzling mystery.
There was no way his father would take time out every 3 months to visit Baymard.
He would rather believe that cows could fly than believe that story.
The villagers had lived all their lives here and were simple people.
What did they know about royal visits?
Sigh... they were really scammed out by those nobles.
It was clear that these were the merchants who traded with the city lord and barons.
The emblem and flag on their ship show that they're from the empire of Carona.
From Baymard's location, Carona was its closest neighbouring empire compared to Terique.
It made sense that these Nobles would trade with people outside the empire of Arcadina.
That way, his father would never know a thing, So Landon concluded that this ship must be a merchant ship.
As the ship docked, a chubby 20-year-old boy surrounded by his knights walked off the ship towards Landon's direction.
He smiled as he opened his arms and loudly spoke:
"Eh?
Where are Baron Sylvain and city lord Augustus?
Have they fallen ill?
I have just finished trading with some cities in the empire of Yodan and decided to get my usual supply from here."
As Landon looked at the boy, he observed that the boy was completely clueless about Baymard's current situation.
This boy was a jolly guy, alright.
Landon thought that he was the smaller, chubbier version of Santa Claus back on earth without the grey hairs and beards.
Just looking at him would make anyone smile.
As he spoke, one could tell that his smile was genuine, and his cheeks would turn rosy red.
'Such a cheerful guy,' Landon thought.
"Sorry, sir, but the city lord and Barons have been stationed in other cities in the empire.
I am the new lord and new king of Baymard, king Landon." Landon said with a smile.
Mr. Santa Claus was taken aback.
Yes, Santa.
Landon had already decided to call him that irrespective of what his real name was.
Santa's eyes almost popped out as his mouth opened wide in shock.
Landon really thought that this guy didn't have any poker face at all.
Why so surprised?
"So you are king Barn's son Landon?
Hohohooo!
You're nothing like what the people describe you to be.
I can tell a person's true nature by just observing them.
Hmmmmm.
I think you're a good fellow, bro.
You give me good vibes." the man said while nodding.
Santa walked around Landon in a circular manner while constantly nodding.
Landon and his knights didn't know whether to cry or to laugh.
'Sir, can't you see he's our king?
Can you at least not circle him as you like?
Can't you do it without making it look so obvious?' The knights thought.
'Yup. I was right, no poker face at all... but I like it,' Landon thought with a smile on his face.
"Ahhh, where are my manners?" Santa said.
Everyone rolled their eyes heavenwards; even his own knights did it too.
"My name is Benjamin Hamilton...for short, you can call me Ben or whatever you like.
Since we are already friends, I'll call you younger, bro.
Hey, I've got it!
You all should call me elder bro, and I'll call you little bro... hihihihi," Santa said while acting shy like a blushing maiden.
'Since when did we become friends with you? can you not be so shameless?' most of the knights thought.
"Since we are already friends, I'll call you Santa from now on...right Santa?" Landon replied playfully.
"No, no, no.
What kind of name is that?
Little bro, are you making fun of your older bro here?
That name is weird, alright?" Santa said while holding his jaws and shaking his head.
Landon couldn't hold it any longer and burst out laughing hard.
"Hhahahahha.
You said I could call you whatever I want, so are you going back on your words now?
Besides, Santa means a cheerful person.
I like you a lot; that's why I gave you the nickname."
"Really?
I like you too, bro.
Yayyy..." Santa replied while holding Landon's hands and shaking them vigorously.
One of the knights from Santa's side coughed and looked at Landon as if begging for him to forgive Santa for his actions.
Landon smiled back at him as if reassuring him that it was ok.
"Little brother, let's talk business," Santa said as he held onto Landon's shoulders and walked towards the Lower region.
In conclusion, when it concerned Santa, Landon had just one philosophy to go by:
'If you can't beat him, join him.'