Some time after the Baron left Estafan's office, he too exited due to some business he must attend. He was followed by a soldier who seemed to be explaining some situations to him.
The soldier said "My Lord, there seems to be some Barbarians from the north of Ikarus in Theon and they captured merchants associated with the Flemming Merchant Company." Estafan responded to those words calmly "Barbarians from the North.. it is weird for them to come all the way down south and isn't the Fleming Company related to Humadre?"
The soldier nodded while saying "Yes my lord, in fact it was House Humadre who was requesting us to save them." Estafan stopped and turned around "Send a report back, tell them that I'll directly handle it and tell them that there could be a chance that House Copera would be involved."
The soldier was shocked to hear that name "My Lord, won't that cause the two Ducal houses of north and south to have a conflict." But Estafan nonchalantly said "So what?." The soldier would just nod and then salute before walking away.
The fortress Estafan was in which was his temporary base of operations till the entire territory was cleaned up for the Kingdom to establish a permanent local government or rulers in the region. The fortress itself was located to the border with Ikarus and he needed to use a Mana Gate which was in a nearby City.
Due to Mana Engineering, Theon had various types of things which helped to make their country better unlike Ikarus which didn't bother with it in the first place.
But Ikarus did keep Mana Gate albeit in key Cities to make transportation easier while Theon had it on every City inside their land.
Estafan entered a carriage and proceeded to travel towards the City so he could go to the North of Theon where the barbarians had kept the merchants as prisoners.
Estafan wasn't alone, his Bloodhounds were following him but not too close and they were fast enough to keep up with the carriage due to using aura. An hour later they arrived at the City all thanks to the roadways which were fixed.
Due to the war, Theon's forces aimed for their own roadways and other necessary areas to ensure that Ikarus would slow down. But right after the war, Estafan ordered for the roads to be fixed and new roadways to be constructed to ensure he and his forces could reach places quickly.
Also this was done to ensure merchants can establish trade routes, Flemming Merchant Company was a company which focuses more on logistics for trade. House Humadre who were the richest especially due to trade banking sent the Flemming to establish trade routes since these newly conquered territories were untapped gold mines for them.
Meanwhile at the City, Estafan approached the Gate. It was a large arch which appeared as a gate without a gate. When a magus focuses their mana on the gate and thinks of the location, it temporarily opens a portal to the pre-built gate in that area. For the Mana Gates to operate, there must be multiple gates for to connect and there must be a Magus as well who is proficient in this art.
Estafan spared the Magus who work on the Gate to ensure they can use it as well as hiring some from outside as well.
He told the Gatekeeper Magus the location and suddenly then placed their hand on the side of the Gate and began to chant words which he could not understand. Estafan heard some gibberish and after 5 minutes of non-stop chanting a white light appeared from the edges inside the Arch.
The light began to come out and spread forming what it appears to be like a piece of white paper but in a liquid state or so.
Once it all connected with each other, the arch turned into a proper gate. Estafan walked through it and for a couple of seconds all he could see was bright light and feel the thickness of mana which was bending space for quick travel.
He walked out from the Mana Gate where now he stood at a City on the North. The north of Theon saw fierce battle and as a result the City he arrived in was still in partial ruins even though rebuilding was occurring.
His presence was felt because people began to run away upon seeing since who in the right mind would think of facing a monster.
Estafan wasn't alone, his Bloodhounds followed him through the Gate and Estafan entered a carriage and told the driver to go northwards since the Barbarians were at a cave somewhere north.
The carriage driver said "I am only doing this because you paid me a lot but I have to say, the north isn't safe." Estafan asked "Why do you think so?"
The Carriage driver responded to that question by saying "Barbarians or so, I saw the corpses which came from the northern wood... I don't know why barbarians come here when they love winter since January already started as in the summer." Estafan laughed "They are barbarians, they love to do it so they do it."
Both of them did have some conversation but it ended abruptly due to them reaching about 5 Li(KM) away from the cave he was talking about to the driver who said he'll pray for Estafan.
Estafan exited from the carriage and threw a pouch filled with gold to the driver before walking into the forest.
He ordered his men to spread out across the forest and kill any barbarians they came across while also telling them to return to him and report if they found the enemy for which they nodded to end and disappeared from there.
Estafan decided to walk but slowly since he didn't care much about being noticed as he was someone who doesn't care much about being noticed or even ambushed since he could get rid of them all if they tried to do anyways.
But after some walking Estafan did, he found the cave and in front of the Cave he saw some Barbarians. "There you are.." he said with a cheerful smile which was hidden under his mask.