Arriving at the building, Nathan was greeted by the sight of his recently acquired slaves, delivered by Rion as per their arrangement. As he stepped out of the carriage, his eyes locked onto the newly affixed signboard that read "Rosefruit Trading Company," its presence accompanied by the royal family crest.
Taking center stage atop a wooden platform, Nathan projected his voice with authority, addressing the assembled slaves, "Greetings, everyone. I am Nathan Von Valdyr, the one who has purchased your services. I extend my welcome to you all."
He continued, his words carrying an important distinction, "Let me be clear: despite having bought you, I am here to offer employment, not to treat you as mere slaves. You shall be considered workers under my employ, earning wages for your labor. I promise one paid day off per week, and for those who choose to remain in my employ and demonstrate loyalty, I shall release you from your slave marks. Until then, I ask for your preparedness."
Nathan's speech, though succinct, carried a weight of compassion and understanding, bridging the gap between their past lives and the future he envisioned.
With the address concluded, he selected a group of strong slaves to accompany him, venturing to the capital gates to rendezvous with Aria, who awaited his arrival there.
Upon spotting Nathan's arrival, Aria's delighted wave and warm smile acknowledged his presence. Their encounter paved the way for a conversation, with Aria's tone hinting at her surprise, "You actually came! I was half expecting you to change your mind."
Nathan replied with a reassuring grin, "I'm a man of my word. I was intrigued by what you found, so here I am. Let's not waste any time. Lead the way, and by the way, this is your compensation for the information." He slipped a silver coin into Aria's waiting palm.
With Aria as his guide, they embarked on a journey that took them roughly thirty minutes northwest of the capital gates, arriving at the forest known locally as the 'Tulkan' forest. Although not as expansive as the legendary 'Eshtaol,' it still held considerable size and mystery.
Tales and whispers abounded, with locals attributing the forest's name to the legend of the slumbering dragon, Tulkan, believed to reside deep within its heart. Such rumors discouraged most from venturing too far into its depths.
Upon arrival, Nathan issued instructions to his followers, entrusting them to Aria's guidance. Their task was to gather as many beets as possible without causing harm to other flora in the process. With Aria leading the way, they set out to fulfill their assigned duty, leaving Nathan with an opportunity to explore the environment using his newly acquired mana probing technique.
Taking a moment to center himself, Nathan extended his consciousness outward, tapping into his mana reserves to initiate a gentle, exploratory scan. The technique allowed him to sense his surroundings within a radius of two kilometers, granting him a newfound awareness of the area's magical energy flows and disturbances.
As he engaged in this probing process, Nathan's focus turned to his surroundings, his senses attuned to any changes in mana patterns. He noted the ebb and flow of the forest's natural energies, which felt harmonious and balanced. However, his attention was piqued by a few areas where the mana currents seemed slightly disturbed, possibly indicating a presence or activity that differed from the norm.
With his mana probing providing valuable insights, Nathan continued to explore the forest's magical landscape, eager to uncover any hidden elements or phenomena that might offer clues to the forest's unique attributes.
While engaging in his mana probing exercise, Nathan decided to experiment further. He focused his energy, channeling concentrated mana pulses from his palms to scan the immediate vicinity. The pulsing energy served as an exploration tool, enabling him to detect any magical disturbances, caves, or lurking creatures in the vicinity.
Nathan's effort revealed that while there were no underground caves in the area, there were indeed small monsters lurking nearby. Seeing this as an opportunity for practice, Nathan took action. With Winston by his side, he engaged the monsters in combat, showcasing his combat prowess and testing his newly acquired skills.
After successfully defeating the monsters, Nathan turned to Winston with curiosity in his eyes. "Winston, do these creatures have something akin to mana cores in their bodies, similar to what's described in the novels?"
Winston, slightly out of breath from keeping up with Nathan, responded, "Indeed, young master. These monster corpses hold valuable treasures. They possess what's known as a mana core, a stone formed from the amalgamation of mana within their bodies upon death. These cores are sought after by mages and magic engineers for various purposes."
He continued, "Furthermore, different parts of their bodies have different uses. Their blood and bones can be utilized to create medicines and potions, while their tendons and hides are excellent materials for crafting weapons and armor. Even their meat is beneficial – higher-level monsters' meat, in particular, contains mana. Consuming it can enhance the toughness of one's muscles."
Nathan absorbed this information and made a decision. "Winston, take these monster corpses and have them served at tomorrow's birthday party. Additionally, collect their mana cores and bring them to my room."
Hours later, the expedition team returned from the forest, laden with baskets overflowing with beets. Nathan's keen eyes inspected the harvest, and satisfied with the bounty, he directed the team to transfer the beets to wooden carts placed outside the forest.
Nathan's eventful day had been marked by discoveries and decisions that would shape his endeavors and the kingdom's future.
As Nathan continued his exploration of the forest, his curiosity led him to a follower who had brought back a collection of unfamiliar fruits and vegetables. Among the assortment, his attention was captivated by a fruit that bore a resemblance to black grapes from Earth, albeit much larger, about the size of a guava. After sampling the fruit, Nathan confirmed that it resembled grapes in taste, with the only notable difference being the size and the presence of a seed within.
Intrigued by the discovery, Nathan formulated a plan. He instructed his followers to return to the forest the following day, accompanied by some of his guards, with the objective of collecting more of these oversized grapes and, of course, continuing to gather beets.
Turning his attention back to Aria, Nathan extended an offer. "If you're interested in working, I'm more than willing to hire you. And if there are other children like you, feel free to bring them along. Simply come to the newly established Rosefruit Trading Company building tomorrow at noon."
Aria's excitement was palpable as she enthusiastically nodded and responded, "I'll definitely be there!"
With their exchange concluded, Nathan and Winston bid farewell to Aria at the city gates. Returning to the castle in their carriage, Nathan's mind buzzed with plans and possibilities for the future of the Rosefruit Trading Company and the newfound produce from the forest.
Back at the castle, skilled carpenters awaited Nathan's arrival in a designated room. Accompanied by Winston, Nathan entered the room and addressed the carpenters, who stood up and bowed respectfully. He explained his purpose for summoning them and emphasized the need for confidentiality, considering their family's history of service to the royal family for generations.
Handing them a parchment paper containing detailed drawings and instructions, Nathan explained, "I have a special project that I'd like you to work on. This design is for a new type of machine I've created. Take a look and let me know if you can bring it to life."
The carpenters meticulously examined the drawings, their experienced eyes analyzing the intricacies of the design. After a thorough assessment, one of the carpenters responded, "It might take a couple of attempts to get it right, but we're confident we can construct this machine for you."
Nathan nodded appreciatively and stated, "That's what I wanted to hear. I need you to produce ten of these machines within a month. If all goes well, I may order more in the future."
With their agreement in place, Nathan bid the carpenters farewell and headed to his room, where he could finally take a moment to rest and recharge.
Entering his room, Nathan quickly succumbs to sleep, allowing his fatigue to be replaced with a sense of rejuvenation. Two hours later, he awakens, feeling refreshed and ready to face the rest of the day.
A soft knock on the door disrupts his thoughts, and a maid enters, relaying a message from Rodrick to visit his study room. Following the maid's lead, Nathan arrives at the study room to find his father seated comfortably behind an impressive Agarwood desk. The room exudes an air of wisdom, with shelves filled with a diverse collection of books lining the walls.
Nathan greets his father, who invites him to sit down. Rodrick gestures to a drawer in the desk, producing three books, and explains their significance. Expressing his surprise and pride in Nathan's early achievements, Rodrick shares, "These are manuals and instructions on the sword techniques of the Valdyr family. They were created by our first king, 'Adelio Von Valdyr,' and have been refined by subsequent generations, including my own."
Rodrick continues, "Every king of our country is expected to master these techniques. While I intended to give these to you once you formed your first core star, you've surpassed my expectations by achieving it so early. I'd like you to begin studying these manuals. After your birthday celebration tomorrow, I will personally demonstrate these techniques to you in three days."
Nathan receives the sword manuals with a mixture of excitement and reverence. Grateful for the opportunity to delve into his family's heritage and legacy, he takes the manuals and thanks his father. With anticipation building for his birthday celebration, Nathan retreats to his room to rest once more, knowing that his journey is just beginning.