The two small manors were valued at ten thousand gold coins. This price was low, as it did not include the value of the serfs within the manors. This was the baron's way of looking out for Derek. This decision caused Derek's brothers to show surprise; they couldn't be sure if this was a pretext by the baron, and whether there would be suspense over the inheritance.
The baron naturally wouldn't allow others to harbor illusions. "Derek, I want to know what kind of return you can offer the family?"
"Horses, weapons, and armor at the lowest prices, with priority purchasing rights. Additionally, once I acquire my own fief, the manors will be returned to the family."
"That's not enough," the baron responded.
"Then let Big Brother Marco bring the soldiers to train with me. I guarantee I can train an elite force."
"It seems you're confident in your training skills. Your soldiers indeed seem impressive," the baron agreed, taking the opportunity to clarify that this was a special transaction. While it might not completely dispel doubts, it would stabilize the situation.
"Sergey, you need to work harder. I'll pull some strings and try to get you promoted quickly," the baron planned to use his resources to push his second son's career, as a low-ranking officer was merely cannon fodder in war.
"I can help a bit. I believe the Iron Lion Legion won't refuse a batch of affordable weapons," Derek interjected.
"Sheriff, complete your knight training as soon as possible and then go to your third brother, Derek," the baron advised his fourth son.
"Marco, prepare yourself well. Even if you can't lead a charge, you need to stabilize the family's foundation. Go train with your third brother, Derek," the baron directed his eldest son. Over several generations, the Ferreira family had begun transitioning from a purely military lineage, and Marco was more like a noble of the kingdom.
The Ferreira family quickly adjusted their strategy to actively respond to the impending war. This was just a small part of it; the baron would intensify adjustments, draw soldiers, accelerate training, and prepare various contingencies. The Ferreira family couldn't obtain the kingdom's first-hand information, so they had to prepare in advance.
Right after the New Year, Derek swiftly took over the family's manors. The first thing he did was recruit soldiers. Then he embarked on major construction projects, expanding the manors. Various facilities were built, and with approval, he even fenced off a piece of land for horse breeding.
Derek even abandoned the most profitable serf-operated farming model, openly recruiting freemen to try to expand the population. On the other hand, he redeployed some personnel to establish a new base, stockpiling supplies, people, and equipment. Derek barely paused, juggling administrative tasks and training soldiers. Fortunately, the knights' squires he had trained were effective, able to train soldiers and run errands on his behalf.
With the support of Baron Ferreira, Derek had access to more resources. Two months flew by, and Derek suddenly received a message from Lloyd about a large slave-capturing team that would soon pass through the Northlands. The team needed to pass through a mountain path and had sent scouts ahead, giving Derek an opportunity.
Derek mobilized nearly all his soldiers and quickly moved to the mountain base. Lloyd had been waiting for a while.
"My friend, please brief me on the situation," Derek said.
"This slave team has passed through here five times now, each time bigger than the last. Although they haven't said explicitly, our contacts have heard accents from the Holy Cross Kingdom. I've collected tolls, but this route is the safest, so they've been using it more often. This time, they informed us in advance they'd be coming through," Lloyd explained.
Five trips in less than a year indicated that these people were running a significant operation.
"Is there any way to buy them out?" Derek asked.
"No, I've heard it's goods for a big shot. The slave team seems to be from the buyer's side and is very cautious," Lloyd replied.
"A big shot? Connected to the Holy Cross Kingdom? They must have forgotten the civil war, the humiliation by the barbarians still unavenged, and the lost territories not yet reclaimed," Derek sneered. This was a shady business. While slave trading was legal, this batch was likely illicit. Sending them to the Holy Cross Kingdom could not be for anything good.
During the civil war, the Holy United Kingdom split into three, fracturing the southern dominant force on the continent. This led to mutual attacks and weakened strength. At this time, the northern barbarians invaded, seizing vast lands, a situation that persisted to this day. The Holy Cross Kingdom bordered the northern province and shared a common enemy in the barbarians. However, post-civil war, both sides loathed each other, often engaging in more skirmishes than wars with the barbarians. Only in recent years had things calmed down enough that some dared to traffic people to the Holy Cross Kingdom.
Clearly, these people were not obtained through legitimate means. After analyzing the situation, Derek concluded that he had nothing to fear from potential troublemakers. A noble from the central or southern regions couldn't do much to him, and might not even be able to trace the act back to him.
"We'll take this opportunity," Derek decided quickly.
Lloyd hesitated, despite his close relationship with Derek and the fact that Derek's support was crucial for his current success. Breaking the rules to seize this lucrative opportunity would undoubtedly damage his reputation. Without a good reputation, business would suffer. Moreover, being resented by powerful people behind the scenes could lead to trouble at any moment.
"Derek, should we try negotiating with them again? Maybe we can buy them out," Lloyd suggested.
Derek stared at Lloyd, making him uncomfortable. Lloyd shifted his stance nervously before Derek spoke again. "I won't act here. This mountain path leads straight into Holy Cross Kingdom's territory. I'll act here," he said, pointing to a spot on the map within Holy Cross Kingdom's borders.
This mountain path was frequently used not only to avoid checkpoints but also because it easily crossed into another country. Did everyone think all the trade was legitimate? Smuggling was far more profitable. In the Holy Cross Kingdom, the church held significant power, marked by corruption and conservatism. Many goods from Locke Kingdom were highly sought after, and the church leaders were not short of money.
Lloyd sighed in relief but felt embarrassed. He quickly offered, "I'll bring people to help you."
"No need, I can handle it myself," Derek declined firmly. Lloyd could be informed but not involved to avoid any risk.
Lloyd thought Derek had other plans and hastily explained, "It's not that I don't trust you. It's just that, for me, reputation is very important."
"I understand. We're friends. I wouldn't ask a friend to take a loss for me," Derek reassured Lloyd, waiting for him to leave before he began making his preparations in earnest.