Lord blessed by the elves

Chapter 103 Going Home
"Protect our eldest and second eldest brothers..." Kruze repeated his sister's words softly, a warm feeling welling up inside him, along with a heavy sense of responsibility. He looked up, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate the walls, seeing his younger brother on the tower, equally affected, and his sister, now determined to become stronger.

It seems that the blood of this family truly flows with an indomitable will to protect.

Whether it's Rezal, who remains silent and steadfast after being provoked, or Elena, who is determined to protect her brother, they are both responding to this sudden and enormous crisis in their own ways.

He walked to the window, gazing at the faint outline of the mountains in the distance, his eyes regaining their sharpness and determination.

"In that case, as the eldest brother, I can't fall behind."

Five days later, Baron Reyes, weary from his journey, finally led his elite knights back to Lion's Tooth Territory.

After several days of driving at full speed, both he and his horse were exhausted. But when he saw the familiar outline of Lion Tooth Town in the distance, his worries about his children and his anxiety about the state of his territory prompted him to urge his horse to speed up again.

However, as the distance closed, the anxiety in his eyes was gradually replaced by a hint of astonishment.

Outside the territory, large tracts of land that were once barren and overgrown with weeds have now been cultivated, with neat rows of fields covering the landscape like a green chessboard.

The field was planted with a crop he had never seen before, a lush green expanse that was growing vigorously.

The number of serfs working in the fields was significantly more than when he left. Although they were still dressed in rags, their movements seemed less numb and more lively and busy.

This was quite different from the barren and dilapidated Lion Tooth Territory he remembered.

"This is..." Reyes was surprised and suspicious, but eager to get home, he temporarily suppressed his doubts and led the knights straight to the entrance of the town.

The simple wooden fortress wall on the outer perimeter still stood, and it did not appear to have undergone large-scale reinforcement, which made him frown slightly.

But when the heavy gate of the stockade slowly opened in front of him, the scene inside completely stunned him, and he even subconsciously reined in his warhorse, wondering if he had come to the wrong place.

Inside the village gate, most of the previously crowded, chaotic, and sewage-filled residential area has been demolished, and a wide, flat, solid earthen road, large enough to accommodate four horse-drawn carriages traveling side by side, leads straight to the distant castle like a main trunk.

The main road is lined with cleared land, and some areas are piled with building materials, making it easy to see that new houses are being planned.

Walking along the main road, you arrive at the town center, where a rather spacious square is already taking shape.

Under the command of the overseers, many serfs were chanting slogans as they worked together to demolish the dilapidated old houses around the square and clear away the rubble.

The entire town resembled a giant construction site; though noisy, it was brimming with a vibrant energy of breaking down the old and establishing the new.

Where is this the same Lion Tooth Town that he left behind, so gloomy and chaotic?
In a very short time, absolutely tremendous changes have taken place!
The two knights following Reyes, Carter and Kado, exchanged glances and whispered among themselves about the changes in the territory. Most of them were from this region, and the scene before them was both familiar and strange.

Just then, Kruse, having received the news, hurried out from the direction of the castle with several men. He saw his father, seated on horseback, his face weary yet unable to conceal his shock. A smile spread across his face, and he stepped forward to bow respectfully.
"Father, you're back."

Reyes dismounted with surprising agility, walking swiftly to Kruze. His sharp gaze swept over the bustling scene before settling on his eldest son's much more composed face. His tone held disbelief and a barely perceptible excitement:
"Kruze...you...you did all of this?"

He had only been gone for a few months, yet his territory had undergone such a dramatic change!
What kind of skill and courage does that require?
Especially after being terrified by the dragon, this eldest son was not crushed by fear. Instead, he managed the territory in an orderly manner, and it even showed signs of a complete transformation!
Kruze nodded and calmly replied, "Yes, Father. I just feel that no matter what happens in the outside world, our lives must go on, and our territory must develop. Moreover, I believe you will return safely, and I hope you will see a different Liontooth Territory."

Looking into his son's eyes, which were just as deep and determined as his own when he was young, Reyes was overwhelmed with a mix of emotions.

There was relief that his children were safe and sound, surprise at the changes in the territory, and a sense of satisfaction and emotion that "the fledgling eagle has spread its wings."

He patted Kruze heavily on the shoulder, and all his words finally boiled down to one sentence: "Good! Very good! Go back to the castle first, and tell me all about it in detail, and also... about the dragon."

Although Reyes felt gratified, his duties as lord and legion commander compelled him to quickly suppress his personal emotions and resume his decisive and efficient style. He glanced at the knights standing at attention behind him and swiftly issued his orders:
"Cado!"

"Here you are, Commander!" A middle-aged knight clad in heavy armor and exuding a calm demeanor stepped forward.

"You will lead the Longwind Knights to establish a temporary camp at a suitable location outside the town. Remember, your primary task is to keep watch in the direction of the Hornas Mountains! Report any unusual activity immediately!"

He originally intended to house this elite force inside the town, but seeing that the town was undergoing large-scale reconstruction and a large number of serfs were being resettled outside, the internal space was indeed insufficient to accommodate these two hundred fully armed knights and their warhorses.

This elite force, created by Count Campono, consists of members who are at least Bronze Knights; trainee knights are not even qualified to be selected and must be properly placed.

"Yes, Commander!" Kado clenched his fist and pounded his chest, giving a standard military salute. Without hesitation, he turned around and began to call out to his knights, skillfully starting to plan the camp.

“Carter!” Reyes turned his gaze to another trusted confidant.

"Commander!" A sharp-eyed and lean knight stepped forward in response.

"Take your men and immediately take over all the defenses of the fortress! Especially the watchtowers, keep your eyes wide open!" Reyes emphasized, highlighting the watchtowers.

Standing tall allows for a broader view; if that terrifying dragon were to reappear, even a mere moment's notice could buy the territory precious time to escape.

"Understood, Commander!" Carter naturally understood the commander's meaning, nodded solemnly, and then selected a group of men who quickly dispersed and rushed towards the stockade walls and various watchtowers. The posts originally handled by the Lion Fang militia were seamlessly taken over by these experienced elite knights, and the alert level of the entire territory was instantly raised.

(End of this chapter)