Berserk: The Prophet

The caravan set off again, with El's guards following along. When Green asked El why he had become a baron at such a young age, El replied, "To my shame, it all started with the Landil peasant uprising three months ago."

"His Majesty has indeed organized forces to quell the rebellion, but the barren land of Landil is mostly mountains and hills, making it difficult for Baldian's army to advance. Adding to this, this year's harvest was poor, and the country relies entirely on imports from Midland and Juda. Furthermore, the extravagance of the royal family and the nobles in the capital in recent years has quickly depleted the national treasury due to the need for military supplies..."

"Following this, because my family's territory was almost right next to Nalandir, groups of criminals and thieves who had fled from Nalandir frequently came to cause trouble in the territory, and my father and brothers died one after another while protecting the people of the land..."

Along the way, the two gradually became acquainted. During their conversation, Green discovered that although El was young, he had lofty ambitions. He wanted to restore the Kingdom of Baldian to its former prosperity and let his people live in peace and happiness.

Al also admired Green's composure and decisiveness, and the two had a pleasant conversation.

“I see that the cavalrymen in your team are quite skilled. They didn’t fall off their horses even when surrounded by that chaotic group of refugees.” El’s gaze turned to Koripo and the others who were still vigilantly guarding the surroundings and acting as protectors.

Green smiled and said proudly, "You flatter me, Baron. They are all old comrades who have fought on the battlefield for many years and have experienced many battles, so they naturally have some skills."

"I see. Although the armor looks like it has lost much of its luster, it must be the armor of a knight, right? Ordinary people can't afford such armor."

“That’s right. They are mercenaries with some family wealth. Their ancestors were probably knights, but they fell on hard times and ended up doing business with me.”

El nodded, then asked curiously, "Don't they feel it's a waste of their talents to follow you in business?"

Green laughed heartily: "They are all people who value loyalty. My father was an old acquaintance of theirs, and we went through a lot together. They also watched me grow up. Now that we're all out here making a living, we look after each other. For them, this is also a different kind of battle."

A hint of admiration flashed in El's eyes. "It's clear you're very popular. You're lucky to have such a group of loyal followers."

Green chuckled and patted Al on the shoulder. "You're the same. You're so young yet you have such a strong sense of responsibility. You can lead your men to protect the people, and everyone trusts you."

As the two walked and talked, a small castle appeared ahead. It seemed to be due to the recent surge in population, as unfinished wooden walls were being built around the castle, and there were also many temporary tents erected inside the walls.

"Look, that's my family's fiefdom. We've recently gained quite a few new residents, and we're rushing to expand the city's defenses."

Following the direction El pointed, Green looked at the simple yet vibrant castle and exclaimed, "It is truly admirable that the Baron has managed his fiefdom so well at such a young age."

El scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, "This is all thanks to everyone's hard work. The situation in Landil is chaotic, and many people have fled to my territory to escape the war and bandits. As a baron, I have a responsibility to protect them and give them a safe haven."

As the caravan drew closer to the castle, Green noticed the people working there. Although their faces were tired, their eyes revealed a kind of resilience.

"These people are very hardworking. Even under such difficult circumstances, they can still work together to rebuild their homes."

Al smiled and said, "Yes, everyone understands that only through hard work can we live a good life. I'm also thinking of ways to see if we can cultivate some new farmland, introduce some new crop varieties or some high-yield wheat seeds, so as to help everyone increase their income and make a living."

“...Wheat seeds?” Green fell into deep thought. He had quite a few wheat seeds given to him by the system in his space, but he had never tried planting them and didn’t know how effective they would be.

As they spoke, they arrived at the castle gates, where the guards happily opened them to welcome their lord. A man who appeared to be a steward came out and respectfully said, "Your Excellency, you have returned."

El nodded and instructed, "Arrange accommodations for the caravan, prepare some hot water and food, and let everyone get some rest. Also, notify the doctor to check on the injured brothers in the caravan."

The butler acknowledged and went to make the arrangements.

Green said gratefully to El, "Your Excellency, you have been so thoughtful. Thank you so much."

El waved his hand, "Don't be so polite. We're all friends. You've had a long journey, and you must be tired. Get some rest first, and we can talk about it later."

Green led his entourage, following the steward, to a spacious courtyard. The carriages and horses were placed in the stables, which had been cleaned by the owner, and the rooms had been prepared.

Everyone, covered in blood, went to wash up and rest, while Green and Jacob went to the yard to check on the placement of the goods.

“Young Master, the situation in Baldin is complicated. We must proceed with caution. Although we have Baron El’s assistance, we cannot let our guard down,” Jacob said, frowning.

“Yes, business is tough for caravans here. Mercenary work might be easier.” Having experienced the battles with refugees along the way, Green understood Jacob’s concerns, especially since Gus’s Fierce Bear Gang also wanted to gain fame in Balden.

"Let's ask the local merchants if they're interested in buying these goods. Otherwise, we can resell them in the nearest town. We can do some mercenary work on the road and make a name for ourselves."

“Yes, we can set off once the archers in the team have recovered. However, we might not have enough manpower for mercenary work.” Jacob agreed, but they were indeed short-handed at the moment.

"...I'll take care of the manpower issue."

Green had already made up his mind. In any case, it would be very convenient for him to deal with manpower issues by drawing cards with Soul Points or exchanging Knight Essences.

People recruited from outside... you pay them but they might run away at any time, or even embezzle the spoils. That's unacceptable.

After a busy day, by the time Green and Jacob finished their discussion, it was dinnertime. Baron El invited them to a banquet in the Lord's Hall.

Green and Jacob quickly washed up, tidied their clothes, and headed to the lord's hall.

Upon entering the hall, they were immediately struck by a unique and lively atmosphere. Several long tables were set up in the hall, laden with food and drinks. People from the castle gradually took their seats, and laughter echoed throughout the hall.