Berserk: The Prophet

When Al saw Green and Jacob come in, he waved them over warmly, "Green, Jacob, sit here. Let's all relax and have some fun together today."

Green and Jacob sat down next to El. Green smiled and said, "El, it's quite lively here. Everyone seems to be having a good time."

El nodded. "Yes, a lot of new people have come to the territory recently. It's a rare opportunity for everyone to get together and boost morale."

"The territory is currently facing some tight budgets, and there's not much to offer you in terms of food during the winter, but there's plenty of wine."

Green laughed and said, "El, this wine is enough. The most important thing is that everyone is having fun together." With that, he raised his glass, clinked it with El's, and drank it all in one gulp.

...Hmm, the wine here is indeed quite good.

The banquet began soon, and those who came to eat were all the guards who had followed El during the day. Unlike Baron Sylvan of Judas, the young El did not care much about aristocratic airs and mingled with his guards.

"Green, why did you only bring one attendant? I see that your men are all quite capable. Invite them to join us for the meal."

Green smiled and said, "They must be tired after a long day of travel, so let them rest at their lodgings. Besides, Jacob and I are quite comfortable here with you, enjoying a drink together."

Al nodded. "That's right. Let them have a proper hot meal tomorrow."

At the banquet, everyone ate, drank, and chatted. El's guards recounted amusing stories from their time in the territory, while Green shared tales of his caravan journeys.

The crowd sometimes burst into laughter, and sometimes marveled at the sight.

After a few rounds of drinks, everyone had relaxed from the day's busyness. Al sat down next to Green and said, "How about working for me? Business might not be so easy in Baldian these days."

Green was slightly taken aback, not expecting El to suddenly make such an invitation. He looked at El's sincere eyes and pondered to himself.

Joining El's ranks would indeed provide some protection in the chaotic southern region of Balden, and with El's influence in the area, it might be easier to achieve some goals.

...but some plans are only suitable for solo operations.

"I am grateful for your kind offer, Baron. I have indeed considered your suggestion, but I have some personal matters to attend to at the moment and must proceed alone with my team."

After Green declined, El didn't seem too disappointed. He just patted Green's shoulder gently and said, "It's alright. If you change your mind later, feel free to come find me."

Green smiled gratefully and raised his glass to toast Al again.

The banquet ended before midnight, with everyone drinking in moderation, as they would continue patrolling the territory the next day.

Nothing happened that night, except for the occasional barking of dogs in the city.

By early morning, the wounded soldiers had recovered quickly and were already able to walk normally, but they still needed to stay for a couple more days to fully recover.

With the system's support, this recovery speed is already considered fast.

Green used his spatial ability to swap some of the cargo in the wagons, replacing salt and some flax bundles with wheat. Last night, he checked the system and found that this wheat was not only enough to fill their stomachs but also a high-quality seed, with plump grains, making it ideal for planting.

It just so happens that El gets along well with him, and the territory is short of these wheat seeds, so it's fine to do him a favor.

Green sorted out the replacement wheat seeds, took some in a small cloth bag, and went to find El with Jacob.

As the first rays of dawn shone upon the castle, the people began their day's work, with the construction of the outer walls proceeding smoothly and the streets filled with a simple yet vibrant atmosphere.

When Grin found El, he was already dressed in armor and discussing territory matters with several knights. Seeing Grin and Jacob, El smiled warmly, "Grin, so early! Did you sleep well last night?"

Green replied with a smile, "Thank you for your concern, I slept very well. I came today to bring a small gift for His Excellency the Baron."

As he spoke, he gestured for Jacob to bring over the small cloth bag containing the wheat seeds.

El looked at the bag with some confusion. "What's this?"

Green opened the bag, grabbed a handful of wheat seeds, and handed them to El. "These are excellent wheat seeds, with plump grains, perfect for planting next spring. I thought the Baron's territory might need them, so I sent them over."

El's eyes lit up, and he took the wheat seeds with delight, examining them carefully. "Green, this is truly a godsend! My territory is just worried about not having good wheat seeds to plant next year, and your gift has come at the perfect time."

Green smiled and said, "It was nothing, I'm glad I could help you. I remember you mentioned crops yesterday, and it just so happens that this batch of wheat I have is of excellent seed that I bought from Midland. I'm sure with these, your territory will have a good harvest next year."

El nodded emphatically. "With these wheat seeds, I will make sure the people cultivate them well. Green, if you need anything, just say the word."

After a moment's thought, Green said, "I hope to do more business in your territory in the future, and I hope that Your Excellency will take good care of me."

El laughed heartily, "That's easy. You can do business in my territory without any problems from now on."

Afterwards, El summoned the steward and instructed him to properly safeguard the wheat seeds. He then enthusiastically pulled Green aside to continue discussing the development of the territory.

It was clear that the young baron was very enthusiastic about governing the territory, and Green had learned a lot about his insights into the land and his people.

"...To be honest, there haven't been any caravans passing through my territory for quite some time now, and our granaries are running low on supplies."

Upon hearing this, Green frowned slightly, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the belt at his waist as he quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

The journey of caravans through the southern part of Baldian was already fraught with danger. If they were to rashly establish this place as a fixed supply point, they would not only face harassment from bandits along the way, but also risk attracting the covetousness of other forces.

But seeing the bloodshot eyes in El's eyes, a result of his concern for the people of his territory, he recalled the spirited expressions of the guards at the banquet last night as they recounted amusing anecdotes about their land—he was indeed an ally worth making friends with.

After a moment of contemplation, Green slowly said, "El, I understand your difficulties. Setting up this place as a fixed supply point does indeed pose many risks to my caravan."

"However, we get along quite well, and I'm willing to take the risk and give it a try. But we need to come up with a comprehensive plan that can both ensure the safety of the caravan and provide a stable supply to the territory."