Chapter 11

"Duke's great love, Roko is deeply grateful."

Roko didn't decline and accepted the gold notes and map frankly.

"If there is an opportunity in the future, I will definitely repay the Duke's generosity."

Duke Auston nodded with satisfaction.

"Good, young man has courage!"

"If you encounter any trouble in Xin Feng Province in the future, as long as it's not too excessive, you can come to me."

This was a clear gesture of goodwill.

Roko expressed his thanks again.

After chatting for a few more sentences, Roko stood up to say goodbye.

Duke Auston didn't try to keep him too much and personally sent Roko to the door of the side hall.

Watching the backs of Roko and that Maonv leaving, E Lan, who had been silent, finally couldn't help but speak.

"Father, why do you treat him with such preferential treatment?"

"He is just a son ranked low in the Raymond Family, a discarded son sent to pioneer a territory."

"Those five thousand gold coins and resource point information, even for us, are not things that can be given away just because we say so."

E Lan's tone carried obvious incomprehension.

In his view, his father's attitude toward that Roko Raymond was too enthusiastic, even a bit condescending.

Duke Auston turned around, sat back in his chair, and picked up his wine glass, shaking it gently.

A shrewd light flickered in his sharp eyes.

"E Lan, you still look at things too superficially."

"He is indeed the eighteenth son of the Raymond Family, perhaps having no chance in the succession."

"But don't forget, his surname is Raymond!"

"The Flame Griffin emblem, what does it represent, don't you know?"

The Duke's voice lowered.

"The Raymond Family, although only a Marquis, has operated for hundreds of years at the border and in the Bulake Kingdom."

"The foundation is deep, and the strength is powerful, far beyond your imagination."

"It is said that the current head of the family, Marquis Li Wei Si, has considerable influence in the kingdom's military."

Duke Auston sipped his wine and immediately continued.

"Gold notes worth five thousand gold coins, and some resource information, don't count for much to us."

"Using this small price to exchange for a potential opportunity to befriend the Raymond Family, or even just to avoid enmity, is worth it."

"Even if this investment fails, our loss is not big."

"But what if it succeeds?"

"Think about it, if this Roko really gains a foothold in Xin Feng Province, or even makes a name for himself."

"Then how much return can our goodwill today exchange for in the future?"

The Duke looked at his son, his eyes deep.

"E Lan, you must remember."

"In Xin Feng Province, strength is certainly important, but connections and vision are equally indispensable."

E Lan was silent.

He had to admit that his father considered things more deeply than he did.

The prestige of the Raymond Family was indeed like a mountain, pressing on the hearts of all the nobles in the Bulake Kingdom.

Li Li An listened quietly to the side, not interjecting.

Only in those sapphire-like eyes, a thoughtful light flashed.

When leaving the Duke's mansion, night had already fallen.

The night in Pu La Da City was far from as brilliant as Mu Guang City.

Pedestrians on the street were sparse, and only a few dim magic lamps provided limited illumination.

Hate led the guard squad and had already been waiting outside.

"Young Master, according to your instructions, a courtyard that is quite clean has been purchased in the west of the city as a temporary foothold."

Hate reported.

"Mm, let's go."

Roko nodded and got on the waiting carriage holding Fula.

The carriage drove in the night and finally stopped in front of a courtyard that looked quite quiet.

The courtyard was not big, but it was cleaned up quite cleanly.

Roko carried Fula into the room prepared for her.

The room was lit with candles, the light soft.

Fula was placed on the soft bed, still in that curled-up posture, not daring to move around.

Roko looked at her, his heart moving slightly.

This little guy seemed to have been in a state of high tension and inferiority since arriving here.

He walked to the bedside and sat down.

Fula's body tensed instantly, and even her breathing was held.

Roko didn't speak, just stretched out his hand, gently, tentatively, touching the furry silver-gray cat ears on top of her head.

The touch was soft and warm.

Fula's body shuddered violently, like a frightened little deer.

She subconsciously wanted to dodge, but her body was too stiff to move.

Ears were one of the most sensitive parts of the cat race.

Except for the closest people, they would almost never allow others to touch them.

Not to mention, all she had suffered since she was a child was whipping and spitting; when had she ever been treated so gently?

Roko's fingers stopped on her earlobe and gently kneaded it.

"Meow!"

Fula let out an extremely faint, similar to a sob but also like a comfortable light hum from her throat.

Her little face turned red instantly, even the tips of her ears were stained with a layer of pink.

Her body was no longer so stiff, but instead slightly soft.

A strange and warm feeling, never experienced before, spread through her cold limbs and bones along with her ears.

Making her feel afraid, yet unable to help but feel a bit... lingering?

【Favorability: 96】

【Loyalty: 96】

Roko looked at her shy and slightly confused cute appearance, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but hook up a faint smile.

"Rest early, there are many things to do tomorrow."

He withdrew his hand and stood up.

Fula looked at Roko's departing back, subconsciously raising her little hand to touch her hot ears.

That feeling just now was so strange.

However, it wasn't hateful.

She buried her face in the soft quilt, only revealing a pair of heterochromatic eyes, secretly looking at the direction of the door.

Her heart was warm.

This night, it didn't seem so cold anymore.

Early the next morning.

Roko didn't delay and directly took Hate and a portion of the guards to the Pu La Da City slave market again.

Compared to the slave market in Mu Guang City, the scale here was much smaller.

The types of slaves were also relatively single, mainly Orcs, while human slaves were not many.

Roko's goal was very clear.

He needed a large number of farm slaves to reclaim land, needed craftsmen to build houses and basic infrastructure, and also needed blacksmiths to forge weapons and tools.

Relying on the attribute panel, he could easily filter out those who were healthy or had a skill.

This function was something Roko had only discovered recently.

【Race: Human】

【Level: None】

【Skill: Primary Farming】

【Status: Healthy】

【Race: Gray Dwarf】

【Level: Initial Stage Warrior Attendant】

【Skill: Intermediate Forging】

【Status: Healthy】

【Race: Human】

【Level: None】

【Skill: Primary Carpentry】

【Status: Healthy】

After a round of selection, Roko spent nearly five thousand gold coins.

In total, he bought three hundred farm slaves, twenty carpenters, ten stonemasons, and five Gray Dwarf blacksmiths who looked quite strong.

These people would be the foundation of his territory initially.