Chapter 23: Cultivating Subordinates! The Arrival of the Slave-Catching Team!

In a blink of an eye, another day passed.

The construction of the river valley was in full swing.

Roko stood on the open space that had just been cleared, behind him was the Lord's wooden house that was beginning to take shape.

He looked at this land that had been watered by blood and soaked by sweat, and for the first time, a strange feeling called "belonging" arose in his heart.

This was no longer a cold coordinate point on the map, but the foundation of his future.

"It's time to give this place a name."

Roko muttered to himself.

He pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the winding river, the distant valley, and the Flame Griffin flag fluttering in the wind.

"Let's call it... Vanguard Valley."

Simple and direct, and carrying the meaning of pioneering.

With the name decided, the next step was more detailed planning.

Clearing land and planting crops was the top priority.

Without food, everything was empty talk.

Roko organized those serfs who had gained the status of free citizens and were relatively honest, led by Bake, to start clearing farmland in the relatively flat areas on both sides of the river valley.

The seeds were brought from Pu La Da City; although there were not many, planting them first would always yield some harvest.

At the same time, he also began to consider improving the strength of this group of people under him.

Relying only on Knights and those bandits, the power was still too thin.

He took out a few relatively basic breathing method manuals from his space ring.

This was a reward from the Raymond family to subordinates who had made contributions; although it was far less exquisite than the 【Flame Griffin Breathing Method】, for ordinary people, it was already a dream treasure.

Roko gathered Hart, Luoen, Qiaowen, Bake, Bloodaxe, and others.

"These breathing methods, you can learn them yourselves, and you can also select loyal, reliable, and potential people to pass them on to."

Roko handed the manuals to Hart.

"Yes, Young Master!"

A trace of excitement flashed in the eyes of Hart and the others.

Breathing method! This was the secret of the noble family!

The Young Master was actually willing to bestow such precious things upon them, these subordinates; this was simply a heavenly gift.

【Loyalty: 90】

【Loyalty: 85】

【Loyalty: 85】

【Loyalty: 85】

【Loyalty: 85】

The loyalty of Hart, Luoen, Qiaowen, and Bake had all significantly improved.

Even Bloodaxe, this bandit leader, had his loyalty improved to 85.

Roko nodded with satisfaction; this was exactly the effect he wanted.

Only by combining kindness and severity could one better control human hearts.

Subsequently, Roko also ordered a detailed population count of everyone in Vanguard Valley.

Knights and their families, soldiers, free citizens, craftsmen, and those Goblin and Chailangren prisoners.

The statistical results came out quickly.

Excluding those non-human prisoners, those who could truly be counted as citizens of the territory were only three hundred or so.

Too few.

This small population, whether for building the territory or future expansion, was stretched thin.

The severe shortage of labor limited the speed of development.

Roko frowned.

Population must be supplemented as soon as possible.

The best source, naturally, was slaves.

He planned to go to a large slave market nearby in person after the territory was initially stable, or go directly back to Pu La Da City to buy a batch.

Three days later.

A team of considerable scale appeared outside Vanguard Valley.

The team was well-equipped, escorting hundreds of slaves with numb expressions and ragged clothes, among whom there were even many Orcs, Dwarves, and other alien races.

At the front of the team, a flag painted with a black hound was fluttering.

"It's a slave-catching team!"

The soldiers on guard at the valley entrance immediately issued an alarm.

Hart quickly led people to the valley entrance, waiting in full battle array.

Roko also heard the news and rushed over, standing on the crude wooden wall, looking at the team.

The leader of the slave-catching team was a young man who looked to be in his twenties.

He wore gorgeous leather armor, rode a spirited black warhorse, and his face carried the pride peculiar to nobles.

The young man obviously also saw the camp that had begun to take shape in Vanguard Valley, and a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.

He didn't expect that in such a desolate and remote place, a Pioneer Noble had already established a territory.

When his gaze landed on the exquisite Flame Griffin Emblem on Roko's chest, the pride on the young man's face instantly disappeared, replaced by shock and a trace of imperceptible awe.

Flame Griffin! The Raymond family!

One of the top Marquis families in the Black Kingdom!

Even, the comprehensive strength of this Raymond family was quite a bit stronger than some Duke families!

The young man immediately dismounted, walked quickly to the valley entrance, and performed a standard noble salute to Roko on the wall.

"Respected Lord Raymond."

His voice carried just the right amount of respect.

"I am Ferdinand Corbin, the second son of the Count Corbin family."

"I didn't expect to meet you here."

Roko looked at the other party's attribute panel.

【Name: Ferdinand Corbin】

【Level: Great Knight Initial Stage】

【Talent: A-】

【Status: Surprised, ingratiating】

【Favorability: 50】

【Loyalty: 0】

A Count's son with decent talent, it looked like he was also sent out by the family to gain experience.

"My name is Roko Raymond."

"You can call me Roko."

Roko nodded slightly, returning the salute.

"I don't know what business brings you here, Excellency?"

Ferdinand's face revealed an enthusiastic smile.

"We were just passing by, didn't expect to disturb Young Master Roko."

"To tell the truth, the family put me in charge of this slave-catching team to try my luck on the edge of the New Wind Province."

He pointed to the slaves behind him.

"These are the recent harvest, and we are preparing to transport them back to Pu La Da City."

Roko's gaze swept over those slaves, and his heart moved.

"Coincidentally, my territory is currently in urgent need of manpower."

"I don't know if you are willing to part with them?"

Ferdinand heard this, and his eyes lit up.

Establishing a relationship with a member of the Raymond family was an unexpected joy.

"Of course I am willing! It is my honor to serve Young Master Roko!"

He immediately patted his chest to guarantee.

"Young Master Roko, feel free to pick whichever slaves you like!"

"As for the price, I will give you the biggest discount!"

Roko nodded.

"Then many thanks."

He walked down the wooden wall, took Hart and a few Knights, and came to the slave-catching team.

Roko began to carefully examine those slaves.

He used the attribute panel to quickly screen them.

Most of the slaves had talents at D-Rank or E-Rank, occasionally a few C-Rank ones, but that was all.

This was also within expectations; slaves with truly high talents had long been picked away by large forces or slave traders with poisonous eyes.

Roko picked one hundred relatively young and strong male slaves with talents above D-Rank, and fifty female slaves.

Three hundred Goblins and Chailangren, and a dozen Dwarf craftsmen.

Ferdinand indeed gave a very low price, almost half-selling and half-giving.

Roko didn't take advantage of him either, paying about three thousand gold coins according to eighty percent of the market price.

This made Ferdinand's favorability toward Roko improve a bit more.

Just as the transaction was about to be completed and Roko was preparing to take people away.

His gaze inadvertently swept over the end of the team, at a figure locked alone in a small iron cage.

That was a little girl who looked only twelve or thirteen years old.

She was curled up in the corner of the cage, covered by a tattered blanket.

Only revealing a head of long hair as white as snow, and a pair of fox ears that were also snow-white and trembling slightly. ===== CHAPTER 24 =====