Chapter 43: Money Almost Spent! Centaurs and Storm Colts!

The dust raised by the Kingdom Investigation Team's carriages had not yet completely settled, and Vanguard Valley plunged into the heat of construction and expansion again.

Baron Carter's death was like a stone thrown into a calm lake.

Although it stirred up short-lived ripples and even attracted the gaze of the Royal Capital, it ultimately failed to shake the foundation of this newborn territory.

After the storm, Roko's goals became clearer and firmer.

Development!

Development at all costs!

Improve strength, expand military power, and build Vanguard Valley into a truly impregnable fortress.

The morning sun had just crossed the eastern ridge, and the training ground was already filled with neat shouts and the clanging of weapons colliding.

Roko stood on high ground, overlooking the soldiers and knights sweating below.

His gaze swept over faces that were young, firm, or slightly numb.

During this period, the changes in Vanguard Valley were visible to the naked eye.

The stone walls of the castle had been piled higher, simple arrow towers stood on them, and the prototype of defense had initially taken shape.

Farmland had been reclaimed, green crops swayed in the wind, bringing the breath of hope.

And most importantly, the armed forces under Roko's command.

Thanks to the spoils of the previous battle, as well as the implicit support of Duke Auston and his two uncles.

Plus, Roko's unsparing investment of gold coins and basic breathing method secret manuals.

The number of knights under his command had expanded from the initial fifty-odd to over eighty.

Although the vast majority were still Knight Attendants, and there were only about thirty Knight Reservists.

But this force was not weak in the chaotic and barren border of New Wind Province.

Of course, the price for all this was that the gold coins in Roko's space ring were being consumed at an astonishing speed.

Cultivating a qualified knight was never a cheap thing.

First was the warhorse.

Knights could not do without warhorses; an excellent warhorse not only provided powerful mobility but also significantly enhanced the knight's impact and combat endurance.

However, good warhorses were expensive and in short supply.

The horses currently equipped in Vanguard Valley were mostly inferior warhorses captured from Baron Carter or aided by his uncles.

These horses were dull and had poor endurance, only barely meeting the needs of daily patrols and low-intensity training.

Second was equipment.

A well-fitting suit of armor and a sharp weapon were the guarantees for a knight's survival and killing on the battlefield.

Although the dwarf craftsmen's skills were good, limited by materials and time, they could currently only prioritize the needs of a few elite knights.

Most of the newly recruited Knight Attendants and Knight Reservists wore crude leather armor and held standard spears or iron swords.

Finally, and most fundamentally, was consumption: food.

Knights, especially those who cultivated breathing methods, had appetites far exceeding ordinary people.

To maintain their physical strength and Battle Qi cultivation, sufficient food supply, especially meat, was indispensable.

Vanguard Valley's farmland had just begun to produce, and most of the grain still needed to be purchased from the outside.

Meat needed to be purchased regularly or organized for hunting.

Every item was a gold-swallowing beast.

Roko looked at the knights training below, his brows furrowing imperceptibly.

Money was running out.

"Roko!"

A crisp voice carrying a hint of complaint came from behind.

Roko didn't need to look back to know who it was.

The Snow Fox girl Martina clutched a thick account book and walked over angrily.

Her snow-white long hair was tied into a simple ponytail, a few strands of hair hanging over her forehead, which had a small slave mark.

Those pure white eyes were currently glaring at Roko, filled with "I am very unhappy."

"Look at this!"

Martina spread the account book in front of Roko, her slender fingers pointing to one of the pages.

"There are less than three thousand gold coins left!"

"And this is counting the last extortion..."

"No, it's the money Baron Carter compensated!"

"At the current rate of consumption, we can hold on for at most half a month before we have to drink the northwest wind!"

Her small mouth was pouting, and her snow-white fox ears drooped, showing the owner's anxiety.

"Especially those horses!"

Martina pointed to the training ground.

"We didn't have many decent warhorses to begin with; they were all dull and inferior horses."

"After a month of high-intensity training, nearly a third have completely broken down!"

"Yesterday, when Joven was training, his horse suddenly foamed at the mouth and collapsed while running, almost throwing him to his death!"

"If this continues, let alone expanding the knight team, the existing knights will all become infantry!"

Martina became angrier the more she spoke, her small fists clenching.

"We need a batch of new warhorses, and they must be high-quality warhorses!"

"Otherwise, we can't even guarantee basic mobility with this little knight strength; encountering slightly stronger enemies, we'll be sitting ducks!"

Roko looked at the rapidly decreasing numbers in the account book and then at Martina's anxious little face, feeling a headache.

Martina was right.

The warhorse problem was imminent.

Without qualified warhorses, the knight's combat effectiveness would be greatly reduced.

But high-quality warhorses were expensive, and more importantly, difficult to buy.

The Black Kingdom itself was not famous for producing horses, and excellent warhorses mostly needed to be obtained from other kingdoms or through special channels.

Go to Prada City to ask Duke Auston for help?

I'm afraid the Duke wouldn't easily take out a large amount of strategic material-level warhorses.

Open his mouth to his two uncles?

Their own territories also needed development, and the support they could provide was likely limited.

Could it be that he had to try his luck at the slave market?

Slave-catching teams like Ferdinand's occasionally sold some horses plundered from orc tribes or other places, but the quality was uneven, and the quantity could not be guaranteed.

"I know."

Roko rubbed his temples, his voice carrying a hint of fatigue.

"I will find a way regarding the horses."

Martina looked at Roko, a hint of worry flashing in her pure white eyes.

Although she often complained about Roko spending money lavishly, she also knew that the development of the territory could not be separated from investment.

【Favorability: 68】

【Loyalty: 48】

She sighed lightly, her tone softening.

"I know you are under a lot of pressure, but there really aren't many gold coins left."

"Castle construction, weapon forging, soldier pay, and my snacks..."

At the end, her voice became smaller, and her snow-white cheeks flushed slightly.

Roko looked at her appearance, and the irritation in his heart dissipated quite a bit.

This little fox, although greedy for money and food, was indeed an irreplaceable talent in managing the territory.

He reached out his hand, imagining doing the same to Martina as he did to Fula, ruffling her fox ears.

But when his hand reached halfway, seeing Martina instantly become vigilant and retreat half a step, Roko withdrew his hand in embarrassment.

This little fox still had too much defense.

"Your snacks won't be missing."

Roko smiled.

"As for gold coins and warhorses..."

Before he could finish his sentence.

A burst of hurried footsteps came.

Guard Captain Hart walked over with steady yet urgent steps.

His face, which usually had no expression, was currently carrying a hint of excitement that could not be hidden.

"Young Master!"

Hart walked to Roko and bowed slightly.

"The scout just sent back emergency intelligence!"

Roko and Martina looked at each other, both seeing a hint of solemnity in the other's eyes.

Emergency intelligence?

Could it be that the Kingdom's investigation team had returned?

"Speak."

Roko's voice returned to calmness.

Hart took a deep breath and lowered his voice, but the excitement in his tone could not be completely covered.

"Our scout, in the west, about three hundred miles away from Vanguard Valley on a wasteland."

"Discovered a centaur tribe!"

"They are driving a large group of warhorses!"

"The number is at least over one hundred!"

"And, according to the scout's description, the quality of those warhorses is extremely high!"

Hart's voice trembled slightly.

"The scout said those horses had snow-white coats, spirited bodies, and ran like a storm!"

"Some of them even showed signs of wind element flowing around them!"

"It is very likely to be one of the top warhorses, the Storm Colt!" ===== CHAPTER 44 =====