After all the swamp lizardmen were escorted away, Macken looked at Lear with a subtle gaze.
"Lord Lear, if you have any future needs for slaves, feel free to come to me... The Dragon Fang Trading Company will surely offer you the lowest internal prices."
This was a lord favored by Princess Firina. With that connection, the future held much promise.
Not to mention his mysterious and unpredictable methods.
Such a lord might have the capacity to establish a foothold in the wilderness!
Lear nodded.
"Thank you in advance, Chairman MacKen. I will definitely trouble you again in the future."
"Oh, you flatter me... too polite..."
After a few more polite exchanges, Lear didn't linger, taking the arranged carriage back to the Rose House.
Macken watched his departing figure, his smile gradually fading, his gaze turning profound.
"Unfortunately, I can't afford to gamble anymore... The stakes in investing in a Pioneer Lord are too high."
When Lear returned to the Rose House, Firina's 12th-level high-tier knight maid, Jasmine, was waiting at the door.
Her golden hair was particularly striking.
"Lord Lear, the supplies sent by Her Highness have been placed in the side courtyard. Please check them..."
"However, the 100 artisans won't be delivered to you until tomorrow."
Though she didn't understand why Her Highness held this once downtrodden noble living in the slums in such high regard,
since the order had been given, regardless of her inner doubts, she had to ensure the task was completed.
Lear nodded slightly.
"Miss Jasmine, thank you for your hard work."
Just as the two exchanged a few pleasantries, a series of carriages transporting the wetland lizardmen slowly came to a stop on the spacious ground.
Swamp creatures covered in gray-green scale armor jumped down.
Their muscles were bulging, filled with a sense of power.
Amber eyes cold and fierce, as if about to devour someone at any moment.
As their gaze swept over, the spines of a few greeting attendants instantly chilled.
Truly terrifying.
"Sir, all the wetland lizardmen have been delivered..."
The leader of the escort stepped forward.
Lear looked at this 9th-level knight in armor and smiled slightly.
Reaching out, he pulled out a dozen silver coins and handed them over.
"Thank you all for your hard work, have a drink of rum on me."
Spending 1000 gold coins to buy a 6th-level army, he felt utterly satisfied, his mood soaring.
The leader accepted the silver coins, his smile immediately brightening.
"You are too kind!!"
Extra earnings, no matter how small, are never too small, and no matter how large, are never too large.
After saying that, they didn't stay long, turning to leave with the three squads of guards.
Jasmine, watching this scene, showed some surprise in her eyes.
"Did you purchase the lizardmen as guards?"
Lear looked at these ferocious creatures, a slight smile playing on his lips.
These were indeed the capital for expansion!
"Yes, Miss Jasmine," he replied.
She opened her mouth as if wanting to say something but then closed it, finally hesitatingly speaking.
"Her Highness inquired, when do you plan to depart?"
Each Pioneer Lord, after selecting their territory, has one month of preparation time.
When the term expires, they must apply for an extension at the Duke's Mansion, but the delay cannot exceed three months.
If they are not on their way within three months, they will be punished according to the Empire's laws!
At worst, they could be exiled and conscripted, with their property confiscated, and at worst, executed as deserters.
In this extraordinary world, there's nowhere to escape...
"I will decide tomorrow, but at the latest, we'll depart within half a month."
She nodded understandingly.
"I wish you good luck," she said.
Then, after hesitating, she added a line.
"Her Highness holds you in high regard."
Lear smiled and said nothing.
Turning his gaze towards the wetland lizardmen, obedient as kittens.
"Miss Jasmine, may I ask where the armor is?"
"It's all inside," she gestured.
Nodding, he waved his hand.
"Follow me."
Without a second's hesitation, all the wetland lizardmen followed him.
The supplies, along with the carriages and horses, were all in the side courtyard, though none of the drivers stayed behind; they all left.
The Rose House belongs to the Princess of Lorand City, and its grounds are indeed vast.
A side courtyard could be larger than the estates of many small nobles.
The horses pulling the carriage were mottled unicorns, standing over two meters tall, appearing extremely strong.
At this moment, they were leisurely chewing grass in front of the carriage.
Armor piled on the ground, forming a small hill, reflecting a cold metallic luster.
Each set of armor was matched with a sharp steel saber.
Gazing at this armor, an attribute panel silently emerged in his mind.
Standard Armor
[Level]: 1 Star
[Traits]: Forged with refined steel, possessing decent defense, integrated with dwarf techniques, making the armor suitable for most humans and humanoids under two meters in height.
[Evaluation]: A solid standard armor.
1 Star armor, two hundred sets!
Lear took a deep breath.
"Everyone, put on the armor."
Upon receiving the order, the wetland lizard-men immediately became enthusiastic, picking up sets of armor and assisting each other in wearing them.
This armor, showing obvious dwarf craftsmanship, was excellently designed.
The lizard-men, standing at 1.7 meters tall, found it to fit very well.
The black armor emitted a cold light, coupled with the sharp steel sabers in their hands, made the wetland lizard-men appear even more ferocious.
Their thick, powerful tails resembled a crocodile's long tail, emerging from the custom-made tail section of the armor, capable of easily smashing tree branches as thick as an arm when exerted.
Amber eyes glistened with brutality and bloodthirst, making one tremble.
They were shorter than the guards of the Rose House but not lacking in momentum.
Already having scales as defense, their combat power climbed another level with the armor.
Two squadrons of fully armed Level 6 Initial Tier knights.
Observing the arrayed wetland lizard-men in front of him, Lear's heart was filled with excitement.
Two days ago, he still lived in the Ninth District, a slum, worriedly contemplating his future path.
Two days later, he possessed a force entirely his own, had a large supply of pioneering essentials, and held a divine format enough to drive the world crazy!
The future is in hand!
The smile at the corner of his mouth gradually became wanton!
Jasmine, as Firina's close maid, was more like a secretary, with a multitude of tasks at hand, and after the wetland lizard-men donned the armor, she took her leave.
Lear treated it no differently, taking out about a dozen silver coins... but the other party politely declined.
As someone by the Princess of Lorand City, she lacked no money.
Upon returning to the Rose Manor, he immediately went to meet the princess of this city, the most dazzling goddess of the Northern Territory.
"Your Highness, all the supplies have been transported to the Rose House... when I arrived, Lord Lear had just returned, and he purchased a batch of slaves as guards..."
At this, her expression turned a bit odd.
Firina noticed her peculiarity and softly asked.
"Is there any problem?"
"Not really... however, the slave guards Lord Lear purchased are a group of wetland lizard-men!"
Wetland lizard-men?
Firina's expression showed some curiosity.
"Recently, only the Dragon Fang Trading Company acquired a batch of wetland lizard-men from the slave market, the Beast Fighting Arena should quite like these swamp creatures, why are they now being sold to Lord Lear?"
This Northern Flower, Lorand Rose, was not merely a genius in magic research, as the outside world believed.
Instead, four years ago, at just twenty, she started engaging in the political affairs of Lorand City, earning the respect of all civil servants within a year.
The future roles like extraordinary mage still needed time to be fulfilled.
And the controller of Lorand City, the Lorand Queen... could similarly describe the current Northern Flower.
However, these matters are kept secret, known only to the highest levels of the Duke's Mansion and the top nobles of Lorand City.
Jasmine, with a strange expression, said.
"Your Highness, the steward of the Beast Fighting Arena was transferred by you... he was originally closely associated with the Dragon Fang Trading Company."
"Furthermore, the wetland lizard-men are inherently brutal, not even the Ring of Enslavement can suppress them, the arena doesn't wish to buy them."
Firina's brow slightly twitched.
"Indeed, the wetland lizard-men are inherently brutal. Seven years ago, I killed many... But, why would Lord Lear choose them? Can he control them?"
Control them?
Jasmine thought of the wetland lizard-men, as meek as little kittens, obedient to commands, her expression strange.
"Perhaps... unexpected by you, those wetland lizard-men not only didn't show their brutal nature but also seemed very obedient, as if completely tamed by Lord Lear."
Firina gently smiled.
"That does make sense."
Jasmine was a bit surprised.
"Your Highness, you're not surprised?"
Surprised? What's there to be surprised about?
A fallen noble descendant coming out of the slums, facing her, remained calm and composed, and could tell her they became friends in front of him.
Could such a person be ordinary?
Firina's gaze turned outward to the window, the azure sky reflecting in her sapphire eyes, appeared infinitely mysterious.