The next morning, the exploration team consisting of Ryan, Cleveland, and Christina was officially ready to depart.
Draconis, with his Dratini, and Old Butler Alfred, saw the three of them off.
Each of the three had their own duties, and this mission might not be completed within a single day.
Therefore, Ryan carried a pack on his back, containing food and water for three people.
Cleveland carried weapons, flint, simple Potions, and other daily necessities.
Christina, on the other hand, brought a blank book and a pen to record the appearance of "Magical Beasts."
Draconis looked at the three and said seriously, "Everything from now on is in your hands!"
"Yes, Your Highness Draconis!" Ryan grinned and patted his chest in assurance.
Christina was very anxious about the upcoming journey. Magical Beasts… what dangerous and terrifying creatures they were. She couldn't help but doubt whether she could complete the mission His Highness Draconis had given her.
"Also, no matter what, your own safety is paramount. If you encounter a Magical Beast you cannot defeat, remember to flee immediately. I have only one request, and that is to come back alive!" Draconis exhorted.
"Eh?" Hearing His Highness tell them to prioritize their own safety, Christina was stunned, but she quickly reacted and hurriedly said, "Yes!"
Come back alive… Cleveland couldn't help but be slightly taken aback. It had been a long time since anyone had said those words to him.
When he was young, before he went to war, the girl he loved and his parents had both said those words to him.
But when he returned from the battlefield, everything had changed.
He never expected that someone would say those words to him now. Cleveland felt quite emotional for a moment.
Compared to the other two, Ryan was quite looking forward to the road ahead.
Magical Beasts were not as terrifying as imagined.
Among them, there were some who knew how to repay kindness, innocent like children.
Just like Anna's little Magical Beast, and the three Snovers that had run into the territory out of curiosity.
So the question was, could he also encounter such a Magical Beast?
The three, with their differing thoughts, promised Draconis that they would complete the mission, then left the territory.
"Your Highness Draconis, can they really complete the mission?" Old Butler Alfred looked at their retreating figures, his face full of worry.
"At this point, this is the only way," Draconis said in a deep voice.
They were in such a predicament today; no one would come to save them. To survive, they could only save themselves.
Draconis looked up at the sky. The only thing worth celebrating was that the weather these past few days had been very good, much warmer than before.
"It's time to start planting," Draconis said.
Alfred reported, "Colin and the others are all ready."
Colin was one of the farmers.
Draconis nodded. Farming was a very important matter for the territory. Draconis nodded and said, "Let's go, we'll go take a look together!"
"Yes, Your Highness."
When the two arrived there, they saw many people gathered around the fields.
Planting was a major event for the people of this territory, concerning everyone's future.
Therefore, some women from the Gathering team also specially rushed over to help.
Several farmers were sowing seeds with the help of the two Bouffalants.
The scale of the newly cultivated land this time was very large; if it relied solely on Colin and his team, it would take a long time to finish the work.
But with the help of the Bouffalants and other people in the territory, more than half of the seeds were planted in less than half a day.
The crops planted in this batch were: rye, white radish, potatoes, and winter wheat.
These four crops were all extremely cold-hardy, capable of normal Growth even in the cold winter.
Especially the yield of potatoes was very high, more than enough to feed all seventy-eight people in the entire territory.
Coupled with the fact that rye and wheat could be ground into flour and made into bread, as long as they held out until May, getting through the three-month gap, they wouldn't have to worry about food issues.
At that time, whether to continue staying here to farm and build, or to take the grain and continue to the rich territory the Old King had arranged for him, both would be excellent choices.
Looking at this scene, Draconis slowly breathed a sigh of relief.
*
In Eindoak, the massive Great Sword of Earth Castle stood tall on a colossal mountain peak.
Within this magnificent castle, the Old King of this country stood on the terrace of his bedchamber, overlooking the bustling and prosperous city below.
Behind him, two handsome, tall men knelt on one knee, reporting on the recent situation in the kingdom and their respective completed tasks.
"Father King, the Magical Beast riot that recently occurred in the knight's territory has ceased. Our knights are helping the Commoners there repair their damaged homes and fields!"
"Father King…"
The Old King listened in silence. After the two finished speaking, he finally said, "You may leave!"
Seeing this, the two princes exchanged glances, and finally chose to get up and depart.
Listening to the sound of footsteps slowly fading behind him, the Old King sighed helplessly.
He was old. In his early years, he had spent his life in battle, establishing this prosperous kingdom, yet he never expected to hesitate now over the matter of succession.
His two sons were truly too outstanding. Unbeknownst to him, they had already formed their own factions and had been openly and secretly vying for power for a long time.
His indecisiveness in his early years had led to a situation where it was now inappropriate to pass on his throne to either of his sons.
If not handled properly, a terrible war might break out throughout the entire kingdom.
What should he do?
The Old King was immensely conflicted and troubled.
Just then, a Growl suddenly came from behind him.
"Nini?"
The Old King turned around and saw a small creature with "V"-shaped ears and large blue eyes fly to his side.
"Is it Victini?"
"Nini!"
Victini held a small cookie in its hand, happily eating it.
After finishing the cookie, Victini couldn't help but feel a little lost.
"Nini…"
Having been with Victini for many years, even without words, the Old King could understand its meaning.
Now seeing it like this, the Old King slowly sighed and said, "Are you also worried about Draconis?"
"Nini!" Victini nodded repeatedly.
"I'm sorry, Victini…" The Old King's eyes held an apologetic look: "I truly had no other choice but to send him away. If he stayed in the royal city, his situation would only become more and more dangerous…"
Moreover, the power in his hands had almost been usurped.
"Nini…" Victini was very disheartened.
"Don't worry." The Old King reached out and stroked its head: "Draconis will be fine. The territory I chose for him is the most prosperous and fertile territory in the kingdom. He will live out his life safely there."
Among his three sons, the eldest and second sons were born at the same time; they were twins.
His third son, Draconis, was a little younger than them, and also the child with the best relationship with Victini.
Before Draconis grew up, he and Victini often played hide-and-seek in the Great Sword of Earth Castle.
The lifespan of Magical Beasts was far longer than that of humans.
Now he was old, and perhaps it wouldn't be long before he would leave this world.
Before that, he had to settle Victini.
Victini possessed extremely powerful abilities. If this power were seized by his two ambitious eldest and second sons, it would likely bring about a terrifying disaster.
Therefore, after much deliberation, the Old King decided to secretly send Victini to Draconis before his death.