Jeffery Ashbourne

"My Lord!" Alex came running out of the gates with ten other swordsmen behind him. They had been training in the camp when they heard the guard's voice. Upon seeing the bloodstain on the white cloth Asher used to tie his shoulder, Alex's expression turned grim.

"Why are you rushing out like I'm about to be killed?" Asher chuckled. He knew Alex was upset about his decision to confront Baron Snow alone, but that experience had matured him.

"My Lord, you were gone for seven days! Why leave alone?!" Alex voiced his concerns, but Asher smiled softly.

They looked behind the cart and saw the majestic falcons gazing back at them with a calm demeanor. They were more focused on the distant Moonlit Cattle. While the soldiers couldn't see the cattle, the falcons' keen eyesight made it clear.

As Asher admired the tall, sturdy walls, the fortress panel appeared:

[Fortress Name: Ash Fortress

Fortress Tier: Tier 1

Population: 4,800/10,000

Security: 35/100

Loyalty: 65/100]

Asher smiled at the loyalty stats, pleased that no one was planning to flee to another barony. The town had advanced to tier three due to its fusion with Baron Snow's fortress.

Entering the fortress, Asher almost felt like he was in a different place. Previously uninhabitable buildings were now made of solid wood, and the roads were wide and clean. Even the residents' clothing had improved!

The most striking feature was the secondary 4-meter-tall wooden wall surrounding his castle. Although he couldn't see the castle's interior, from a distance, it looked twice as large as before. Two watchtowers stood sentinel, each accommodating four swordsmen.

Asher noticed people looking behind him and turned to see farmers bringing in corn. "I thought it would take one month?" he wondered aloud. He ordered a swordsman to take the cart into the castle's courtyard and walked towards the gates with Alex following closely.

A sweet aroma filled the air, emanating from the maize being harvested. The fragrance explained why it was called Golden Fragrant Corn.

Asher approached the farming land, squatted, and took a handful of soil. After scrutinizing it, he discovered it was richer than before the upgrade. Not only the buildings and people but even the soil had improved!

[Your soil has upgraded and is able to absorb mana from the mana veins deep in the earth's core. Every yield from this soil will be bronze-grade and above!]

Asher's eyes widened. This soil was a gold mine! Just these corns alone would earn him thousands of gold coins, but his citizens came first. He would start planning to sell to others once everything in the barony was in order.

"Make sure Kelvin reports the yield," Asher instructed.

Alex nodded.

Leaving the bustling crowd behind, Asher returned to his castle. Entering the sacred hall, he smiled. It was three times larger than before, with dim ash stone walls and a platform where he sat. Sirius lay in the corner, creating the atmosphere Asher had always desired. Anyone entering for the first time would be cautious, even without him being present.

"Where is Alec?" Asher asked Alex as they left the sacred hall for the dining room. He was famished and needed a proper meal.

"He went on patrol."

"Did anything worth my notice happen during my absence?"

"No, My Lord," Alex responded respectfully. As a veteran swordsman, he knew Asher had changed.

Entering the dining room, Asher found it had transformed into a dining hall. At that moment, Kelvin walked in from the other door, followed by two maids carrying trays that emitted an enticing aroma. Asher's eyes twinkled.

"My Lord," Kelvin bowed. He had been informed by a maid who was informed by a soldier, so he ensured Asher's meal was prepared regardless of his opinion. It was an offense to wait for the Lord to ask for food, so it was better to always be prepared. Whether he chose to eat or not was not a concern.

As Asher anticipated filling his stomach, another maid, Mary, entered with a roasted wild swine. A broad smile appeared on Asher's face. If he paid Kelvin, he would have raised his salary for his thoughtfulness.

While Asher smiled, Kelvin hid the slight panic that crossed his eyes upon seeing Asher's injury.

Inwardly, he swore to ensure Asher never went on such a dangerous mission alone again.

...

Meanwhile, not far from the fortress, twenty men, well-armed with leather armor and swords and seated atop horses, escorted a carriage. Inside the carriage sat a gray-haired man and a black-haired woman of acceptable beauty. She wore a black gown and sat opposite the man with her arms crossed.

"With all the direct Ashbourne descendants dead, the title of baron rightfully belongs to the cripple," Aquila Tyre, Baron Tyre's third and last daughter, said to Jeffrey.

Jeffrey scowled. "Can a cripple who can't get up from his bed rule a barony? I, Jeffrey, though also a bastard child, am still older than that cripple, so the barony rightfully belongs to me."

"But none of them have ever seen you. Their loyalty will surely lean toward the cripple," Aquila retorted.

"Aquila, I have hundreds of guards, a large manor, and thousands of farmers working under me. I can rule a barony, and your father is aware of that, which is why he betrothed you to me."

Aquila looked out the window. "Before you cross your line, my father said you can only marry me when you become the baron of the Ashbourne territory."

"Sir, we're here!"