Lord Asher Is Back

One major challenge during medieval times was the dissemination of information. As his territory expanded, it often took days, weeks, or even months for information to reach him. This had been a significant burden on his mind. If he had messenger birds, he could have been in constant communication with Kelvin. Additionally, with messenger birds, he would be able to stay in touch with any future expedition teams venturing beyond the mountains.

Ttring!

[Ding! Would the host like to upgrade these ordinary messenger birds through fusion? Yes or No. By fusing these hundred and one birds, you can get 10 bronze-ranked messenger birds.]

'Upgrade them.'

A white glow enveloped all the birds, and when it faded, ten taller birds emerged. These new birds resembled messenger birds trained by the finest tamers. Majestic for their kind, their strength made them the top predators of the skies. Not even mountain eagles could pose a threat to their lives.

[Swift Peregrine Falcons. Bronze-ranked messenger birds capable of covering a distance of 3000 kilometers in a stretch. They are brilliant birds that need little training and are also capable of tearing apart any foes interfering with their missions.]

Asher smiled.

Ttring!

[Upgrade Quest: Rescue the merchants from Baron Snow's cruel hands. (Completed.)]

[Would the host like to fuse Baron Snow's territory with Ashtown during its upgrade? Yes or No.]

The moment Asher gave a positive response, the walls and buildings began to transform into white light. Minutes later, all that remained was a vast plain with ice statues. Asher stared at the stunned Sirius and chuckled.

In fact, Sirius wasn't the only one wearing a stunned expression. Jon and his workers had the same look of astonishment. How did an entire fortress vanish into thin air?

"We're leaving. Your carriages were taken along with your horses and the iron ores, so you'll have to use these carts," Asher said as he arranged the messenger birds on one cart.

"Don't worry, I'll repay you for the loss," Asher reassured them.

"Suffer loss? My Lord, you suffered the most. I work under a guild, so I can get loans to buy carriages and horses, but you lost a sum of thirty thousand gold coins," Jon said, shaking his head.

"It's alright. I gained something out of this," Asher replied.

Jon traced his line of sight to the messenger birds, and his eyes widened. "How did such exotic birds appear in this wasteland?!"

Asher smiled. "Will you return to my town or head to the borders? You're just a few days away from leaving the wastelands."

Jon looked towards the high plains and then to the depths of the wasteland where Asher's town was. "We will return to the high plains."

The moment he said that, Asher saw his workers exhale in relief, and joy spread across their faces. They must have been traumatized.

"That's a pity. We shall meet in the future then." Asher sat at the front of the cart and tugged the reins, prompting the two horses attached to it to start moving.

Jon knew Asher had realized he wanted to leave and have nothing more to do with the wasteland after this experience. "Such a wise young Lord," he muttered to himself as he watched Sirius follow the cart.

Not long after Asher disappeared from their sight, Jane appeared on horseback. Upon seeing her, Jon left what he was doing and ran towards her. Jane was his niece, and he had been worried about her but hadn't summoned the courage to ask Asher.

"Miss Jane, you're alive!" Others gathered around her.

"Did that barbaric lord harm you?" a female asked. It was because of Asher that she was made to starve in a dark place for days, so she naturally harbored a grudge despite being rescued.

"Barbaric? Has he left?" Jane asked, looking around.

"I told him we would return to the high plains to get another convoy, but I really don't plan on returning until we can pay for mercenaries to guard us," Jon replied.

Jane's eyes widened. "You broke the contract! I saw Golden Fragrant Maize and Moonlit Starhorn cattle in that so-called little and remote town."

"What?"

Everyone's eyes went wide.

"Jane, did you hit your head? You saw the rare Golden Fragrant Maize, the same silver-ranked maize that only grows in the Capital of the Eternal Immortal Empire, and Moonlit Starhorn cattle! Not just one cow but a herd of Moonlit Starhorn cattle in the poorest barony in the wasteland. Have you forgotten that those cows produce the famous crystal milk that nobles clamour for?" a female said, trying to make sure Jane knew what she was talking about. But when she saw Jane's serious face, her expression fell.

Jon's expression grew ugly. He could not believe he had just severed the connection between him and such a rich lord.

"Uncle, what did you say to him?" Jane asked, unable to believe their chance to become the sole distributors of such precious goods was slipping out of their hands.

"He already used the phrase 'That's a pity,' and you know what it means when nobles say that," one man said with a downcast expression.

Jane felt regret. Had she known, she wouldn't have rested but followed Asher here.

...

Four days later, Asher arrived at his town. From afar, he could hardly recognize it. The walls were now made from thick tree trunks and stood 5 meters tall, with watchtowers at each of the four corners of the rectangular fortress.

Even the surroundings of the town, which had transformed into a fortress, were filled with Golden Fragrant Maize plants.

A wide path led to the gates in the middle. It's been three weeks since the maize seeds were planted, and they had now grown taller than a human, with fruits that were half an adult's forearm in length! Just one was enough to feed two people in the morning, keeping them full until the late afternoon.

As Asher got closer, he spotted the same old woman staring at the corn with a wide smile on her face. The moment she saw him riding a cart with his wolf beside him, she fell to her knees.

"Lord Asher!"

Asher smiled. "I see you won't doubt me anymore," he chortled.

"Lord Asher is back!" a soldier standing on the alure, the walkway on the wall, bellowed at the top of his lungs.