Chapter 17: The Best Mount
Leaving his courtyard, Sunan walked towards the main building of the inner castle. The patrolling soldiers he encountered along the way saluted and greeted him respectfully.
To maintain secrecy, Sunan had asked his brother to suppress the news of him becoming a wizard apprentice.
As a result, the ordinary people and soldiers in Blackrock City didn't know much about Sunan, only that the lord's younger brother was reclusive and rarely seen.
Only the knights who knew the truth were genuinely in awe of him.
Entering the main building, Sunan went straight to the study on the third floor.
Except when meeting with his commanders in the meeting hall, Kyi usually worked in his study or practiced at the training grounds. He should be in the study at this time.
Just as Sunan stepped onto the third-floor corridor, he saw a beautiful maid emerge from the study.
Her disheveled appearance and flushed cheeks clearly indicated she had just been engaged in some strenuous activity.
Noticing someone, the maid turned and was startled to see Sunan. Flustered, she hurriedly curtsied.
"Young Master Sunan."
Sunan gave her a knowing look.
He vaguely remembered this maid was a widow. He hadn't expected his brother to have such preferences.
"You may leave," Sunan said dismissively.
The maid hastily retreated.
Sunan paused at the door before entering.
Kyi, already dressed, was sitting at his desk, engrossed in a book.
Hearing the door open, he looked up and smiled naturally. "Oh, it's Sunan. What brings you here?"
Sunan didn't comment on the situation, pulling up a chair and sitting down. "How are things going at the Blackrock Mine?"
"Very smoothly!"
Kyi's face lit up with a smile.
"In just half a month, we've already earned over a hundred gold coins by selling Blackrock Iron."
"And this is just the beginning. Production will increase further. Once it stabilizes, we can earn at least four or five thousand gold coins a year from the mine!"
A viscounty's annual income was around four or five thousand gold coins.
For Blackrock City, a single city, to have a comparable income demonstrated the mine's incredible value.
"What's the reaction from Flashing City?" Sunan asked.
The activity at the Blackrock Mine was too significant to remain hidden.
Flashing City must already know about it.
If Owen wasn't a fool, he wouldn't just watch Blackrock City grow stronger from the mine's resources.
He would undoubtedly try to interfere.
Kyi's smile faded, and he said thoughtfully, "The buyers of Blackrock Iron are mainly lords and merchants from the Flower-Thorn Duchy. They don't pass through Goldenrock Province, so it won't be easy for Owen to intercept."
The Flower-Thorn Duchy bordered the Astral Duchy, and its territory was adjacent to Blackrock City.
Trading with them meant caravans could bypass Goldenrock Province, avoiding any interference from Owen.
Of course, Owen could send troops to block the route.
However, that would involve the Flower-Thorn Duchy, potentially escalating the situation.
Unless desperate, Owen probably wouldn't be so reckless.
They still needed to be wary of other tactics, however.
"I plan to form a cavalry unit," Kyi announced.
Sunan raised an eyebrow, quickly understanding.
The reason Owen was able to usurp the barony and suppress the other lords was his five-hundred-strong elite cavalry regiment.
Blackrock City would inevitably face Owen sooner or later, and they had to prepare.
The best countermeasure was to build an equally powerful army.
"That will be expensive," Sunan commented.
Kyi nodded. "Purchasing warhorses and armor will cost a lot."
Warhorses and armor were incredibly costly in this era.
Acquiring a warhorse and a set of armor would cost at least thirty or forty gold coins.
The ongoing expenses of training cavalry, raising horses, and maintaining equipment were even greater.
Cavalry regiments were money pits, consuming a significant portion of many territories' income.
That was why the size of a lord's cavalry was a measure of their strength.
Even with the Blackrock Mine, forming an elite cavalry regiment would be a strain on Blackrock City's finances.
"In that case, I have a solution," Sunan said, his eyes gleaming.
"What is it?" Kyi asked eagerly.
Having witnessed Sunan's various magical abilities, he had complete faith in his younger brother.
Hearing that Sunan had a solution, his heart filled with hope.
"Blackrock Panthers," Sunan said concisely.
Kyi immediately understood and his eyes lit up.
He had seen the combat prowess of the Blackrock Panthers. They were a match for knights.
More importantly, these puppet creatures were fearless, tireless, and didn't require food or rest. If they could be used as mounts, they would be the perfect steeds!
"Can you create Blackrock Panthers?" Kyi looked at Sunan expectantly.
"It shouldn't be a problem," Sunan confirmed.
Thanks to the Activity Potion, his puppet creation skill had progressed rapidly and was now over 90%.
In four or five days at most, he would master this skill.
Then he could create Blackrock Panthers.
"That's fantastic!"
Kyi was overjoyed. He jumped to his feet and paced excitedly, speechless for a moment.
A cavalry regiment mounted on Blackrock Panthers would be the strongest in Goldenrock Province.
With such a force, even if it was only three hundred strong, he would be confident in retaking Flashing City!
In his excitement, Kyi looked at Sunan, feeling a surge of emotion.
After returning from the mine, he had taken the enlightenment book from Sunan, hoping to test his potential as a wizard apprentice.
However, after reading just two pages, he was struck with a splitting headache and had to give up.
He didn't have the aptitude.
Kyi had been disappointed for days.
But later, he realized it didn't matter. As long as Sunan was there, it was enough.
With Sunan's support, they would surely revive the Ainest family.
After a while, Kyi finally calmed down and clapped Sunan on the shoulder.
"I'll leave this to you. If you succeed, you'll be a hero to our family!"
Sunan smiled faintly and changed the subject, bringing up the reason for his visit.
Hearing this, Kyi slapped his forehead and laughed. "I was just about to tell you about that."
He got up from his desk and gestured for Sunan to follow.
"A while ago, I asked the Fire Fox Trading Company from the Flower-Thorn Duchy to help find the things you wanted. They arrived in Blackrock
City this morning and should be resting at the tavern now. Let's go see them."