Details and preparations.

Renzo woke up the next morning with Hyuna on his embrace. Remembering the events, he let out a sigh.

Yesterday before sleeping she came to his room clearly drunk and tried to flirt with him.

Nonetheless, Renzo just took her under his arms and tried sleeping while hugging her, luckily Hyuna only fought back a few minutes before falling asleep herself.

Rubbing his temple with stress, Renzo let out a heavy sigh once again as he prepared himself for the rest of the day.

Hyuna who was clearly wasted due to drinking too much was still sleeping, not wanting to bother her nor wake her up, he silently made his way out of his room.

He was greeted by an apprentice who was on his duty while guarding the courtyard, stretching out his body he went to the middle of the courtyard and sit down in the meantime.

After a while Irelia followed by Karya got out of their respective rooms while greeting Renzo, who by now was waiting for his breakfast.

After a quick praying towards Janna, like they usually do each morning, the trio started recalling yesterday events. It wasn't until twenty or so minutes that Ymir and Tahru got out of the later room and greeted the team.

Tahru who looked quite miserable in Renzo's opinion was the only one lucky enough to not be so affected by the various drinks from yesterday.

It was after a moment that three servants came up with the group breakfast, it was quite sumptuous compared to prior days, at such the team prepared to eat.

Renzo took the time to go into his room to wake up Hyuna, who by now was awake but still on the bed.

"Have we done it?" She asked him when she heard him opening the door and calling for her.

Renzo stopped briefly on the spot and chuckled at her while answering "No, you drunk."

He then moved inside of the room as he took the blanket from her body, slightly stunned by her current clothes and seeing the embarrassed expression on Hyuna when she noticed this, he grabbed a pair of clothes from one of his bags, put in gently on her hands he looked at her eyes while smiling and said "Breakfast is ready, let's go."

After saying that, he kissed Hyuna on the forehead while the later lowered her head and nodded at him.

She remained unable to look at Renzo retreating figure as she heard him exiting the room. Then, she started to cringe herself from her behavior while changing her clothes.

Her robes and clothes were simply too dirty after being spilled with the various drinks and mistreating them, thus she put Renzo clothes.

Sighing deeply, she exited the room and saw everyone eating in the middle of the courtyard alongside a table.

The moment the group saw her appearing, they stopped eating and chatting while giving her different reactions.

Ymir smiled wickedly at her sight with Renzo clothes and disheveled hair.

Tahru looked at her briefly and then looked back at Renzo who was eating nonchalantly.

Irelia have an ' :o ' expression on her face and the continue eating, although this time not moving her gaze from the various people in the group.

Karya simply watched at Hyuna and then decided to continue eating.

Ymir grabbed Hyuna bowl while saying to her with a chuckle "Take it, you will need it to recharge your energy."

Karya chocked when hearing Ymir remark, while Renzo raised his head from his bowl while giving a frown and saying "Don't say stupid things." And continue eating.

Hyuna looked ashamed and kicked Ymir on her leg while grabbing the bowl and sat down beside Irelia.

The group remained in silent for the rest of the breakfast until Renzo finished and waited for Karya, he then said "We need to finalize our plans so we can successfully negotiate with the school and continue onwards."

Karya glared at Renzo with a dead pan expression and relayed his words in a monotonous voice.

The team went serious while hearing Karya's words as they understood the importance of this talk.

Renzo breathed deeply and said with a solemn look on his face "We first need to localize at least five villages with enough farm fields to start planting our product." As he said this he took out a piece of paper with various paragraphs in spanish were he noted down his thoughts and plans.

"In those villages we'll began asking the wind school to let groups of apprentices guarding them. In exchange for that we'll be giving them the various weapons and armors that we retrieve after destroying a battalion or whatever remains from Noxus." He pointed out while the group nodded at him.

"Since we'll not be able to actually pay for food for the large armies, we need to seek a way to barter food not only with the villages but to also see if we can correctly assemble a supply line. We cannot move nor defend this land without feeding and taking care of the soldiers."

As he reached this point, Karya raised her hand and said to him "We can use the same method the various other factions have been using and demand a certain amount of food to the villages until we have the means to pay for it." She said.

Renzo shook his head and said "I don't doubt they will provide with food at first, however we have to maintain a constant supply and with nothing in return, those villages will began to see negatively our stay in these lands, we cannot compromise our cooperation with them if we want to sphere them in the future." He said to her while pointing out another problem he addressed previously on his notes when thinking of this matter.

"So how we do it?" Asked Karya without anything else on her head.

"We'll be moving south, towards the coast and ask the villagers in those places to fish for us, in exchange for that we'll be using salt as medium to pay, while also be asking the villagers around the path to join us and we'll be establishing an estable supply of salt to barter and conserve the fish." He said while hoping heavily for his idea to be fruitful.

Karya opened her eyes in surprise as she didn't thought about this possibility, still she conveyed his words to the team as Renzo continue.

"After gathering enough manpower to start making salt and smoking our fish, we'll began to stockpile it, not only for immediate consume, but to trade it for more long lasting food and other things we deemed necessary." He said while looking to another point.

"If by now we have everything we needed to return to the Placidium, then we'll start hunting down slowly but surely all the remaining troops from Noxus while at the same time uniting more factions under our banner, at this point I hope Irelia and the rest of you could focus more on leading them, as I really need to train in the shortest amount of time possible."

Renzo was interrupted by Karya who couldn't contain her curiosity and asked him "Why are you so hasty in training? We can do it along the way." Renzo however shook his head and said to her "I'm telling you that later, in the meantime let me finish with my notes and then you all tell me what you want later."

Karya groaned but agree and let him finish "If by this point, after sweeping through Navori's western and south coasts we weren't able to finish with what little remain from Noxus, then we would simply leave them be, we can see if we can move towards the east and north afterwards, as we need to fulfill our part with Tahru and fight for those Quinlon." When remembering the importance of those gigantic stones or gems, whatever they are, Renzo couldn't help but sigh internally.

"I'll be staying in Fae'Lor during this time, mostly to see if we have the means to build a defensive outpost so we can station there and prevent a other invasion to reach the coasts." Finally Renzo finished and asked them "Well, what are your thoughts?"

Tahru was the first to open his mouth, winning Karya on that even when she was the one translating Renzo.

"I can take care of the east front by then, with this chance and position I think you can all trust me that place, with the various Vastaya around Navori, I'm sure I can convince them from make up from their mistake and reverse the impression that humans have from us while helping me." There was a clear tone of hope within his voice while saying this.

Ymir gripped his hand tightly in support while the group nodded at him.

"By then we'll leave you that front." Said Karya and the looked at the rest of the team "However, we must first see how we're going to deal with what these guys will ask in return. If it's resources or lands, then we can make it work somehow, after all razed lands and abandoned places are in abundance right now."

She then furrowed his brows and said "However if they happen to want more than that, then we'll face some troubles with them."

Hyuna dismissed her concern while saying "You're thinking too much, what else would they want that they couldn't obtain by themselves? The only thing they couldn't get their hands previously were lands and resources, now those things are in the reach of their hands, more so when we are the ones who they allied with."

Hyuna was clearly confident in their group strength and the capabilities of rulling these lands in the future. They all know that Ionia changed forever after the invasion, even if their goals would have been frown up before, they could only adapt to the new times.

Gone were the times of words, might would now mark this new era in Ionia. And every single one of them wanted to be the fist ruling here, more so to prevent certain things they didn't wish to see anymore.

Ymir agreed with Hyuna while saying "We have Renzo and Irelia with us, they are enough deterrence for them to not get greedy. We only want their manpower and numbers, maybe their blacksmiths, however In exchange not only they would obtain more power, but also our backing in any case. All in all, both parties could win from this and I dont see them throwing such advantages from a little bit more of nothing." There was a vicious tone on her voice when saying the latter part.

The group continue discussing and finalizing their part of the deal and future plans.

After at least one and a half hour of continue talks, they finally called a guard to inform the elders to gather for a meeting.

In the meantime the group returned to their rooms or stayed in the courtyard, Hyuna went to change clothes and put her armor, same with Ymir and Tahru.

While Renzo, Karya and Irelia stayed behind, mostly talking about training.

Irelia was eager to keep training and more so learning different techniques from the various members of the group.

They all agree to share their techniques and knowledge if they could with each other, this was after Renzo shared with them various "training techniques" and "knowledge" that was supposed to help them.

It was basically a bunch of random information from anime and fiction that Renzo thought it could work, alongside some basic knowledge regarding anatomy from everyone but Tahru, and a crash trashy course of biology and natural science.

Renzo didn't do it with bad intentions, but to see if they could at least bring something fruitful from that bunch of ideas, after all the majority of the people in the group could be considered elite warriors with great amount of talent and strong wills.

If such people could be enlightened by a random thing, it would be successful for Renzo.

Thus, like that the group was now heavily researching and testing various ideas, while Renzo gained not only five teachers, but people willing to share with him their most important secrets and informations.

The entire group unawarely made a giant step in trusting each other like this.

After thirty minutes, the group was standing again in front of the elders in the conference room. This time there weren't many people watching the whole thing and the elders have smiles on their faces.

After exchanging pleasantries with each other and asking if they rest well, they begin talking of the important matters.

What the Kiheji Wind School wanted from this cooperation was securing their power and influence.

With this in mind, they asked for resources from the surrounding areas, more villages as well under their control and sovereignty to act as they deemed necessary in those areas.

The last point was the discussing matter with Renzo and the group, as they wanted for everyone that joined them to abide certain rules.

Some of them being child education, military training at the age of 14 for a whole year, implementation of laws, regulation from previous deals with Vastaya races, identification and census from the population, implementation of rotative farms and other points that they will be implementing as time passed.

It was needless to say that Karya have to explain alongside Renzo what does these many rules and implementations mean, and the result they were expecting for.

The group also asked for what kind of rules the school would implement, mostly for Renzo to see if they would produce some sort of problem later on.

However, when the elders started stating their rules, the group calmed down and agree with them.

The only point they didn't like it was the harsh training that the children choose by the school would face. But in Renzo opinion that was a little price to pay for obtaining power and a backing.

What Renzo was looking for were two things, getting resources for himself and his objectives, and strengthening this world forces in preparation for the inevitable war against the void creatures.

He knew he couldn't expect to fight them alone, so he needed a force that didn't held him back and he could rely on when the time is needed.

Thus, with the school interest fitting and not creating problems with his own agenda, both parties finally signaled the paper under the spirit of Ionia and Janna oath.

The whole thing lasted almost the entire day, with the process of writing down the various clauses and regulations.

Then it came down the talks regarding the organization that Renzo's group would follow and the schools own.

It was here that Karya informed the elders from their intentions, regarding the salt and the necessary villages to produce not only marijuana, but hemp.

The elders agreed to task thirty apprentices to guard the villages each week, Renzo group only needed to inform them later on where they would need to head to. At the same time they also lent the group utensils, vases, pans and woks to start producing salt.

Finally, both parties agreed to march towards the Placidium in three weeks once the group returned back from the south coast.

Thus, with everything worth mentioning and talk already clarified, the group returned to their courtyard after a tasty meal and prepared to move again tomorrow, this time they'll be heading south, with a group of apprentinces and a teacher travelling them.

They were tasked to follow the group orders while also helping establishing the fish and salt points, as the elders understood the importance of such things for this campaign.

They would also help the group carry the six carts they now have, after all the school really helped them by giving various thing necessary for the creation of sea salt and subsequent saving.

There was also a cart filled with clay and bricks for the creation of an oven over there.

Although no one from the people, including Renzo, knew how to build one, they make sure to already give the materials necessary and ask for any villager along the path who could do it.

Thus, the night passed fast and by the next day morning twenty seven people could be seen preparing the seven carts in the school entrance.

A few people peeping at the group with interest and curiosity.

Elder Souma and Yasuo were on the entrance watching over the entourage preparations.

Renzo after finishing moving his bags on their cart, waited for Karya do the same and asked her to follow him.

Elder Souma saw the duo heading towards his position and smiled at Renzo.

"Elder Souma, I want to thank you in behalf of my group for your generosity and hospitality. I'm more than glad that this travel turned bountiful for us, I hope to see you soon again." Said Renzo while nodding at the elder and Yasuo.

Elder Souma did the same after Karya finished translating him and added "There's nothing to thank for Renzo, you and your people will be welcomed here always."

He then move his gaze towards the people waiting for Renzo and said "I wish you success in your journey and may the spirit of Ionia protect all of you."

"May Janna be with you." Renzo answered back and then looked briefly at Yasuo while saying "I hope you train a little bit more after I return back, there's a lot of Noxians waiting for us in the future."

Yasuo slightly taken aback by the words directed at him, only chuckled at Renzo's words while answering "They are not worth the effort."

Renzo just scoffed at his words as he headed back to the group, as he walked he heard Yasuo saying "But I'll do it nonetheless." This words putting a slight smile on his face.

With everyone's ready, he signaled the entourage to move forward under the gaze of Elder Souma, Yasuo and the apprentices that where around the area.

As they passed through the village roads, the villagers also looked at them with curiosity, mostly seeing the black robbed teacher followed by the apprentices and various carts with beast of burden pulling them.

As they made their way towards the village entrance, the group started to talk about various themes while the apprentices were hardly containing their excitement and eagerness.

For many of them it was the first time they'll be exiting the village area, at such they were looking around with curiosity while at the same time speaking among each other, mostly of their expectations and how would they fare against the noxians if they found them.

Sadly for them, as the hours passed and they took path down south, all they saw were other groups heading to different directions, while sometimes sightseeing wild beast and other animals on the far.

They entourage didn't stop to eat the lunch, as they carried with them dry meat that they ate while walking, and driking from their cans.

Luckily for all, the weather was nice and the cool breeze alongside the cloudy sky, didn't let them sweat too much.

By the afternoon, the group decided to take a short break in a village, where Karya, Irelia and the teacher alongside two apprentices headed towards the village chief and talked about cooperation with him.

They spend around thirty minutes under the village chief agreed to help their new founded faction. Since the crops were recently planted, Karya didn't bother asking for a plot of land to grow their product.

Still, they've got thirteen villagers that were currently free from work, mostly young teenagers that were the fifth or six son from some family and wasn't required to work on the fields.

The village chief also agreed to provide the faction with thirty percent of their food production, which was enough to feed at least a thousand people for two weeks.

For Karya this was slightly under her require amount, nonetheless she didn't voice out any complaint since they were the first ones to support them and were actually willing to do.

Thus, with thirteen new hands to work in the south.

Sadly, no one in the village was able to build an oven, but they informed them that there was a person in the next village, he was the person they hired for build the ones in the village.

After a few moments giving instructions for the new additions, the group went once again down in the road.

By the time it was dusk, the group reached the next village, but decided to not talk with the village chief and do it tomorrow morning.

The group also used this time to train once again. Since Renzo was the only one that wasn't badly affected by it, they disregard any form of wariness and destroyed their bodies in less than a hour.

By the time Renzo finished helping Hyuna, who was the last one from the group, the apprentices finished cooking the meal and Renzo brought the bowls with the help of two others, the food for the team that was unable to walk in the meantime.

Refusing the shameless request form Hyuna to feed her, he eat while smiling amusingly his teammates trying to eat with their shaky hands and tired bodies.

After a barrage of curses towards him, Renzo took their clean bowls and helped the apprentices to clean them.

The team remained on their position while talking each other. Meanwhile the apprentices were chatting with the villagers while telling them their own stories.

Most of the villagers were eager to hear more about the sword school, while others asked about the group leading them.

It was needless to say they were surprised and excited when hearing about The Fist of Ionia and the Blade Dancer themselves leading them.

Amidst looks of admiration and respect, Renzo helped the team to move towards their makeshift beds.

By the next morning, he woke up while hearing the groans and muffled cries from pain. Eating his breakfast he actually have to carry Karya towards the village chief house alongside the school teacher to talk about their incorporation and help.

It was here amidst the strange looks at first and hard conversation, that the group was able to convince the village chief for planting hemp and one plot of land of flowers.

In exchange for that the village chief asked for forty percent of the hemp production.

He only knew the use of it for papers and such, thus he didn't thought it was a bad idea. More so when Karya promised a compensation later on.

Still, more than sixty percent of their production was a good number for Renzo and Karya.

Although they were disappointed that it wasn't flowers but hemp. After all the later needed a little bit more of work for obtaining hashish.

Still, it worked for them while they also got into their hands their builder from the ovens and twenty hands. There were at least eleven more, but those villagers were currently returning from helping selling the last batch of crops.

After being showed the plants they needed for the flowers, and being point out the places where they could obtain the hemp seeds, the group exited the village.

Renzo gifted the village chief two flowers for his consumption, on his own words "To taste the final product" while also warning him of it's potency when first ingested.

Like that, the entourage with more than sixty members continue their path south, there was at least five more days of travelling before reaching the coast.

On their path, they needed to cross two rivers and the mountain chain of the south. While also making sure of speaking with the surrounding villages along the path.

It was a long way, but with ythe high spirits and merrily chat it was bearable for everyone.

******

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