Mount and Blade System: Start from Pioneer Lords

After the trade caravan departed, the lord, along with his men, wandered around the area where they had stopped.

Looking at the grassland where the wheels had passed, leaving two deep ruts, Levi stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Generally speaking, trade caravans venturing into the wilderness mostly carry goods like salt, tea… essential items that are scarce in the wilderness.

But even if these goods filled an entire carriage, they wouldn't be so heavy that the wheels would sink so deeply into the ground.

“It's strange. Last time, although I didn't know what the Myriel were trading with an elf tribe, it clearly wasn't things like salt, as elves don't lack those.” Levi brushed off his hand after measuring the depth of the rut and stood up from the ground. “This time, not only are the carriages pulled by two horses each, but they are also equipped with dozens of elite half-elf archers, and even the guard mercenaries have increased to eighty.”

“There must be a bigger secret hidden within this,” the lord concluded.

“Who cares what secrets they have? I'll just take some men, mask up, and rob them; then we'll know everything.”

Zat made a throat-slitting gesture fiercely.

Levi glanced at Zat.

If you call this guy stupid, he at least knows to hide his identity with a mask, but this mask is as good as not wearing one.

With their burly builds, anyone would know that only Highcliff Castle could raise them to be so green and fat.

When I first met Zat, he was quite meticulous despite his roughness, but since joining Highcliff Castle, he has become more and more like a brute, always wanting to rush into things without thinking. I wonder who he learned that from.

Hogg, who was standing beside him, gathered his breath in his dantian. As long as Levi gave the order, he could use a wolf howl to summon the gnoll cavalry and chase after the caravan to entangle them.

Levi felt it was necessary to properly educate these two brutes. He walked towards the lord's hall, saying, “We are civilized people. Don't always think about resorting to violence. People who don't know us will think Highcliff Castle is some kind of evil force.”

“Besides, everyone has their own secrets. We just need to know that whatever the mithril caravan is transporting doesn't pose a threat to us; there's no need to delve too deeply.”

Zat's face was hidden in the shadows, and he secretly curled his lips. He probably didn't even believe his own lord's words.

Otherwise, why would he bring people here so eagerly as soon as the trade caravan left, trying to find some clues?

Hogg, on the other hand, seemed to be thinking about something.

After the expansion, the lord's hall was now large enough to accommodate thirty to forty people, with a long table in the middle.

It could serve as the dining hall for Highcliff Castle's high-level officials or as a conference room. Sam, Beatrice Tina, and two wilderness natives were inside.

Some time ago, Sam was sent out to find tribes to establish weapon trade relations with Highcliff Castle. The lord's requirement was that these tribes must be dripping with wealth and, preferably, not get along with each other.

Now, at first glance, the lord showed a rewarding smile, just like seeing a pig raised plump and white during the New Year.

One of the natives was a skinny old wildling from the Northlands. The only two teeth in his toothless mouth were wrapped in nuggets of gold, revealing an aura of nouveau riche.

He was obviously extremely proud of his two gold-covered teeth, and saliva splattered whenever he opened his mouth, revealing his gold teeth completely.

The other one surprised Levi a bit. It was a lizardman warrior, two blades tall, with knotted muscles and red scales, constantly flicking its tongue.

His expression was very disgusted with the human old man next to him, obviously indicating that the relationship between the two was not good.

“This is impossible. Your prices are too expensive!”

As soon as he walked in, the gold-toothed old man slammed the table, his face somewhat distorted.

Beatrice Tina, who was acting as the negotiator, just smiled calmly. Two orcish brutes walked up, flexing their pectoral muscles. Seeing this, the old man sat down sheepishly.

“Although the weapons you sell are all iron, a spear costs two animal hides, which is a bit too harsh. Even the Deber spears, when converted to gold coins, are only worth one animal hide, not to mention that your weapons are not even as good as Deber's.” Bem argued reasonably.

He was the old chieftain of the Windsurge Tribe, and on the strong recommendation of his “old friend” Sam, he had come to Highcliff Castle with half-belief and half-doubt to find out.

When he saw the tall furnaces standing by the river at Highcliff Castle, he completely believed it and rushed over in a hurry.

The temptation to sell ironware was too great, causing him to subconsciously ignore the possible conspiracies.

Even the guards were left waiting at the foot of the hill.

“If Deber's goods are so good, why don't the Deber people sell weapons to you locals? Everyone knows Deber's strict ban on selling weapons to the wilderness.” Levi sat down next to Beatrice Tina, sneering repeatedly. “If you don't buy them, there are plenty of others who will. You have to understand that it's not me begging you to buy my weapons, but you begging me to sell weapons to you.”

“I'm selling weapons to you at the risk of being beheaded, and instead of being grateful, you're complaining about the price.”

“If you don't want to buy them, get out!”

“Lord!” Bem's lips trembled when he heard this.

Because what Levi said was completely correct. Ironware was scarce in the wilderness, and Deber strictly prohibited trading weapons to the wilderness. It could be said that this pioneer lord was currently the only person who could sell weapons in large quantities.

What he said earlier was just an excuse to lower the price, but he didn't expect this pioneer lord to be so tough.

“I can accept this price, and even add a little, but the weapons cannot be sold to him.”

The lizardman warrior, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke, pointing his slender claws at Bem next to him.

“Can't sell to your mother, Alexi, I'll f*** your mother.”

Bem was so angry that his nose was crooked, and he immediately cursed, “I was wondering why you stinky lizardman would appear here. So, you want to buy weapons to attack our Windsurge Tribe!”

“I'm telling you, it's impossible!”

Levi watched the two tearing at each other with a smile.

These two were specially found by Sam.

Bem was the old chieftain of the Windsurge Tribe, and Alexi was a lizardman warrior sent by the Atre Lizardman Tribe.

The two tribes were located in the Blackwood Forest in the northwest. Because their territories were adjacent, bloody conflicts often occurred to seize more resources, so the relationship was naturally strained.

“Lord, our Windsurge Tribe is willing to accept the price you just discussed.”

Alexi's words were like the last straw that broke the camel's back, making Bem make a decision in an instant.

If this lizardman bought weapons back from Highcliff Castle, they would definitely attack the Windsurge Tribe, and they would suffer a great loss because their weapons were backward.

Bem would not stand idly by and watch this happen.

“Hehe, you didn't agree to the price I gave you just now. Sorry, now the price has increased. If you want to buy weapons from me, you have to pay 30% more.”

Levi leisurely picked up his teacup and sipped it, smiling.