Chapter 21: Mu Zhuo's Overture

Chapter 21: Mu Zhuo's Overture

On the training grounds.

More than twenty knights formed a circle, their eyes gleaming as they sized up the black rock leopard in the center. Their expressions were as if they were gazing at a naked beauty.

Every knight dreams of owning a fine warhorse.

Although the black rock leopard isn't a traditional warhorse, it can still serve as a mount.

The key point is that this mount has the combat strength of a junior knight, far surpassing any warhorse!

Imagine how majestic it would be to ride one!

On the battlefield, it would be invincible!

"Sir, sir, can you give me one of these black rock leopards first?"

Jodan, his face lit up with excitement, rushed up to Kui and Su Nan, his voice loud enough for the entire training ground to hear.

Upon hearing this, the other knights immediately became disgruntled.

"Why should you get it first, you drunkard?"

"I'm a mid-level knight, I should get it first!"

"Ha, my riding skills are the best, I should get it first!"

"You're talking about riding a horse, this is a leopard!"

"They're not that different!"

"Bullshit, I'm great at riding women, so the black rock leopard should go to me first!"

Seeing the situation escalating into an argument, Kui rubbed his temples in frustration and waved his hand. "Quiet, all of you. This black rock leopard will go to Brad first."

Brad, who had been standing quietly to the side, was taken aback by this unexpected gift and beamed with joy.

"Thank you, sir, thank you, sir!"

Jodan and the others exchanged glances, pouting but saying nothing.

Brad was well-respected among the knights, with top-tier strength. Giving him the first black rock leopard didn't raise any objections from the others.

As for Kui, Su Nan had already promised to create a more powerful black rock leopard for him later.

Su Nan tossed a necklace to Brad and said, "This is the key to control the black rock leopard. As long as you wear it, the leopard will follow your commands, though it can only handle simple instructions."

"I understand, thank you, sir!"

Brad eagerly put on the necklace and, under the envious gazes of the others, mounted the black rock leopard and galloped around the training ground.

Kui turned to Su Nan and asked, "How long does it take to create a black rock leopard?"

"Three to four hours."

Seeing the knights and Kui's pleased expressions, Su Nan threw in a cold dose of reality.

"The materials for a black rock leopard are black iron and gems, and the cost is about thirty-eight gold coins per unit."

Kui's brow furrowed at this, but he quickly relaxed.

Compared to the enhancement of military strength, the cost of thirty-eight gold coins was negligible.

As long as the black iron mines continued to operate, Black Rock City would have a steady stream of gold income.

Currently, what Black Rock City needed more urgently was military strength.

Only with a powerful army could they protect the black iron mines, their golden goose.

"Don't worry about the money, I'll take care of it. I'll leave it to you to create the black rock leopards."

Su Nan nodded calmly.

Apart from his daily meditation and the creation of secondary active potions, he spent most of his time reading. He had almost replaced sleep with meditation, so dedicating a few hours to creating black rock leopards wouldn't be a problem.

Moreover, creating black rock leopards would increase his proficiency in puppeteering. Once his level increased, the time required would decrease.

This task wouldn't take up too much of his energy.

Two months passed in the blink of an eye.

In the month of June, the rising temperatures scorched the leaves, and the scorching sun licked the ground day after day.

Despite the intense heat, the residents of Black Rock City wore smiles on their faces.

With the reopening of the black iron mines, a large number of caravans were drawn to Black Rock City.

The booming commerce raised the living standards of the people.

Although the city had recently absorbed a large influx of refugees, the black iron mines, the military, and the cultivation of wastelands had effectively absorbed this population, greatly mitigating the impact of the refugees on Black Rock City.

Everyone could see the prosperity of Black Rock City and felt even more hopeful about the future.

It's worth noting that Su Nan's birthday also fell in the month of June.

Despite Su Nan's insistence that there was no need, Kui still insisted on throwing him a grand 17th birthday banquet.

All the knights of Black Rock City, as well as representatives from several closely allied merchant guilds, attended the banquet.

Mu Zhuo, the president of the Firefox Guild, even came in person, presenting Su Nan with a precious gift—twelve red gems! Perhaps he had heard that Black Rock City was actively purchasing gems.

Regardless, this gift, worth over a hundred gold coins, stood out among all the others, and his generous gesture left many guests in awe.

Su Nan was also somewhat surprised.

He could sense Mu Zhuo's intention to build a good relationship with him, but he couldn't understand why.

Could Mu Zhuo have somehow discovered that he was a wizard's apprentice?

And did he understand what that meant?

Despite his confusion, Su Nan didn't refuse Mu Zhuo's overture and engaged in warm conversation with him during the banquet.

"I heard that Mu Zhuo, that old fox, enjoys investing in young people with potential. He probably already knows you're a wizard's apprentice and understands the power that comes with it, which is why he gave you such a generous gift."

After the banquet, Kui and Su Nan returned to the study and discussed Mu Zhuo's actions.

"However, the Firefox Guild has influence throughout the Thornflower Duchy and has many partnerships with guilds in the Starlight Duchy. If you can build a good relationship with him, it will make it much easier for you to gather wizard's tomes and materials."

"Indeed." Su Nan nodded and glanced at Kui. "Is something bothering you? You seemed a bit distracted tonight."

"You noticed."

Kui smiled bitterly and then grew serious.

"My spy in Shimmering City has reported that Zolf, Novood, and Davin will all be attending the Harvest Festival in Shimmering City in three months."

Zolf, Novood, and Davin were all subordinates who had fought alongside Baron Yarnest in the past and were promoted to baronets by him.

However, when Baron Yarnest was killed in battle, and Owen seized the barony, these three men, intimidated by the power of the Golden Rock Marquess, chose to protect themselves.

Their silence had given Owen pause, preventing him from immediately eliminating Kui and his brother.

However, Kui had no intention of being grateful or forgiving them.

"If it weren't for my father, those three wouldn't have had the chance to become baronets. Yet they showed no gratitude and now serve under that bandit. They truly deserve to be punished!"

Compared to Kui's anger, Su Nan remained calm and composed, speaking calmly.

"Owen has already taken control of the entire Shimmering Fief. I believe he will soon move against us."

Kui's anger subsided, and he furrowed his brow.

What Su Nan said was also his greatest concern.

After a moment of thought, he made a decision, slamming his hand on the armrest of his chair and standing up sternly.

"We can't wait any longer. In three days, we will attack the Blackscale Lizardfolk lair and eliminate this immediate threat!"

After two months of training, Kui's cavalry regiment was beginning to take shape.

Though it numbered only sixty, it included twenty full knights, with the rest being squire knights.

More importantly, the entire regiment was equipped with black rock leopards as mounts.

Though the timing was tight, Kui felt confident they could defeat the Blackscale Lizardfolk with this regiment.

"Let's do it. I'll join you," Su Nan said, standing up.

If they postponed the battle until the Scroll Month (August), by which time he would have advanced to a second-tier wizard's apprentice, the losses would be minimal.

Now, even if they won, the losses would be significant.

But then again, he still had his spell scrolls as a trump card.

With a bit of luck, they might just achieve a favorable outcome.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end