FAL

  Chapter 47: The Temptation of Land

  The sun hung high in the sky.

  This giant ball of fire unleashed light a without restraint.

  The cool winter chill had pletely melted away, bringing a long-awaited warmth.

  But the warmth on their skin couldn't pare to the craving for food.

  Merril took a delightful bite of fish, slowly chewing and sav it.

  The unique sweetness of the protein caused an untrolble smile to spread across her lips.

  Carefully, she dipped the soft white bread into the soup, taking a luscious bite. The crispy yet soft texture instantly blossomed in her mouth.

  Before she k, Merril had eaten two loaves of white bread, a one-pound yellow fish, and a bowl of rich, fragrant bone broth.

  "Ugh, I think I ate too much again..."

  "It's okay; the teachers said we're growing, so we should eat more..."

  f herself, she patted her belly tentedly, feeling more satisfied than ever.

  At that moment, the white-haired Liana sat down at the other side of the table, grabbing some white bread and roasted meat, dev them ravenously.

  Liana was eating so quickly that she had trouble swallowing. Merril quickly stood up, poured her a bowl of bone broth, aly said:

  "Don't rush, eat slowly. Butler Ralph said lenty of food."

  Liana gratefully took a sip of the bone broth, swallowed the dry food, and gave Merril a thankful gnce before tinuing to devour her meal.

  It was obvious that Liana hadn't had a full meal in days.

  Merril curiously rested her fa her hands, her eyes refleg her thoughts as she murmured to herself:

  "The new lord is so kind... I wonder when we start learning spells..."

  With her mouth still full of half-eaten roasted meat, Liana shook her head, her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel. Merril couldn't help but ugh, then took a deep breath and made a gesture of determination:

  "No matter what, I'll do my best to live up to the lord’s expectations and bee a mage as soon as possible."

  "I hope the lord's Mage Tower is built soon so I help out..."

  Little Liana didn’t uand what Merril was talking about. She drank her soup happily, feeling her belly swell slightly and thought to herself:

  "Is this what it feels like to be full? It's so wonderful."

  "If we stay with the lord, will Mama and I always be able to eat our fill?"

  "Yes, the lord is so powerful, I'm sure we will!"

  It wasn’t just these two enjoying their meal—nearly all the children in Bay Vilge were busily stuffing their faces.

  Butler Ralph exhaled slightly. Preparing food for so many little gluttons was no simple task.

  Fortunately, the food Mattheurchased from Adam Smith was more than enough, so there was no major pressure in that regard.

  However, providing ample food was only the first step in cultivating professionals.

  Experienced professional instructors, regur intake of magical creature meat to ensure proper nutrition, and specialized training camps for unique skills were the real heavy iments to e.

  Ralph quickly pushed these stray thoughts aside as he directed the borers to deliver the remaining food to the outskirts of the vilge.

  There, hundreds of hungry kobolds awaited their meal eagerly.

  "Hum hum..."

  "Gur gur..."

  The kobolds chattered endlessly, their excitemeened by the entig aroma in the air.

  Dozens of wooden barrels were set down, filled with a mixture of bck bread and thick soup, giving off a peculiar st.

  The kobolds gathered around, dozens of them huddled together, dev the food noisily.

  Old John watched these unusually well-behaved kobolds in amazement, scratg his head in fusion:

  "What's going on? What's the use of keeping these kobolds?"

  Just as he was about to take a puff of his tobacco, he residered a down. Vilge Chief Field khat his retirement pns would likely o ge, so he shook his head and said:

  "The lord has his own pns. I never would have thought that these normally crazed little creatures could be so obedient..."

  Butler Ralph remained silent, watg as Vilge Chief Field returo the stru site, repeatedly iing the progress made over the past hour or two, all the while pting the uping tasks.

  Aook the part that listed each soldier's tributions and the exact tribution points earned.

  The standard for earning one tribution point was the defeat, capture, or killing of a Level 1 professional.

  This was the base tribution value, with additional points awarded based on the spoils of each battle.

  "From now on, the tribution point system will follow this standard."

  "Those who are injured or sacrifice themselves will also receive additional tribution points, but these will only apply to the individual."

  "anders will have three times the tribution points deducted if they deliberately use soldiers as on fodder."

  "The exge of tribution points will be supervised, and all points will be calcuted openly, transparently, and iime..."

  Upon hearing Matthew's arras, Ange quickly realized that this tribution system would have far-reag effects on the soldiers and others ierritory.

  "After lunch, you and Butler Ralph will host the exge and publiou."

  Ange houghtfully and immediately began making arras.

  Butler Ralph rubbed his temples, starting to feel that there were too many tasks for him to handle alone.

  Matthew noticed this and smiled as he said:

  "Begin recruiting persoo form a specialized administrative team to help you mahings."

  Feeling a stir in his heart, Butler Ralph houghtfully, looking down at the recruitment noti his hand. After some hesitation, he asked:

  "There’s still a she of military supplies, and the usual training wears them down. Should we tact Adam Smith in advance?"

  Without hesitation, Matthew nodded and, recalling the trolls in the forest, smiled brightly as he said:

  "Inform Adam Smith to spread the word in Blood Moon City—there will be a 50-gold bounty for capturing a troll in the Dark Forest!"

  In the past, Butler Ralph would have thought the lord had gone mad.

  But after seeing the piles of blood-replenishing potions Mattheroduced, he now uood the lord’s iions. He respectfully bowed and replied:

  "I’ll also have Mr. Adam Smith arrange for the first batch of supplies to be escorted by these adventurers."

  Matthew licked his lips and looked out at the endless wilderness, tinuing:

  "Also, have Adam Smith put out a call: the first wave of civilians to settle in Bay Vilge will receive the perma lease of 50 acres of nd upon pleting the task of cultivating 500 acres."

  Ralph paused slightly before turning around, silently nodding. He could sehat the lord was being eager.

  With these two annous, Bay Vilge, which had been quiet, was soon going to bee bustling with activity.

  After all, who could resist the temptation of nd?