Pioneer Lord: Starting From Daily Intelligence

Since the Swan Knights were already exhausted, Su Li stopped with them at the edge of the cliff on this highland to enjoy the magnificent sunset view in the distance.

It was spring, the weather was pleasant, and the setting sun cast a golden glow, painting the forests, rivers, and landscapes below the plateau a golden hue, truly magnificent.

The half-elves set up tents and campfires, while the Griffin Knights and Flying Horse Knights kept busy.

Fastrick and Ariana were sent to the lower plateau to deal with the Bone Speaker Order on the edge of the Shadow Forest.

Hilude, carrying over 10,000 Golden Crowns, went to the Imperial Engineering College's apprentice camp on the Tasir Highlands to successfully sign a cooperation contract between the two parties.

The elites of the Imperial Engineering College would arrive at the Bloody Highlands with ample manpower and abundant supplies to build a White Castle atop a perilous cliff, overlooking the entire Bloody Highlands.

Minister of Agriculture Vandar, riding a Giant Eagle, continued along the Brionne River, carrying a lightning-streaked Storm Dragon Head Eel that needed to be traded urgently. Otherwise, even the people of the Dawn Church couldn't keep it alive for more than a day.

In fact, by dusk, this ferocious carnivorous Storm Dragon Head Eel was already wilting, its spirit waning, potentially losing life at any moment.

It relied on Vandar to give it vitality, but this method couldn't sustain for long. This made Su Li particularly curious about how their Mannan Church managed to transport the lively Light-Scaled Fish to other dukes' tables across the vast distances.

Fortunately, the peculiar Wizard's place at the broken bridge was very conspicuous, right on the Brionne River, so Vandar just had to ride the Giant Eagle downstream to find it.

This trip, he merely needed to fly over and hand over the fish to the other party to gain an opportunity. Hence, he was the first to return and successfully brought back a golden Holy Grail, containing a cup of azure [Water of Magic].

Drinking this Water of Magic would allow one to see the Essence Soul within a few hours and have a heart-to-heart conversation, guiding a personal adventure or accomplishing an ambitious achievement.

Evidently, this item was not suitable for immediate use. Before he set out, his female courtiers repeatedly warned him not to venture everywhere and deviate from the journey.

If he embarked on another adventure, it would be an unnecessary complication.

So, he sealed the cup of [Water of Magic] in a Holy Grail, placed it in a beautifully crafted jewel box, and entrusted it to the half-elves for safekeeping. He did not plan to retrieve it until returning to Hesse Territory.

This kind of adventurous journey and expedition is better left to the leader of the Black Steel Redemption Knight Order, Gilles, to complete. By then, the grand experiences and glorious achievements would belong to him, while the Rare Level treasures acquired would go to Su Li.

After the Holy Grail was put away, it wasn't long before the half-elves prepared dinner, and the aromatic scent made everyone's mouth water.

Half-elves are natural culinary experts, especially since there was a half-elf hero with his basket of ingredients in the team.

Even in the wild, they managed to create a feast.

On the edge of the forest, the Swan Knight shot down a wild deer, a natural delicacy for making hand-grabbed meat.

After the prey fell, the Swan Knight swiftly stepped forward, using a sharp dagger to peel off the deerskin. The fresh red venison exposed to the air emitted a primal aroma. They skillfully extracted the innards, cutting the venison into cookable portions. Parts with alternating fat and lean were specifically chosen as they were optimal for hand-grabbed meat.

Deer blood was also carefully collected and mixed with flour to make savory pies, a favorite traditional pairing for the half-elves.

Then on the open space by the cliff, the Swan Knight set up an iron pot with a few smooth stones. Clear water was poured into the pot, followed by the cut venison. Controlling the heat was crucial—a high flame brought the water to a quick boil, while a low flame softened the meat slowly. The venison tumbled in the water, with fats and proteins intertwining to release an enticing aroma.

The broth gradually thickened, the meat's fragrance wafted all around. At this point, they added a pinch of salt and pepper for the most basic seasoning of hand-grabbed meat. In the primal forest, spices were unnecessary as the wild deer's natural flavor was already captivating enough.

As the meat darkened from red to deep brown and the broth became rich and thick, the hand-grabbed meat was ready to be served. The Swan Knight retrieved the steaming venison and placed it on a stone slab. Su Li and several ministers gathered around, grabbing pieces of meat with their hands, dipping them in a little salt, and savoring them.

The meat was tender and juicy, with a subtle wild aroma. As they chewed, the fats melted in their mouths, releasing a burst of flavor. The blood pies were baked to a crispy, fragrant finish, pairing with the hand-grabbed meat to create a delightful contrast in texture.

As he was enjoying the feast, another griffin stirred up a storm, soaring down swiftly from the northern sky.

Moments later, Hilude returned with a giant reindeer. She patted the head of Death's Claw, letting it also enjoy the fresh outdoor meat.

Then she walked over to sit on the stone slab beside Su Li.

Su Li sliced a piece of venison with a knife, handing it to her, and asked, "How did it go? Everything smooth?"

Hilude beamed a radiant smile, not directly answering, but instead laughingly asked, "Lord, things turned out far better than you anticipated. Can you guess what unexpected encounter I had?"