Chapter 44 : Chapter 44
Chapter 44. The Edge of Mithril
Inside the council hall, the atmosphere was more spirited than usual.
The Black Territory’s core leadership had all gathered around the hardwood long table.
Eli sat in the seat of honor and pushed a thick parchment scroll to the center of the table. It was the preliminary inventory report for Lucerne City that Brandon had compiled after taking over from Buck.
“Everyone,” Eli’s steady, forceful voice broke the silence in the hall.
“Grumm occupied Lucerne City for several months, stripping it bare and amassing quite a substantial ‘family fortune.’”
“By rough estimate, there are more than two thousand seven hundred gold coins, plus a quantity of high-quality silverware and jeweled ornaments, worth around another one thousand five hundred gold coins if converted.
The granaries were heavily depleted, but there is still enough wheat and beans left to support a little over a thousand people for more than a month.
And there are still over a thousand people remaining in the city, which is in itself a form of wealth.
From the armory, we confiscated several hundred standard-issue sabers, spears, and leather armors. Most are old, but after sharpening and repair, they will be enough to arm our army.”
He swept his gaze across the room. “In short, we are currently well-funded.The areas under each of your responsibility no longer need to scrape by as before.Where manpower should be recruited, recruit it. Where supplies should be purchased, purchase them. Where production should be expanded, expand it. Now is the time for all of you to truly stretch your hands.”
A silent wave of excitement passed among them.
“Estor.” Eli called his name.
The young servant, who had been standing at the side the whole time, immediately straightened his back. “Young Master!”
“I have an important task for you.” Eli looked at him.
“Take enough men and enough goodwill, and set out for Thorne City at once.”
“Yes, Young Master!” Estor’s voice carried obvious excitement.
“Go find the most reputable large merchant guilds in the city, especially those engaged in the slave trade.”
“Tell them that Eli Black, lord of the Black Territory, has a major deal involving a thousand people to make.
As long as they bring their ‘goods’ to the Black Territory, the price can be negotiated.
Remember this. Priority goes to strong young laborers, male or female. Skilled workers are even better.”
Estor nodded forcefully. “Understood, Young Master!”
“And one more thing,” Eli added. “Find several large grain merchants.
Lucerne City’s grain stores will not last long, and the Black Territory’s population is also growing.
Tell them to come trade at the Black Territory with caravans loaded with enough good-quality fresh grain.
Tell them this: no matter how much they bring, I will take it all.”
“Yes, Young Master!”
“Go. Be careful on the road. This matter cannot be delayed.” Eli waved his hand.
After Estor left, the drive for construction inside the council hall was completely ignited.
Old John rubbed his callused hands together. “My lord! Now that the funds are in place, and more manpower will soon be coming in,then... can we begin work on a real city wall?
That ring of wooden fencing outside the camp is fine against bandits and wild beasts, but against an army, it is no better than paper.”
“That is exactly my intention.” Eli nodded.
“Old John, I’m putting you in overall charge of this matter.Within three days, I want a preliminary internal city layout plan and a proposed location for the city walls.”
He rose to his feet and walked to the map, his finger tracing across the valley.
“The plan must take future development into account. The residential district, workshop district, trade district, barracks, granaries—all of them must have enough room reserved.
The city wall must make use of the terrain, save labor and materials, and be easy to defend and hard to attack.At the same time, it must leave room for future expansion of the city.
Remember this: we are not building a temporary camp. We are building a foundational city that can take root in this wasteland for a hundred years.”
“Yes! My lord! I will do everything in my power!”
Old John’s voice trembled with excitement.
To personally build a real city—this was the lifelong dream of an old craftsman like him.
The rest of the meeting proceeded quickly, covering matters such as land reclamation, army expansion and training, and the initial governance of Lucerne City.
Each of the stewards received clear assignments.
When the meeting ended, everyone filed out in succession, carrying their respective duties and determination with them.
Only Sebastian remained where he was, unmoving.
Soon, the council hall held only Eli and the mysterious old steward.
Sebastian slowly stepped out from the shadows.
He came before Eli, standing across the desk from him, his gaze carrying an almost tangible note of approval.
“Young Master Eli,”
“your rate of growth is truly... astonishing.From that wastrel in the royal capital... to the ruler of two territories, commanding a thousand subjects. In only a few short months, you have become a completely different person.”
Eli froze slightly.
To receive a single remark of admiration from this unfathomable old steward carried more weight than praise from anyone else.
Memories surged through his mind, and he recalled how, back when he had still been with the family,
it was precisely by bribing this steward with three boxes of almond pastries that he had easily obtained his first five hundred gold coins.
Eli’s tone grew somewhat more casual. “I’m honored to have your approval.
Come to think of it, those almond pastries back then... did they suit your taste?”
A teasing note entered his voice, as though he wanted to see what kind of reaction this perpetually stiff-faced steward would give.
On Sebastian’s expressionless face, the corner of his mouth twitched ever so slightly.
He fell silent for a moment before slowly replying, “This old servant has remembered the Young Master’s thoughtfulness.”
Then, without warning, he changed the subject.
“Your hair... this highly unusual change. Does it have something to do with... certain ancient things in the depths of Nightsong Forest?”
He did not say the word “elves” outright, but the implication could not have been clearer.
The smile on Eli’s face froze, and a trace of vigilance and hesitation flashed through his blue eyes.
Sebastian seemed to see straight through his concerns, and his expression returned to stillness, like an ancient well without ripples.
“Young Master need not be troubled. I have already served eight heads of House Black.”
His tone was flat, yet the words exploded in Eli’s ears like thunder.
Eight heads of the family?!
How many years of history had House Black even existed?!
That was a span utterly beyond human longevity.
“You... aren’t human?!” Eli blurted out, his shock plain on his face.
Buck’s vague earlier description of him as a “trump card” had at last found a deeply unsettling answer.
Sebastian did not answer directly. He merely inclined his head slightly, which amounted to an admission.
“So you may rest assured. The interests of House Black stand above all else.
I will guard your secret to the death.
This old servant merely wishes to know... have you come into contact with some kind of substance?
That power... is it stable? Will it have... negative side effects?”
There was a note of concern and inquiry in his voice.
Faced with such honesty that went beyond ordinary reason, along with the identity of a guardian of the family, the wariness in Eli’s heart eased slightly.
This was true iron loyalty.
He drew a slow breath and decided to reveal part of the truth.
“There really was a ruin... I found one. I do not know where it came from, but in one part of it,
I happened to drink a kind of spring water that contained enormous life energy. My hair, and some of the changes in my body, all came from that.”
He concealed the crucial role of Aila’s bloodline.
Sebastian listened quietly, without surprise on his face, as though he had already guessed part of it.
After a moment of silence, he made a request. “Young Master, if there is a chance... might this old servant accompany you to that ruin one day?
It is not because I covet its power, but because... perhaps I may be able to identify its origin.
To assess its potential risks is of vital importance to your long-term safety, and to that of the territory as well.”
Eli pondered for a moment, then finally nodded. “Very well. When the time is right, I will arrange it.”
“Many thanks, Young Master.” Sebastian bowed slightly.
Just then, the doors of the council hall were suddenly shoved open, bringing with them a rush of bustling energy.
Leon, the Mining Officer, came hurrying in with a long object wrapped in thick velvet cloth in his arms, his face full of excitement. He had even forgotten to bow.
“Ah, pardon the interruption, Steward.”
Sebastian gave a slight bow and left the two of them the space to speak alone.
“My lord! My lord! Quick, take a look!” Leon rushed up to Eli’s desk in several large strides.
He carefully set the velvet-wrapped object on the tabletop, then peeled away the layers one by one.
As the cloth slid away, the thing inside revealed itself.
It was a longsword.
The blade was a little over three feet long, and its entire body shone with a flowing moon-white luster, as though it had been forged from congealed moonlight itself.
The lines of the sword were incomparably smooth, carrying a natural elegance and deadly grace.
There were no excessive decorations. Only a deep blue sapphire was set into the crossguard,
like the brightest star in the night sky, shining together with the moonlit glow of mithril.
Even lying there in utter stillness, it radiated an invisible sharpness.
“This... this is?!” Eli’s gaze was instantly locked onto it, and even his breathing stalled.
Leon was so excited that his words stumbled over one another. “Master Glenn! It was Master Glenn!
He... he spent two full days and two full nights without sleep!
And he used... used only the very first batch of ore taken from the mine, the finest essence of that raw mithril ore!
He said... he said this was the first gift for the lord!”
“My lord, I swear this is the most beautiful work of art I have ever seen in my life!”
His eyes were filled with fervor and worship, as though what he was presenting was some divine artifact.
A mithril longsword! Crafted by Glenn Parr himself!
Eli stretched out his hand, his fingertips trembling ever so slightly, and slowly reached for the hilt of that blade flowing with moonlight.