Chapter 302: Chapter 302. Kant’s Choice to Retreat
The system popped up a dialog box on Kant’s retina.
[ Ding… Special Quest issued ]
[ Special Quest: Choice ]
[ Mission Choice: Advance/retreat ]
[ Mission introduction: You can choose to advance and go deep into the desert to investigate detailed information. You may encounter danger, or you may also get an opportunity. You can also choose to retreat and return to your castle to prepare for yourself. You can be cautious to ensure your own safety and seek more benefits in the future. The choice of all these is in your hands. ]
The system was very clear.
However, this special quest from the system made Kant personally make a decision, which was still out of his expectations.
“Choice.”
Kant muttered to himself.
His eyes swept across the dialog box on his retina, carefully scanning through the words in the introduction.
Unfortunately, he could not find the system’s metaphorical expression. He had given the choice to Kant, allowing him to personally choose whether to advance or retreat, and then make a completely different outcome.
It was entirely his choice.
Kant pondered.
He looked up at the vast sea of sand in front of him, and finally made a choice. “Retreat!”
That was the retreat option in the system’s choice.
[ Ding… You have made your choice ]
[ You have decided to retreat. Facing unknown dangers, you need to be cautious. This is undoubtedly a wise choice. Only by knowing yourself and your enemy can you be undefeated in a hundred battles. You have decided to return to your own estate first before you consider it. However, you know very well that it is wise to focus on nurturing your own forces to resist future threats. ]
The system instantly popped up a dialog box.
However, it was not the dialog box for completing the mission.
“Let’s go!”
Kant understood what the system meant.
He turned the horse’s head, shook the reins, and let the warhorse gallop across the desert.
The knights behind him immediately followed, their faces solemn.
This was the supreme lord’s choice.
However, for the mage apprentices, they heaved a sigh of relief. Because for them, entering the depths of the Nahrin Desert directly, especially sensing the negative energy and evil at the bottom, made them even more scared.
The road ahead was really difficult, to the point that even these apprentices from the Enfath Empire were afraid!
Kant’s choice was really wise.
Although they knew that they might encounter more opportunities if they continued to move forward.
But fighting the strong opponent with their current strength, the dangers ahead would be more and more terrifying!
“It’s good to go back.”
The mage apprentices let out a sigh of relief. They shook the reins and urged their horses to follow immediately.
Under the protection of these extraordinary knights, they felt particularly at ease. However, what made them feel more at ease was that they were still in the castle. Therefore, they suggested to Kant, “Perhaps we can study the sun disk and find a way to use positive energy.”
Kant frowned. The mage apprentices had also delved into the sun disk before.
“Uh… That’s right, the sun disk.”
As if sensing Kant’s suspicion, the mage apprentices were also embarra.s.sed.
Their tone paused for a moment, but they still explained, “We found part of the research on the sun disk in senior’s notebook. It might be able to solve the current predicament we’re in. After all, the positive energy gathered by the sun disk has an extremely high ability to expel and dissolve the negative energy of demons and undead.”
“Can you solve it?”, Kant wasn’t questioning their theory, but their practical ability.
They had a criminal record.
Of course, the mage apprentices were even more embarra.s.sed. “The seven senior mages before us might be able to solve it.”
“That’s good.”, Kant nodded.
If that was the case, there wouldn’t be a problem. As long as the seven official mages who were still in the “Aaron” Town were quickly recalled, it would be fine. After all, the crisis of “Drondheim” Castle was the most important.
Because how to deal with the coming Sky Veil of Death was very important in Kant’s eyes!
This was a higher level spell.
A super large scale spell that increased the BUFF of allies and weakened the enemy’s status BUFF.
Even the combination of [ Commanding power ] and [ Intimidation ] that he currently had was only so-so!
“If I can research the positive energy in the sun disk, perhaps I can really solve the Sky Veil of Death here. But the most important thing is to reorganize the troops and continue to attack.”
Kant felt a little depressed.
The threat he had seen during his trip this time made his heart palpitate.
If those unknown undead began to spread towards the south from the depths of the Nahrin Desert, Kant would be the first to bear the brunt of the invasion. He would face the invasion of these undead, and an intense conflict would break out between the two sides.
This disrupted his plans.
Originally, Kant had planned to use the trade route to gradually infiltrate the Dukedom of Leo and gain power or turn it into a colony. He would even spread his influence on other kingdoms and use the high-priced table salt trade to turn them into dumping grounds.
His goal was to earn a large number of golden eagles!
Then, he would expand his influence to the point where he could annex kingdoms, devouring the influence he had.
One step at a time, safe and secure.
But now was not the time.
Before he could successfully carry out this plan, a sudden change had come.
The appearance of the undead had disrupted his plans, and he had to reconsider.
In fact, based on Kant’s current situation, he was still facing the danger of a two-p.r.o.nged battle. After all, the salt mines were Kant’s bottom line, and he had to send troops to protect them.
However, the table salt trade of the Dukedom of Leo would also attract a large number of armed forces with ulterior motives.
Even various bandit groups would come.
“Violent soldiers!”
Kant gritted his teeth and gripped the reins in his hands tightly.
He had to put all of his resources into the construction of the troops.
He spurred his horse and galloped wildly.
Kant turned his head and had some thoughts in his mind.
The elite troops policy was temporarily ineffective due to the possibility of a two-p.r.o.nged battle. If Kant did not have enough troops, he would not be able to form a defensive line. In particular, he needed troops to establish two defensive lines for the posthouse of the salt mines and the central posthouse.
In reality, “Drondheim” Castle did not face much pressure at the beginning.
If the enemy really attacked the city wall, it meant that Kant’s field troops would be completely annihilated.
At that time, this would be the last line of defense!
However, “Drondheim” Castle had a complete training camp, such as the footmen, crossbowmen, and cavalry training camps. They had all been built. It was completely possible to recruit civilians in the castle and begin large-scale training.
It wouldn’t take too long for Kant to produce an army that could be put to good use.
“Let’s go back first.”
Kant exhaled.
He spurred his horse forward.
The scorching sun at noon was hot, but the coldness from underground dispersed the heat.
Marching was still not a problem.
It was just that this phenomenon made them, who already knew the inside story, even more fearful.
Compared to being able to march and endure noon, Kant and the others were more willing to return to their old days. They had to hide in tents under the scorching noon sun. It was easier this way!
After several days of trekking, the saline-alkali soil that covered the mountains and plains in the desert pits finally appeared.
This was once a lake.
One could still see the remnants of the ancient river course.
However, it had already dried up, and even the lake had evaporated, leaving behind large areas of saline-alkali soil. Looking from the sh.o.r.e, from the bottom of the foot to the end of the horizon, where one could not see the horizon, there were patches of white-colored alkali soil.
An incalculable amount of coa.r.s.e salt was sprinkled in this desert, mixed with sand grains, forming a system of its own.
Even the sandstorm could not cover it up.
Even in the industrial era, with large-scale equipment and modern fluid mining, the coa.r.s.e salt here could be mined for hundreds of years, let alone in the feudal era of cold weapons, which could only be mined by humans.
Just the salt beach on the periphery, not to mention the salt lake in the inner part, would probably be mined for thousands of years!
Kant would never give up his wealth.
Along the dunes that were full of salt and alkali soil, it would take another three days to reach the posthouse.
There was no rest along the way.
It was a long journey.
The occasional simple rest was mainly on the road.
Finally, they arrived at the salt mine posthouse.
Twenty desert bandits were still on alert, patrolling with scimitars in their hands.
In the salt and alkali soil under the sand dune of the posthouse, 300 ragged slave miners were working hard to dig coa.r.s.e salt. There were also more than 30 well-dressed men with horsewhips in their hands.
On the edge of the alkali soil were 30 Swadian militia armed with hunting crossbow and clad in iron-plated armor.
It was often better to let the slaves manage the slaves than to let them manage the slaves themselves.
This was the way to draw and suppress the slaves.
This time, a caravan of 50 camels arrived and was transporting bags of coa.r.s.e salt that had already been piled up.
When they saw Kant, the peasants, militia, and desert bandits came over to salute him. Even the slave miners in the distance, under the whips of their comrades-in-arms, kneeled on the ground in a daze and saluted him.
After cruel training, these captives had become qualified slaves.
Of course, those who were not qualified were naturally “disposed”.
“My Lord.”
The desert bandits, militia, and peasants all came over to salute him.
“Yes.”
Kant didn’t have any intention of stopping on his warhorse. “There is an anomaly in the depths of the desert. If you meet the undead, you will deal with them if you can. If you can’t, then retreat to the castle!”
“Yes!”, the desert bandits and the militia looked at each other and discovered the shock in their eyes.
This news was indeed shocking.
Kant also understood that it was sudden.
However, he didn’t explain too much and only said in a deep voice, “Remember my words, don’t slack off in the slightest!”
“We’ll remain vigilant!”
The desert bandits and the militia hurriedly nodded.
The 20 peasants who had followed the camel caravan here asked Kant worriedly, “My lord, if there are undead in the depths of the desert, will it destroy our table salt trade?”
“Don’t worry, I will handle it.”
Kant said in a deep voice.
This was indeed the truth. If he couldn’t handle it, not only would these peasants lose their jobs, but he would also lose an important boost to his development.
After all, the large-scale exchange of denars was all thanks to the gold currency, the golden eagle.
If he lost the table salt trade, Kant would lose the source of the denar.
The output and slave trade alone couldn’t satisfy the expanding development. Especially the development and construction of the “Aaron” town, which needed a large amount of denars to support.
The development of agriculture and handicraft industries also cost a lot in the beginning!