The precious treasure and 2 Star items that would transform Haggs into a hero unit—all the dragon manure—were fully purchased.
The total cost was... 30 silver coins.
Compared to the harvest, the cost paid was so insane that telling others would make them mad, even the gods would clench their jaws.
It was a comfort.
The feeling of quietly amassing wealth by leveraging the advantage of information was truly wonderful.
Once this round of intelligence updates was complete, then... it would be time to set out.
Lear gazed with deep thought.
He too longed to enter the wilderness, heading towards the Mire Swamp.
To find the authority that belonged to him!
Once the Authority of the Swamp was obtained, everything would be different.
And the intelligence system would serve as a guiding light, playing a greater role within the wilderness.
Returning to the Rose House, he saw Firina's maid again, her blonde hair floating in the wind, her gaze sharp as a blade.
A Level 12 high-ranking knight in Lorand City, a super metropolis with millions of inhabitants, represented high-rank power.
If she advanced further, becoming a Level 13 upper-position knight, she would qualify to command a thousand-man legion.
Yet such a figure was merely a maid driving a carriage.
"Good day, Lord Lear. The one hundred slave artisans gifted by Her Highness have arrived..."
She signaled to the side courtyard with a crisp sound.
Lear turned his head to look.
On the side, over a hundred figures stood there like sculptures, not daring to move, gazing fearfully at the ferocious wetland lizard-man ahead.
"These artisans live in the swamp as mud swamp people."
"They have an innate preference for damp places and possess higher intelligence than ordinary people."
"The only drawback is their timid nature."
"Mud swamp people are born artisans, whether building houses or forging tools, they are skilled hands."
"Lady Firina has purchased them for you from other cities..."
Hearing the introduction, Lear looked on curiously.
Mud Swamp People
[Level]: Level 4
[Potential]: 1 Star (Level cap: Level 6)
[Profession]: Artisan (Initial Tier)
[Racial Talent]: Artisan's Heart, mud swamp people are born wise, possessing additional insight and creativity in various artisan matters.
[Skills]: Skillful Hands (1 Star), extra 30% efficiency when building houses or forging tools.
[Equipment]: None
[Evaluation]: Born artisans.
Like combat professions, life professions have level distinctions; higher levels denote deeper expertise in professional skills.
However, even if life profession levels advance, combat power remains unchanged.
Lear finished reading the attribute panel in his mind, taking a deep breath.
Truly thoughtful.
"Miss Jasmine, please convey my gratitude to Her Highness Firina."
"These artisans hold significant importance for me."
"I will remember this favor."
Seeing his earnest gaze, Jasmine's expression softened as well.
She handed over a scroll.
"Lord, this is a magic map, which can guide you to your territory within the wilderness."
"Every pioneer lord receives their own magic map."
"A typical pioneer lord using a magic map will see its magic dissipate after three months."
After Lear accepted it, Jasmine said meaningfully,
"But this magic map is a personal item gifted by Her Highness."
"Lord Lear, wish you a glorious return..."
Taking a deep look at this youth especially valued by Her Highness, she slightly bowed, saluted, and turned away without hesitation.
Everything Her Highness intended to gift was given.
Even now, she did not understand why Her Highness invested so heavily.
She did not know what the future held, only hoped he would not disappoint Her Highness's expectations...
Lear silently watched her departing figure, with subtle emotions stirring in his heart.
Letting out a long breath to calm the fluctuations within, he unfolded the map in his hand.
The illustrations seemed alive, mountains, vegetation, rivers, and streams all flowed.
A conspicuous hexagram target at the map's edge, as he focused, a phrase immediately arose in his mind—
Mire Swamp.
Another continuously flashing point, within Lorand City's markings, indicated his current location.
"Is this... a fantasy version of GPS?"
Lear found it quite fascinating.
With this item, the toughest problem of navigation in the wilderness was directly solved.
As he pondered, the detailed attributes of the magic map appeared in his mind.
Magic Map
[Level]: Special
[Traits]: Inscribed with special magic runes, constantly displays the location of the magic map; spiritual power infused can add, delete, or modify the markings.
[Evaluation]: A map crafted by a mage with exceptionally high magical expertise, extremely precious.
The cost of this map was undoubtedly expensive!
This personal favor seemed to grow ever larger...
Lear took a deep breath.
Today's gift will be repaid another day!
He put away the map, calmed his mind, and returned to the side courtyard, where the wetland lizard-men immediately gazed at him with fervent eyes.
This was their soul-submitting, worship-inducing sovereign!
Lear looked at the mud swamp people.
The artisans wore tattered linen clothes and looked no different from ordinary people, except their pupils were the color of green algae, which appeared quite peculiar.
An elderly mud swamp person with curly hair, slightly hunched, and in his sixties, stepped forward in small strides.
He placed his right hand on his chest and bent deeply in the most humble gesture.
"Bain, I greet you, my lord. May the goddess bless you."
The tone carried a touch of tremor and unease.
Lear glanced at the other, surprise in his eyes.
This was actually a hero?!
Bain
Hero Unit
[Level]: Level 5
[Potential]: 2 Stars (Level cap 9)
[Profession]: Initial Tier Artisan
[Racial Talent]: ...
[Hero Talent]: Construction, possesses a unique and keen perception towards buildings, able to conduct overall planning for large-scale constructions, saving building costs while enhancing structural solidity.
[Skills]: Skillful Hands (1 Star) increases efficiency by 30% when building houses or forging tools.
Planning (1 Star) allows for overall planning of structures, utilizing the terrain to build suitable buildings as efficiently as possible.
[Equipment]: None
[Evaluation]: A hero with planning skills, suitable for developing a territory.
A Level 5, 2 Stars potential hero?!
Excellent, truly excellent.
Lear felt delighted.
Moreover, the other's ability was exactly what he needed urgently.
The Pioneer Lord's focus has always been on territory development.
"Bain, accompany me to the territory early tomorrow."
"In the future, I will need your assistance and cooperation."
"I will follow your orders, my lord."
The timid mud swamp people had combat skills inferior even to ordinary people, with no confidence or thought of resistance.
Around their necks, there wasn't even a Ring of Enslavement... these fellows were indeed unworthy.
Unlike the brutal wetland lizard-men.
Lear glanced at the crowd, over a hundred mud swamp artisans, plus two squadrons of wetland lizard-men in heavy armor.
The pioneering force he currently possessed was already considerably good compared to other pioneer lords.
Even noble descendants might not have this many initial resources.
A mere initial tier knight slave, reaching Level 6, normally sells for more than 200 Gold Coins each, adding up to 40,000 Gold Coins.
Combined with full armor, a hundred slave artisans, and strategic supplies from 30 wagons...
Some lesser nobles might exhaust their entire family fortune to achieve this.
"Bain, conduct an inventory of our supplies, determine what we lack... and procure everything today, for tomorrow we venture into the wilderness!"
Bain was slightly overwhelmed, his algae-green eyes becoming excited.
"Yes, my lord!"
But as his spirit rose, he turned around to see the imposing wetland lizard-men, and suddenly deflated again.
He hesitantly looked at him.
"My lord..."
Lear couldn't help but laugh.
"From now on, all wetland lizard-men will be your companions, their blades will only face enemies!"
"They are trustworthy allies, protecting you with their war sabers!"
"Go ahead."
Receiving such a promise, Bain gathered his courage to inspect the wagons.
As he passed by these fierce warriors, realizing they would not harm him, he breathed a huge sigh of relief.
He began a thorough investigation.
Indeed, Firina's gift was extraordinary, with 30 large wagons loaded like small trucks, filled to the brim.
Food, clothing, daily essentials were all covered.
Nothing was lacking.
Or rather, the things missing were hard to transport.
Seeing this, Lear said nothing more, entrusting the inventory and management of supplies to his first heroic subordinate.
Three hundred people, with daily food expenses being an outrageous sum.
But one wagon was filled with 1 Star Magic Food—Noah's Rice.
This magic food was reportedly cultivated by the Earth Mother Goddess's first Saintess and contained powerful magic power, requiring only half a pound of rice to sustain a person for five days.
Its yield was exceptionally low, needing a mage for cultivation, making it a strategic supply reserved by major forces or nobles.
Yet Firina directly gifted him a wagon full.
Roughly estimated, over 3000 kilograms.
Sufficient to sustain hundreds of people for half a year.
Confirming everything was correct, Lear, in a good mood, looked at the most robust figure among the wetland lizard-men—
Haggs.
"Follow me!"
The treasure needed to transform this brutal beast into a hero was already acquired... now, let this wetland lizard-man step into another world!
To cultivate his first combat hero.