Chapter 500

Chapter 500: Mission to the Grassland

Time flew by swiftly.

After Lolan Hill had completed teaching the first batch of technicians in Soland, more than a month had passed. Seeing that these personnel could already handle basic tasks, she no longer lingered, leaving the subsequent materials in the Legacy Gem before departing the Imperial Capital.

With the current foundation, they would only need time to learn, restore, and develop using these materials. She didn’t have to guide them constantly. Just like children, they would eventually learn to walk on their own.

Leaving the Imperial Capital, she headed north again, to the Cold Rock County.

On a hill at the border stood a small fortress built with blue-gray cold rocks. It had encircling stone walls, a high tower, and several buildings.

In the courtyard of the fortress, there were over a dozen carriages parked. Few people came and went, some heading to the market, others conducting research locally, and some riding horses to survey the county’s land.

Since Lolan Hill left, the other members of the caravan had been busy with various preparatory work.

As June approached, even the northern grassland border gradually became warmer.

The grazing grass was as green as oil, some blooming with little flowers, and bees buzzed about occasionally.

A tiny dot fell from the white clouds in the sky, speeding towards the earth. It suddenly slowed down just before reaching the ground and gently landed.

Lolan Hill walked along a dry dirt path toward the fortress.

The two guards standing at the gate stood straight up in surprise. The wise scholar who had been gone for over a month had finally returned.

In the hall of the fortress, Mira placed some documents in front of Lolan Hill and introduced the recent situation.

“Considering our long-term stay, we bought this abandoned small fortress as a base for the caravan in Cold Rock County, for storing goods and resting.”

“These are the results of everyone’s recent investigations, serving as plans for Cold Rock County’s future.”

“Also, following your instructions, we purchased a lot of grain and practical goods from the central province and stored them in the warehouse.”

“Good, I understand.”

Lolan Hill picked up these documents and looked through them. Since they had been organized beforehand, she found them easy to read and quickly understood the content.

“Not bad.”

Among the suggestions were ideas such as setting up seed stations, veterinary clinics, schools, opera houses, bookstores, and agricultural tool supply centers at the border.

Many of these could attract the northern beastmen, and they were practical. Later, education could attract younger beastmen, supplemented by cultural promotion through opera and books, enhancing mutual understanding.

Though the initial effects might not be noticeable, after a few years, the tribes of the beastmen and Clancia would interact more frequently, becoming increasingly familiar, reducing barriers between them.

In fact, both sides didn’t have significant conflicts. Currently, Clancia had ample land and didn’t lack this relatively barren land. However, meat, eggs, and dairy were slightly insufficient, while the beastmen needed many goods from Clancia.

After relations eased, envoys could be sent to visit each tribe, gradually integrating them into the country from south to north.

Even if some beastman tribes didn’t trust Clancia, seeing the happy lives of their southern compatriots would gradually shake their resolve, making them slowly let go of their resistance.

Within Clancia, due to the previous positive image created by the West Wind and Rabbit-Ear Clan, the beastmen wouldn’t be overly rejected.

After merging, over time, they would gradually become one nation.

However, there was still a key point to address: the thoughts of the beastmen on the grassland.

Most beastmen didn’t consider complex matters; they simply maintained their daily lives. True thinkers and those considering the big picture were still the shaman leaders among the beastmen.

This plan wasn’t a conspiracy but an open and clear strategy. With time, they would naturally understand.

The question now was how they would react. Would they accept it joyfully, remain silent, or reject it?

Problems wouldn’t solve themselves; someone had to take the initiative.

Regardless, Lolan Hill wouldn’t give up. She decided to go on a mission to the north, directly visiting the northern tribes to dispel any suspicions and misunderstandings.

Setting aside the documents, the young lady picked up her teacup, took a sip, and put it down.

“Mira, tell everyone that we will set out in a couple of days to the northern grasslands.”

The rabbit-eared girl raised her head in surprise. “Yes, my lady. I’ll inform them right away.”

—

Five days later, on the Guafia Grassland.

It had been more than a year since she last left. Sitting in the carriage, Lolan Hill calculated the time, wondering if she should reveal her previous identity, which might reduce many obstacles.

But doing so would expose her student identity from Emanas. If others knew that the sage of Clancia was merely a student of Emanas, it would be somewhat embarrassing.

Shaking her head, she thought, “We’ll see. If necessary, I’ll limit it to a few people.”

Under the flowing clouds and blue sky, dazzling sunlight illuminated the earth. The wheels of the carriage rolled over the dry soil, causing slight jolts and creaking sounds.

The riders and members accompanying her felt their clothes and armor heating up under the scorching sun.

They gazed at the boundless grassland, where the ground had gentle undulations and arcs. The sky above was vast and expansive. Whenever they looked up, they felt insignificant, as if they might fall into the blue expanse at any moment, engulfed by it.

“Eden,” a rabbit-eared knight called out from the back of the team, addressing his friend.

“What’s up?” his companion turned around.

“Nothing, just feeling a bit overwhelmed. The grassland is so vast, and the sky’s width makes me feel a bit afraid.”

“Haha, you’re lucky you’re riding a horse. Walking, you’d probably stumble in place.”

“You’re right, a bit.”

“Haha, actually, I feel the same.” His companion stopped laughing, shielding his eyes from the sun and looking at the land.

“Villagers always said there was a vast grassland in the north where our kin lived, riding horses and singing songs on free land.”

“I used to dream of that life because the forest was dangerous and not free, sometimes even starving.”

“But now, years later, we’ve realized that dream in another way, and the real grassland isn’t as beautiful as we remembered.”

“Yes, though not perfect, the scent of this soil and grass is still intriguing.”

“After we return, I’ll tell the grandpas and uncles in the village that we’ve been to the northern grassland, describing its scenery and fulfilling their old dreams. But they might not care about this distant fantasy anymore.”

“In Eastern terms, we’ve reached a new village after a dark path.”

“Haha, don’t say anymore, or Mira will scold us for falling behind.”

Under the clear sky, two riders whipped their horses, catching up with the convoy ahead. The neighing of horses and laughter echoed into the distance.

(The chapter ends)