"Why isn't the teacher here yet!" A group of disciples ran around like ants on a hot pan. It was already afternoon, but they couldn't find Kayal. The trade was nearing its end, as was the Harvest Festival. But the main person in charge, Kayal, couldn't be found for that big matter.
"Senior Brother, we found this in an alley." Kayal had been honing his sword for ten years; a 5,000-strong city guard unit had always been lurking as a hidden blade, usually used as police. Although his disciples were all trained to be officers, basic training was still required. Many who served in the city guard were members of the Eight Hundred Sages, so his appearance here was not surprising.
The person who walked over, holding Kayal's magnificent staff in one hand and Kayal's robe in the other, had a cold expression, with an uncontrollable killing intent overflowing: "Someone actually dared to lay hands on the teacher in Red Leaf Ridge…"
"Audacious!!!" Kayal's first disciple, Agons, roared like a clap of thunder on a flat ground. Usually, he was a serious person who liked to follow rules, but in private, he was very easygoing. Yet, even he had veins throbbing on his forehead, his face full of rage: "We must find these audacious fellows! No one can lay hands on the teacher in Red Leaf Ridge! No one!"
"Should we inform His Grace the Duke?" Sylph asked. She was gentle by nature and had completely lost her composure in such a situation, asking timidly.
"No!" A calm and decisive figure interjected, like a bucket of cold water. Her words made everyone calm down.
Artoria!
Artoria, in her armor, looked incredibly heroic. Amidst a group of furious, panicked, and irrational people, she, who was closest to Kayal, was the calmest.
Holding her knight's sword, she issued commands in an orderly manner: "We absolutely cannot tell His Grace the Duke! Vitoto, immediately seal off the entire Red Leaf Ridge, allowing entry but no exit! Focus on inspecting the merchants! Issue a double bell warning; even if Kayal is fine, we can take this opportunity to announce the plan. Knights, follow me to seal off the main roads! Take off your heavy knight's armor; we need to move fast now! I will bring the Unicorn with me!"
Artoria's commands were well-structured and convincing. Everyone felt as if they had found their backbone. Artoria, who had been with Kayal even longer than them and had become Kayal's closest confidante yesterday, undeniably took command.
"Yes!" Everyone shouted in unison and dispersed.
However, Kayal, the center of all this chaos, was oblivious.
He was happily chatting with Holo, occasionally exclaiming "Beautiful! Brilliant, insightful!" to describe Holo's talent.
It must be said that while Kayal was knowledgeable as a scholar, it was mainly in military affairs. In other areas, he was only proficient, not deeply specialized. But Holo's expertise in agriculture and forestry was simply astonishing!
She could distinguish the uses of plants that even hunters couldn't. She could tell the purpose of every tree, the cause and effect between poisons and antidotes. She could smell the earth's joys and sorrows, discern the fertility or barrenness of soil, and hear the land's weakness or strength. She was simply a natural child of the earth, a treasure bestowed upon the world by the earth!
"Clap, clap, clap!" Kayal clapped softly, his serene face adorned with a gentle smile and admiration: "That was simply too brilliant, Miss Holo. To be honest, I didn't quite believe your identity at first."
"Hmm, I already heard it, don't forget I am Wise Wolf Holo, I can tell truth from falsehood in your words!" The young girl said casually, gently stroking her tail.
"However, now I believe you!" Kayal stood up and smiled: "Even I, even hunters living deep in the mountains, even the plants themselves might not fully understand their own uses. Your knowledge simply captivates me! It's absolutely wonderful!"
Even Kayal couldn't help but use honorifics. For researchers one level below them, scientists often looked down upon them—'How dare you show off in front of me?'
But at the same level, or even higher, respect unconsciously emerged.
Although Kayal's expertise in warfare was professional, he did not discriminate against agricultural experts. No matter the profession, the knowledgeable are teachers. While using one's strengths against another's weaknesses is good in tactics, it would be scorned in academia!
"Hmph…" She really wanted to say dismissively: 'Who do you think you are? Do you think I care whether you believe I am real?'
But Kayal's demeanor was indeed remarkable. Just standing there and smiling, without saying a word, he already possessed a powerful aura. No one could forget Kayal. This was charisma—the combination of the arrogance and elegance of a high-level intellectual with the approachability and solemnity of a superior. This mixed temperament, coupled with his white attire and Kayal's own appearance, could only be described as a born leader.
"I extend my most sincere greetings, in the name of the Sage. Wise Wolf Holo, are you willing to join Red Leaf Ridge and contribute your strength to the fertile land?" Kayal stood there, yet he appeared incredibly majestic, asking softly.
Every word and every sentence he uttered seemed like law. Looking at Holo, Kayal was uncharacteristically serious. Such talent was truly captivating! No, such talent was simply drool-worthy. As a humble lord, Kayal couldn't help but covet Holo.
Greed!
Facing the knowledge Holo displayed, Kayal felt nothing but endless greed.
If she could lead the agricultural academy… just thinking about it filled Kayal with an excited, trembling pleasure.
"No, I don't like being constrained." Wise Wolf refused Kayal's invitation without hesitation, just giggling.
"Hehe, why don't you come and see with me…" Kayal smiled like a fox. He didn't like violence. So-called power wasn't meant to be displayed by oppressing others. Power was internal, it was substance, it was charm, it was protection, it was a mountain, it was a sea. Although he practiced autocratic rule, his territory had the most enlightened atmosphere. This was Kayal's confidence—no one who had experienced Red Leaf Ridge didn't yearn for it. Do you think those merchants don't want to eagerly buy property in Red Leaf Ridge?
Want to buy a house? You can! Exquisite decoration, beautiful small houses, lovely farms, beautiful homes, all for you to choose, just bring contribution points! Want to speculate on real estate? In your next life!