Duane and Lloyd didn’t actually have a close relationship, nor were their interests intertwined, so the two didn’t talk for long.

However, Lloyd still provided information on Black Forest Island to help Duane learn more about his Territory before his departure. This was a considerable favor.

After seeing Lloyd off, Duane opened the three items he had brought: the Black Box, a map, and a book.

Inside the Black Box were eight hundred Gold Coins, not a single one missing.

A very detailed Nautical Map was drawn on a yellow piece of Parchment, charting the course from the mouth of the Great Michaelson River at Silent Harbor all the way to Black Forest Island.

Silent Harbor was the Pruck Kingdom’s second-largest seaport, located on the Silent Shore. The Lord of this Territory was Earl Kais Kennedy.

It was worth mentioning that Lloyd was Count Kais’s second son.

’The Kingdom once had Count Kais send people to Black Forest Island to collect taxes. No wonder Lloyd has such a detailed map.’

Duane opened the book, which briefly recorded information about Black Forest Island:

Black Forest Island, also known as Exile Island, is located on the Silent Sea, southwest of the Pruck Kingdom.

The climate is humid with high annual rainfall, and many types of grain can be grown there.

Black Forest Island should be suitable for human habitation, but its complex environment and uncontrollable Secret Realms have made it an inhospitable place.

Currently, all of Black Forest Island’s residents live in the northwestern corner, in one city and one village, with a total population of just over ten thousand.

Duane’s brow furrowed. ’A little over ten thousand people... that’s fewer than the students in a single year at some universities.’

Duane continued reading through the book.

The person currently managing Black Forest Island on behalf of the Kingdom was a man named Monbodt Biddy. There was no other information about him besides his name.

In addition, it also recorded some information on tax collection.

Twelve years ago, Black Forest Island paid 53,000 pounds of grain in taxes, plus other materials worth over twenty Gold Coins.

Nine years ago, Black Forest Island paid 36,000 pounds of grain, and other materials worth over ten Gold Coins.

Five years ago, Black Forest Island paid less than 10,000 pounds of grain, and other materials were negligible.

After that, the Silent Shore, considering that the collected taxes weren’t even enough to cover the manpower and resources required for collection, explained the situation to the Kingdom and stopped collecting taxes from Black Forest Island altogether.

’Tsk, is my Territory really this poor?’

It wasn’t until he saw this string of numbers that Duane got a true sense of just how barren his Territory was.

’Few people, bad land... As for foreign trade, it seems like besides selling a few pitiful animal hides, there’s nothing else?’

’So damn poor!’

He couldn’t help but sigh again. At the same time, he consoled himself, ’Well, being poor has its advantages.’

After all, with so few people, and under the protection of thirty regular soldiers plus Kaelon and Raymond, his own safety wouldn’t be an issue.

"Jasmine, take these things to the desk in my study."

"Yes, my Lord!"

After giving the instructions, Duane returned to the courtyard, planning to practice his Spirit Swordsmanship for a while before continuing to brew his soup.

As for the soldiers, he would need to wait for Kaelon’s report before making any arrangements.

Most of the personnel were now in place; all that remained were the people being recruited by Ralph and Julian.

In any case, the day of their departure was drawing ever closer.

「More than three hours later.」

Duane stared at the empty bowl before him and smacked his lips in silence.

This large portion of Fire Source Beast Bone Soup still hadn’t granted him any attribute points.

It seemed the effects of the Fire Source Beast Bone Soup had already worn off on him.

He looked at his attribute panel:

[Basic]: Basic Cooking (Skilled 11/300)

[Combat Techniques]: Spirit Swordsmanship (Entry 15/200)

[Cooking]: Fire Source Beast Bone Soup (Entry 137/200)

Attribute Points: 0.3

After half a day of work, both his Basic Cooking and Spirit Swordsmanship had broken through to a new level.

His Sword Skills in cooking were now more refined, and his efficiency in preparing ingredients had improved significantly.

As for the Combat Technique, Spirit Swordsmanship, he had gained new insights, improving his Body Technique and learning how to apply force to achieve greater speed.

It now seemed that breaking through a Skill Level was like an infusion of knowledge, greatly reducing the difficulty of training.

Duane looked at his [Spirit] attribute, which was currently at 1.9.

’I wonder what the requirements are to break through to the Warrior level?’

He began allocating his points. However, he didn’t use them all. His total only decreased by 0.1, leaving 0.2 attribute points.

THUMP-THUMP, THUMP-THUMP...

At that moment, Duane’s heart began to beat with a strong and powerful rhythm. At the same time, a wave of scorching heat washed over his entire body, turning his face bright red.

"My Lord, what’s wrong?"

Owington noticed something was wrong and asked with concern.

Jasmine also grew flustered, quickly grabbing a nearby hot towel to place on his forehead.

"I’m fine."

Duane placed a hand over his heart, feeling its frantic pounding. After a long moment, the surging sensation in his blood gradually subsided.

In that moment, he noticed something different about his body.

Something seemed to be sprouting within his heart.

He couldn’t see it, but he could clearly sense its presence.

’A Fighting Qi Seed.’

The term was abstract, but Duane knew this was it—the Fighting Qi Seed, the key to further enhancing one’s physical constitution.

Without awakening it, a person’s Strength had a ceiling.

He looked at his attribute panel. A new "Level" entry had appeared below his name:

[Level]: Basic-level Warrior

[Strength]: 5.0

[Spirit]: 2.1

[Attribute Points]: 0.2

’Huh? Why is my Spirit at 2.1?’

Duane had just used 0.1 attribute points, so his Spirit should have been 2.0, but the panel was showing 2.1.

After a moment’s thought, he could only conclude that breaking through to the Warrior level provided a small boost to one’s Spirit.

’It seems the standard for becoming a Basic-level Warrior is 5.0 Strength and 2.0 Spirit.’

Duane mentally filed this information away.

He just didn’t know if this standard was unique to him or if it applied to everyone.

’Some people are born with great physical strength, far exceeding the minimum Strength requirement for a Basic-level Warrior. They break the general rule that you can’t increase Strength without awakening a Fighting Qi Seed.’

Such cases were known as "innate divine strength" or "exceptional talent."

So, Duane guessed that 5.0 Strength and 2.0 Spirit were likely just his personal benchmarks for becoming a Basic-level Warrior, and that the requirements probably varied for others.

"My Lord, are you all right?"

Owington asked quietly. He’d heard the Baron’s constitution was poor; had he just suffered a sudden relapse?

As his personal Male Servant, failing to look after the Lord’s health would be a dereliction of his duty.

Duane smiled faintly. As he allocated his remaining attribute points to Strength, he gently shook his head.

"Owington, do you know what it feels like to awaken a Fighting Qi Seed?"

"Uh..."

Owington scratched his head. "I’ve heard some people say that when you become a Basic-level Warrior, your blood and qi surge..."

His voice trailed off, and he looked at Duane in shock. "My Lord, did you... break through?"

Duane nodded slightly. "Yes. I just awakened my Fighting Qi Seed."

He didn’t hide the news.

A sixteen-year-old Basic-level Warrior was hardly a prodigy, so there was no need to worry about the nail that sticks out getting hammered down.

Besides, if his followers knew, it would change their impression of the Baron as a weak-bodied man and boost the group’s morale.

It would stop them from constantly worrying about what they would do if the Baron suddenly fell ill and died.

"Congratulations, my Lord!"

Owington immediately offered his congratulations.

Although Jasmine didn’t know what a Fighting Qi Seed was, she could tell this was a happy occasion and chimed in with her own congratulations.

After all, if the Lord did well, everyone did well.

"Let’s eat!"

Duane had already drunk a lot of soup, but his appetite was now excellent.

The two servants immediately lifted the lids from the dishes before him, releasing a cloud of steam.

"Jasmine, you don’t need to wait on me here. Go help Mara with the meal preparations."

Duane instructed, "She has to prepare food for over thirty more people today. She can’t handle it alone."

The men Lloyd had sent were full-time soldiers. Under the current arrangement, Duane had to pay them a salary, cover the repair costs for their weapons and armor, and provide food and lodging.

The King had provided one set of weapons and armor, so that wasn’t an immediate concern. But food and lodging were now his responsibility.

’Perhaps just giving Mara two kitchen assistants isn’t enough.’

Duane reckoned he would have to get Ralph to recruit two more people.