- Fantasy Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence
- FLDI Chapter 111
**Chapter 111: A Letter from the West**
He couldn’t quite remember how long it had taken for him to become a baron—three years, five years, or perhaps even longer. Tono could no longer recall, but the hardships he had faced were still fresh in his memory, as if they happened yesterday. He had been on the brink of life and death several times.
The West wasn’t as chaotic as the North, but the challenges it posed were no less severe. The number of beasts and the constant conflicts among Western lords were overwhelming. Each year, countless lords met their downfall. Tono’s two brothers had lost their territories under these very circumstances.
Had he not been fortunate enough, he might have been gone by now.
It had only been a year since, and already his new brother had been granted the title of baron. Tono was stunned and didn’t know how to react.
Months ago, he had struggled to calm his turbulent emotions. And now, when Babrus brought up the matter again, Tono couldn’t help but feel his excitement rekindle, though he quickly suppressed it.
He knew a bit about his brother’s territory. It had only been a year since it began to develop. Despite the significant support from their father and his brother’s capable luck, he had managed to rally several nobles and earned enough merits to be awarded the title of baron.
But time was still short, and the East Maine Valley was far from the West. Even with two great knights, at best, only one would be able to assist, which wouldn’t make much of a difference.
“Let’s give it a shot!” Babrus pondered aloud. “Even with just one great knight, it’s still an extra bit of strength. Plus, with your brother on our side, we’ll have a better chance if we invite others as well.”
“Alright then,” Tono nodded after a moment’s hesitation. “I’ll write him a letter. It’ll take about ten days.”
Indeed, as Babrus mentioned, his brother was one of the few people he could trust. Any extra strength would be beneficial. Having made up his mind, Tono quickly set things in motion.
He wrote the letter personally and entrusted it to two knights, who were to deliver it to Eagle Territory. The journey to Eagle Territory was about five or six hundred miles; even a knight would need about ten days.
It wasn’t until the end of the month that Thor received the message.
In the castle, Thor was busy with governance matters. With many new farmlands being cultivated and resources needing redistribution, he was quite occupied.
Yet amidst his tasks, a knight arrived, reporting that someone was seeking an audience and had brought a letter from his second brother.
Regarding his siblings, Thor honestly didn’t have much of an impression. Count Engel had over twenty children, and Thor knew a few brothers who had become pioneering knights in the northern provinces. He had also heard that most of them were in the West, and now only one remained.
The great distance had kept him from even thinking about them. Yet, despite his own lack of initiative, his brother had reached out to him.
“Let him in,” Thor said after a brief pause.
“Yes, my lord.” Karin left, and an hour later, a knight was ushered into the room.
“Master Thor!” The knight knelt on one knee before him, presenting a wax-sealed letter from his breast pocket. A maid took the letter and handed it to Tor.
Tor accepted it with curiosity, breaking the seal and unfolding the letter. As he read, he quickly grasped the situation, his brows raising slightly in surprise.
His second brother was inviting him to conquer a territory occupied by beastmen, emphasizing its immense value. It contained a large iron mine, a small copper mine, and a source of Naur.
Iron and copper were invaluable, especially a large iron mine that could continuously generate wealth. Naur, he knew, was an essential ingredient for basic life potions. Though less expensive than life grass, it was still quite valuable. With it, he would have all the primary ingredients needed for lower-level life potions.
“Did my second brother say anything else?” Thor asked, looking at the knight before him.
“No, Lord Thor. He only instructed me to deliver the letter to you,” the knight replied respectfully.
“Very well. You may rest for now. Tomorrow, we’ll set off,” Thor said with a nod.
“Yes, my lord!” The knight bowed and promptly left.
Tor immediately began preparations. His brother’s request for assistance could not be ignored, resources or not. Family connections were essential to the very concept of family, especially with such rich resources at stake.
The day passed quickly, and by the following morning, Thor had finished managing affairs in Eagle Territory. He decided to bring Steve, Ryan, twenty full knights, fifty apprentice knights, and three hundred reserve knights to the West. He left Perlos in charge of the territory in his absence.
His brother had clearly warned him about the goatmen’s strength. Bringing insufficient force would be useless. Even though he was taking two-thirds of his forces, he wasn’t overly concerned about the territory’s safety. Recent intelligence had shown no imminent threats, and the Maine Valley Alliance had become almost a single entity after two combined efforts. If something major happened, they could simply rush back.
They set off in grand style, heading West. The journey from the East Maine Valley to the Western Danube was long, but with all knights, they moved quickly.
Seven days later, they crossed the central region and arrived in the West. Upon arrival, Thor immediately noticed the stark contrast between the West, East, and North. The trees were denser, the beasts more numerous, and the temperature warmer.
The East Maine Valley was a bit chilly due to its proximity to the Northern Glacier, which brought fearsome cold waves annually. The West, however, was warm and abundant, catching Tor’s eye with its lush resources.
“Ding, intelligence system updated! Would you like to open it?” A mechanical voice echoed.
“Open it!” Thor responded.
[Daily Intelligence Update]
[1: Thirty miles north of your position, a group of Swine Beasts will be passing by, led by a third-tier Swine Beast.]
[2: A thousand miles to the west, a Starfruit Tree is being cultivated. It will mature in three months.]
[3: Fifty miles ahead of you, two second-tier beasts will engage in a battle in three hours.]
[4: Twenty miles to your right, there is a group of… ]
[5: Fifty miles to the right of the large tree ahead, a herd of more than twenty Unicorn Horses will pass by.]
[6: A thousand miles to the right of the Maelde Territory ahead, a group of Earth Dragons is resting.]
As Thor read each line, he realized just how much more abundant the West’s resources were compared to the East and North. He had barely set foot in the West and was already uncovering so much, with even more details revealed in the daily intelligence report.
He had even spotted several Sacred Fruits and a Starfruit Tree. There were also plenty of Thorn Fish, but due to the distances, he reluctantly decided to let them go for now. His main mission, after all, was to assist his second brother, not to linger in the West collecting resources.
Though he had to pass on some opportunities, he noted down their locations for future reference, in case he found time later. Even so, his journey so far had been quite fruitful. If he were to measure his gains in gold coins, they would likely exceed a thousand. Some things he’d found were even beyond monetary value, tempting him to consider sweeping through the area.
But he reminded himself that his primary concern was his territory. His status depended on it, especially now that he was a pioneer lord. Establishing a prosperous territory would open up vast possibilities for his future.
As night began to fall, Thor and his group continued onward, collecting resources as they went. They faced several beast attacks, despite his attempts to avoid them. The West was simply teeming with beasts, making it impossible to evade all encounters. Fortunately, his group was formidable enough to handle even high-level second-tier beasts without much trouble.
Three days later, they finally arrived at Tono’s domain.
Compared to Eagle Territory, Tono’s land was quite small, roughly the size of the former Eagle Town. Even so, golden wheat adorned the fields, where countless serfs were busy working. On a wide road, a group of people had gathered, waiting for their arrival.
Leading them was a middle-aged knight who bore a resemblance to Thor, though his face was rougher and he had a patchy beard. As soon as they appeared, the man rode forward to meet them.
Tor quickly dismounted from Nia, as did the figure approaching him.
“Thor, my brother!” Tono called out with a hearty laugh, arms wide open.
“Brother!” Thor replied, smiling and extending his arms. The two embraced tightly.
“Welcome, my brother. Was your journey smooth?” Tono asked, still grinning.
“All went well,” Thor replied, smiling back. He felt an inexplicable bond, as if a deep, instinctual connection was drawing him to his brother. Bloodlines held immense significance in this world, and no matter how long they had been apart, the moment they reunited, an undeniable sense of kinship emerged.
“Come, Tor! I’ve prepared a feast to welcome you,” Tono laughed, leading him into the castle. “You’ll get to meet my children too.”
Tor followed Tono into the castle, where a grand dinner awaited. He soon met his brother’s wife and children. Tono’s wife, Evelyn, was a noblewoman of refined bearing. Her lineage was unknown to him, but her demeanor suggested noble roots.
They had two sons and a daughter: Kevin, twelve; Dia, nine; and Leah, six.
“Uncle!” The children were curious yet respectful as they greeted him.
“For our first meeting, here’s a little gift. I hope you’ll like it,” Thor said, smiling as a knight stepped forward with three small wooden boxes for the children.
“Thank you!” they replied in unison.
“Haha, you’re too kind, Tor!” Tono laughed, clapping Thor on the back. “Come, let’s have a drink!” He led Thor to the head of the table.
The children opened their gifts, each finding a surprise inside. Kevin’s box contained a mid-level life potion, while Dia and Leah’s each held a Sacred Fruit.
Kevin, realizing the value of the gifts, quickly suggested, “I should show these to Mother!”
Dia and Leah nodded in agreement. Kevin then hurriedly took the boxes and ran to find his mother.
“Mother!” he whispered as he approached Evelyn.
“Yes, Kevin? What is it?” she asked, curious.
(End of Chapter)