- Fantasy Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence
- FLDI Chapter 158
Campbell’s territory was roughly 300 miles from Tono’s lands. Even on horseback, the journey took Thor and his entourage four to five days to complete.
Finally, beneath the evening glow of the fifth day, they arrived at Campbell’s domain.
The lord of this territory, Stein Campbell, was the seventh son of the current Marquis Campbell. Known for his exceptional talent, Stein had become a squire at the age of 14 and a full knight by 16.
By the age of 24, he had already achieved the rank of great knight. Now, at just 32 years old, Stein was a Earth Knight—a level of power that only a handful of the pioneering lords in the Northern Province could claim.
While most pioneers were only full knights, a small number had risen to great knight status. And among them, an even smaller group had achieved the rank of Earth Knight.
The rarity of Earth Knights wasn’t just due to their skill—it also reflected the immense resources required to reach this level. Even with intermediate life potions to boost the odds, success rates were still negligible.
For most noble families, even viscounts and counts, producing a single Earth Knight was an immense challenge. However, this wasn’t the case for certain powerful families in the Tulip Kingdom.
For duke and marquis families, the difficulty was significantly lower. With their abundant resources and wealth, they could provide their offspring with a substantial head start compared to lesser nobles.
“Campbell—the uncrowned king of the Western Moon Province and one of the kingdom’s top ten marquis families. Rumor has it, they even have a sky knight,” Thor reflected.
As he approached the Campbell domain, Thor’s mind cycled through the details he knew about the Campbell family.
When he first ventured to the Northern Province, Thor had ensured he was well-informed about the major families in the region, and Campbell was one of them.
As one of the most powerful families in the kingdom, second only to the royal family and the dukes, the Campbells were a force to be reckoned with.
Thor hadn’t expected to cross paths with such a significant house under these circumstances.
Surrounded by his entourage—Pelos and Anna at his sides and a dozen knights scattered around—Thor maintained his focus as they waited.
“Master, why hasn’t Lord Campbell appeared yet?” Pelos asked, his tone tinged with impatience.
“Don’t worry. He’ll come,” Thor replied with a faint smile, unconcerned.
If Stein Campbell wanted to minimize his losses, he would have no choice but to meet with him. If Stein was clever enough, he might even personally welcome Thor.
After all, the “big fool” reputation of the Dressrosa family had likely spread far and wide by now.
“Yes, Master,” Pelos replied, though a flicker of doubt remained.
Thor resumed his contemplation, paying little attention to the vastness of Campbell’s domain.
No matter how grand it seemed, the land was destined to be abandoned. Its distance from the Eagle Commerce Guild and the western lords made it too isolated to absorb fully. Even the Eagle Commerce Guild would likely relinquish any claim.
As time passed and the sun began to dip below the horizon, the sound of hooves echoed from the distance.
“Boom!”
“Boom-boom-boom!”
The thunderous gallop of dozens of horses reverberated through the air. Soon, a contingent of riders appeared on the horizon.
Leading them was a broad-shouldered, golden-haired man. He pulled his reins sharply, halting his steed before dismounting with ease.
“My friend, I must apologize for the delay. Matters in the territory kept me preoccupied,” Stein Campbell said with a warm and apologetic tone. His strong, resolute face was adorned with a wide smile.
Behind him stood over twenty mounted knights. Among them was a figure draped entirely in white robes, their appearance enigmatic and strikingly out of place.
Thor’s eyes flicked briefly to the robed figure, his curiosity piqued. However, he quickly masked his thoughts with a smile.
“My friend, Lord Stein, I hope you don’t mind my intrusion,” Thor replied as he stepped forward.
“Of course not!” Stein said with a hearty laugh, embracing Thor like an old friend.
To an observer, the camaraderie between the two might seem genuine, despite it being their first meeting.
“It’s my honor!” Thor added with a grin.
“Come, my friend! I’ve prepared a grand feast. We must drink to our hearts’ content. Even my father speaks highly of the Dressrosa Eagle,” Stein said as he led Thor toward the estate.
The Campbell territory was far more developed than Thor’s own Eagle Territory or even Tono’s lands. It bore the early hallmarks of a city.
The streets bustled with activity, though most of the workers were slaves—tethered by heavy chains, their movements slow and labored.
“Look, my friend! These are the finest slaves, capable of handling any task. And unlike the Spencers, I’m no vampire. My prices are fairer, and my stock is larger.”
“Fifty thousand slaves—for just 500 gold coins,” Stein declared enthusiastically, his eyes gleaming as he awaited Thor’s response.
Thor’s eyes lit up with feigned delight as he replied, “A most generous price, my friend!”
“Of course! The Campbell family values friendship above all else. For a friend like you, I wouldn’t dream of offering anything less,” Stein said with a smile, concealing any bitterness over the enormous financial loss he was incurring.
To Stein, the slaves were a sunk cost. Selling them for 500 gold coins—despite having spent over 5,000 gold coins acquiring them—was still preferable to abandoning them for nothing.
More importantly, the slaves were merely an entry point. With this deal, Stein could negotiate better terms for the more valuable resources he wished to sell.
As they walked through the territory, Thor and Stein chatted amicably.
Meanwhile, the white-robed figure behind Stein frequently glanced toward Anna, who had disguised herself as a human knight to blend in.
Though Anna’s appearance was mundane to human eyes, the robed figure—a young elven girl—sensed a strange familiarity emanating from her.
“How strange…” the elven girl muttered under her breath. “Why does she carry Alcia’s aura?”
The girl murmured to herself, her heart filled with confusion.
Meanwhile, the group entered the banquet hall.
As guests of Campbell, only Thor, Anna, and Pelos were invited to participate. The rest of their entourage was hosted by knights from the Campbell estate.
Stein Campbell led the way, accompanied by the figure shrouded in white robes.
“My friend, a toast to welcome you!” Stein Campbell raised his glass, his smile warm and his demeanor unassuming. Despite being a Earth Knight and a scion of the Campbell family, he carried himself without airs.
“Thank you for your hospitality,” Thor replied with a smile, lifting his glass in response.
The banquet began, and the atmosphere was harmonious.
For the entire evening, Stein and Thor avoided discussing business. Instead, Stein prepared accommodations for Thor, signaling that negotiations would resume the following day.
Thor wasn’t in a rush.
——
In the Guest Room
“Master…” Anna hesitated, her tone conflicted as though struggling to find the right words.
“You’re wondering why the person next to Baron Campbell seemed familiar, aren’t you?” Thor asked, smiling as he observed Anna’s expression.
“Master, you—?” Anna’s head shot up, her mouth slightly agape.
“If I’m not mistaken, that person is also an elf. And they might be connected to you,” Thor explained calmly.
“How could that be?” Anna’s eyes widened further, and her words spilled out before she could think.
“You didn’t notice? They were watching you closely all evening,” Thor said, his smile widening.
Of course, Thor hadn’t personally noticed this attention—it was the daily intelligence reports that informed him. But now that he had the information, explaining it seemed simple.
“This…” Anna’s surprise turned to a hint of joy.
Although she was now half a nature elf, her essence remained that of an elf. Seeing someone of her kind, especially someone possibly connected to her, was an unexpected delight.
“Don’t get too excited just yet. Let me handle my current business first, and then I’ll help you,” Thor said softly, shaking his head with a smile.
The elven girl was undoubtedly someone Thor intended to approach, but the time wasn’t right yet.
For now, securing Stein Campbell’s resources was the priority. As long as Stein remained, the elven girl wouldn’t leave, so there was no need to rush.
—-
Elsewhere in the Estate
In a room adorned with green accents, the white robe slid off, revealing a graceful figure.
The young woman’s dress was intricately woven with green vines, and her emerald-green eyes gleamed with curiosity. Her delicate features and ethereal beauty made her appearance breathtaking—enough to leave anyone in awe.
“What a strange feeling,” she murmured, furrowing her brow in confusion. “Why does she have Alcia’s aura?”
As a forest elf, this girl—Avila—had sneaked away from the Forest of Nature.
After recently emerging from the Tree of Life, she had learned that her closest friend, Alcia, had left with humans. Deeply worried, Avila decided to search for her.
However, forest elves were forbidden from leaving the Forest of Nature. Thus, she had to flee secretly.
But outside the forest, she quickly became lost. She had no idea where Alcia was or how to find her.
Along the way, she encountered numerous dangers, including humans who tried to capture her. Fortunately, her powerful magic allowed her to escape.
Yet, even after evading capture, her confusion only deepened. She still couldn’t locate Alcia.
Months ago, she met a kind human who was different from the others. Not only did this human refrain from harming her, but they also claimed to know where Alcia was. They promised to help her find her friend and even provided a disguise to protect her identity from others.
This small act of kindness rekindled hope in Avila’s heart.
Recently, this human assured her that they would soon take her to Alcia. They even mentioned that Alcia was waiting for her in a human city but had been delayed by unforeseen circumstances.
This news made Avila both happy and expectant. She believed that as long as she was patient, she would soon reunite with her friend.
Yet today, something unexpected happened.
Avila had sensed Alcia’s aura coming from a human girl. What confused her even more was that this human’s presence felt strange—she not only carried Alcia’s aura but also bore an essence closer to that of an elf than a human.
“What is going on?” Avila wondered, her mind swirling with questions as she tried to piece together the mystery.