n

n

n

"Are the men ready?

"

n

"Yes young master.

"

n

"Excellent!

nIn 5 days time, we'll head out for the Capital.

"

n

"As you wish young master.

"

n

"_

"

n.

nWilliam laid on his bed and smiled.

nSoon, all his plans would come together nicely.

nFreedom... Revenge..... and Justice!

nSoon, his family would have their just rewards!

n.

n--The Capital, The Empire Of Carona--

n.

nIt was a brand new day in this glorious city!

nThe day was illuminated by a pale winter's sun..... that shone on the city dimly.

nThe houses, streets and roads were all layered with several heaps of snow.

nAnd the air was cold and heavy.

nBut surprisingly, this wintery weather.... didn't seem to bother the people within the city.

n.

nThe streets soon became busy, as massive crowds of people soon gathered around several stores.

nYup!

nThey were there to scramble for more heavenly treasures.

n.

n

"Store owner..... do you have that cooking oil thing yet?

"

n

"Sorry out of stock!

"

n

"What about the lavender Soap?

"

n

"That we have...

"

n

"Store owner!....

"

n

"Store owner.....

"

n

"_

"

n.

nBusiness was booming for many stores within the city.

nAnd since most things were extremely cheap, even the poorest of peasants could afford them.

nThese prices really shocked the people.

nHow could a book made out of paper cost just 5 copper coins?

n.

nOne should know that just a single parchment paper would cost at least 1,000 Copper coins.

nSo what more of a book filled with 200 or more pages?

nWas it really okay to sell them at just 5 Copper coins?

nNot to talk about toilet papers, packs of pens, soaps and so on.

nThey felt like everything was a steal!

nThis Baymard must really be a rich place, to offer such prices.

n.

nOf course, there were some items that costed about 200 copper coins..... but those ones were larger items like mattresses.

nAnd in truth, it was still somewhat affordable to the peasants.

n.

n

"Have you slept on that Mattress thing yet?

"

n

"Ahhh!!!..... Not yet.

nI heard that it's to die for.

nIs that true?

"

n

"Tsk!... Do you even need to ask?

nI bought mine yesterday, with my beddings and blanket.

nBro..... last night, I had the best sleep ever!

"

n

"Damn!.... my wife has been nagging me to get more seasonings and sugar!

nAnd I can't blame her for wanting them.

nThis week, our food has been so tasty..... that I started to look at her as a Goddess.

"

n

"Forget about those!

nWhat about those winter clothes?

nWearing them outside, I feel extremely hot instead.

"

n

"That's so true!

nI've gone to work wearing the gloves and everything..... and do you know gat while sullying those rocks, I sweated like a pig?

"

n

"_

"

n.

nPeople could be seen carrying their mattresses and other items on their heads, while merrily talking about their purchases.

nBut of course... for some, they prefered to focus on the city itself.

n.

n

"This Baymard is really something!

"

n

"HmmHmm!.... I heard that the place has magical doors, and carriages that don't need horses to pull them.

"

n

"What!!!!

nHow is that even possible?

"

n

"Calm down..... that's not even the half of it!

nI also heard that they had buildings made entirely out of glass.

nGlass i tell yah!

"

n

"Awesome!..... I want to go there at least once before I die.

"

n

"Ahh.... you don't need to worry about that!

nI have a cousin amongst the royal guards, and he said that soon... there would be something called a 'Transport Route', to take us from Carona to Baymard and back.

"

n

"Is that really true?

" One of the men asked curiously.

n

"Old pal!... are you doubting me?

n

n

nI even heard that this route would use only a day or more to get us there!

"

n'Gasps!!'

n

"_

"

n.

nOf course apart from the adults, even the children spoke eagerly about Baymard.

nWhether from poor and rich homes, those that would soon enroll for the school's next semester..... couldn't seem to keep their excitement contained.

nAnd just like that, discussions about Baymard were now part and parcel of the people's daily lives here.

nHeck!... even those within the Royal palace joined in on the gossip.

n.

n

"You all will die horrible deaths!!

"

n

"_

"

nThe more Duke Samuel (Carmelo's brother) heard about Baymard, he felt like he had missed an opportunity of a lifetime.

nHis wife, and his children had gone..... and they had come back, telling him about how marvelous their whole experience was.

n.

nHe looked at Carmelo, Adrian and Santa, like a pampered child who had just been denied a trip to Disneyland.

nHe poured his lips, and hmpp'd at everyone else in defeat.

nWhat could he do?

nHis family had already gone and come back from the mysterious empire.

n.

n

"Little Bro... it wasn't like that!

nHow could we have known that Baymard would be like that?

nIf you want to blame anyone... then blame this brat here for not telling us about it.

" Carmelo said helplessly, while throwing Santa under the bus.

nSanta looked at Carmelo powerlessly.

n'Real mature, Father-in-law.'

n.

n

"Uncle.... it wasn't like I was hiding anything from you.

nBut you know that I'm an idiot, and I can't explain things right.

nSo I chose to show it instead alright?

" Santa said, while trying to coax this giant baby before him.

nHe thought that he was childish, but this uncle-in-law of his took the cake.

n.

nAs Santa spoke, Carmelo slowly inched away from them.

nHis kid brother was like a walking typhoon when he got emotional.

nAdrian on the other hand, massaged his temples... as he was slowly getting a headache from listening to his son's rantings.

nWhy couldn't this child of his grow up?

n.

n

"Rascal!!..... listen to your elder brother.

nWhy are you making things so difficult?

nWhat?... do you still think that you're a kid?

nYou're 38 years old for crying out loud!

"

n

"But father...

"

n

"No buts!

nLook at you!

nDo you see our little princess here complaining?

" Adrian said, while gesturing at Penelope.

n.

nPenelope tapped her fingers on her desk, while listening to her overly dramatic family.

nIn truth, she too was extremely curious about the place.

nBut even though she was curious about all the goods from that empire... what really made her eager to visit the place, was their Army.

n.

nHer father, and the other men who had previously journeyed there... had said that compared to Baymard's training methods, Carona's own was just child play.

nThis notion alone made her excited.

n.

nPenelope's blood kept boiling, as she looked at the marked Calendar date before her.

nYes!!.... she was using Baymard's calendars, and even their watches and alarm clocks.

nAnd in all honesty, it was freaking convenient.

nOf course, she was also amazed by the other products as well.

nIn short, everything from Baymard seemed to be like a treasure that had fallen down from the heavens onto Hertfilia.

n.

nWhen she reevaluated everything, she quickly realized that signing the treaty with this new empire..... was the right thing to do.

nAs her people seemed to be a lot more warmer, now that it was Winter.

nThe reported death rates from the cities, and even the villages, seemed to narrow down drastically during this harsh winter.

nIt was truly unbelievable, what a little warm clothings, and beddings could do for one.

n.

nPenelope looked at her calendar in anticipation.

nFebruary 25th

nThat was the day she would leave the Capital for Baymard... alongside the chosen knights who would train there.

nIt would take her 1 month to get to the nearest Coastal city, and another 1 month to get to Baymard... so she should be arriving around the last week of April.

nBecause on May 3rd, the new Caronian soldiers needed to report to duty in Baymard.

n.

n

"Just look at how calm your niece is?

nWhy can't you be like that?

nAh... that reminds me, you'll also be going with our princess to Baymard.

nSo you better prepare brat!!

"

n

"I'm going?

"

nImaginary Happy bells rang within Duke Samuel's ears, as he jumped up and down excitedly.

n

n

n.

n

"Hahahhahhahah...'Muacck!'

nthank you father.

"

n'Muack! Muack! Muack!

nThe Duke kept pecking his father multiple times, until Adrain's cheeks started turning red.

n

"Ugh... can you stop doing that?

" Adrian said, while hurriedly wiping his cheeks and trying to frown.

nWhat parent didn't feel happy when their child showed them love?

n.

n

"As I was saying..... we will all stay behind, and you 2 will go there for yourselves.

nPenelope, as queen.... it is paramount to see what sort of place you have signed a treaty with.

nSo, as one of your advisors.... I think you should train there with the soldiers for a month.

nAnd within this time, I'm sure you'll be able to properly judge their king and the people.

nAs well as know what sort of benefits we stand to gain from forming an alliance with them.

nJust treat this trip as one of those 4 or 5 month missions that we used to go to.

nAnd if you don't like what you see, then tell Grandpa.... and we will find a way to terminate the treaty.

nYou are Queen after all..... and at the end of the day, you have the final say.

" Adrian said seriously.

n

"Hmhm... I'll do as you say Grandpa

nBut I don't think that I'll be cancelling the treaty at all.

nEven without me going there, I can clearly see the advantages it would bring to my people.

nPlus, you all stayed there for 3 and a half months already.... so my monthly visit wouldn't do much, would it?

nI trust your judgments and I believe that we can have a long standing relationship with this Baymard.

nBut if I do find anything suspicious, then I'll inform you all when I get back.

"

n

"_

"

n.

nWhile Penelope and Duke samuel kept counting down for their journey to the Mysterious Empire....... Landon on the other hand, was currently at the construction industry within the lower region.

n.

n

"Your majesty, the workers are ready!

"

n

"Good!

nLet's begin!

"

n

n