Chapter 479: Chapter 223: Druid Culture on the Prairie (Part 2)

Even with the Mount & Blade panel, trying to fight all of humanity with just this was a bit unrealistic. Perhaps if Frank’s Extraordinary technology was added to the mix later, there might be some hope. However, technological development required resources, and for Robson to get an excess of resources, he would have to bend the rules. And one misstep in bending the rules could lead to him being utterly crushed.

Unless there was a massive change in the Frank Kingdom, or the Beastmen marched south again, causing the old powers to collapse and the kingdom’s power structure to be reorganized, giving Lord Robson a chance to shine.

Robson thought, then shook his head.

’That’s all too far in the future. My current task is to first figure out how to stop Kemal, then use the power of the Royal Family and the Southern Faction to become a great noble.’

After becoming a great noble, there wouldn’t be many overt benefits, but the hidden, under-the-table advantages would be numerous.

Robson looked at the two mushroom-like creatures before him.

He hadn’t expected these two creatures to be able to bow.

’They have such straight backs. How on earth do they bend them?’

"Fer of the Wood Elf Race, I greet you, Human Master."

The mushroom-like spirit spoke as it bowed.

’No wonder they look so strange,’ Robson realized. ’So-called wood spirits are also a product of the Elf Empire.’

However, wood spirits weren’t born; they were naturally spiritual plants that had transformed on their own.

At this thought, Robson’s eyes lit up. He now understood what Chief Mole had meant about Druids.

’To transform these creatures, the most crucial element is Druid Magic.’

’The specific process is very complex, involving another Extraordinary system that shares the same roots as Mages but is ultimately different.’

’In any case, the fact that these creatures before me have managed to perpetuate their race proves they at least possess the legacy of Druid Magic.’

Seeing the golden light suddenly flash in Robson’s eyes, the wood spirit Fer took a frightened step back.

Humans looked too much like elves, and elves were not friendly to wood spirits. In the Elf Empire, the status of a wood spirit was similar to that of a goblin in the Beastman Empire.

"Wood spirit, I assume you must know some Druid Magic?" Robson asked.

Clan Leader Fer nodded, just then remembering his reason for coming.

"Human Master..."

"If you wish to pledge your allegiance to me, it would be best to call me Lord."

"Lord," Fer nodded.

He had come this time precisely to pledge allegiance to Robson.

"The Lord is correct. My Wood Elf Race does indeed know Druid Magic. It is our core skill, the means of our continuation..." said Chief Fei’Er.

"I have come this time to request the Lord’s help."

"Help?" Robson frowned.

"If you need something, just say it."

In the past, Robson wouldn’t have dared to say such a thing, but now...

In these eastern grasslands, Lord Robson’s word was law.

This matter with the Druids concerned the future of Affleck’s agricultural production; there was no room for error.

"Lord, my Wood Elf Race was already having a difficult time on the grasslands. Without a forest, we cannot cast many of our spells.

Recently, we heard something about a war... and now all my people have been captured by a group of Gnolls.

We heard the call of the Mountain Rock Bear Race earlier, so I want to ask the Lord to take action, help us deal with those Gnolls, and bring us back to the forest."

"In return, our Druids will serve you in your territory and pledge their loyalty to you."

"My Lord, I must say, these wood spirits are very poor fighters. Although their affinity with nature is high, it’s impossible to expect them to go into battle," Chief Mole interjected.

Since Robson was now his lord and he was the one who had recommended the wood spirits, Chief Mole felt it was better to be upfront about these things.

As soon as Chief Mole said this, Clan Leader Fer’s face grew visibly flustered.

This was the reason wood spirits were always looked down upon; their combat ability was worse than even a goblin’s. They didn’t even qualify as cannon fodder.

Robson, however, didn’t care about that. Affleck had plenty of young men eager to go to war, but very few wood spirits who could protect growing crops.

"I’ve heard that the Wood Elf Race is very good at dealing with plants?" Robson asked.

Clan Leader Fer nodded.

"Affleck is an inclusive place. We welcome all sorts of people," Robson nodded.

Hearing this, Clan Leader Fer’s expression turned to one of excitement. He had actually arrived in the area a while ago, and he had seen with his own eyes how this Lord’s army had utterly defeated the arrogant Tiger Race People.

With Lord Robson’s help, what did they have to fear from the Gnolls?

Robson discussed matters with the Wood Elf clan leader for a while longer, when suddenly, footsteps were heard outside the tent.

This time, however, there was no sound of guards trying to stop them. Not many people were afforded such treatment.

The newcomer was Valentino.

It was no wonder. Throughout the entire army, who didn’t know about the relationship between the Earl and the Lord?

Valentino was now wearing a different suit of armor; the previous one had been bloodstained and was likely sent off to be replaced.

"What is all this?"

Valentino looked quizzically at the people inside the tent.

Chief Mole scratched his head.

"This is Clan Leader Fer of the Wood Elf Race. I plan to have them tend to the grain fields in the territory," Robson explained.

Wood spirits? Valentino found it rather odd, but she didn’t say anything more.

This wasn’t the first time Valentino had witnessed Robson’s wild and fantastical ideas.

She had seen Affleck’s "Hydraulic Machine No. 1" before.

For a man who could think of using Magic for farming, she felt that nothing he came up with should be surprising.

"Robson, the kingdom has responded regarding the matter with the Grey Dwarf Kingdom," Valentino said.

As she spoke, Valentino pulled a letter from behind her back and handed it to Robson.

"Oh?"

Robson took it and tore it open.

Just as he had thought.

Now that Louis III knew his days were numbered, he was frantically overdrawing his political credit.

An alliance with the Gray Dwarves—such a momentous affair—had been approved just like that. It was obvious from the swift reply that he hadn’t informed the other factions.

In the future, Louis III would have to take all the blame for this.

"In that case, let’s set off at once," Robson said with a nod.

Robson didn’t know if Louis III would end up taking the blame or not.

Lord Robson only knew that with the help of the Gray Dwarves, the plan to intercept the Beast Emperor had a much greater chance of success.

At the very least, he wouldn’t have to face the returning reinforcements of the Centaur Clan.

However, it was best that this matter not get out.

Even with Louis III’s endorsement, cooperating with the Beastman Royal Family was too great a scandal to bear. It would, to some extent, tarnish Lord Robson’s grand and righteous heroic image and would be detrimental to unity.

Furthermore, Robson also had to find a remote place for the promotion of the Tier Seven Soldiers in his army, where they couldn’t be seen by outsiders.

Thinking of this, Robson discussed it further with Valentino.

Valentino understood the reasoning and nodded in agreement.

On the matter of Robson being able to mass-produce Extraordinary individuals, their opinions were in complete accord.

It absolutely could not be revealed!

The Extraordinary aura of Robson’s subordinates wasn’t actually obvious during battle. They were all "Bronze pseudo-Extraordinaries," and their battle aura couldn’t yet be projected externally.

Moreover, Robson rarely used other nobles as Non-commissioned Officers in his army.

Firstly, it was to ensure power remained in his hands; secondly, it was to prevent the Mount & Blade system from being discovered too early.

Therefore, in the eyes of most nobles, while Robson’s army was elite, no one’s thoughts turned in the direction of them being Extraordinary.

The main reason was that the idea was simply too world-shatteringly unconventional.

The group talked for a while longer. Robson then summoned the various nobles to discuss the upcoming battle situation again, and also informed them that he had urgent business and would be leaving ahead of them.

The noble lords were puzzled by this, but out of their trust in Robson, they simply assumed the Earl must have another new plan.

As for why he wasn’t telling them? The noble lords couldn’t figure it out. However, if they couldn’t figure it out, it must be their own problem. How could Earl Robson ever be in the wrong?

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