Then, through the window, Shen Mu saw the Narot Trade Caravan that had just disappeared. As the city gates opened, they returned grandly to Deherim’s trade district with 30 carriages.
Once again, a Swadian Sergeant came to report, and he reappeared before Shen Mu, bowing respectfully and greeting him.
“Greetings, great Lord Shen Mu!”
“…Mm.” Shen Mu nodded.
However, for Shen Mu, it felt a bit strange.
After all, in Nalot’s eyes and in his memory, he had already left this other world, Deherim, 14 days ago, and then, with his trade caravan members, traveled for 7 days to return to the Swadian Kingdom in Calradia to smuggle iron products.
Then, in a short period, he sold all the iron products he had brought, and then spent another 7 days returning here with those dinar and various goods purchased in the Swadian Kingdom.
For Nalot, the round trip had taken 14 days, or half a month.
Therefore, seeing Shen Mu again, he was extremely happy and quite excited.
“The iron products you had me bring this time sold very well; the nobles directly bought them all up,” Nalot reported on his earnings from selling iron products in the Swadian Kingdom, placing the bulging, heavy package containing thousands of dinar in Shen Mu’s presence.
“Lord Shen Mu, this is all the profit from this trade, a total of 6,400 dinar,” Nalot added, “and I also brought more vegetables, such as cabbage, onions, carrots, as well as sausages, dried meat, dried fish, and other foods.”
“Mm, well done.” Shen Mu nodded, showing his satisfaction to Nalot.
All in all, another 11,000-plus dinar had been credited to his account.
Moreover, starting tomorrow, the dinar needed for the remaining Blue Star Humans to be ennobled as Centurions was already sufficient, and the cost was only a little over 14,000 Faith Power.
For him, there was no need to care too much, as he could directly gain over 30,000 Faith Power daily.
This indirectly meant that he used over 14,000 Faith Power to exchange for 5,000 to 6,000 dinar in profit.
In this case, the exchange rate between these two currently needed currencies was roughly 2.5 to 1.
It was acceptable.
“However, thinking about it this way, I seem to have already secured a stable dinar income,” Shen Mu stroked his chin, speaking thoughtfully, “As long as I consume Faith Power, I can have the Narot Trade Caravan travel back and forth to Calradia. This is equivalent to farming money in two worlds, helping me acquire more dinar.”
In Shen Mu’s view, this cost-effectiveness was quite good.
In this way, as long as he used half of the daily income generated by the prayers of the Blue Star Humans, he could gain about 5,000 dinar, meaning he could net 5,000 dinar every day.
This meant he didn’t need to worry too much about dinar-related issues. After all, as long as he could continuously obtain dinar, he could purchase more resources and bring more soldiers into this world to upgrade them, turning them into solid support for himself.
“This is really good.” Shen Mu was quite satisfied at this moment.
Of course, he didn’t forget Nalot standing before him.
So, he nodded approvingly at Nalot, praising him, “You’ve worked hard during this period. Rest well for two days in Deherim now that you’re back, but you and your trade caravan will need to get busy again soon, because I am truly in dire need of dinar.”
Shen Mu did not hide the fact that he was currently short on dinar, as these mount & blade humans were more trustworthy to him than Blue Star Humans.
“Please rest assured, Lord Shen Mu, I understand.” Nalot said with a very solemn expression, “Please allow us one day to rest, and then we can depart on the second day. For Deherim, for you, we are willing to work harder.”
“Very good.” Shen Mu was quite satisfied with Nalot’s statement, as for him, Nalot’s declaration also meant his trade caravan had once again expressed its stance.
It also meant that their inner reverence for Shen Mu was truly unparalleled.
After a brief chat, Nalot, understanding the hint, stood up, placed his hand on his chest, bowed, and excused himself.
“Nalot, remember to arrange an extremely delicious meal for the accompanying trade caravan members to reward them,” Shen Mu directly delegated the authority to arrange food to Nalot, “You can directly claim whatever you like from the warehouse, just say it’s my order.”
“Understood, thank you for your benevolence, Lord Shen Mu.” Nalot bowed respectfully again, then left the Noble Residence.
Leaving only Shen Mu alone in the meeting room once more.
“Nalot’s Trade Caravan truly gave me some pleasant surprises; they didn’t disappoint me.” Shen Mu was now comparing them to Torres’s Trade Caravan.
A hint of regret appeared on his face.
“Truth be told, Torres’s Trade Caravan needs a full month to make a round trip to the White Tower region in Middle-earth of The Lord of the Rings,” Shen Mu muttered.
But there was nothing that could be done about it.
The mount & blade The Lord of the Rings world itself was inherently more dangerous and the journey longer than this world. He had verified these points based on Torres’s accounts.
That’s why it took a month for the journey.
Of course, this month included the time to travel to the White Tower region and return to Deherim. Basically, one round trip took 15 days, adding up to exactly 30 days, or one month.
Therefore, if he wanted this trade caravan to complete one round trip, it would require 30,000 Faith Power.
This was basically equivalent to Deherim’s daily gain of Faith Power.
The cost-effectiveness was not high.
After all, although the Abyssal Demons’ corpses sent to the White Tower region could earn 10,000 dinar, the travel time was too long, and the Faith Power consumed was too much.
Although it seemed that Torres could earn over 10,000 dinar once a month by going to the White Tower region, and Nalot could earn over 10,000 dinar twice a month by going to the continent of Calradia, the profits were similar.
However, it was clear that when Nalot returned from the Swadian Kingdom on the continent of Calradia, he could also bring back a full load of supplies.
These could directly provide provisions for the Swadian soldiers.
Although 20 full carts of various vegetables might not seem like much for the current army size, which has reached tens of thousands.
But if Faith Power were used, it would mean two supply trips a day.
It could completely distribute some vegetables, fish, dried meat, as well as side dishes like onions, carrots, and pumpkins to every soldier in Deherim, to increase the flavor and variety of food.
It could be considered a good way to boost morale and slow down the consumption of staple foods.
Therefore, Shen Mu now valued Nalot’s Trade Caravan even more.
But there was nothing he could do.
Although Nalot’s Trade Caravan could bring a continuous stream of various supplies, there was one crucial consumable currency that it couldn’t bring back—magic scrolls.
Shen Mu slowly turned his head to look at the light radiating from the Holy White Council's Holy Light Torch Tower outside, and the patches of white light power covering the surrounding area.
In his heart, he held a sense of awe and satisfaction towards the huge light at the top of the Torch Tower.
After all, it was precisely because of the activated Torch Tower that his Deherim would no longer be threatened by Undead Monsters at night.
Now, it could be said that within a 1-kilometer radius around Deherim, the entire area had become land covered by Mount & Blade Rules.
Even if darkness existed, the powerful erosion of light and heat destroyed the death spirit rules, eliminating the possibility of generating gray mist and Undead Monsters.
Therefore, it brought them absolute security.
“Very good, everything is getting on track.” Shen Mu nodded in satisfaction at this moment, and also let out a long breath. From the very beginning when he awakened his golden finger until now, it had truly been a perilous journey.
If it weren’t for luck and the Mount & Blade System he possessed, perhaps he truly wouldn’t know what to do.
Thinking of this, Shen Mu felt a little emotional.
“Let’s go for a walk in the Castle District.” Shen Mu also had the idea of going out for a stroll.
So he walked out of the main castle building and arrived at the courtyard.
In the courtyard, one could see a beach upon entering, with over a dozen date palm trees growing around it, and the holy white oak, about 10 centimeters tall, already sparkling with a faint white light and beginning to sprout and grow.
At this moment, the holy white oak was bathed in the Holy Light from the nearby Holy Light Torch Tower, swaying its branches and leaves as if drawing power.
Around them, the 100 Holy Tree Forest Guardians were all sitting cross-legged on the beach around the holy white oak, seemingly meditating.
However, among their group, Shen Mu also saw Liu Na, also sitting cross-legged among these Holy Tree Forest Guardians, quietly closing her eyes and meditating.
“Lady Liu Na, what are you doing?” Shen Mu walked over and asked curiously.
“Oh, it’s Lord Shen Mu, I really didn’t expect you to come here.” Liu Na slowly opened her eyes, her small face immediately flushing slightly. She saw Shen Mu walk over to her side, and quickly stood up to respectfully bow to Shen Mu.
“Mm.” Shen Mu just nodded, and then looked at the 10-centimeter holy white oak in front of him, which sparkled with silvery-white light and was different from ordinary green plants. He raised his eyebrows, “This holy white oak truly looks beautiful; it even carries a special sense of sanctity.”
To be honest, Shen Mu truly felt that this holy white oak sapling was very beautiful and had a sacred feeling.
Looking closely, this holy white oak sapling was not actually truly white, but green, however, its branches and inner leaves were covered with a fine layer of white light.
It was as if these holy white oak saplings were absorbing the light and heat released by the Holy White Council's Holy Light Torch Tower around them.
“That’s right, this holy white oak is indeed a very special magical plant. It is also absorbing the power of light released from the Holy Light Torch Tower next to it.” Liu Na nodded at this moment, agreeing with Shen Mu’s statement, and her small face also showed a look of joy: “I can feel that this holy white oak sapling is truly happy to grow here, and also very happy to absorb that power of light, allowing it to grow even more exceptionally.”
As Liu Na spoke, she gently reached out and caressed her chest, saying with great admiration, “Even the fragment of Natural Consciousness within my heart feels very satisfied with this holy white oak and the peaceful atmosphere permeating the surroundings.”
As a Druid, Liu Na had indeed received the blessing of a fragment of Natural Consciousness.
That’s why she was able to quickly become a formal Druid in a short time and comprehend many nature-based spells.
This was all thanks to the help of the Natural Consciousness fragment.
And now, she had been tending to this holy white oak for quite some time, so of course, she could feel the Natural Consciousness fragment’s fondness for this place when she was by the holy white oak’s side.
Especially recently, the Torch Tower, which was originally just an ordinary tower, suddenly lit up with flames and emitted a distinct power of light.
The Natural Consciousness fragment grew even fonder of this place.
Moreover, Liu Na had already subtly felt the peaceful atmosphere permeating this area, free from the erosion of death spirit rules.
And how attractive the vibrant sense of life, where everything began to revive and grow in this area free from death spirit rules, was to the Natural Consciousness fragment, and how it could also enhance the fragment’s power.
So, Liu Na also expressed to Shen Mu her great liking and extreme joy for this place at this moment.
Including why she was meditating here next to the holy white oak with these Holy Tree Knight Order’s first-tier soldiers, the Holy Tree Forest Guardians.
“Wait, you mean these Holy Tree Forest Guardians also possess a faint natural bloodline, a power acknowledged by the Natural Consciousness fragment?” Shen Mu couldn’t help but be surprised at this moment.
He hadn’t expected that his Holy Tree Forest Guardians would also be connected to the Natural Consciousness fragment.
“That’s right, Lord Shen Mu, these young men of the Holy Tree Forest Guardians have also received the attention of the Natural Consciousness.” Liu Na pursed her lips, then suddenly thought of something and said with surprise, “The last time the Natural Consciousness paid attention was related to those Wood Elves of the Green Leaf Group! For the Natural Consciousness, these Holy Tree Forest Guardians seem to be almost as important as those Wood Elves.”
