Chapter 270

Chapter 270

The Blue Star territory has now been developed to a considerable level of prosperity.

From the top of the massive arena where the two stood, an endless expanse of cottonwood forests could be seen outside the valley, where numerous beast pets were thriving.

The first batch of beast pet ranches had already been established. After Lorant specifically designated living areas, these beast pets lived quite happily in the ranches.

Compared to the backyard of the beast pet shop, these naturally free-spirited little ones felt right at home here. Especially the Windbreaking Horse and the Candy Rabbit—one had an endless grassland to gallop on at any time, while the other could fight with other beast pets without being immediately stopped.

However, the Glassy Ice Flame Dogs exhibited some discomfort. Due to a lack of staff, they couldn’t receive the same daily attention and playtime they enjoyed at the shop.

Fortunately, the Glassy Ice Flame Dogs that came here were half-grown beasts that had already bonded with their owners through mutual selection.

So, as long as their owners passed the Beast Tamer exam and had enough time, they could request a visit to their Glassy Ice Flame Dogs in the Blue Star territory of the Kamku area.

This was far more flexible than the one-day open house at the shop.

Theoretically, as long as the owner had enough free time and money to stay in the Blue Star village, they could spend all their time with their Glassy Ice Flame Dog.

Except for the nights when the Glassy Ice Flame Dogs had to stay in the ranch, they could be with their owners during the rest of the time.

Although the various inns and taverns in the Blue Star village charged quite a bit, the services provided were significantly better than in other places. Moreover, with the appeal of their pets, this rule became extremely popular as soon as it was introduced.

Many pet owners applied through the Blue Star platform to come here on vacation.

In addition to the earliest completed Blue Star Hall and inn, other taverns, medical centers, restaurants, blacksmith shops, carpentry shops, and magic supply stores had all been built in the village.

Of course, residential buildings were also essential.

This world had no concept of 'buildings,' as most structures did not exceed three stories.

Given that the valley’s space was limited—roughly ten times the size of the current shop—Lorant wanted to maximize every inch of land.

Along the mountain walls, he had engineering teams, with the help of mages, construct several rows of buildings.

These included single rooms and family rooms to fully accommodate everyone living in the village.

It wasn’t just the few people who originally lived in the village who moved in.

Now, more people lived in the Blue Star village. Most of them were not employees sent here but rather refugees from the Kamku area.

The news that the beast pet shop did not discriminate against these descendants of criminals and even allowed them to work for the shop spread, and as the construction of this base began, residents from various scattered villages in Kamku started arriving one after another.

They crossed the terrifying beast-infested wilderness of Kamku, risking their lives with every step, as they could be discovered and killed by beasts at any moment. Yet, no one stopped, because they knew that only by reaching this area could they truly survive.

They were gambling their lives on the possibility of a rumor.

These people were truly desperate refugees.

Though hesitant and concerned about potential spies, Lorant ultimately decided to accept them. If there was one spy among ten refugees, he would at least be giving nine desperate people a glimmer of hope for life.

As for that one spy, he wasn’t worried. With Baby around, he doubted they could cause any trouble.

Now, with the presence of Fa Meng, Lorant was even more at ease regarding potential spies.

The refugees didn’t let Lorant down. Once accepted into the Blue Star territory, they were so overwhelmed with gratitude that many wished they could kneel and weep in thanks.

Many of them have traveled a long distance, and some even came as entire villages. Along the way, only those with the best luck and health survived, while most eventually fell on the migration path.

Fortunately, fate hadn’t completely abandoned them, as it smiled with a hint of restraint upon those brave enough to gamble for a sliver of hope.

Because their journey here was difficult, they are extremely diligent in the construction of the Blue Star territory. Each person truly sees this place as their home.

It’s like an oasis in a desert, continuously attracting refugees from the northwestern region of Camkoda. Even without any promotion from the beast pet shop, the light of this oasis still shines in the hearts of those thirsting for water.

Ordinary people in this world always live with great difficulty.

The word "suffering" accompanies their entire lives, from birth to death.

Yet, even in suffering, strong flowers can bloom, showcasing the magnificence of life.

Lorant knows he can’t do much; at most, he can accept them at the front gate and allow them to live here through their own efforts.

There are actually many job vacancies in the Blue Star territory.

And many of them are cushy jobs, even in inland areas.

For example, the employees of those taverns and inns that require external management.

These formal positions are still highly sought after in the city.

If Lorant hadn’t obtained the ability chart and Silem hadn’t become a practitioner, the best job the brothers could have hoped for, growing up in the slums of Holland, would have been to become decent tavern workers.

For these refugees, this was like finding a golden opportunity.

Of course, Emma and Nya weren’t about to leave everything in the hands of these people, so at every key point, they arranged managers they had trained to oversee the refugees.

Most of the better jobs were reserved for the families of Lorant’s vassals.

As for the refugees, most of them could make a living with their labor here.

Even manual labor could provide enough to support themselves and their families.

None of them feared hard work or exhaustion; what they feared was that even with all their effort, they still wouldn’t survive.

In this environment, the entire Blue Star territory was filled with a rare, vibrant atmosphere.

Watching the road builders working bare-chested in the cold, hammering stones into the ground, Lorant became increasingly optimistic about the village’s future development.

As Lorant looked further afield, two massive castles, each perched on a mountain peak, were already mostly complete.

The long-awaited sky bridge connecting the two castles, which Lorant had been eagerly anticipating, was now fully completed.

The black bricks, tall spires, and colorful glass windows all gave these two castles a unique charm.

The air bridge spanning the entire village was constructed with floating cloud stones on the mountain peaks. The arched corridor eaves were completely hollow, with the howling mountain winds whistling through the middle.

This sight filled Lorant with excitement.

It was like something straight out of his dreams.

When planning these two structures, Lorant had considered that this not-so-tall hill might not fully capture the grandeur of buildings on towering cliffs.

But the mage builders gave him a good lesson in reality.

There was nothing magic couldn’t accomplish.

After understanding Lorant's ideas and budget, they went to the Congress of Magic to design a set of decorative magic arrays that covered the entire hill.

From the village below, the towering peaks of the two mountains could be seen reaching into the clouds, and only on clear days could their full appearance be barely discerned.

Most of the time, clouds and mist lingered around the halfway point of the peaks, making it difficult to distinguish the black castle from the mountain rocks.

This added an extra layer of mystery to the two castles.

From the castle, the village below couldn't be seen at all. Instead, it appeared as though a deep, dark lake stretched beneath the peaks.

Occasionally, one could even spot giant octopus tentacles churning up huge waves.

All of these were Lorant's requests, and with those magical wonders, he was truly able to bring his dream magic castle into reality.

After wandering around the village and seeing the houses being built, Lorant felt greatly pleased. He then left through the Blue Star Hall with Lancelot.

Little Qing had originally followed Lancelot but somehow ended up rubbing against Lorant's side without anyone noticing.

Although Lancelot, as a seventh-level knight, spent most of his time hovering in the air during battles, his coordination with Little Qing wasn't extensive. However, he was quite satisfied with his Windbreaking Horse.

As long as Little Qing didn't see Lorant, the horse was a reliable and mature companion.

But the moment it spotted Lorant, Little Qing immediately acted as if possessed by a mischievous spirit, desperately vying for Lorant's affection.

It would get jealous not only of other beast pets but also of Lancelot, often trying to separate the two.

Each time Lancelot saw his mount acting this way, he couldn't help but feel a vein throb in his forehead.

As they stepped outside the Blue Star Hall, Little Qing nudged its way between them, its large head rubbing against Lorant continuously.

This time, on their trip to Kamkua, they only brought Little Qing, the Windbreaking Horse.

After receiving Lorant's approval, Lancelot felt secretly delighted. Since there was only one Windbreaking Horse, wouldn't he finally get to ride together with Lorant across the territory?

Although Lorant had grown quite tall, he was still smaller compared to Lancelot. When snuggled up against him, it should be a perfect fit.

However, the moment Lancelot helped Lorant onto Little Qing's back and was about to indulge in a daydream about how to subtly hold him—whether to wrap his arms around his waist or envelop him entirely in his arms—

Little Qing looked back disdainfully at its master, who was grinning like a fool, snorted, and in the next second, bolted away at its top speed, taking Lorant with it and vanishing from Lancelot's sight.

Lancelot: "??!"

Lancelot: "..."

Did I just see the person I'm pursuing and my Windbreaking Horse speed past me?

No way!

Lancelot stood frozen in place, bewildered.

With his mouth slightly agape, Lorant watched the knight rapidly disappear from his view, feeling a wave of relief wash over him.

He really didn't know how to face Lancelot. Although their interactions had barely changed since yesterday, every time he saw Lancelot, he always felt like he should do something. After all, their relationship was different now, which made Lorant always a bit nervous.

This was Lorant's first time being pursued, so he was quite uncertain about what he should do as the one being pursued.

On the other hand, Lancelot's advances were quite fierce. Having lived among the nobility his entire life, he had seen and learned how to do certain things.

Although he was somewhat inexperienced, it was more than enough to handle someone like Lorant, a young novice.

To be honest, when Lorant agreed to Lancelot's request, he already understood what Lancelot was thinking. Though he had kept a calm face all day, he was actually looking forward to the feeling of riding the Windbreaking Horse together with Lancelot.

Although the knight appeared stiff, who knows? Maybe hugging him would feel different!

Lorant quietly steeled himself.

However, since Little Qing had already run off, Lorant quickly accepted this fact. Although he felt a little disappointed, he also felt some relief.

He was worried that his height difference with Lancelot would prevent him from seeing the road clearly behind Lancelot. Although Little Qing would move on its own, he always found the image a bit odd.

Soon, Lorant adjusted his mood.

Today, his task was to take Fa Meng around the entire territory so the little ones could explore and mark their territory.

The little ones had obviously conspired beforehand.

The moment Little Qing bolted, Fa Meng made a sound like a motorcycle, following closely beside Little Qing. The entire dragon crawled on the pages of the book, darting through the forest.

It deliberately chose spots with many trees, using its strength to tilt the book pages to one side, clearly playing a chase game.

Baby, being more mature, used silk to hang Maomao behind it and swung its silk, appearing ghost-like next to Little Qing.

Each of the little ones displayed their unique abilities, and within a few breaths, they disappeared into the forest along with Little Qing.

The overall area of the Blue Star territory in the Kamku region was quite vast.

In Lorant's previous life, even in a large country like his, this area would be considered a province. In some small countries, the entire nation's area might not match the size of Lorant's current territory.

This meant that even if Little Qing, the Windbreaking Horse, ran at its maximum speed, it would still be nearly impossible to circle the entire territory within one or two days.

Additionally, nearly one-third of the area had been taken over by the Black Forest, making this task even more difficult.

Therefore, Lorant had never completely toured his territory before.

At least, before he had Fa Meng, this would have been an enormous project, something unnecessary in the short term for Lorant.

But now it was different. After the few beast pets had run through the forest for a while and Fa Meng had satisfied its racing cravings, two massive wings extended from the sides of Little Qing's body.

With the flapping of its wings, the Windbreaking Horse rose into the air, soaring to a height of 100 meters.

Normally, Little Qing's already terrifying speed would slow down if it grew wings and relied on the flapping of two wings.

But Fa Meng was obviously an unreasonable presence.

The large wings didn't seem to move, as if they were only there to add some special effects to make Little Qing look more impressive. However, the reality was that Little Qing's speed had now increased to five or even ten times its previous speed.

With just a slight flap of those huge wings, Little Qing continued to maintain a running posture, and a cloud appeared beneath its feet, moving at the same speed, allowing the Windbreaking Horse to run on clouds.

Fa Meng glided smoothly beside them, but it seemed that this speed was still not fast enough.

So it closed its eyes again, and when the little fat dragon opened its eyes, Little Qing's wings had doubled from two to four.

Its speed doubled once more.

Lorant was grateful for the first time that one of the Windbreaking Horse's abilities was to provide a wind-blocking shield for the person on its back.

Otherwise, at Little Qing's current speed, there was no difference between Lorant and sitting on top of a speeding bullet train.

And it was even faster than that.

It was also the first time Little Qing had experienced such an extreme speed, and the Windbreaking Horse was ecstatic, neighing happily and snorting while shaking its head and even flicking its tail.

The little ghost spider had already climbed onto the pages of Fa Meng's grimoire, with Maomao wrapped up, with only its head peeking out, hanging by the little ghost spider's claws below the grimoire, cheering and providing accompaniment for Little Qing.

All the little ones were very excited, and Fa Meng was no exception, happily sparkling with little golden stars forming a beautiful trail behind everyone.

Fortunately, even in their excitement, the little ones didn't forget their mission.

Little Qing ran around the edge of the territory, and during this time, Fa Meng had already incorporated this part into her own domain.

Her abilities were too vague and subjective, and even Lorant couldn't give her good advice, so Fa Meng was still in a stage of self-exploration.

What was certain, however, was that to make her domain abilities work, the first step was to demarcate a specific area.

Just like how the little ones had previously marked the laboratory, Lorant now wanted to expand Fa Meng's ability range to cover the entire Blue Star territory.

After demarcating the area, Lorant wanted to experiment to see just how far Fa Meng's abilities could go.

"Fa Meng, can you eliminate all these beasts?" Lorant thought for a moment. Little Qing had just stopped above the 'Black Forest,' where countless high-density beasts below looked even more terrifying from above.

Except for the relatively empty spaces around some high-level beasts, the lower-level beasts had already clustered together in groups of three or five.

At first glance, it looked like a minor beast tide, but this was actually the true face of the Black Forest.

Without the regular cleanup by the outposts and adventurers, the Black Forest near the beast pet shop would look like this.

Fa Meng nodded confidently; this task was no challenge for her.

The little ghost spider, perched on the grimoire with Fa Meng, nodded its furry body as well.

These beasts below were no challenge for Fa Meng, and not even for the little ghost spider.

Sure, it might take a while to eliminate all of them, but for the little one, it would be a big pile of snacks!

Puffing out its chest proudly, the little ghost spider boasted in Lorant's mind.

Lorant reached out and rubbed the little one, reassuring her. He naturally knew this, but he had previously kept these beasts for a purpose, and now it was to test Fa Meng's abilities that he made this decision.

Seeing this, Fa Meng went over and had a good exchange with the little white ball.

The two little ones crouched on the grimoire, heads together, gesturing and muttering for a long time in a language Lorant couldn't understand.

Finally, Fa Meng looked at the little ghost spider and nodded in understanding as it spun a ball of silk mid-air.

The little fat dragon rose with a flourish, a red cape billowing behind him.

The little one balanced on her hind legs in a barely noticeable bow, while her two short front claws struck a Superman pose.

"I am omnipotent! Lorant! Of course, no problem!" The Superman Fa Meng answered confidently.

Lorant looked at her helplessly again, feeling three black lines hanging down his forehead.

He thought that the memories this little one had gained from his mind must have been strange.

What exactly had she remembered?!

Little Fa Meng, however, was not concerned about Lorant's thoughts at all; she even thoughtfully added three gradually shaded black lines to Lorant's forehead.

Lorant waved his hand in exasperation, removing the three black lines: "Alright, let me witness the omnipotent abilities of Superman then!"