Lord of Rot

”The Lord has returned victorious. There will be a bonfire party tonight.”

The people, who had already spent a long, tiring day working outside, immediately perked up at the news of a bonfire party.

Pitz took two armadillos and left the group, heading into the inner keep.

He instructed the two armadillos to stay in their pen and not wander off.

The only way to manage these two creatures was to rely on their own self-restraint.

With their claws, no wall could hold them; they could go wherever they pleased.

Fortunately, the two were rather timid and shy around strangers.

Usually, after being fed, they would curl up into balls and stay inside their pen...

「Inside the castle.」

Leech was listening to Lily’s rapid report on the situation over the past two days.

Four or five days had passed since he returned from the siege of Longship Castle.

Iron Valley had entered a state of rapid development.

This was because Iron Valley’s population was much larger than Porcupine Territory’s had been in its early stages of development.

Moreover, Leech now had more than a dozen talented people around him to handle miscellaneous affairs, greatly increasing efficiency.

Techniques like cement manufacturing and kiln-firing bricks had already been successfully developed. Thanks to the efforts of the technical experts Leech had brought from Porcupine Territory, these processes could be replicated in the shortest possible time, saving a great deal of development time.

If the changes in Porcupine Territory were visible to the naked eye every month, then the changes in Iron Valley were like weeds in a wheat field, transforming day by day!

Plus, Iron Valley had an abundance of trees, so Leech didn’t need to worry about resources for development.

’This ”Cinderella,” Lily, is also growing at an incredible rate.’ Baron Leech, who had always prided himself on being a diligent and hardworking leader, found he’d become a hands-off manager. He didn’t have to do anything, yet everything got done.

All he had to do was take a little time to discuss future development plans with Lily and evaluate their current progress.

’A true managerial talent is far more precious than a Transcendent!’

Leech finished listening to the report on the recent opening of the brick kiln and the plans for constructing residential housing.

The castle could serve as a military and training base, but it absolutely could not be a place people entered and exited freely, as that would compromise its natural defensive capabilities.

Therefore, planning and building new residential areas was extremely important.

Leech asked, ”Have the ships from Porcupine Territory arrived?”

Lily replied, ”Yes, my Lord. The goods have been brought up through the tunnel, along with the accompanying merchants and cooks.”

”Excellent.” Leech nodded in satisfaction.

’What’s a bonfire party without meat and fine wine?’

Leech had specifically ordered people to return to Porcupine Territory to slaughter pigs and sheep and transport beer.

After working for so long, the Iron Valley People had accumulated a good amount of money. Simply solving the problem of food and warmth wasn’t enough; he needed to get them to spend it. The celebration was the perfect opportunity for everyone to spend some money.

It would solidify his rule by letting everyone share in the joy of their Lord’s victory.

It would also let them enjoy meat and wine they normally couldn’t afford.

And it would help Leech get some of that money back into his own coffers.

Furthermore, it would gather a crowd for the marketplace Leech had planned. Once celebrations or other transactions became more frequent, the market would form naturally.

...

After nightfall, firelight illuminated the marketplace not far from Iron Wall Castle.

The specially cleared ground could accommodate tens of thousands of people.

The merchants and cooks, who had been instructed to hurry over for work, had already set up their stalls.

And at each stall, a sign had been erected.

Although the majority of people were illiterate, they could guess what was being sold just by looking at the goods on display.

Of course, there were also Soldiers. All four hundred-plus Soldiers had been dispatched to maintain order.

After the celebration ended, the one hundred-plus Porcupine Soldiers would return to Porcupine Territory by ship.

Leech gave everyone in the castle the day off, and then left the castle himself. He was quite interested in this kind of large-scale festivity.

Perhaps because he had been in this world for so long, he no longer viewed it through a cynical lens.

Not long after leaving the castle, Leech turned to look at the two people behind him. ”You’re following me? Not going off to have fun on your own?”

The ones following him were Lily and Alice.

Lily kept her head down and didn’t answer. She often lowered her head, likely because of the burn scar on her face.

Alice, on the other hand, was cute and a bit rash, and Leech was quite fond of her. When asked, she said, ”I just want to follow you and serve you, my Lord. I’m sure Lily feels the same way.”

Lily nodded with a soft ”Mm.”

”Alright then.” Leech stopped in front of a young cook selling roasted skewers.

He glanced up at the sign, its crooked lettering illuminated by a small kerosene lamp hanging from the stall. It was probably handwritten by the cook himself.

It read: ”Roast Lamb Skewers - 3 copper stars per skewer.”

”My Lord.” The young cook saw Leech and quickly bowed his head in greeting.

Leech vaguely remembered the young cook. He seemed to have been a cook in the castle before.

Porcupine Territory was a recognized school for culinary arts, constantly sending out excellent cooks.

Plus, Leech strongly encouraged commercial development. Some skilled cooks could even set up their own shops in Porcupine Territory’s business district to sell their delicacies.

A portion of them, however, chose to be vendors, opening small stalls.

”Nice sign,” Leech said. ”Who taught you?”

”It was Master Joe,” the young cook replied hurriedly.

Leech had indeed talked with Joe about night markets before. He never expected to encounter one first in Iron Valley.

”Give me three lamb skewers.”

”Right away, my Lord.” The young cook nodded eagerly.

This method of grilling had actually originated from Leech himself.

’Drinking beer and eating barbecue, the ultimate summer treat.’

The young cook fanned the charcoal in the stove.

The temperature instantly rose, sending up wisps of white smoke.

Hot oil from the meat dripped onto the charcoal, and with a SIZZLE, the fragrant aroma shot up.

It mingled with the scents of other delicacies, making the atmosphere all the more cheerful.

”My Lord, your skewers!”

Leech took the heavy skewers. Such large portions were a really good deal.

Luckily, Leech had brought some Silver Moon and copper stars with him before leaving, otherwise he might have had to rely on his reputation to pay.

He took out nine copper stars and handed them over.

”My Lord, I can’t take your money,” the young cook said, shaking his head quickly.

But Leech pressed the money into his hand. ”I’m buying your barbecue. Of course I have to pay.”

”Thank you, my Lord!” the young cook said gratefully, holding the coins.

Leech then handed two of the skewers to Lily and Alice.

”Thank you, my Lord!” Alice smiled sweetly and accepted it happily.

While out at the market, Lily was much shyer than she was at work. The large crowd probably made her self-consciousness about her scar flare up again.

Because of Leech’s purchase, the surrounding people flocked curiously to the young cook’s lamb skewer stall.

’For just three copper stars, you can eat the same thing as the Lord! Who wouldn’t be tempted?’

The young cook’s lamb skewer stall was instantly so popular there was no room to stand.

Leech ate his skewer while standing to the side, watching. ’Is this the celebrity effect?... Still, without cumin, the flavor is really lacking.’