Eternal Empire - Kingdom Building

If David had his way, he’d hand over the duck farms, goose farms, and pig farms to Laura, eagerly awaiting their establishment and gradual expansion. But that was just a thought; Laura couldn’t run a chicken farm, let alone multiple farms.

After organizing the wooden house, David made sure to stash the books he had 'hidden' to avoid any misunderstandings—packing them into boxes and moving them to Laura's room.

“Are these bedding revealing something?”

“Probably not?”

As he packed the boxes and cleared out some clothes for Laura, he realized hiding the quilts was impossible. The new bedding in their rooms had replaced the old ones, which were now stored away. Could he really switch them out for the less appealing old quilts?

After some thought, he shrugged it off. “Let’s just leave it as is.” He laid clean quilts on the beds. Would Maloney even notice the material? Why it was so nice? He’d already misunderstood him once; what was one more?

Stepping out of the cabin, he saw Mark chatting with Maloney. As David approached, Mark shot him a look that seemed to say, “I was running out of things to talk about!” David realized Mark had been stalling to help him.

“My lord, the room has been sorted out.”

Maloney nodded, thanking David. He had no intention of checking himself. Huey, who had been standing by, turned to assess the situation in the room.

Moments later, Huey returned, urging Maloney. “My lord, it’s getting late. Time to rest.”

“It is getting late.” Maloney glanced at the darkening sky. After all the rushing around, he needed a good rest. “It’s been a pleasure chatting with you, Mr. Watney.”

Thanks to Mark’s vast knowledge, Maloney treated him with respect, avoiding the typical farmer’s disdain. He smiled and nodded at Fording, who remained silent, and finally bid goodnight to David and Laura before heading toward the wooden house set aside for him.

As soon as Maloney stepped inside and closed the door, Mark leaned toward David. “You’ve been dragging this out for ages. Have you packed everything?”

“It’s all packed.” The books were the most noticeable items in his wooden house. In this world, books were a rarity, let alone a collection of them.

Even though David had a good grasp of Maloney’s character, he still felt it best to be cautious. Maloney wouldn’t rummage through his personal belongings, but with so many books—especially in unfamiliar languages—it was safer to avoid any trouble.

“The small generator next to Laura’s cabin is camouflaged, too.”

Since Laura returned to her hometown in England, she had been moving supplies here. In addition to food, clothing, footwear, and weapons, she’d also brought TVs, game consoles, small generators, and solar panels, most of which were now around her cabin.

As David and Laura prepared to leave for Iron Tree Fort, Fording and Mark packed most of the electrical appliances into Laura’s wooden house. The small generator, which could only be placed outside, was cleverly camouflaged. As long as it stayed off, it blended right into the house.

“There shouldn’t be anything missing,” David mused, mentally checking his list. “I’ll grab some food to prepare for the soldiers when they get hungry…”

“No need. I made enough in advance.” Fording, having hosted Maloney and the others for dinner, had intentionally cooked extra. As a former commander, he understood the needs of soldiers on missions. “The quality of these fighters is impressive.”

“Yeah, they’re top-notch.” David recalled the orc cavalry they had encountered. “By the way, has anyone attacked Cold Winter Village during this time?”

“Enemy?” Mark frowned, his expression revealing a puzzlement. From his perspective, Winter Village felt safe, devoid of any imminent threats.

But Fording’s answer shocked him. “A few guys observed our village from a distance… Honestly, seeing them took me back to Azeroth. It felt like I was about to face off against orcs again!”

David didn’t know how to respond to Fording's words. Maybe in a few years, the most formidable paladin in Azeroth would find himself unknowingly rallying troops and sounding the drums of war as the Alliance and the Horde clashed once more.

Even now, he had shed the old animosity toward the orc Horde and hesitated to engage in their conflicts.

However, the troubles in Azeroth extended beyond just the Alliance and Horde clashes. The natural disaster plague, the Scourge’s rampage, human strife, and the Burning Legion’s invasion brought an array of crises. As a paladin, Fording would inevitably return to the battlefield that awaited him.

Bringing his focus back to the present, David informed Fording and Mark about a pioneering camp defeated by what could be an orc. On their way back to Winter Village, they had crossed paths with orc wolf cavalry, too.

Aside from Fording’s report, David mentioned how several orcs had been lurking in the distance, keeping an eye on Cold Winter Village—possibly the same ones who had fled after being spotted by David’s group. It seemed the village wasn’t as safe as it appeared. Orcs, who were not friendly to humans, were in the area and could strike at any moment.

“Wait!” Mark finally couldn’t hold back. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“Because they only watched from a distance,” Fording replied calmly. “I thought it better not to worry you until they made an actual move.” Unlike Fording, who had plenty of combat experience, Mark was a civilian. Learning about a foreign threat could easily unsettle him.

“But if they attack suddenly, I won’t be prepared!”

Mark’s protests were cut off by Fording. “Don’t worry. I’ll spot them before they attack and let you know to prepare for battle.”

Mark understood Fording's reasoning. Telling him in advance would serve no purpose and might hinder his work. Besides, Fording couldn’t be certain of the other party's intentions. Did Mark really want to live in constant fear?

If the enemy did attack, Fording would inform Mark then. That way, Mark wouldn’t have to worry about when the next strike would come.

“The manpower is still too limited. Once I get my appointment letter, I should head east to investigate,” David suggested, contemplating the need for more eyes on the ground. With enough people, they could send someone to gather intel on the enemy.

Currently, Winter Village had six residents, counting the two newcomers. Mark and Alfie weren’t combatants and needed protection. Addis, though experienced, was aging and not suited for such missions. David didn't feel comfortable sending him into orc territory.

Laura had great fighting ability and was in her prime, but she was still just an ordinary person. That ruled her out as well. The only ones with the skills and combat effectiveness to go alone were David and Fording.

“Maybe we don't need to investigate at all,” Mark said, spreading his hands and gesturing toward the wooden house and the soldiers patrolling the village. “Aren’t those guys here to check out the area?”

“They might be, but their intel won’t necessarily reach us.” David shook his head. “And considering the current situation, if we really want to look into those orcs, we’ll also gather information from Iron Tree Fort. It makes more sense for them to send a separate team rather than rely on Maloney.”

Why would an Iron Tree noble risk his neck to scout unknown enemies?

“What if I go take a look in the next few days?” Fording suggested. This kind of task suited him perfectly. With Lord Maloney around, the village’s defenses had been bolstered. He could afford to be absent for a few days.

“That works.” David nodded, relieved. “I can bring back two horses this time, so you’ll have a quick return.”

With horses, Fording could carry more supplies and ensure a swift round trip. David was more concerned about the orcs being wiped out than Fording's safety.

“So it’s settled!”

With plans set, everyone else could return to their routines in the village. Laura needed to make time for her trip home.

Just when David thought everything was in place, he found himself at the Winter River, enjoying the view with Maloney and discussing the river's rich aquatic resources, when Maloney posed a surprising question: “Are there turtles in this river? They look so special.”

“Huh?” David turned his head, spotting a plump, light blue turtle nearby, staring back at him.