Chapter 18: The Fire Fox Trading Company

    Walking down the street, Su Nan was surprised to find that the city was much busier than before, with significantly more people.

    Many of them wore leather armor and carried weapons, giving off a tough impression.

    Noticing Su Nan’s observing gaze, Kei explained with a smile, “After the Blackstone Mine Area reopened, many merchant teams heard the news and rushed over. These people include many merchant team members and accompanying mercenaries.”

    Su Nan understood.

    A city’s prosperity often starts with booming commerce.

    As long as the Blackstone Mine Area continued to be developed, it wouldn’t be long before Black Stone City became one of the top cities in the Golden Rock Province.

    As they walked, Su Nan saw a makeshift shelter built from wooden planks.

    More than ten people were bustling about inside, some boiling porridge, some handing out the porridge.

    A group of ragged and emaciated people lined up in front of the shelter, their eyes fixed on the porridge stall, their throats constantly moving, their faces filled with eagerness.

    But under the watchful eyes of the soldiers nearby, who were subtly warning them, they could only wait patiently in line.

    “Who are those people?” Su Nan asked Kei.

    “They are refugees from the荆花公国 (Jinghua Duchy) to the west. There’s a war going on there, and many civilians are displaced. I sent people to receive them and plan to bring them into the city.”

    Su Nan pondered what he heard.

    The foundation of a city’s prosperity, aside from income, is population.

    Black Stone City was located on the border, and its population was not large, even the army only had around 500 soldiers.

    This was a congenital disadvantage.

    If this issue wasn’t addressed, Black Stone City would never grow, and the Cavalry Regiment would not be able to be formed.

    And absorbing refugees was undoubtedly a very good solution to this problem.

    Especially the refugees who survived the long journey, most of them were young men and women with good physiques.

    After joining the territory, they could become laborers after resting for a few days.

    Young and strong people could directly join the army, strengthening Black Stone City’s military power.

    “Before winter comes this year, I plan to take the initiative to attack the Black Scale Lizardman tribe in the Red Horn Wilderness.”

    Kei continued with a determined look in his eyes.

    “Shifting the battlefield to the Red Horn Wilderness will also reduce the amount of war Black Stone City has to endure.”

    Su Nan nodded knowingly.

    Although Kei didn’t say it, both of them knew the more important reason.

    With more Black Scale Lizardman blood, Black Stone City could cultivate more knights.

    Beastmen could not cultivate breathing techniques, but their physiques were far superior to ordinary humans.

    An adult beastman would have the strength of a Probationary Knight.

    Some beastmen with beast blood flowing in their bodies, after hard training, could even have the powerful strength of a knight.

    However, in contrast to their strong physique, the lifespan and reproductive capacity of beastmen were far worse than that of normal humans.

    To this day, very few beastmen could be seen on the continent.

    Even if there were, they mostly lived within the Cangjin Empire.

    Su Nan didn’t expect to see a descendant of a beastman here.

    “Few people can tell Ota’s origin at a glance, you are indeed knowledgeable, sir.”

    A voice suddenly came from his ear.

    Su Nan turned around and saw a tall man of about forty years old walking towards him with a smile.

    He was wearing a scarlet fox fur coat that looked very expensive.

    “Lord, long time no see.”

    When he got closer, the man first bowed to Kei before looking at Su Nan.

    “May I know your name, sir?”

    “Su Nan.”

    Su Nan nodded slightly in response, he had already guessed the man’s identity.

    “This is my brother.” Kei introduced, then introduced the man to Su Nan, “This is Mu Zhuo · Ismail, the owner of the Fire Fox Trading Company.”

    “Mr. Su Nan, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

    Mu Zhuo shook hands with Su Nan with a smile, but was secretly wondering.

    According to the information he had gathered, the second son of the Shining family was reclusive and preferred to spend his time tinkering with strange things in his room, rarely going out. Such a person should not have much experience, so he should not be able to tell Ota’s beastman identity at a glance.

    Moreover, the information also said that Su Nan did not have any knight qualifications, had not even begun to learn breathing techniques, and his physique was weaker than that of ordinary people.

    But looking at Su Nan in front of him, he was tall and straight, his eyes bright, and his spirit was full of vitality. How could he look weak and vulnerable?

    What were those people in charge of gathering information doing?

    They couldn’t even do a simple task right!

    Mu Zhuo frowned secretly, making up his mind to reprimand them properly when he got back.

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    (End of Chapter)