[Host, this stream is connected to the Azure river. Using the water elemental crystals and the earth elemental crystals, I constructed an underground current that resulted in this stream.]
'I see. So it's the same thing for the moat around the steel prison.'
Asher got to his feet. He looked up and saw that the wheel was slowly starting to rotate, meaning the machine had been activated by Ark.
"That impatient blacksmith." Asher shook his head.
Turning, he walked back to where his mount was and climbed it.
Nero pointed at the sky. When Asher looked up, he saw a messenger falcon flapping its wings as it soared through the air. It suddenly made a dive, free falling toward him at an extreme speed. A meter away, it spread out its wings, breaking the fall.
Gently flapping the wings, it landed on Asher's forearm. He stroked the falcon and took the letter at its back.
It was a letter from Kelvin.
Opening it, he read of the outpost's progress and that there was no need to head toward Tiberias as Baron Flameheart had his merchant stores advertise Goshen, both to officials, mercenaries, and commoners.
Asher remembered informing Claude about his plans, but he didn't remember asking him for help. However, it seemed like Claude was trying hard to tighten their relationship.
The next sentence stated that the only hindrance stopping people from trooping into the outpost was the teleportation channel.
He believed that with the inflow of people willing to see this wonder of an outpost that promised many otherworldly things, those with nefarious intentions would be in their midst.
Dust rose as he and his men rode away from the bastide, which had grown from a small bastide to a medium-sized one. Their horses galloped through the forests, scaring birds and small creatures.
While moving, Asher thought of increasing the number of soldiers protecting the city, but he remembered that the cavalry and infantry there should do a nice job intimidating anyone with crazy plans.
Should he send more soldiers, he would just be exposing more of his power.
Surely, there would be people with crazy thoughts, and some might even be high-grade nobles, but he wasn't afraid of them. Goshen was made of strong stone walls and reinforced with green clay.
All he needed to do was constantly teleport soldiers into the city to keep the walls if there was an attack. Unless a duke was willing to send all his troops, breaking into Goshen was going to be a tough nut to crack.
Nevertheless, Asher did not plan for Goshen to be taken over, so he aimed to put pressure on those researching movable trebuchets and ballistas!
It was time to own these great weapons of war because he would be facing greater powers. He was also sure that once Blacksmith Dan heard of the water-powered forge, he would move to Silverleaf.
The forge would also make them finish his armor at a faster rate.
Finally, after a few days, the eighth month of the year came to an end. This ninth month made it one year since Asher came to Boundless, and in this same year, his forces had grown from a little over a hundred to a staggering force of 15,000 strong!
For other nobles, this was nothing, but Asher's 15,000 strong was worth over an average lord's 50,000 strong!
Especially after the Ark armor set would be introduced.
Aquilia finished the medium-sized teleportation channel that could allow 10 people at once on the last day of the eighth month, and today, which was the first day of the ninth month, Goshen was officially open.
Asher, clothed with a cloak, sat on the upper floor of Westfall restaurant and looked at the streets that were populated with people from the southern wastelands and the border of the wastelands and the high plains.
Seated around his table were Aquilia, Nero, Eritrea, Alex, and Alec.
All five of them wore no armor and had cloaks covering them. This way, they looked like visitors.
"It's almost noon, and I am sure over a thousand people have poured out from that teleportation channel." Nero said.
"Have you noticed any odd fellow? Maybe someone sent from Count William?"
All of them shook their heads. They had been on the field, which was the outpost in this case, making sure there was no troublemaker, but since the early hours of the morning till now, not one troublemaker or suspicious fellow had been spotted.
"I'll go meet Kelvin at the trade market then."
Asher rose up and walked away. His coat fluttered as he walked, and all of them watched him until he left the upper floor.
"His Lordship is looking better with each passing month." Eritrea said as she sliced the deliciously prepared mountain sheep meat on their table.
Alec glanced at her while Alex chuckled. "Of course. Do you know the amount of Moonlit Starhorn milk he takes in daily?"
"Starhorn milk is what made Lord Asher look that great!" Nero's eyes widened.
Alec patted his head.
"No. It will just make you frequent the privy."
Nero snapped his head toward his father.
"He's stronger than all of us." All of a sudden, Aquilia, the one that was never associated with other commanders, spoke. There was a sudden silence.
"His swordsmanship has been growing. It's only been a year, but he can face me and my brother head-on." Alec replied.
"He's that good already!" Eritrea gasped.
"Not only that, but..." Nero lifted up his hand, and sand danced around on the palm of his hand while he chuckled proudly.
Eritrea and Aquilia blinked. They leaned forward, looking at the spectacular display on the young lad's palm while Alec squinted.
"How are you able to do that?"
Eritrea questioned while Aquilia looked straight at the lad's face with questions in her eyes.
"His Lordship took it from a sand cobra and gave it to me."
Aquilia's expression changed from curiosity to disbelief. "He can just give people elements?!"