Fantasy Family Simulator (FFS)

...

At the knights' training ground, a section had been specifically marked off. A tall man in his early thirties stood in the center, swinging a long sword at several Ironwood training dummies from all directions, producing a rhythmic thumping sound. Occasionally, he would let out a muffled grunt, venting his frustrations.

This man was none other than Baron Garret! But clearly, at this moment, his mood was far from pleasant.

"Damn Firefeather Eagle, don't get too cocky. I'll find a way to pluck your feathers and skin you alive sooner or later!"

"Pluck the feathers!"

"Skin it alive!"

"You damn bird!" As he continued hacking away, he repeatedly spat out these curses, matching each word with a sword strike.

His old butler, Peril, hurriedly entered the training ground and, upon seeing his lord, quickened his pace. As Peril approached, Garret took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions.

Once he had composed himself, he asked, "Peril, what is it?"

Peril glanced at the multiple sword marks on the training dummies, silently noting his lord's foul mood. He quickly reported, "My lord, Damys just passed along a message. It seems the lord of Hawkeye Town has brought his caravan into our territory."

"Is this information reliable?"

"It seems so. According to Damys, the person leading the caravan looks to be around forty, clearly the central figure of the group. Moreover, both Tuck and Rylee have previously mentioned that their father would be returning soon. So, I believe the credibility is quite high."

"The lord of Hawkeye Town... his name is Rhett Green, I believe? A magic user..." Garret muttered, breathing lightly while resting both hands on his sword, which was planted in the ground.

"Yes, a mage who specializes in earth magic. Damys mentioned that the caravan from Hawkeye Town brought the corpse of a Flame Lion, which bore the marks of an Earth Spike spell. It's unlikely that such a wound could have been made by anyone other than the lord of Hawkeye Town," the old butler reasoned.

In just a few seconds, Garret's breathing steadied, and his gaze flickered with thought. His mind immediately turned to the possibility that this newcomer might help him deal with the Firefeather Eagle problem.

"My father always said that anyone who earned merit on the battlefield and even became a noble because of it is not to be underestimated!" Garret mused. He had no doubt about the strength of this soon-to-arrive Baron of Hawkeye Town.

His father, Rocky, after retiring from the battlefield, had sparred with many of the surrounding noble knights, achieving impressive results. Even in his old age, suffering from hidden ailments, his father still won over ninety percent of his matches against knights of the same level.

"I wonder what kind of strength this lord of Hawkeye Town possesses," Garret thought, narrowing his eyes. He didn't set his expectations too high; if this lord could match his father's level, he would be more than satisfied.

Making a quick decision, Garret sheathed his sword at his waist and quickly issued orders. "Peril, head to the knights' training ground and instruct all the first-tier knights to stop their training and stand by, ready for battle!"

After a moment's thought, he added, "Prepare for a battle with the Firefeather Eagle. I'll go greet the lord of Hawkeye Town who has already arrived. Also, remind the cook, Melanie, to prepare a lavish feast, and make sure the servants clean the hall thoroughly. If I find any stains, their wages will be docked for a month! But if they do a good job, they'll receive a month's bonus!"

Satisfied that he had covered all the details, Garret left for his mount.

"Don't worry, my lord. I will personally see to it that everything is taken care of," the old butler replied, his mind sharp as ever. He had a good idea of what his lord was planning and felt a renewed sense of energy.

Peril had been serving at War Fortress—his name for the manor—since the previous lord's time. The name was a tribute to the iron-blooded years on the battlefield, and Peril had a strong sense of belonging and pride associated with the fortress.

The recent harassment by the Firefeather Eagle had left the entire territory in a state of unease. Both the lord and the servants of War Fortress were often troubled, and Peril felt their distress keenly. However, he had a hunch that the arrival of the lord of Hawkeye Town, like the old master, who had also been a soldier at the Gorge Front, might bring about a solution to their current predicament.

"The Firefeather Eagle, which has destroyed a large area of farmland and over a hundred magical plants—your days are numbered," Peril thought, smiling as he headed toward the knights' training ground.

With two personal guards in tow, Garret rode his green-hoofed horse into the bustling town. Despite Damm Town's early development and its size being five times that of Hawkeye Town, he quickly located Rhett and his group.

The knights, clad in armor, stood in neat rows. The mage, with a distinguished aura, led the caravan at the front. The long line of wagons, loaded with an array of goods, caught the attention of the townsfolk. The sight of such a noble caravan was rare, even in Damm Town.

While most of the townsfolk, dressed in thick cotton coats, watched from a distance, some eagerly approached with various goods, seeking to trade. However, the majority of the townspeople didn't have much wealth, merely offering wild honey, cheese, dried fish, and other simple items. They were simply curious; noble caravans rarely passed through Damm Town, let alone traded with commoners.

The caravan from Hawkeye Town, however, not only engaged in trade with them but also brought fish and shrimp from the lake, which were particularly popular. The reason for this was simple: the plains surrounding Damm Town lacked lakes, especially large ones, and Hawkeye Town's Sun Lake was the only one of its kind nearby.

Tuck, Kurs, the apprentice knights Trull and Miguel, and the accompanying squires all focused intently on maintaining order. Rhett took it all in, observing the scene.

Traveling through the town and selling common goods wasn't about the profit. This practice, initiated by Rylee, had been ongoing for three or four years now. According to Rylee, it was an effective and cost-efficient way to maintain their reputation.

Hawkeye Town's population was small, and keeping a certain level of visibility could attract outsiders—perhaps wanderers who couldn't survive in their villages, victims of persecution, or others who had heard about Hawkeye Town from someone else. For those with nowhere else to turn, seeking refuge in a noble's territory was far better than being homeless.

Especially now that Hawkeye Town had reliable strength and controlled Sun Lake. In the past, when there was no lord in residence, the results were minimal, but Rylee believed that things would be different moving forward.

His eyes gleamed as he noticed some people sneaking glances at his father, whispering among themselves. This was information he had deliberately spread: his father was a second-tier mage, a baron who had retired from the battlefield—Rhett Green.

Additionally, Rylee had another goal in mind: hoping for a stroke of luck. Perhaps someone might unknowingly trade away something valuable?

If not for this dual purpose, the quickest and most convenient way for the caravan would have been to head straight to the manor and trade with the lord. After all, the townsfolk were merely the lord's subjects and assets.