Lloyd accepted the price of three gold coins for the trained slaves, showing no other intentions for the time being. Approaching ten months away from home, Derek finally broke through a significant threshold.

Derek von

Class: Elite Knight Level 1 (0/100)

Experience Pool: 0/100

After reaching level ten as a knight, further upgrades would grant him the status of an elite knight. This advancement brought him a stronger body, more refined combat skills, and even a more agile mind. With comprehensive enhancements, he felt no pressure when facing any soldier or attendant in the camp.

At this level, his innate abilities had nearly reached their limit, and the effects of training were minimal. He could only grow stronger through the accumulation of experience points.

For someone like Little Tru, the blacksmith, leveling up was even more challenging. He had long since hit the ceiling of his talent and had gradually become an eighth-level blacksmith through his panel.

At this level, he could begin forging some fine iron. In this world, “fine iron” was actually a collective term that included steel.

Blacksmiths generally had two paths to create fine iron: one was the pure technique of repeated forging, producing fine iron through tenfold, hundredfold, or thousandfold processes. The other was to mix various metals and use different hardening, tempering, and smelting techniques to create alloys.

Little Tru, an eighth-level military blacksmith, employed the first method. Suddenly, he had a breakthrough and grasped the technique for producing tenfold fine iron, allowing him to acquire superior materials.

Thanks to Derek's rules, Little Tru didn't keep this knowledge to himself and quickly guided other blacksmiths to master this technique.

Not only did the materials for tenfold fine iron increase, but Derek also noticed a significant jump in the experience of the other blacksmiths. Clearly, advanced techniques could accelerate growth. The same talent could lead to different futures based on what was inherited.

Of course, Little Tru's breakthrough was likely due to the special effects of the panel. The better materials not only enabled them to forge higher-quality weapons but also encouraged them to try creating iron armor. Their first goal was the half-armor.

A carefully crafted piece of half-armor was worth as much as a warhorse. However, the current production was too low, and the technology still had flaws, meaning they had to rely on manual labor to make up the difference.

But first, they needed to solve the issue of availability before considering costs. For Derek, it was at least cheaper than buying from others and freed him from being beholden to anyone.

When he donned the half-armor made by his own people, he immediately felt a surge of confidence. Furthermore, the stamina of an elite knight made him feel like he could wear it all day, even fight three or five more times. Only full plate armor would truly pressurize him at this point.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

While Derek steadily progressed, the Goat Trading Company re-entered the mountains. This time, they employed soldiers Derek had left in Watchtower City and brought goods customized by him.

When Vincent, the manager, saw Derek again, he was very surprised. “Knight Derek, what are you planning to do with so much grain and iron?”

Since Derek had paid half the deposit in advance, Vincent had no choice but to accept the deal. In fact, the company had increased its profits by at least thirty percent by bringing more goods.

“Vincent, my old friend, would you refuse business? Don’t ask too many questions; these are not sensitive goods,” Derek replied.

Vincent accepted Derek’s explanation. In reality, grain and iron also required certain thresholds to handle. However, the Goat Trading Company had connections, so this wasn’t an issue for them.

With this pretext, it was also difficult for outsiders to detect Derek’s involvement. As for being exposed in front of the Goat Trading Company, one must not forget where they were.

They engaged in somewhat dangerous business, and in the mountains, the ones who held the resources were actually the mountain folk.

So, Vincent wisely kept quiet. The last time they met in Watchtower City, they had missed each other; now they could have a good chat. Without the competitive relationship, the previous tension quickly faded away.

Moreover, Derek’s needs were increasing, which would make him a major client for the Goat Trading Company. As for what Derek intended to do, Vincent didn’t care.

At least fifty percent profit; the people behind Vincent wouldn’t hesitate to put their heads on the executioner's block for that.

As they talked, Derek promoted high-quality weapons and half-armor from the South, while also ordering some plow horses, grain, iron, and manpower resources.

Vincent examined the weapons and found the quality excellent, with prices much lower than the market; he could turn a significant profit by reselling them.

“Prepare me twenty pieces of half-armor, one hundred iron swords, and three hundred spearheads,” Vincent ordered generously. This amount of weaponry could even equip a baron’s guard.

Especially the half-armor, which was extremely low in production and couldn’t be gathered quickly. However, production would only increase, and this deal represented profits of two to three hundred gold coins.

Derek readily agreed, “You can deliver them next time you come, but can you handle so much?”

“Of course, no problem. You underestimate the capabilities of our trading company,” Vincent replied confidently. In fact, he had already received word that the prices of weapons and equipment would gradually rise in the future.

They finalized the details of this transaction, and Vincent decided to increase the frequency of trade into the mountains. The demand for goods from the mountain folk had greatly decreased, while Derek’s orders rose.

He even considered making a special trip into the mountains to save time. Therefore, the market constrained the trading company; Vincent would be thrilled to make daily visits.

Just as Vincent left, a messenger from Knight Kloya arrived. He easily sold ten warhorses and a collection of miscellaneous weapons to Derek. Another business deal worth hundreds of gold coins.

After changing strategies, Derek’s business had suddenly exploded. Now, the only limitation on his trade was production capacity.

Completing these two orders would mean no spare capacity for the next three months.

“Population, population.” Derek was nearly driven mad by the need for more people, and he had to consider acquiring land that could accommodate more inhabitants. Unfortunately, he had no connections.

In this world, there was plenty of land, but not a single inch was unclaimed.

As Derek experienced joy and worry simultaneously, the new year was approaching. It had been a year since he left home, and it was time to return.

He even contemplated competing with his elder brother for their family fortune, but quickly dismissed the idea. The old man would certainly not agree. Moreover, he believed that he would eventually achieve greater success than the Ferreira family. There was no need to sacrifice the rare bond of family.