Just outside Blackwood Fortress, the construction of the new city walls was in full swing, and the reclamation of farmland was also proceeding with great fervor.
Inside the fortress, the forging furnaces, which never rested day or nite, emitted an even more urgent roar.
Colin was equally busy, shuttling between various construction sites and meeting rooms, coordinating all affairs within the territory. However, his deep eyes would always unconsciously drift toward the north.
Hask's northward advance was a crucial link in his strategic layout. It wasn't just a survey; it was an advance team exploring the mysteries deeper within the Blackwood Forest.
Finally, amidst Colin's anxious waiting, a blast of wind arrived from the far north.
It was a Snow Giant Wolf covered in white fur. It moved with extreme speed, its four paws flying like an arrow released from a bow, appearing beneath the gates of Blackwood Fortress.
"My Lord! Urgent report!"
With a deafening shout, a Wolf Rider messenger leaped down with an agile posture from the back of the Snow Giant Wolf that had galloped for hundreds of miles.
He was in a sorry state, covered in mud and blood, but within his crimson eyes flickered an uncontrollable mix of excitement and exhaustion.
Colin appeared on the city tower almost immediately.
"Bring him in!"
The messenger was quickly brought before Colin. He knelt on one knee, his voice somewhat raspy from the long journey, but his tone was full of exhilaration.
"Reporting to my Lord! General Hask has sent me to bring two major victory reports from the northward advance!"
Colin's heart skipped a beat. He gestured for the messenger to rise, his voice carrying a hint of imperceptible urgency.
"Speak!"
"Yes!" The messenger pulled out several parchment scrolls wrapped in special grease from his breast and presented them with both hands. "The first report: under Nuo's guidance, the survey team successfully located several small, scattered werewolf and Deer-folk tribes. Most of them were living in hardship with scarce resources, reaching a point where they could no longer survive independently."
Colin frowned slightly; this was within his expectations. The harsh environment of the North was destined to be unable to support large, gathered tribes.
"But more importantly!" The messenger's voice became even more impassioned. "During a survey, we encountered a human slaver party of about two hundred people! They were besieging a werewolf tribe called 'Broken Claw', attempting to abduct them! Upon receiving the news, General Hask immediately led the Wolf Riders to launch a lightning-fast raid!"
A cold light flashed in Colin's eyes.
"What was the outcome?"
"Total annihilation!" A bloodthirsty sneer appeared on the messenger's face. "Not a single member of the slaver party survived! We also seized some equipment, all of which were standard weapons brought from the human kingdoms!"
"Good!" Linna, standing nearby, couldn't help but cheer softly. What she loved hearing most were these clean and decisive victories.
"And the 'Broken Claw' tribe?"
"Reporting to my Lord!" The messenger's voice became somewhat heavy. "The Broken Claw Tribe suffered heavy losses during the resistance; almost all adult males were killed in battle. Those remaining are mostly women, children, and the elderly, numbering about eighty. Under Lord Nuo's persuasion, they have proactively requested to lead their entire clan to join our Blackwood Fortress!"
Colin nodded. Having lost all adult males, this tribe indeed could not survive independently in the harsh North. Joining Blackwood Fortress was their only path to survival.
"Nuo has done well," Colin praised. "Where are they now?"
"They are right behind us, led personally by Lord Nuo, and should arrive within a few days!"
A population of about eighty could only be considered the icing on the cake for Blackwood Fortress at its current stage. Colin began to calculate the roles these new people could play.
"The second victory report!" The messenger took out two heavy objects wrapped in oilcloth from another bag. "Just as the survey team entered the depths of the Blackwood Forest, they discovered a high-quality iron mine! Lord Hask says the scale of this ore vein is massive, enough to support the development of Blackwood Fortress for centuries to come!"
As he spoke, the messenger opened one of the bundles, revealing a piece of crimson ore. The ore had a natural metallic luster; even without smelting, one could feel the abundant iron elements contained within.
Colin's gaze was instantly drawn to that piece of ore. A high-quality iron mine! This meant their weapons and equipment would be able to achieve another qualitative leap.
"Furthermore!" The messenger's voice rose another pitch as he opened the other bundle. "During the exploration, Lord Nuo also discovered a large amount of exposed, shiny black ore in a valley! Lord Nuo claims it might be 'Black Stone' that can burn!"torrent about to sweep down from the depths of the Northern Realm.