In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities

Chapter 79 Judge People Based On Appearances

Dominic and Michael had arrived in the Barony of Crassus and were inspecting the harvest stored in the warehouses. Though the journey had been exhausting, the sight of the vast troves of goods piled high in the storage quickly banished their fatigue. The warehouse was packed with chests of gold ingots and a variety of valuable items.

"To simplify transport for the move to the new territory, I converted most of the funds into gold ingots. It's much easier to move that way," Dominic explained.

Michael nodded in agreement. "That was wise of you. The total was 280,000 gold, wasn't it?"

"Yes, and after conversion, it came out to five chests of ingots. I plan to assign guards to keep them secure," Dominic replied.

Michael, deep in thought for a moment, offered a suggestion. "Why not hide the gold under the seat of my carriage? If my sisters ride in my carriage, the added security won't seem unusual."

Dominic, who had been admiring the stacks of goods with satisfaction, looked up and nodded. "That's a good idea. That way, we won't draw unnecessary attention."

Relieved about the transportation plan, Dominic suddenly had a thought. "But wait, will Marcus and Miaomiao be in the same carriage? What if Marcus sees the chests of gold and becomes tempted?"

The thought of a dragon in close proximity to a stash of gold, only to have it taken away, was enough to conjure images of chaos and bloodshed. While Marcus was considered unusually docile for a dragon, there was no telling how he might react to such temptation.

"If he doesn't see the gold, there won't be any problem. Dragons can't smell gold through a sealed chest, after all," Michael reassured him.

The logic was sound—so long as the chests were properly sealed and out of sight, Marcus wouldn't even notice.

"Alright then, I trust you with this," Dominic said with a nod.

"I'll have Leonardo prepare a space under the seat of the carriage. With Miaomiao and Marcus around, there won't be any issues with safety," Michael added.

Dominic, his face lighting up with satisfaction, cast another glance at the treasure-filled warehouse. "It's truly gratifying. Never in my life did I imagine our storage would be filled with such fine goods."

In addition to the gold ingots, there were ten chests of high-quality fabrics, ten chests each of premium tea and coffee, ten chests of spices excluding salt, three chests of assorted gems, five sets of armor, twelve longswords, and a chest of Grade-5 or lower magic cores.

After confirming the excellent condition of all the items, the two men exchanged looks of relief. These treasures would serve as a crucial foundation for their new territory. On top of this, there were numerous other resources set to be transported, including three magical beasts and 3,987 serfs. The anticipation of the incoming mages and knights only added to their sense of satisfaction.

Dominic sighed, his tone tinged with both relief and a hint of melancholy. "This is enough to get us started in the new territory, but now we need to assess the state of the villages there."

Leaving one's long-held lands was never easy, even if the new lands promised more opportunity. Most of the freemen had already pledged to follow the Crassus family to the new territory, so ensuring adequate housing for them was another task that needed to be addressed.

"There's supposed to be an existing castle in the new territory, isn't there?" Michael asked.

Dominic nodded. "Yes, Iron Valley was once the domain of Baron Crown. However, after the Pamir Empire's invasion, the baron and his entire household, including their retainers, were massacred. The land was left abandoned without an heir. Being on the frontier, no lord has wanted to claim it since. If it feels ominous, we can always summon priests to perform a cleansing ritual and start repairs."

Michael held back a smirk. A cleansing ritual? If there were any lingering spirits, they could actually prove useful.

"That won't be necessary," Michael replied gently. "I'll take Miaomiao and scout the area first."

Dominic's face brightened at the offer. With so much already on his plate, delegating the task was a relief. "Would you? Check how much of it is damaged and report back. Afterward, you can take Elizabeth and her attendants to discuss how best to renovate." Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire

Michael smiled. Working alongside Elizabeth on various preparations during their trip to the capital had brought them closer. Though she appeared reserved on the surface, she was caring and highly capable when it came to managing tasks. Thinking of his sharp and dependable sister brought a chuckle to his lips.

"Yes, being a former baron's castle, it's bound to be larger than our current one," he noted.

"Undoubtedly. Will you be taking guards with you?" Dominic asked.

"That won't be necessary. You know Miaomiao's temperament," Michael replied.

Dominic grimaced at the thought of the small creature, who seemed to hiss at him every chance it got. "True enough… I can't quite figure out what Miaomiao's criteria are. Why does it dislike me so much?"

Michael wisely kept silent. How could he tell his father that Miaomiao judged people based on appearances?

"To check the iron deposits, it might be a good idea to bring Marcus as well," Michael continued. "Please handle the preparations here. I'll take Miaomiao and Marcus to Iron Valley."

Dominic looked at him with concern, the bond between them having grown stronger over time. "Be careful. And take the new longsword with you—it's made of pure silver."

"Yes, Father," Michael said with a respectful nod before leaving the room.

The longsword, crafted from silver, was light and effective against spirits. It was rare to acquire such a weapon unless passed down through a noble family or obtained directly from the kingdom, making it a valuable addition. Perhaps one day, he'd be able to don a full set of silver armor as well.

With his attendants helping him prepare for departure, Michael mounted Bucephalus with Miaomiao perched on his shoulder. The small creature gazed up at the sky, while Marcus soared above them, his powerful wings cutting through the air. The gentle spring breeze carried the scent of blooming flowers, and the fields below were awash with vibrant colors.