C17 The Promotion Plan of the Sweet Potatoes

After stocking up on a substantial quantity of crop seeds at Magyr Pier, Ostar went on to purchase several transport carriages. He loaded them to the brim with seeds, gearing up to introduce them across the Bloomfield Territory. As a lord who also moonlighted as a salesman, Ostar was no stranger to pitching products, even if it meant selling to the chieftains of primitive tribes in a Strange World—particularly to a Beauty Clan Leader.

For Ostar, this task wasn't overly daunting. His pre-transmigration experience in sales and business meant that the only change was his clientele: now, he was dealing with tribal leaders from another world. Gonias had advised targeting the sales efforts towards the less aggressive, weaker tribes, as the ones embroiled in intense conflict had little time for new propositions or alliances.

One tribe fit the bill perfectly: the Underground Tribe, ranking lowest in strength among the ten primitive tribes of the Nolanthias people. With its smaller territorial influence, it was the prime candidate. Gonias, as their leader, was poised to facilitate connections throughout this endeavor.

"Chris, double-check our inventory, make sure we haven't overlooked anything," Ostar instructed.

"Lord Ostar, we've gone over everything—no discrepancies found. It seems the merchants were eager to offload crop seeds that had been languishing in their warehouses onto our carriages," Chris reported.

"Well, if the merchants can't recognize their true worth, so be it. Better to put them to use than to let them spoil in storage," Ostar mused.

The Magyr Pier city market merchants appeared to be on a mission to clear their stock when they dealt with Ostar, eagerly trading away seeds that had been gathering dust in their warehouses.

With the transaction complete, Ostar headed back, carriages full, to the modest wooden cabin on the outskirts of Bloomfield Territory. The cabin, hastily erected by Gonias, served as the temporary Lord's Mansion—a humble abode with no guards, just the lord and a few attendant maids. Among the princes dispatched by the Oberiske Empire, Ostar could proudly declare his residence to be the most unassuming.

After a day's toil, Ostar could at last take a moment to unwind. The seeds, transported by carriage, were now stacked on the open ground near the cabin, ready for delivery to the Underground Tribe at daybreak. For Prince Ostar, accustomed to lavish palace feasts, adapting to life in his new domain of Bloomfield was still something of an adjustment.

Despite his mental preparedness, the extent of poverty in the new territory blindsided him, reminiscent of a time before liberation—a land rich in resources yet clueless about their proper utilization, rendering abundance futile.

"Lord Ostar, someone is covertly watching us. Should I confront those individuals...?"

"Yulia, can you confirm the identity of these observers?"

"They appear to be natives from the local tribes; their presence doesn't resonate with that of other continents."

"Then let's not stir the pot. You should get some rest too."

Upon learning that the secret onlookers outside the cabin were from the indigenous tribes, Ostar instructed Yulia to disregard them. Among his three enigmatic maids, Chris was entirely trusted, with no need for suspicion.

Yulia and Sofia, however, had yet to earn Ostar's full trust, despite their capabilities matching Chris's. They lacked the deep-rooted loyalty Chris had cultivated over a decade of dedicated service as his Exclusive Maidservant and protector.

Yulia was assigned by Empress Marguerite III to safeguard him, a representative of Queen Mother Ostar's interests, potentially tasked with relaying updates about the Third Prince's affairs back to the Empress.

Sofia's role was akin to Yulia's, with the added responsibility of updating the maternal side of the Oberiske Empire about her grandson, thus keeping Prince Ostar's maternal grandparents informed. Consequently, Ostar's trust in them was provisional, unlike his unwavering confidence in Chris.

"Lord Ostar, here's the dossier on the tribe we're visiting tomorrow. Would you please review it?"

"Sure, Gonias. Is the Underground Tribe made up of dwarves or goblins?"

"Neither dwarves nor goblins—they're quite charming. You'll see for yourself upon arrival. But tell me, aside from wheat, are there concerns with the other crops? Agricultural prospects on other continents seem grim."

"That's due to their lack of knowledge in cultivation. Rest assured, as your lord, I wouldn't lead you astray."

Gonias delivered a late-night snack to Ostar in his modest cabin. Despite its simplicity, the cabin was well-appointed, complete with a sensible layout that included three bedrooms, two living areas, and a study that doubled as Ostar's temporary office. Gonias had her own bedroom, while the last one belonged to Lord Ostar. Chris, Yulia, and Sofia, the exclusive maidservants and guards for the three lords, shared Lord Ostar's sleeping quarters.

Life in the territory was challenging, with the tribe's primary food sources being hunting, fishing, and foraging, as agriculture and animal husbandry had yet to be established. This reliance on primitive methods resulted in low efficiency due to the limited level of productivity.

The supper Gonias brought was a dish of wild berries known as "Blood Fruit" for their vivid red color, reminiscent of being stained with blood. Human Clan Country literature deemed these fruits ominous, branding them as the devil's harvest.

Upon tasting the meticulously cleaned fruits, Ostar found them to be juicy and delicious, much like strawberries. Accustomed to gourmet foods, even he couldn't resist indulging in several more Blood Fruits, dismissing the Human Clan Country's books as nothing but deceptive tales. The rumors of dying from bleeding out after consumption were clearly unfounded myths.

Knowledge about the Middle Continent was rife with misconceptions on other continents. Blood Fruits, particularly abundant in the Bloomfield Region, were a staple for tribes lacking in hunting and fishing skills, who relied on foraging to meet their needs.

"These taste great. We could sell these fruits to merchants," Ostar remarked.

"Lord Ostar, we sustain ourselves with these blood fruits and don't sell them to outsiders. If we run out of food, it would be disastrous. Moreover, those foreign merchants never purchase Blood Fruits," Gonias replied.

"Such ignorance," Ostar mused. "Well, I'll just keep this lucrative opportunity to myself."

On his first night at the Lord's Mansion, Ostar didn't retire to his bedroom. Instead, he dozed off on the study's sofa, his mind occupied with plans for developing his territory. Gonias noticed his dedication and couldn't help but think that this youthful new lord might indeed have the means to transform the Bloomfield Region.

Early the next morning, Ostar donned a black lordly robe, ready to promote new crops to the first tribe. This black attire, the standard work uniform for local lords of the Oberiske Empire, was modeled after Emperor Augustus VIII's regal black and gold dragon robe.

Ostar wasn't fond of wearing it. With the temporary Lord's Mansion situated on the periphery of his domain, he reluctantly wore his official garb to present a respectable image to any passing foreigners. He looked forward to the day when he could abandon the unflattering uniform once the mansion moved to the heart of his territory.

"Lord Ostar, why didn't you come to the bedroom last night? There's no bed in the study; you must not have rested well."

"Chris, it won't happen again."

In the carriage, Ostar responded to Chris's concern with a promise to be more considerate next time. This outing, Chris and the others had adapted to local customs, donning gothic maidservant uniforms identical in style to those worn by the White Witch, Gonias, differing only in color.

Once in their gothic attire, it was impossible to discern that these exclusive maidservants were also Ostar's part-time female guards. To the outside world, Chris and her companions were simply maids, their guard identities concealed unless circumstances demanded otherwise.

Chris's uniform was pristine white, from the dress to the silk stockings, exuding an aura of purity. Yulia's was a striking black and red ensemble, complete with striped stockings that seemed to be stained with fresh blood. Sofia's outfit featured a blue and white palette, paired with matching striped stockings, all variations on Gonias's original black gothic design.

The Underground Tribe's territory, contrary to its name, was situated above ground. Upon reaching their lands, Ostar couldn't help but feel deceived; the tribe's name suggested subterranean dwellings, yet their activities were clearly topside, a stark contrast to what had been promised.

Ostar and his three maids were at a loss with the languages and scripts of the various tribes within the Bloomfield Region, relying solely on the translations provided by Gonias, the local representative. Ostar envisioned a future where a unified language would be essential, especially as more tribes pledged allegiance to him. Promoting a common language and writing system across the Bloomfield Region seemed not only practical but necessary.

"Lord Ostar, I'm here to assist with translation. Whether you can persuade their chief will hinge on your skills. I'd rather we avoid bloodshed. Chris and her group may be formidable in battle, but violence isn't the solution to everything."

"Gonias, I've got this under control. Just focus on guiding us, and we'll be fine."

As Ostar conversed with Gonias, he took the opportunity to study the members of the Underground Tribe, the first natives of the Middle Continent he had encountered. The tribe was part of the Nolan Tias race, characterized by their ivory skin and predominantly straight brown hair.

Their appearance was a stark contrast to that of Prince Ostia's homeland on the West Continent, which had already progressed to the feudal era with its inhabitants donning simple garments. In contrast, these tribal communities were still in a primitive era, with residents clad in roughly fashioned animal hides, reminiscent of Earth's early humans.

The men of the Underground Tribe wore only shorts, their upper bodies bare, while the women added a simple piece of clothing resembling a bandeau top. The sight of the carriage piqued the curiosity and wariness of many villagers, who lined the road with a guarded demeanor, seemingly distrustful of strangers.

Ostar couldn't comprehend their language, which felt like an unlearned foreign tongue from Earth to him. Gonias, serving as an impromptu interpreter, was the only one who could make sense of their words. The tribespeople's tension eased when they spotted her on the carriage, recognizing her as the titular head of their own racial faction.