100\% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full?-Chapter 45 - Great Wall of Lootwell

The Next Day

Another group emerged from the forest trail.

A line of carriages creaked forward, heavy with essential supplies. Livestock plodded alongside. Their hooves crunched softly against the soil.

It was the group Lucien had sent out. Now returning with goods purchased from the territories west of Lootwell.

But as the forest began to thin, they saw it.

Something towering.

Something unfamiliar.

A massive fortress wall rose in the distance. It casted a long shadow over the land.

Solid.

Imposing.

Almost unreal.

"The entire convoy slowed to a halt.

"Wait... Are you sure this is Lootwell?" a voice asked filled with disbelief.

It didn’t come from Lucien’s people.

The speaker was a newcomer.

Aldren Hornvale.

The young heir to the Barony of Hornvale, one of the territories West of Lootwell.

Another voice followed, just as stunned.

"I... I can’t believe it. What kind of resources would it take to build something like that?"

This time, it was Roneth Needlehart, heir to the Needlehart family just south of Hornvale.

They stared in silence. Their eyes were fixed on the wall that seemed to hum with quiet power.

Lootwell was no longer what they thought it was.

•••

The Lootwell team had set out with a simple goal.

To purchase supplies.

Nothing more.

But fate had a different plan.

At that same time, the Lords of Hornvale and Needlehart were holding a private meeting.

The two barons were as close as brothers.

Bordering lands.

Shared roads.

And years of mutual trust had tied their territories together.

Their conversation was interrupted by a servant who entered with unexpected news.

"Subjects from Lootwell are making large purchases," the servant said. "And they’re paying with gold. Hundreds of coins."

Lootwell? With that kind of wealth?

Their expressions frozed immediately.

They had believed Lootwell was no more.

After all, some of Lootwell’s former subjects had already sought refuge in their lands. They brought tales of their downfall.

The barons were not blind. They knew a conspiracy had struck Lootwell.

But like many border lords, they had felt powerless to act.

And with the recent wave of nobles being toppled and territories forcefully taken, they feared their turn would come soon.

In their minds, Lootwell had simply been another casualty.

A fallen banner in a growing list.

So the idea that Lootwell’s people were out there boldly trading and spending gold by the handful... felt impossible.

But seeing is believing.

Curious and admittedly skeptical, the two barons rode out to meet the Lootwell delegation themselves.

If what the servant said was true, they wanted to witness it firsthand... and perhaps lend a hand.

When they arrived, they were speechless.

Because the Lootwell team didn’t just tell them what they needed they showed them.

A list was handed over and it was staggering

Livestock. Carriages. Silks. Tools. Seeds. Essentials of every kind... more than enough to restock a territory.

But that wasn’t the most shocking part.

Then came the payment.

Gold. Real gold.

Laid out plainly, without hesitation. Hundreds of gleaming coins!

It was undeniable. Lootwell hadn’t fallen.

It had risen.

The sight of it stirred something in them.

Even though the two Barons were close... practically brothers... the promise of such a deal was too tempting. For a brief moment, competition flared between them. Each was eager to win the favor of Lootwell’s trade.

That kind of wealth could do wonders for their own people.

Still, reason prevailed. They settled fairly.

Fifty-fifty.

Baron Needlehart quickly dispatched his servants to gather the supplies from his territory and Baron Hornvale did the same.

The Lootwell team barely needed to lift a finger as they simply need to wait for the goods to be delivered. They were grateful they could return to the Manor earlier than planned.

What surprised them even more was the lords’ attitude.

The two barons were grounded and respectful. Not once did they speak down to the Lootwell team despite their status. It was clear that they were thinking not just of status or pride but of their people and survival.

During the wait, the barons, still curious, asked about Lootwell.

And so, the team told them everything. Truthfully, though it sounded like a fable.

Magic. Betrayal. Revival. A new baron rising from the ashes.

It was a tale full of impossible turns.

The barons listened quietly...

But in the end, they couldn’t bring themselves to believe it.

It just sounded too... ridiculous.

The Lootwell team was asked to rest while the supplies were being prepared.

Baron Hornvale personally arranged accommodations for them.

Finally able to relax, the team retired for the night. They had been walking non-stop for over two days, pushing themselves to reach Hornvale territory as quickly as possible.

Not once did they stop to rest.

Thanks to the drops Lucien had given them, they remained alert and energetic throughout the journey.

But once they lay down... the exhaustion hit.

Sleep came instantly.

The next day, everything had changed.

True to their word, the two barons had kept their promise. The supplies were ready.

Tens of carriages.

Healthy livestock.

Sacks of seeds.

Bolts of thread.

Crates of fine silks.

One by one, the goods were loaded onto the waiting carriages.

The Administration Team carefully recorded every item, ensuring nothing was overlooked.

Meanwhile, the Sustenance Team inspected the livestock and seeds to verify their health and quality.

Everything was perfect.

The only thing left was to return to Lootwell and report the good news.

But just before departure, a final surprise came.

The two barons sent their sons to personally accompany the convoy, along with a few trusted guards.

Both heirs were in their twenties.

Young.

Sharp.

Already carrying the air of future leaders.

They explained that they were sent on behalf of their fathers to discuss matters of business with the Baron of Lootwell.

And so, with everything in place, they set off together.

Two noble heirs. Their guards. And the proud team of Lootwell.

•••

And now...

Back to the present.

The group was approaching the wall.

Each step forward made them feel smaller.

The towering structure loomed ahead, radiating an aura of strength.

It looked like it had withstood the test of time.

Scarred by imaginary wars.

Shaped by silent defiance.

The Lootwell team couldn’t hide their pride.

They had known about the wall’s construction... but this?

This was beyond their expectations.

Still, they kept their expressions calm.

"Ha! We told you we weren’t lying. Our Lord is great," one puffed his chest out and grin wide.

They had been away on an important mission and missed the final phase of construction.

And though a part of them wished they’d seen it finished with their own eyes, they didn’t regret it. Lucien had needed them elsewhere.

Even so, seeing the heirs’ stunned expressions made everything worth it.

They exchanged knowing glances, barely holding back their smirks.

"The wall did what our words couldn’t," one whispered. "Gave them a good slap of truth."

Another chuckled. "Can’t really blame them. If I heard the story we told, I wouldn’t believe it either."

The two heirs said nothing but their silence spoke volumes.

Their awe was genuine.

Everyone burst into laughter.

The two heirs could only smile in embarrassment, scratching their heads.

Despite their noble status, they didn’t act arrogant or entitled.

After days of traveling together, they had grown more comfortable with the Lootwell team.

They are more like companions than strangers now. There was an easy camaraderie between them.

Not long after, Lukas appeared at the gate.

His sharp eyes scanned the group, quickly recognizing the familiar faces and noting the new ones.

A member of the Administration team stepped down from one of the carriages and leaned close to whisper something in Lukas’s ear.

He gave a small nod then turned to the group. "Come. This way."

And once again, they moved.

But the moment they passed through the massive entrance of the wall, something changed.

The air was different.

It was subtle but unmistakable.

Calm.

Peaceful.

...Almost sacred.

A gentle pressure like being wrapped in warmth and safety settled over them.

The two heirs instinctively glanced back at the wall.

It was more than just stone and mortar.

It was beautiful.

The towering wall. The watchtower overhead. The grand, open gate.

It felt less like an entrance to a fortress and more like a threshold to something greater.

Something they couldn’t quite explain.

Even the inside held surprises.

As they made their way through the wide streets, the group finally arrived at the plaza.

There, the Defense Division was in the middle of training.

The two heirs slowed to a stop, captivated.

The soldiers moved in perfect sync.

Fluid.

Precise.

Disciplined.

Every motion was sharp yet graceful. It’s like a well-rehearsed dance.

With each step, traces of mana shimmered briefly in the air before fading like mist.

It was mesmerizing.

No wasted movements. No hesitation.

This wasn’t the kind of training they were used to seeing. This was something else entirely.

Eventually, Lukas turned to the group.

"Park the carriages over there," he said, pointing to a wide open area near the plaza, clearly designated for arriving convoys.

Once everything was in place, he gestured for them to follow.

"Come. The Baron is waiting."

•••

Lucien had already been informed of the group’s return.

The two heirs were currently waiting in the guest room but before meeting them, Lucien listened to the full report from both the Administration Team and the Sustenance Team.

The details unfolded...

How smoothly the transaction had gone.

The quality of the supplies.

And the cooperation of the two barons

Lucien nodded in quiet satisfaction. By the end of the report, a smile tugged at his lips.

Before dismissing his team, he didn’t forget the essentials.

He let each member touch the Essence of Purity.

Rewarded them for their efforts.

And instructed them to catch up on training with the others.

As a bonus, he handed out a few mana cores to each of them.

Finally, he gave them time off. They had earned it.

Once that was done, he turned to Sebas.

"Please bring the two heirs here," he said.

A short while later, Aldren and Roneth were led into the room.

They entered respectfully.

No arrogance.

No airs.

Lucien observed them quietly. Though they were older than him, neither showed the slightest sign of disrespect.

He activated Inspect.

***

Name: Aldren Hornvale

Age: 21

Race: Human

Job: Scribe

Level: 33

Title:

• Hornvale Heir

Skills:

• Etiquette

Magic:

• Earth Magic (Basic)

Magic Affinity:

• Earth Magic

Favourability: 40

Status: Excited/Genuine

***

***

Name: Roneth Needlehart

Age: 21

Race: Human

Job: Warrior

Level: 31

Title:

• Needlehart Heir

Skills:

• Sparring

Magic:

• Wind Magic (Basic)

Magic Affinity:

• Wind Magic

Favourability: 40

Status: Excited/Curious

***

’Not bad,’ Lucien thought.

Lucien gave a slight nod, signaling for them to speak.

Aldren was the first to step forward.

"Baron of Lootwell," he began. His tone was formal but sincere, "my father, Baron Hornvale, wishes to form an alliance with you."

Roneth followed smoothly. "Yes, Baron. My father, Baron Needlehart, has asked the same."

Lucien’s gaze narrowed slightly.

He didn’t respond right away.

’Why now?’ he wondered.

There had been no talk of alliances before. Lootwell had been left to its own fate while bordering lords watched from the shadows.

As if sensing his thoughts, Aldren continued.

"To be honest... many border nobles have been falling these past few years. Quietly. One by one."

He paused then said what needed to be said.

"And now, we’ve started to see a pattern."

"Coalheart," Roneth said, his voice low. "We believe they’re behind it. And we don’t know when our turn will come. We’ve felt helpless for a long time."

Aldren nodded. "When your former inhabitants first arrived in our lands, we assumed you had already fallen... just like the others. But now that we’ve seen Lootwell with our own eyes..."

He looked directly at Lucien.

"We want to know how you did it. How you stood back up. We want to learn the secret to growing stronger."

Lucien remained silent, studying them carefully.

Then Roneth spoke again.

"As a sign of goodwill," he said, "we’ve brought a gift from our fathers."

Lucien’s expression changed ever so slightly. His interest stirred.

A faint glimmer lit up in his eyes.

’So... the enemy of my enemy wants to be a friend?’ he thought.

’Interesting.’

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