After concluding their survey of the central region, Rest and his team made their way back to the Plain Entrance.
By the time they reached the Pioneer Group’s headquarters at the edge of the plains, the sun had already begun to dip below the horizon. Many of the people assigned to the development project had already pitched their tents, and the smell of meals simmering in pots drifted through the camp.
"Have we grown in number?" Rest wondered aloud.
The camp was noticeably more crowded than it had been when they first set out. It seemed reinforcements had arrived to bolster their ranks while they were away.
"Well then... I’m going to go report our findings to His Highness Andrew. Let's disband for the day."
"Right. I’m going back to the tent to rest," Yuri replied.
"Good work today. I’ll see you tomorrow," Isis added.
As Rest dismissed his companions, Yuri and Isis offered him words of appreciation. Lyubase walked away without a word, while Argyle and Rail departed with simple, polite bows.
Rest made his way toward the most prominent pavilion in the camp. He signaled the soldier standing guard at the entrance to announce his arrival, and after receiving permission, he stepped inside.
"Excuse me."
"Ah, Lord Clover. I see you’ve returned."
As Rest stepped further into the pavilion, he found Andrew, the commander-in-chief of the Pioneer Group, seated at a large table. Beside him was Rilanda Marker, the Student Council Treasurer. They were hunched over a stack of documents, their shoulders nearly touching as they worked.
Hmm...? Rest thought. They seem awfully close.
Rilanda was officially Andrew’s aide, but the intimate distance between them suggested a bond that went far beyond the professional relationship of a superior and his subordinate.
Come to think of it, His Highness Andrew still doesn't have a fiancée, does he?
Even though royalty often had their political engagements settled before they turned ten, no announcement had ever been made regarding Andrew. While this was likely a strategic move to avoid appearing as a threat to the Crown Prince’s position, Rest wondered if there were other reasons at play.
Unlike Rodel, the "Idiot Prince," Andrew was never the subject of unsavory rumors. If he had an influential fiancée to back him, he might have been a viable contender for the throne. Perhaps he avoided marriage specifically because he had no desire for power—or perhaps he had simply fallen for his aide, despite the gap in their social standing.
Keeping such idle speculations off his face, Rest transitioned into his official report.
"Regarding the investigation of the central plains... we’ve finished the initial survey for today without any issues. None of the participants sustained injuries."
"I see. That’s good to hear."
"Yes. Here is the topographical map we've sketched so far."
Rest handed over the sketches of the terrain and began detailing what they had encountered. He described the vegetation that had grown to monstrous proportions after absorbing the dense mana, which had rendered their detection magic useless. He also noted that several members of the team had felt physically ill due to the stifling magical pressure, and he reported that a significant number of the Evil Lion's kin—the Corrosion Beasts—still prowled the area.
"...I see." Andrew propped his chin on one hand, sinking into thought as he processed the report. "The heart of the Magical Wilds. It seems it won't be easily tamed. I assume the mana density won't dissipate until we install the Barrier Magic Circles?"
"Most likely. I believe the environment will stabilize once we have the circles in place to siphon off the excess mana."
"Very well. I’ll send word to the Royal Palace to request specialists skilled in Barrier Arts. Lord Clover, I want you to continue your survey of the center. In the meantime, focus on culling the monsters."
"Understood."
"It would also be a great help if you could do something about that mana-saturated brush. We can't begin full-scale development if we’re essentially flying blind."
"I’ll see what I can do... That aside, the camp seems to have gotten quite busy."
"Yes, we had a new influx of arrivals while you were out. Some of the frontier nobles have sent reinforcements. Though," Andrew added with a cynical shrug, "their intention to put us in their debt is transparent."
The development of the Magical Wilds was a massive undertaking—an untapped frontier. It was a goldmine of potential interests, and there was no shortage of opportunists looking for a piece of the pie. No doubt these nobles were sending men now so they could demand a share of the land rights later.
"There is more than enough land to go around, regardless," Andrew continued. "I don’t mind giving a share to those who prove useful, but I have little patience for those who try to snatch up rewards without doing any real work."
"I can imagine. My sympathies, Your Highness."
"Actually, you may find people trying to approach you as well, Lord Clover. You have my permission to use my name to brush them off if they become a nuisance."
Rest was already a count, and few would be foolish enough to meddle with him directly. However, fools existed in every corner of the world. As a newly-risen count, he was a prime target for envy; many would likely resent a commoner-born youth’s rapid ascent and try to throw a wrench in his works.
"I understand," Rest said with a wry smile. "If it comes to that, I’ll be sure to borrow your name."
With a polite bow, Rest took his leave and stepped out of Andrew's pavilion.