Delilah looked back at those two dairy cows.
These were what she had exchanged for with the last of the soap and shampoo; Her Majesty should be pleased.
In the Kingdom of Mason, not even the households in the Royal City had much livestock left. After all, when people couldn't even feed themselves, how could they have spare grain to feed animals?
In the summer, there was still grass to feed them, but once winter arrived, they couldn't just be slaughtered directly. That would only result in a greater loss, and no commoner could afford to raise them.
Delilah listened to the voices of those villagers.
Her ears were better than those of ordinary people; this was likely the sensitivity of a martial artist.
Merely by letting this formidable team appear before the common people, allowing them to see the real, heavy supplies, that Queen's rule over this country had already penetrated deep into the bone marrow.
Whatever rogue bandits, whatever old nobles—in front of these cartloads of raw iron and leather, they were all unable to withstand a single blow.
She could even foresee that when this convoy entered the Royal City, when those two cows were led into the Palace, the Tyrant's reputation would climb to a terrifying peak upon these ruins.
When the merchant caravan arrived at the gate of the Royal City, Minister Victor had long since lined up with a group of guards to welcome them.
Sophia did not show her face personally; she sat high atop the tower, overlooking it all.
"Your Majesty, Leader Delilah has brought back the things we wanted."
Victor looked at the crates of raw iron ingots being unloaded, his voice trembling terribly.
"And those two cows... The King of Leighton was actually willing to exchange such precious livestock for our shampoo?"
Sophia sat on a chair in the shadows of the tower, her left arm resting lightly on the armrest, her pale golden pupils devoid of any ripples.
Cows! Delilah exchanged them for cows for me!
In her heart, Sophia had already started a cheerful little tiptoe dance.
With dairy cows, will I be able to drink fresh milk?
I can even try to let Irene and Willow research how to make cream and cheese?
The days of eating Black Bread and drinking diluted bean soup every day are finally coming to an end!
Oh right, and that leather and wool; Irene can finally re-layer my mattress!
"Well done."
Sophia's cold voice slowly spilled from her expressionless face, revealing a calmness that suggested 'mere two cows are not worth mentioning'.
"Victor, send the raw iron to the West Tower for Irene.
"Put the leather and other materials into the warehouse, and set aside a portion to make protective gear for the Royal Guards.
"As for those two cows..."
Sophia paused, her tone becoming unusually serious.
"Send them to the empty ground behind the West Tower. Willow will personally supervise their rearing."
To the side, Chancellor Valery listened with cold sweat streaming down.
Listen to this tone!
Her Majesty actually values these two cows so highly. Could it be that these are not just livestock, but some important catalyst for alchemy?
Or perhaps, Her Majesty intends to use these two cows to initiate some grand layout affecting the whole Kingdom, named the 'Livestock Revolution'?
Not long after, Irene rushed to the unloading area like a gust of wind.
"Iron!
"My raw iron!
"And tendons!"
Irene threw herself onto a pile of pitch-black raw iron ingots, wishing she could kiss them.
"Your Majesty! With these, I can finally try adding rifling to the muskets!
"And that leather; our workshop can be upgraded!"
Irene looked excitedly toward Sophia on the tower, the worship in her eyes almost overflowing.
"Your Majesty, you are my God of Wealth!
"Oh no, you are the savior of the entire Kingdom of Mason!"
Sophia looked at the crowd below, which was in a chaotic mess of excitement like a festival, and slowly stood up, her black skirt tracing a graceful arc in the wind.
"Delilah, come up to see me."
Sophia turned and walked into the shadows, leaving everyone with a profound and unfathomable back view.
Inside the side hall high up in the tower, the light was somewhat dim. Only a few wisps of the setting sun projected in through the narrow windows, stretching out long, thin shadows on the floor.
Sophia sat back on that soft armchair. Although her left hand still faintly throbbed with pain, her attention at this moment was entirely on Delilah, who was kneeling on one knee before her.
Delilah still carried the scent of dust from the wilderness, and her scarlet hair was slightly messy, but those ruby-like eyes were even brighter than before she set out.
She was reporting her observations in the Kingdom of Leighton word by word.
From how those rogue bandits were instantly dismantled by the muskets, to the Queen of Leighton's fanatical reaction after using 'Mason's Dew', and finally to that trade that was almost like a 'snatch-up'.
"Your Majesty, although the leather from the Kingdom of Leighton is not top-tier, it wins in quantity and toughness.
"As for those two cows... I saw that the Queen held the product in extremely high esteem, so I used the remaining ten boxes of ordinary soap to exchange for them back."
Delilah lowered her head, her voice steady.
Ten boxes of soap for two cows?
Delilah, you really are a genius businessman!
Sophia was frantically giving Delilah a thumbs-up in her heart.
Great exchange!
That is a living source of protein!
The animal husbandry in the Kingdom of Mason is terrible; meat has to be purchased from other countries.
Once milk is produced, I must make Willow find a way to make that sweet cream, even if it's just to spread on bread!
However, in Delilah's eyes, Sophia just listened quietly. That face, exquisite as a porcelain doll, held no joy, but instead revealed a depth that was impossible to fathom.
"Delilah."
Sophia spoke slowly, her voice as cold as a deep spring in late autumn.
"Your trip not only brought back urgently needed strategic supplies for Mason, but more importantly, you let the neighboring country see our order."
Sophia stood up, dragging her black skirt as she slowly walked in front of Delilah.
She lowered her eyelids, her pale golden pupils looking straight at the top of Delilah's head. Her tone remained flat, yet it carried an indescribable sense of weight.
"You did very well, even exceeding my expectations.
"You led this merchant caravan excellently."
In that instant, Delilah's heart felt as if it had been lightly struck by something.
A soft warmth she had never experienced before slowly climbed up her spine.
In her past life as a General of the Kingdom of Olan, she had heard 'thank you for your hard work' or formulaic rewards countless times.
In the eyes of those monarchs, she was nothing more than a handy longsword; praised a few times when useful, and discarded when broken.
But Sophia's praise was different.
Although it was spoken in the coldest tone, Delilah could feel that this recognition was not directed at a 'tool'.
It was an absolute resonance with her personal ability, and even with her tough style.
She saw my efforts... she thinks I did excellently.
Delilah's fingertips trembled slightly. This sense of achievement from being personally recognized by the 'Tyrant' actually made her nose sting more than capturing a city in her past life.
"To be loyal to Your Majesty is your subordinate's duty."
Delilah steadied her breathing, her voice remaining cold, but if one listened carefully, one could hear a trace of an imperceptible tremor.
________________________________________
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