Lord of the Oasis Chapter 4

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Knights, their bodies slick with sweat from the recent skirmishes, descended the dunes at a steady pace.

The Swadian Peasants and Recruits were on their way to the makeshift camp established below. Awaiting them was the preparation of the midday meal and a multitude of demanding tasks.

Kant remained positioned atop the dunes, enduring the sun's intense glare.

His gaze fixated on the Oasis Lookout visible on the horizon, the territory designated as his fief, which contained a spring of fresh water.

This situation is going to prove difficult, he mused.

A heavy sigh escaped Kant's lips, his expression etched with concern.

He surveyed his surroundings, taking in the sight of the fallen, insignificant creatures scattered below. A sense of pressure, rather than relief, settled upon him.

Jackalans had been discovered in the vicinity of the Oasis Lookout.

The implications of this discovery were undeniably grave.

A wry, bitter smile touched Kant's lips. He considered the matter: it was inconceivable that the Oasis Lookout would remain unoccupied indefinitely.

The campaign orchestrated by the Dukedom of Leo a decade prior had only achieved a temporary respite. The Jackalans had since returned, reclaiming the oasis.

He conducted an estimation based on the fifty Jackalans who had just been eliminated.

His conclusion was that the tribe inhabiting the Oasis Lookout likely numbered no less than three hundred. This figure could potentially be even greater if the entire tribe was accounted for.

What course of action should I take now?

The thought brought on a throb of a headache for Kant.

[Ding... Side Quest Assigned]

[Side Quest: Annihilate the Jackalan Tribe]

[Reward: Desert Bandit Lair x 1]

[Introduction: The Oasis Lookout, the jewel of the southern desert, has fallen under the control of a Jackalan tribe. These ferocious beings have marred the beauty of the oasis. As the appointed lord of the Nahrin Desert from this point forward, it is imperative that you eradicate them.]

A system notification materialized just as he pondered his next move.

The system's dialogue box appeared before his eyes, presenting the side quest bestowed by the system.

Annihilate the Jackalan Tribe?

Kant echoed the mission parameters, the grim smile persisting on his face.

Even without the system's intervention, he would have been compelled to confront and eliminate the tribe that had seized control of the Oasis Lookout.

The Oasis Lookout represented the sole oasis discovered in the southern expanse of the Nahrin Desert. More crucially, it was the only accessible source of water. Failure to secure this location would invariably lead to his own downfall.

Considering their current water reserves, which were rapidly dwindling below critical levels, even managing to return alive to the Dukedom of Leo would present a significant challenge.

Indeed, even if he managed a return, his position as the duke's youngest son, coupled with his precarious standing, offered no assurance of a peaceful existence.

Numerous individuals desired his demise in the desert, preferring him not to return at all.

Kant involuntarily tightened his jaw and began descending the dunes, his silence unbroken.

A Jackalan tribe, numbering at least three hundred individuals, posed a substantial peril to them.

A single misstep could very well lead to their complete annihilation.

The elimination of the fifty Jackalans in the preceding engagement was a direct result of the system alerting Kant to the impending danger. He had exploited their surprise attack, catching them entirely unprepared.

Furthermore, the twenty knights from the dukedom who had engaged the Jackalans were undeniably elites.

Should they commit their full strength in a direct confrontation, they would still face considerable losses in their attempt to vanquish a tribe of three hundred Jackalans.

We can still attempt this.

Kant observed the indistinct shapes moving within the tents.

His gaze involuntarily narrowed.

In reality, if he were to successfully conquer the Oasis Lookout, the outcome would have minimal reliance on the newly leveled-up Swadian Recruits.

The decisive factor remained the twenty knights of the dukedom.

I am aware that you gentlemen will likely object, but I must apologize. I am left with no alternative.

Kant's demeanor was composed, concealing his own ulterior motives.

The knights owed their allegiance to Cameron, the Duke of Leo, and Kant's standing among them was derived solely from his lineage. In matters of actual combat command, the authority still rested with them.

Kant recognized that since he could not directly command the knights' participation, he would need to compel their involvement by imposing the stark reality of their situation.

They were situated within the Nahrin Desert, and only one element could truly galvanize them.

Water.

It was a resource over which they would inevitably be forced to contend, regardless of their willingness.

Do not hold this against me. Kant remained outwardly calm, though a faint glint of coldness flickered in his eyes.

After all, genuine trust between individuals is a rare commodity.

Kant, who had been proceeding toward the tents, suddenly altered his direction, heading instead for the carriages.

All the Swadian Peasants were diligently engaged in their labor.

Laughter boomed from the tents of the dukedom knights, a hearty sound as if they were sharing a particularly amusing joke. He, however, went entirely unnoticed. To the eyes of any outsiders, he practically didn't exist.

“My Lord.”

Two Swadian peasants, tasked with guarding the goods on the carriages, had been assigned this duty. Their voices, though, were quickly silenced.

“Be quiet.” Kant raised a hand, motioning for them to cease their chatter. Instantly, he removed the stoppers from the bottom of the large water barrels secured on the carriage. A gurgling sound filled the air as the crystal-clear fresh water poured onto the sand through the small openings. In just a few minutes, the barrels, once brimming with water, were nearly empty, leaving the surrounding barren sand thoroughly drenched.

“Our water supply is nearly depleted.” Kant glanced at the two bewildered Swadian peasants and emphasized his point. “Do you understand?”

“Yes, My Lord,” they responded dutifully.

“Good.” Without a flicker of emotion crossing his face, Kant returned to his tent as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. Only the peasants and the raw recruits had been anywhere near the carriages; none of the knights had bothered to approach, seeing no reason to. Little did they know, the barrels, which should have contained enough water for three days, were now completely empty. The impending lack of water would force their hand. Survival meant confronting the Jackalans.

This was precisely Kant's strategy: to manipulate and compel the dukedom knights into adhering to his plan, driving them to fight the Jackalans with all their might. A person must do what is necessary.

Since arriving in this peculiar and underdeveloped world, Kant, the youngest son of the duke, had learned the art of leveraging others to their fullest potential. Such actions were, in his view, entirely natural for a nobleman. He understood that without utilizing the knights, his status alone would not compel them to remain and fight.

No one would dedicate themselves or risk their lives for others without expecting something in return, especially considering his status as an exiled baron.

“My Lord.”

While Kant was lost in thought, a peasant responsible for cooking, holding a wooden plate, lifted the tent flap. “Lunch is ready,” he announced.

“Alright.” Kant nodded and surveyed the offering. Three pieces of white bread, half a smoked chicken, and three spoonfuls of succulent dried meat seasoned with black pepper. This was the sort of lavish meal his baronial status afforded him.

Both white bread and black pepper were considered luxuries. Even squires and knights, not to mention lesser nobles with smaller fiefs and less wealth within the dukedom, could not afford such spices or the fine, soft white bread. Their fare typically consisted of coarse black bread mixed with bran, along with simple, cooked dried meat.

“Dried meat with black pepper, I see.” Kant accepted the plate. “If I am not mistaken, our supply of fresh water is running out.”

“Indeed, but we are not far from the Oasis Lookout, where fresh water is plentiful,” the peasant replied.

“Is that so?” Kant nodded and instructed the peasant, “Please inform Captain Rowan to report to my tent once he has finished his lunch.”

“Yes, My Lord,” the peasant replied respectfully before departing.

Kant ate his lunch heartily with a wooden spoon. The white bread was soft, flavorful, and of exceptional quality. It had been prepared for him with butter before his departure from the Duke of Leo's castle. The same applied to the black pepper. Kant was a nobleman, and even in exile, he represented the lineage and honor of Duke Cameron. He was a baron and was to be treated as such. At the very least, Kant no longer had to suffer through unpleasant food. In comparison to the knights and peasants, he was enjoying quite a fine meal.

A pity I won't be able to dine like this any longer.

He dipped the last piece of bread into the remaining soup, placing it in his mouth. He chewed and swallowed, finishing his meal. Ten minutes, no more, no less, had passed since he began eating.

Soon, he heard the distinct sound of footsteps outside his tent. Leather boots pressed into the slightly firm sand, emitting a crunching noise and leaving behind clear indentations. It appeared Rowan had arrived.

“Your Lordship, I heard you were looking for me.” Captain Rowan’s voice, carrying a hint of impatience beneath its respectful tone, could be heard from outside the tent.

“Please, come in.” Kant’s voice remained calm, betraying no awareness of Rowan’s subtle impatience. The tent blinds were lifted, and Rowan stooped slightly before entering. He offered a faint smile as he looked at Kant. “Your Lordship, we will soon reach the Oasis Lookout. How may I be of service?” Without allowing Kant to respond, he quickly added, “If there is nothing else, we will be departing shortly.”

“Departing?” Kant’s expression turned doubtful as he looked at Rowan and inquired, “Shouldn’t we be heading towards the Oasis Lookout?”

The destination hove into view, fueling Rowan’s impatience. He was eager to be done with the arduous desert expedition and particularly tired of the exiled baron’s company. As a seasoned warrior, Rowan, captain of the knights, certainly recognized the baron's intentions.

“Your Lordship,” Rowan declared, “the knights can endure no longer.” He eyed Kant critically before continuing in a level tone, “I formally request a portion of the drinking water supply. We will commence our journey home immediately.” This was not a request open to debate, but a firm, uncompromising demand.

It bordered on insolence, signaling that Rowan and his knights were on the verge of mutiny.

“Naturally, if that is your wish.”

Rowan blinked in surprise at Kant’s swift agreement. The baron inclined his head and expressed his thanks. “It is due to the protection of your knights that we completed this journey. You have my deepest gratitude.”

“It is merely our duty,” Rowan replied with a smile and a nod.

However, Kant’s subsequent words caused Rowan’s expression to alter dramatically. “Regrettably, our water supply is now critically low.”