Building a World Class Empire in another World
Chapter 61: Digging the moat

Chapter 61: Digging the moat

Andrew stepped forward as he was called, a young man standing at well over six feet, with a good muscular build. He looked athletic yet very jacked. He had very low black hair and black eyes. The only unique feature on him was the scar that went from below his ear down to his chin.

He was clad in a black shirt and black pants, every ask loose; the closer were, his muscles peeked through.

"Yes, sir," Andrew said, his deep-sounding voice matching the energy he portrayed.

"Great," the old man said and turned to Robert. "Inform the Baron that the duel is ready."

Robert nodded and rushed into the building. He stayed in for a few minutes, then came out with Baron Fredrick following behind.

The Baron was no longer in his armor but rather a simple shirt that he had worn underneath and the trousers that he had worn inside.

He walked to the training field, and all the men bowed their heads to him. He walked to the center and faced Andrew, who also bowed his head.

"I’ll bring the wooden swords," Robert said and was about to go fetch the swords for the duel.

"Why wooden? A duel can’t have the energy it needs unless there is a threat of death looming above your head.

The feeling that not blocking one attack would cost you your life is a very good motivation to fight like you mean it," Fredrick said.

Robert was hesitant, but he couldn’t refuse the Baron, so he rushed and got two swords made of simple steel.

He handed one to the Baron first and then the second one to Andrew. Andrew took the sword and got into his stance, as if he wasn’t worried about the fact that he could die now.

Fredrick, on the other hand, didn’t take a stance. He simply observed Andrew with a nonchalant look plastered on his face.

Andrew saw this and felt like the Baron didn’t see him as enough of a threat to even get ready. This made his blood boil in rage. He charged in, going in a beeline for the Baron.

The Baron stayed put, unmoving, until Andrew was a few steps away from him, with his sword already going in for a stab. He finally moved, his right hand lifted, raising the sword at just the right angle to parry Andrew’s attack.

Both swords collided, and Andrew’s sword was pushed to the side, passing the side of the Baron by a few inches. The Baron had made sure that he didn’t stop Andrew’s momentum, and he had waited for this exact time because then Andrew would not be able to stop moving forward.

The Baron raised his knee, and Andrew ran into it, his abdomen and ribcage taking a heavy blow. He staggered backward and fell, struggling to breathe.

But Andrew was not done. This was an opportunity, one that many members of the militia would never get—to duel with nobility.

He was certain that if he showed a good enough performance, the Baron could enlist him for a short service and recommend him to receive knight training.

Andrew pushed himself off the ground and charged again. He slashed with his full body, twisting his waist as the sword went from up to down. The Baron blocked the sword like it was nothing and pushed the sword up before sending a kick into Andrew’s stomach, a kick that cracked a few ribs and sent Andrew to the ground.

"I’m guessing this one is your best fighter. This is pathetic," the Baron said and walked away. The men finally understood that the Baron was not just a prideful and flashy man, but he also had the strength to back the pride.

________________

The sun went down, and the cold night started in the forest. Aric waited until it was past midnight to begin the work. He and the spirits made their move, immediately starting the work that they had to do.

Quadoris stood at the gate, with Aric and the rest behind him. He took a few steps away from the fence until there was over a twenty-meter distance, then he turned back to face them.

"Here looks good. It won’t affect the wall and also gives enough space between the moat and the wall in case something happens. We have time to deal with it," he explained.

"Alright, then let’s do it there," Aric said. He turned to Septa. "You are with him. As he digs, you make the mud," Aric said. She nodded and went to meet Quadoris.

"Alright, let’s get this started," Quadoris said. He pointed his hands at the ground, and immediately a large rumbling sound was heard as the ground began to collapse into itself, creating a ten-foot hole with very straight walls.

Quadoris jumped into the hole, followed by Septa. He immediately started pushing the earth as he walked through the moat he was digging, while Septa backed him.

She walked backward while creating a jet of water that soaked into the ground. She had to keep her focus to ensure that the water didn’t flood them or break the walls.

Aric, on the other hand, was walking at the edge of the moat. He had to guide Quadoris to make sure that he went the right path around the wall.

And so they quickly dug the moat. When they were close to the stream, Aric stopped Quadoris. He didn’t want the stream to flow into the moat.

So Quadoris had to come out and cross the stream before they could continue. They moved at a very quick rate and were done in less than thirty minutes.

Aric looked into the moat, and it was perfect. He picked a stick and tossed it into the moat, and the stick sank into the mud after a while.

[You have upgraded the defense of your kingdom.]

[50,000 gold, 2 intelligence stat.]

Aric had not been expecting a reward for this, but he was happy that he got something out of it in the end.