HLM – Chapter 1036 The Forest Estate

Hearing Princess Eugenie’s words, Wang Bo was pleasantly surprised. “You can help? May I ask, Your Highness, what do you have in mind?”

Eugenie thought for a moment and said, “I remember that in the second half of this year, there will be a talent exchange program between the UK and New Zealand. During this event, some prestigious schools will send teachers to support New Zealand.”

“Sunset Town might get a spot? But that seems difficult—the middle school needs so many teachers,” Wang Bo said with a hint of frustration.

Eugenie replied, “But even if a small-town middle school needs many teachers, the program can usually meet those demands. Also, Hugo, I recall the Royal Education Foundation provides educational funding to British territories worldwide, right?”

Lancaster, having just eaten a chunk of tender lamb, nodded. “Yes, these programs happen every year. The funds can be used to build a middle school in Sunset Town.”

After exchanging a few more words, the two quickly drew up a very solid plan, leaving Wang Bo, Hani, Eva, and Uncle Bing astonished by their efficiency.

Once the basic school construction plan was confirmed, Wang Bo gratefully exclaimed.

Princess Eugenie smiled. “No need to thank us. We’ve seen the changes and development in Sunset Town, and if we can contribute to its growth, we are very happy.”

“But what will the middle school be called?” Lancaster asked, looking at Wang Bo.

Wang Bo shrugged. “Eva is the chairwoman of our town’s education board. I think it’s better to leave the naming to her.”

Eva smiled. “Then let’s call it the Princess and Sir Middle School. If this school is built, it will be thanks to Princess Eugenie and Count Lancaster. A good school benefits a town for a hundred years. I think Sunset Town should remember the help from the British Royal Family.”

Her words were polite, sincere, and heartfelt—Wang Bo almost wanted to applaud his wife.

If he had named the school, he would have thought the same way. This was standard practice: when Princess Eugenie visited the Royal Children’s Hospital, a rehabilitation center for children was established, capable of receiving 400 sick children annually. Since Eugenie sponsored the reconstruction, it was named “Princess Eugenie’s Home.” This time, although the school project was led by the princess, Lancaster would obviously also contribute.

Moreover, Eugenie and Lancaster were about to get married, so naming the school after both of them was also a nice blessing.

With a single meal, the middle school project for the town was settled. Wang Bo was in high spirits and kept proposing toasts: for the queen’s health, for the friendship between the UK and New Zealand, and for Eugenie and Lancaster’s relationship.

After a series of toasts, he felt a little dizzy. Fortunately, the princess’s room was upstairs. Wang Bo went back and lay down to sleep.

Out of habit, he opened the sand table. The extraction plate could be used again. It glowed pale green, obviously a first-level Lord’s Heart.

Lazily, Wang Bo tapped it. A territory heart emerged, called the Forest Heart.

A first-level territory heart seemed useless at first glance, but by now, he knew that if used properly, every type of territory heart could provide tremendous benefits to Sunset Town.

Feeling drowsy from drinking, he selected a patch of mountain forest around the castle and placed it on the sand table.

As the name suggests, the Forest Heart functions in wooded and mountainous areas. Since the castle was surrounded by mountains, placing it there was perfect.

Sure enough, once the Forest Heart was placed in the mountains, it merged seamlessly.

The next morning, Lancaster had his usual morning routine—combat training. He and his bodyguards had brought cases containing desert-gray training uniforms and some firearms and weapons.

Wang Bo was startled when he saw him geared up. “Hey, Hugo, I know you’re a warrior, but you don’t need to dress like this here, right? Are you planning to fight at any moment?”

Lancaster laughed. “Relax, mate. These are all dummies. Look, the grenades are rubber, and these guns are all rubber replicas with no lethality.”

Indeed, Wang Bo examined the weapons. They were exquisitely crafted—rubber grenades with pull rings, but nothing would happen if triggered.

The two trained together, followed by the bodyguards.

Usually, Wang Bo ran along the mountain paths down to the grass road to avoid straining his joints and bones.

But this time, Lancaster wanted to run in the mountains. He said it had been a long time since he had mountain training. The terrain around the castle was rugged and complex, perfect for training.

A mountain path led from the castle’s outer courtyard to the back hills. Lancaster explained that it was a war path. The castles were originally built for war—the courtyard served as a training ground, and in case of battle, this path allowed troops to move.

The path extended over a kilometer. It was probably meant to circle the mountain, reminiscent of the strategic layout of China’s Great Wall, allowing the castle’s forces to counterattack efficiently.

However, as construction progressed, they likely realized that building mountain paths was difficult and costly. Also, New Zealand didn’t have many powerful enemies, so the castle’s early owners abandoned the project.

Wang Bo had noticed this path before but never ran on it—it was steep, constantly up and down, and could easily strain the body. Now, after Lancaster’s explanation, he found it quite interesting.

Stepping out of the castle, the surrounding mountains were dense and wild.

In the dead of winter, most vegetation had lost its green, but because the mountains near the castle were planted with pines, oaks, poplars, willows, hazels, and lindens, some greenery remained.

Not far along, Wang Bo felt the mountain air was incredibly fresh. Mist lingered, moisture hung in the air. Running here made him want to take deep breaths, as if his trachea and lungs were being thoroughly cleansed.

Lancaster also praised it. “The air here is amazing. You could name this place the Mountain Forest Oxygen Bar.”

Wang Bo was surprised—he remembered the air on the mountains wasn’t this fresh before, then realized it was the Forest Heart he had placed last night improving the environment.

Their goals and training methods differed. Wang Bo ran back and forth on the stone path, while Lancaster moved through the forest with weapons, climbing and simulating combat, with bodyguards as sparring partners. They were having a blast.

After about twenty minutes, Lancaster suddenly shouted from a distance, “Hey, guys, come look! See what I found!”

Curious and cautious, Wang Bo hurried toward the voice.