We set up camp in the center of the plain.
Except for two Dran, all other mbers dispersed to survey the terrain.
Urald spoke.
"Relocating the residents cos first, right?"
"Yes. We plan to build houses in a circular formation centered around this hill. First, we'll build hos for the residents and knights, and then move on to the castle."
"It'll be tough to construct the territory right away, right? Since you invested a fortune in the rchant guild, you can't have much money left."
"We'll borrow the missing funds from the rchant guild's bank. The amount is quite significant, but we'll pay it back little by little."
Wundbark also smiled as he spoke.
"We can't build everything at once. It was the sa for our ancestors when they arrived in new lands. As long as we join forces and build one thing at a ti, it'll work out."
"That's right."
Our house does not build houses for the residents for free. The residents need to pay a portion of the construction costs as well. They can afford this.
The estimated construction period is three years.
Within five months, we'll build enough houses for everyone to relocate.
Setting up infrastructure will take about a year.
After that, self-sufficiency facilities like factories will be built.
To have all the military facilities, it'll take roughly three years.
Everything will be built together with the residents.
When your own money and sweat go in, that's when you truly cherish a new ho.
/ / /
I returned to the fortress.
For the return trip, I ca via Urke's territory—to check how long it would take on foot.
If enemy forces wanted to pass through Urke's territory to reach the new land, it would take them at least a week, even at best, since they'd have to cross the mountain range.
Knock knock.
"Co in."
The door opened, and Johnny walked in.
His hands were full of docunts.
"rchant guild reports?"
"Yes. Four rchant guild reports and one report from the Urada territory."
"Sum them up for ."
"First, the rchant guild report. Ore trading has begun. The spring fish catch has increased recently. Copper mining started in the south. Two trade vessels are in service. Preparations for the voyage you instructed are complete, so you can depart any ti."
"What about Urada territory?"
Johnny looked at the docunts and reported.
"The first paynt from the Goro rchant guild has arrived. The amount is 20% of the total reward."
"And the other houses?"
"The other two houses said they'll send it by the end of the month. Steward Aldo received letters from them."
"There's more, right?"
"Yes. Lady Urada and her daughter asked if they can co to the fortress. They wish to offer greetings and apologies to Lord Ross, whom they haven't t yet."
"Send a knight order to escort them."
"Understood. Also..."
Johnny rummaged through the docunts.
"There's more?"
"A letter. Steward Aldo sealed it as top secret."
I accepted the small letter Johnny handed . The seal was unbroken; it had been sent by express carriage mail.
I opened and read it. It was indeed of the highest confidentiality.
It was not sothing anyone should ever find out about.
〈We have found transparent gems. The raw stones are large and nurous, which is truly astonishing. The miners will be hired directly under our house, and I'd like to negotiate with the Lansen rchant guild, where I forrly worked, about future processing and sales.〉
After Aldo beca Urada territory's steward, his first order was to find a diamond lode.
He was the one who said to dig beneath the face-shaped rock at Mount Ote in the territory's southwest.
He said, if you reach the lava layer and find peridot, you're on the right track.
Mount Ote is a volcano. When the lava erupted, stones ford deep underground were pushed up.
Thanks to this, many gem-containing rocks can be found there.
Negotiating with Lansen rchant guild is right. Aldo used to work there—it's a luxury and gem specialty rchant guild.
Since they have good relations with Count Mals, they're not likely to stab us in the back.
Johnny glanced out the window.
"They must have just arrived."
"The families of the mages?"
"Yes."
Johnny and I looked out the window.
Several carriages were lined up at the castle gate.
Won, elders, and children got off the carriages and embraced the mages.
We watched for a mont.
Everything is unfolding smoothly. The business may be slow right now, but once it finds its rhythm, it'll grow bigger and bigger.
Urada territory will gradually return to normal, and the new territory can be built slowly, without haste.
The developnt in the south will advance at about the sa speed as the mining, and I can set out on a voyage when there's a reason to go in person.
Now, war won't break out easily. In the central region, there are no longer any houses under the orders of the Syren family.
If I'm not here and soone attacks, everyone just needs to evacuate.
From now on, Urke's forces will replace ours, and the central rchant guilds that trade with us won't be able to ignore us, either.
The Hader house has beco completely different from before.
The grand duke has seen our power and military strength for himself.
In fact, the grand duke didn't go so far as to make a reckless move, but if he attacks us again, then it truly would be rash.
Not only that—it would invite his own destruction.
The grand duke definitely knows.
Now is not the ti to strike at us, but to build up his house's power.
If he wants to crush us, he'll need at least enough power to defeat myself and the Berserkers.
Even so, if he dares attack us—
I'll head to the capital again, wage war with the imperial army if I must, and make sure to kill the grand duke.
/ / /
"How about it, young master? Isn't it magnificent?"
"It's nice."
Goose and I watched the sea together.
Not far away, a pitch-black ship exuded an imposing presence.
It was a refitted pirate ship.
The whole vessel had been painted black, and it had 12 gunports. Each port was fitted with ship cannons.
Gunpowder ingredients are common, so any house can make cannons.
But we were the first to make explosive shells. Even the Robe Republic doesn't have them.
The original shells were just iron lumps, or had fuses that were lit before firing.
Even if the shell hit the ground, you'd have to wait for the fuse to burn down before it exploded.
In contrast, our newly developed shells are still fired by gunpowder, but they only explode when the warhead receives physical impact.
People here find the concept difficult, but the chanism is simple.
When a blow hits the shell's fuse detonator, a spark sets off the main charge, causing an explosion.
Wundbark and Urald both researched and made this after hearing my explanations and seeing my designs.
Firearms still aren't as effective as bows, so we haven't made those yet.
Instead, we equipped the crew with handheld swivel guns they can fire.
Sa principle as the cannons, but they fire shot.
These swivel guns are formidable as well.
The gunports grant the ship an imposing front, and the ram attached to the bow is downright fearso.
To anyone, it's obviously not just a regular ship—it's a man-of-war.
"Did you test the ram?"
"Of course. Once it hits, nearly any ship is pierced through. That's not all. If we close in and fire the guns, the enemy sinks in no ti."
I nodded.
"From now on, fit a few cannons on rchant escort ships, too. Ten will be sent to the east gate as well."
"Won't the imperial army headquarters crack down on these unofficial weapons?"
"Provincial troops at the border are allowed to make their own weapons for defensive use. There's no problem."
"So, when are you sailing?"
"I'll depart in about a month. If I get a ssage from the advance party that went to Beltern, I'll leave right away."
"This ti, you better bring back so presents from the Beltern rchants. If you co ho empty-handed again, like last ti, that'll be a problem."
"This ti, it'll be different."
"I'll look forward to it then. Hahaha."
For the next voyage, there's much to do.
Collecting various materials. Trade negotiations.
Tracking the emperor's hidden son.
Visiting the Dran ancestral village.
And hunting a Guardian.
I plan to go to Ta-iki and then to central Beltern, but depending on the situation, things could change.
I might even visit the continent of Yan in the southern hemisphere while I'm at it.
The construction of the new territory and managent of the rchant guild will be handled well by the experts.
My main field in the rchant guild is resource scouting and pioneering trade, so I'll be working too.
The issue is a possible attack from the Syren family.
But I already have counterasures in place, so I'm not overly concerned.
Invading one house is one thing, but attacking the empire's eastern army is on another level.
So, if they challenge Urke's forces, that ans they're declaring war.
While I was thinking, I saw the ship's sailors waving at us. It turned out to be those pirates.
"Ah, how are the pirates doing?"
"Pirates? They're proper sailors now. They're counting the days until they can return to Fairy Island."
"True, they'll need to bring their families over."
"Well, shall we go to headquarters then? There are new employees waiting for introductions—"
"Young master!"
Johnny ca running from a distance, panting.
I had co to Mouk to et so forr colleagues.
"Young master! There's been an accident!"
Did the Syren family attack again?
Or did sothing happen to the people transporting supplies to the new territory?
"What happened?"
Johnny reached , catching his breath.
"A signal fire went up in the south!"
"Where in the south?"
"I don't know yet!"
As soon as I heard this, I started running.
Johnny and Goose hurriedly followed behind .
As I ran, I saw a pillar of red smoke rising from the edge of the eastern mountain range, to the southeast. An ergency distress signal!
"A signal fire! Who was invaded?"
"It's not an invasion!"
"Johnny!"
We dashed straight into the rchant guild building.
Urke, who happened to be in the Mouk city rchant guild building, was just outside, mounting his horse.
"You're just in ti! The ssenger arrived and was just reporting!"
"Why was a signal fire lit?"
"The mountain pass outpost sent a ssage! They saw a rescue flare shot up from a distant mountain!"
"Do you know exactly where?"
"They just said 'a southern mountain'!"
Then Goose spoke.
"If it was on the south side of the range, could it be our rchant guild's miners?"
I understood instantly.
I knew what was going on.
"Johnny! Contact the fortress imdiately and summon Donnie and the Berserkers! Have them bring food and equipnt and follow
at once! Tell Wundbark and Urald, and the Elin siblings, to pack their travel gear and co to Mouk!"
"Got it!"
Johnny dashed off.
I spoke to Goose as well.
"rchant Goose, when the Dran party arrives, take them on the ship and depart. Sail slowly along the southern coast, and pick us up."
"I will! But do you know what's happening?"
Looking at the smoke beyond the range, I said,
"The miners from the copper mine fired a distress flare. The warriors of the Tak tribe attacked them."
"What?!"
Urke and Goose's eyes widened in shock.
After all, the Tak tribe hadn't co close to the eastern mountain range in over a hundred years.
"Are you sure it's the Tak tribe?"
"It must be the northernmost tribe. They must have co a long way and spotted the humans. That tribe holds a grudge against us."
"What sort of grudge?"
There was no ti to explain.
"I need to borrow your horse!"
"Quick, hop on!"
Urke dismounted, and I got on his horse.
"And rchant Goose!"
"Yes?"
"We'll develop a port and base in the south during this chance! We'll go straight to Beltern from there! The ship can depart in a week!"
"I'll make sure it's thoroughly prepared before we go!"
"All right!"
"Wait! Sir Roger!"
Urke called out again.
"Military support is available! If another race invades, the eastern army can be sent out—I'll arrange it."
"Please do!"
I galloped away at high speed.
Southern developnt was postponed until after the Beltern trip, but now we had to do it simultaneously.
Last sumr, our special forces unit went to the south for an expedition exercise.
Back then, we encountered the Tak tribe and ended up fighting for our lives when they surrounded us.
Maybe that tribe ca to the mountain range's vicinity for revenge.
I don't know why they're only coming north now, instead of imdiately retaliating.
Were they waiting for warr weather?
The Tak tribe is vulnerable to cold and usually lives near the equator. Even now, the weather must be very cold for them.
Yet, the fact that they ca up to where humans live ans sothing's going on.
If the Tak tribe keeps attacking humans, it'll beco difficult to develop the southern mines.
There could possibly be open war with the Tak. This must be settled once and for all.
No, that isn't the main thing right now.
We must rescue our miners—no matter what. The very fact that they fired a flare ans there's still hope.
I rode at full speed.
The imposing eastern mountain range lood before .
Let everyone survive, please.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Ohh, finally seeing the beastn... They've been ntioned before, and there was previous encounter, but Roger wasn't directly involved...
Also, kingdom building novels are quite fun once in a while...
【????????(??????)】
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