“The mercenaries will certainly be delighted. They had comfortable work escorting Merchant Caravans, and now they have been reduced to guarding a mine.”
I gave a faint laugh at Hakon’s words as he walked ahead of me through the dark mine. I was beginning to enjoy the way he spoke sarcastically about everything.
“What do you intend to do if the mercenaries object? I heard there are about twenty of them. That is too many to simply ignore.”
“They might. But what can they do if they object? Without me, every last one of them will be left without any work.”
We were talking about the mercenaries who would soon arrive in the territory.
During my meeting with Yakov, I had countered his complaints by offering to hire all the mercenaries who had lost their work, and the Mercenary Guild had accepted the proposal.
Of course, the mercenaries were the desperate party, so what work I assigned them was entirely up to me.
Unfortunately for them, I intended to have them guard the mine through which we were currently walking.
“Think about it. How much work could there possibly be for mercenaries in a remote backwater like this? Even Stefan and the others who became our soldiers were sitting around without work when we first visited the Guild. They may dislike guarding a mine, but they will have no choice except to cling to the job.”
“So you calculated that they will not object regardless of what you order them to do. Well, I suppose that is the fate of men who earn their living by the sword.”
Precisely.
Standing guard in the same place all day would be tedious, and the wages would be poor compared to a Caravan Escort, but the mercenaries had little choice but to accept it.
“I never guarded a mine during my mercenary days, but I know that guard duty is not as easy as it sounds. Standing in the same place continuously can become surprisingly painful.”
I continued following him.
The mine where I had previously discovered the iron Ore Vein and Ancient Dragon Stone was as dark as ever, but things were considerably easier now that I had the Minimap to guide us.
Using it as our guide, I directed Hakon through the tunnels as we continued deeper inside.
“More importantly, where are you going to obtain the Miners? The new residents know little besides logging and hunting. It would be unreasonable to put them to work in a mine.”
“I will hire Northerners. I have already sent word through a merchant who trades with them. Before long, we should be able to negotiate through him as an intermediary.”
I answered while recalling the letter I had sent several days earlier.
The Northerners were peoples who lived throughout the northern tundra and polar regions. They had traded with Zilvergard for generations.
“The north is barren. Aside from furs and ores, they possess almost no resources worth trading. So instead of trade goods, they send their people out as labor.”
“That matches what I know. They are renowned as excellent warriors, so many of them become mercenaries… Then you intend to pay their wages using the profits from developing the iron mine?”
“Something like that. We could also pay them in goods rather than money.”
The lands of the Northerners were so barren that they depended heavily upon supplies obtained through trade.
Therefore, they were unlikely to complain even if we paid them in food and daily necessities instead of silver coins.
“I see. More importantly, where is this thing you said you wanted to show me? I doubt what I can see here is everything.”
Hakon glanced at the walls glittering in the torchlight.
We had already entered the area where the Ore Veins were concentrated.
“Am I wrong? The veins are rich, but you could simply have told me about something like this. I assume there is something here that would be difficult to explain unless I saw it with my own eyes.”
“Do not rush me. You will see it soon enough. Come on. There is only one path, so we will not lose our way.”
We continued onward.
Before long, we reached the lower Mine Tunnel where the Ancient Dragon Stone had been found.
“Good heavens… Are all of these Ancient Dragon Stone?”
Hakon’s eyes widened in shock at the sight of Ancient Dragon Stone crystals protruding across the walls.
It was exceedingly rare to see him react so strongly.
“I was told that a crystal about the size of a fist is worth four or five hundred Ducats.”
“Four or five hundred… I had heard Ancient Dragon Stone was extraordinarily valuable, but even that is beyond what I expected. Is it truly worth that much?”
I picked up one of the crystals lying on the ground as I spoke, making Hakon’s eyes widen even further.
Four hundred Ducats was enough to purchase an entire small building. The crystal was therefore as valuable as a rare jewel.
“Renitz said so, so it is probably accurate. He is not only a skilled Blacksmith but also seems to keep himself well informed about affairs outside his Smithy.”
“I see. In that case… we are rich.”
Expectation filled Hakon’s quiet voice.
That was only natural when he was staring at what was essentially a cavern overflowing with treasure.
“However, we will need to devise a way to sell it. If we release this much Ancient Dragon Stone onto the market at once, we will attract attention from all over. Nothing good will come of that.”
“Of course. Do not worry. I have already considered a method.”
I answered Hakon after he regained his composure.
I had already devised a way to secretly sell the Ancient Dragon Stone without attracting public attention.
Whether I could actually carry it out was another question, but for now, it seemed the most reliable method available.
“I see. If we secure a safe route through which to sell it, there should be no problem. Furthermore, once the income from the mine itself is added….”
“We become rich, just as you said. The territory will develop much faster as well.”
Having money meant being able to begin all manner of projects.
Those projects would draw people searching for employment, and a larger population would directly increase the territory’s strength.
If the development of this mine and the sale of the Ancient Dragon Stone proceeded properly, Bricks’s growth could accelerate enormously.
“However, there is one problem. That is why I brought you here.”
“What is it? Do not tell me….”
Hakon’s expression rapidly hardened.
As expected, he immediately understood what I meant.
“At present, my brothers are embroiled in a struggle over the position of Head of the Family. They will not have the luxury of paying much attention to Bricks. Even if they hear that this territory is developing and that my strength is increasing, they probably will not act immediately. At the very least, they will not actively interfere with me.”
“……”
“But the situation changes if you reveal the existence of the Ancient Dragon Stone. The wealth that could be obtained by selling this much would be sufficient to alter the balance among the factions. My brothers would reach out to seize it for themselves.”
In other words, as long as Hakon, Oskar’s agent, kept his mouth shut, I could conceal the existence of the Ancient Dragon Stone, sell it discreetly, and steadily increase my strength.
That was why I had brought him here.
I intended to win him over.
“Therefore, I have a proposal. Remain silent about the existence of this Ancient Dragon Stone. In return, I will give you a share of the profits earned from developing the mine. Since circumstances prevent me from granting you a Fief for now, you may consider it your Stipend.”
Hakon merely blinked, his eyes wavering with conflict.
I continued speaking.
“I am not asking you to betray Brother Oskar and join my side immediately. You must have your own thoughts on the matter, so I will not force you to make such a decision now. I am only asking you to forget your assignment for a little while. It would hardly constitute a grave act of disloyalty, would it?”
The argument was almost sophistry.
Nevertheless, it appeared sufficient to shake Hakon.
[Hakon]
[He appears conflicted. A multitude of emotions cross his wavering eyes. He seems to be contemplating many different matters.]
I could roughly imagine what was going through his mind.
He must have remembered my previous attempt to win him over. He was dissatisfied with serving Oskar, yet at the same time, defying the man currently ranked first within the family hierarchy undoubtedly made him uneasy.
“What if I refuse your proposal?”
“Then I will have to choose another method.”
I answered without hesitation.
Hakon’s expression hardened even further.
“You know as well as I do that the situation is different from when we first arrived in this territory. I now possess any number of ways to place restrictions upon you.”
It was not an empty threat.
If Hakon refused, I would have no choice but to make him an offer he could not refuse.
This matter concerned not only the territory’s development but also my own safety.
Perhaps he recognized how serious I was, because Hakon soon answered with a bitter expression.
“It does not appear that I have much of a choice. Very well. I will not reveal the existence of this Ancient Dragon Stone in any manner. Naturally, I will also omit all mention of it from the reports I send to the Main Estate.”
“May I consider that an oath made as a knight?”
Hakon frowned at the word “oath,” but I ignored his reaction and continued staring at him.
“I need at least that much before I can feel secure. You understand how important this is to me.”
“…Understood. I swear upon my honor as a knight that I will not break the promise I just made.”
“Good. Then I will consider there to be no problem between us. Here, take this.”
I bent down, picked up a crystal of Ancient Dragon Stone, and tossed it toward Hakon.
“This is the first Stipend I grant you as your lord. Ordinarily, I should grant you land, but circumstances do not permit it for now. Make do with this instead.”
“Granting me a Stipend at a moment like this… It feels more like a token sealing our transaction.”
“Is feudalism not essentially a mutual exchange?”
I answered lightly while looking at his face, where traces of conflict still remained.
For the time being, the agreement had been concluded.
Preparations to open the mine proceeded smoothly.
Mining equipment and pack animals such as Mules for transporting goods arrived one after another, followed by the mercenaries from Zilvergard.
-You want us to do nothing but guard a mine?
-And this is all the pay? It is barely half what we used to earn!
-We had proper work before! I cannot accept this!
As expected, complaints erupted immediately.
However, I responded firmly.
The only answer I gave them was that they were free to quit and return home if they wished.
Their reaction was exactly as expected.
They continued grumbling, but not one of them turned around and left.
In the end, they needed money.
There was nothing they could do.
Now, the preparations would be complete once the workers sent by the Northerners arrived.
“Mills, not yet. Even if we mass-produce this, we do not have any particular use for it right now.”
It was midday outside the Smithy.
I attempted to calm the excited Mills as I discouraged him.
On the workbench between us sat a box packed with Gunpowder and fitted with a Fuse.
In other words, it was a Bomb.
Once the Fuse was lit, the flame would eventually reach the Gunpowder inside the box and cause an enormously powerful explosion.
“The power of the Bomb you created is certainly impressive. We all tested it together last time, did we not?”
“Yes! It was powerful enough to blast apart an enormous rock face! That means it should be more than sufficient for excavating Mine Tunnels!”
“But I do not believe we need it at present. Setting aside the safety concerns, we are mining a place where the tunnels have already been excavated. There will be little reason to use this inside the mine.”
I explained while attempting to calm Mills’s excitement.
As he had said, the Bomb was powerful enough to demolish a large rock face.
However, it was difficult to find any immediate use for it.
That did not mean I intended to neglect his research or inventions.
“We will eventually find a use for it, so continue your research. I will provide whatever materials you require, including ingredients for Gunpowder.”
“U-Understood, my lord!”
“Furthermore, if I obtain any information or records concerning Dwarven Technology, I will give them to you. Did you not create the Hand Cannon by applying Dwarven Technology? Such records will surely prove useful.”
“Of course! If you obtain anything relating to Dwarven Technology, please show it to me! It will undoubtedly be of great assistance!”
Mills’s expression brightened.
I intended to begin searching for information concerning Dwarven Technology from now on.
During that process, I might obtain materials capable of inspiring Mills as well.
After settling him down, I turned around.
Hakon had already approached and delivered a report.
“My lord, the Northerners have crossed the Ferry Landing and arrived in our territory.”
“Really? Did the correct number arrive?”
“Yes. Their Chieftain appears to have kept his promise.”
It seemed the merchants had been correct when they described the Chieftain as trustworthy.
That was a relief.
“Guide them all to the mine. Tell the mercenaries not to mistreat the Miners.”
“I have already told them. I warned them that anyone who harasses or abuses the Miners will be punished immediately in your name.”
“Good. Well done.”
The first thing a developing territory required was neither money nor connections.
It was manpower.
Therefore, we needed to maintain friendly relations with the Northerners who would provide us with that manpower.
“And there is one more visitor….”
Hakon trailed off.
I had a good idea who it was.
I had been expecting him to arrive soon.
“Did you summon him personally?”
“Yes. There is something I need to discuss with him. I already ordered that he be brought here.”
A short while later, a carriage accompanied by guards appeared beyond the manor in the distance.
Someone soon stepped down and approached us.
“Ha ha ha! It has been some time. I trust you have been well, my lord.”
“Of course. I have been quite well. You seem to be doing well yourself.”
I answered cheerfully as Yakov, the Mayor of Zilvergard, bowed and greeted me.