Wolves of Hader

Chapter 75

We set up camp in the center of the plain.

Except for two Dran, all other members dispersed to survey the terrain.

Urald spoke.

"Relocating the residents comes first, right?"

"Yes. We plan to build houses in a circular formation centered around this hill. First, we'll build homes 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 merchant guild, you can't have much money left."

"We'll borrow the missing funds from the merchant 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 same for our ancestors when they arrived in new lands. As long as we join forces and build one thing at a time, 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 home.

/ / /

I returned to the fortress.

For the return trip, I came 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.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Johnny walked in.

His hands were full of documents.

"Merchant guild reports?"

"Yes. Four merchant guild reports and one report from the Urada territory."

"Sum them up for me."

"First, the merchant 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 time."

"What about Urada territory?"

Johnny looked at the documents and reported.

"The first payment from the Goro merchant 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 come to the fortress. They wish to offer greetings and apologies to Lord Ross, whom they haven't met yet."

"Send a knight order to escort them."

"Understood. Also..."

Johnny rummaged through the documents.

"There's more?"

"A letter. Steward Aldo sealed it as top secret."

I accepted the small letter Johnny handed me. 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 something anyone should ever find out about.

〈We have found transparent gems. The raw stones are large and numerous, which is truly astonishing. The miners will be hired directly under our house, and I'd like to negotiate with the Lansen merchant guild, where I formerly worked, about future processing and sales.〉

After Aldo became 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 formed deep underground were pushed up.

Thanks to this, many gem-containing rocks can be found there.

Negotiating with Lansen merchant guild is right. Aldo used to work there—it's a luxury and gem specialty merchant 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.

Women, elders, and children got off the carriages and embraced the mages.

We watched for a moment.

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 development in the south will advance at about the same 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 someone attacks, everyone just needs to evacuate.

From now on, Urke's forces will replace ours, and the central merchant guilds that trade with us won't be able to ignore us, either.

The Hader house has become 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 time 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 mechanism 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.

Same 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 fearsome.

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 time."

I nodded.

"From now on, fit a few cannons on merchant 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 message from the advance party that went to Beltern, I'll leave right away."

"This time, you better bring back some presents from the Beltern merchants. If you come home empty-handed again, like last time, that'll be a problem."

"This time, 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 management of the merchant guild will be handled well by the experts.

My main field in the merchant 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 countermeasures 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 means 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 came running from a distance, panting.

I had come to Mouk to meet some former colleagues.

"Young master! There's been an accident!"

Did the Syren family attack again?

Or did something happen to the people transporting supplies to the new territory?

"What happened?"

Johnny reached me, 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 me.

As I ran, I saw a pillar of red smoke rising from the edge of the eastern mountain range, to the southeast. An emergency distress signal!

"A signal fire! Who was invaded?"

"It's not an invasion!"

"Johnny!"

We dashed straight into the merchant guild building.

Urke, who happened to be in the Mouk city merchant guild building, was just outside, mounting his horse.

"You're just in time! The messenger arrived and was just reporting!"

"Why was a signal fire lit?"

"The mountain pass outpost sent a message! 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 merchant guild's miners?"

I understood instantly.

I knew what was going on.

"Johnny! Contact the fortress immediately and summon Donnie and the Berserkers! Have them bring food and equipment and follow me at once! Tell Wundbark and Urald, and the Elin siblings, to pack their travel gear and come to Mouk!"

"Got it!"

Johnny dashed off.

I spoke to Goose as well.

"Merchant 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 come 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 come a long way and spotted the humans. That tribe holds a grudge against us."

"What sort of grudge?"

There was no time to explain.

"I need to borrow your horse!"

"Quick, hop on!"

Urke dismounted, and I got on his horse.

"And Merchant 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 development was postponed until after the Beltern trip, but now we had to do it simultaneously.

Last summer, 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 came to the mountain range's vicinity for revenge.

I don't know why they're only coming north now, instead of immediately retaliating.

Were they waiting for warmer 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 came up to where humans live means something's going on.

If the Tak tribe keeps attacking humans, it'll become 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 means there's still hope.

I rode at full speed.

The imposing eastern mountain range loomed before me.

Let everyone survive, please.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Ohh, finally seeing the beastmen... They've been mentioned before, and there was previous encounter, but Roger wasn't directly involved...

Also, kingdom building novels are quite fun once in a while...

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】