46 – Counterattack
＜Chapter 46 – Counterattack＞
“From now on, it’s a war between us and the Sylvania upper class. We will dominate the frontier market.”
“Understood, my lord.”
Russell’s face lit up with excitement as he responded.
It seemed that he had been frustrated by the inability to expand the upper class until now.
“So, do you have any plans in mind?”
“Of course!”
Without any hesitation, Russell began his explanation.
1) Operate the upper class independently, without following the farming schedule.
2) Purchase grains from the continent and sell them in the islands.
3) Expand the range of handled goods.
“The current trade items of the upper class are limited.”
Grains, livestock, and monster by-products.
These three are the main products, and the rest are purchased only in the necessary quantities.
“What goods should we expand into?”
“First, weapons and armor.”
The moment I heard those two things, laughter escaped.
A smile also appeared on Russell’s lips as our eyes met.
It was because the items he mentioned were the main trade goods of Sylnea.
Grains, along with monster by-products.
“Are you ready to stick together properly?”
“Leave it to me.”
After the conversation,
Five seconds of silence passed.
“Anything else to say?”
“My Lord, while traveling with my daughter, I would like to teach her.”
When Russell was purchased,
his daughter, Sara, was with him in the iron bars.
The image of her desperately clinging to the bars, begging for her mother to be saved, came to mind.
“Is Sara doing well?”
“Thanks to you, my Lord, she is healthy.”
“That’s good. Sara isn’t even a slave; there’s no need to ask for permission.”
“Uh… there’s one more thing. You need to decide on a top name.”
Top name.
Until now, a name wasn’t necessary.
It felt like a transportation department under a large farm.
“How about Ireland?”
“Ireland… What do you mean?”
Russell hesitated, showing a negative reaction.
This was the expected response.
The name Ireland carried a negative image.
Monster Island.
Backward living in Ireland.
Etc.
“Why so uncertain?”
“Not at all. I just wonder if it’s worth the effort.”
“No, think about it. What if Ireland develops later? Then the name ‘Ireland’ will have a positive effect. So, it’s about securing the name in advance.”
In the past, before I was born, Korean products were evaluated as low quality.
But now?
I don’t think Korean products are of poor quality. Rather, when it’s Korean-made, it’s perceived to guarantee a certain level of quality.
Ireland is similar in this respect.
If Ireland grows, the name would actually be helpful.
A few days later,
At the entrance of the Alp Village, the Ireland Summit gathered.
“Lord, we will leave only the personnel needed for the construction, and the rest will depart for the upper stream.”
“The escort?”
“I asked Hans Kyeong, and we received support from some slave soldiers.”
“From now on, when buying slaves, pick separate top-tier slaves. We need to properly expand the scale.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
From Noble mtl dot com
Russell greeted and joined the summit.
A while later, the Ireland Summit set off towards the southeast, towards the Frost River.
“To defeat the Silnia Summit, the quality must be good or the price must be low.”
There is inertia in human behavior.
If the quality is the same at the same price, there is no need to change the purchase location.
They use familiar places.
Currently, the situation between the Silnia Summit and the Ireland Summit is like this.
We must have something superior to the Silnia Summit.
“First, the grain is overwhelmingly advantageous. If there is a problem, it’s the quantity…”
I have three large farms.
East, Frost River.
Terra.
Alp.
In the remaining forward base, there are also farms, but they are not extensive.
To a level sufficient to meet internal demands.
‘Still, time will resolve the grain market.’
Even if we dominate the grain market, the weapons and armor market remains.
‘Is the rest about price competition?’
Whether it’s the top of Silnia or the top of Ireland, it’s about selling goods imported from the continent.
It’s difficult to compete based on quality.
‘There may be mutual damage, but… we can win.’
For Silnia, trade income is everything.
On the other hand, for Ireland, it’s different.
Because they can support the income of large farms.
‘In the end, the conclusion is agriculture.’
By expanding the farms and increasing income, they can also win against Silnia.
‘As money accumulates, we’ll turn the other two forward bases into villages.’
The statement about turning them into villages means constructing large farms there.
In other words, the total income increases.
The task became clear.
After bidding farewell to the Ireland top, he turned back to the cultivated land.
“Now, there’s not much left. It should be over in a few days.”
Kneeling on the ground,
Upon using the skill,
[MISSION]
Eliminate the threat to the farm (completed)
HINT) Eliminate monsters near the farm
[SYSTEM]
Mission accomplished.
You are rewarded with 1 skill point.
‘Finally completed?’
While expanding the forward base, I entrusted the mercenaries’ guild with a request.
To subjugate the nearby area along with protecting the forward base.
It seems the system judged that the threat to the farm has been eliminated.
‘Now, for the next skill…’
Upon completing the mission,
I had already chosen which skill to learn.
Now, it’s time to acquire that skill…
‘What’s this?’
When I first learned the Land Recovery skill,
such a notification appeared.
[Upon acquiring the Land Recovery skill, the Farmer profession will be automatically selected.
Upon reaching a certain level, you can obtain additional professions.]
However, if you choose a lifestyle, you cannot learn combat skills.]
I had remembered this important information up until now.
“Can I learn other job skills?”
Until now, all skills were locked except for farming.
But now, except for combat skills, everything has been unlocked.
For now, I decided to hold off on choosing skills.
“Should I look into skills related to blacksmithing and trading?”
There are two options right now.
One is to focus on farming skills.
Due to the nature of Monster Island, farming efficiency was good.
The other option is to learn skills from other jobs.
I was particularly interested in blacksmithing and trading skills.
While I was looking at the skills,
[System]
Analyzing the situation and presenting appropriate missions.
“Huh?”
[Mission]
Acquire blacksmithing skills and own a forge (in progress)
“What did you say!?”
The system had been like this from the beginning.
He presents missions by analyzing the situation according to his own judgment.
Except for the tutorial,
Even the first mission, which could be called “Farming on the Island,” was like this.
“After that, he presented helpful missions… and now suddenly a blacksmith.”
Since it has come to this, he has no choice but to acquire the blacksmith skill.
Because he can only obtain skill points by completing missions.
“I have no choice.”
The blacksmith read through the skills one by one.
And the skill he chose was.
Owner of the Workshop (Lv 1)
Increases the quality of the workshop’s products.
There were also many crafting-related skills.
But at this point, it is not efficient to make things directly.
It was better to manage from above and delegate the work to the slaves.
[Mission]
Acquire the blacksmith skill and own a forge (completed)
[System]
The mission has been completed.
You will receive 1 skill point.
Now that he has acquired the skill, the mission is complete.
For the purpose of repairing the mercenaries’ weapons, a blacksmith shop had been established.
“Huh?! This… is free?”
[System]
Analyzing the situation, presenting a suitable mission.
[Mission]
Owner of the mine (in progress)
‘Owner of the mine? Why did it give me such a mission?’
Although the system is somewhat coercive, it doesn’t seem too unusual.
It made me learn land restoration skills while telling me to cultivate.
Other missions were somewhat sensible as well.
‘There’s no mine on Monster Island?’
‘Is it telling me to venture into the continent?’
‘Or is it about finding a mine on Monster Island?’
Whatever it is, it’s not an easy mission.
Mines are essential assets.
Not only are they expensive, but there probably won’t be any lords willing to sell them in the first place.
Just having a mine in your territory allows you to make a living for generations.
Yet, finding one is even more challenging.
There are no mines in the areas where humans live.
If there were, they would have been developed by now.
‘So, we have to go to the Monster Zone.’
Fight monsters and find the mine?
“Well… gave it easily once, planning to make it difficult the next time?”
Skill points were saved for now, as I was contemplating how to carry out this mission.
.
.
After a few days,
cleared all the magi from the farm,
and summoned Isaac.
“Take charge of building the village. The main framework is done. The rest won’t be difficult.”
“Where are you going?”
“I have to visit the Vampires’ Duchy.”
“Understood. Don’t worry.”
Leaving the rest to Isaac,
I set out towards the Vampires’ Duchy.
‘No matter how I think about it, it’s hard to bring the existing mine. I guess I have to find a new one…’
Where would the most information about Monster Island be?
The answer was clear.
‘Vampires’ Duchy.’
300 years ago, after humanity set foot on Monster Island, they became its de facto rulers.
There might be information related to the mine in that place.
“It’s inconvenient to go searching for my ex-fiancée like this, but I have no choice.”
**
**
Vampires’ Duchy.
Room of Alencia Vampires.
“Marie.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“If a man promises to fulfill a request for a woman, what does it mean?”
It starts again.
After urgently meeting Lord Elwin Soyoung, she repeated that question several times.
At first, she claimed not to know, but this time is different.
She asked a close maid.
“Could it be a liking?”
Alencia’s eyes coldly sank.
“Liking?”
“Or… love?”
“Love!?”
Alencia stood up from her chair and walked to the window.
Fist clenched, he gazed out of the window.
People rushed by.
‘Affection? Love?’
Elwin had promised Freya that he would listen to any request she had.
The moment she heard those words, it felt like her heart sank.
So, she reacted immediately.
She grabbed Elwin’s wrist and turned him towards her.
‘To say such things to any woman.’
Outside the window, a familiar carriage appeared.
‘Is that Elwin’s?’
“Marie.”
“Yes, madam.”
“Bring Elwin here right away.”
“What? That’s a bit…”
“Elwin is here. Bring him.”
“Oh! Yes! Understood.”
