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Chapter 78: Investigation
In October, Allen turned ten years old. Allen has been working at the mansion for two years now.
Before I came here, I had planned to work as a manservant for a couple of years and then tell the Butler that this job was not for me. I still plan to quit when I’m twelve, but I think I’ve become quite involved with the Granvelle family in the past two years.
I’ll have to say goodbye in two years, but I’m trying to do my job as a manservant every day.
In the morning, I had breakfast while chatting with Rickel, the head manservant. I am now ten years old and Rickel is twenty. When I told him that I had been working here for two years, he said that he had been working here for twelve years. He is a veteran with many years of experience. He is always willing to talk to me and help me out.
Things are slowly changing with Cecile too. Cecile, like me, is now ten years old, and I think her childish selfishness is decreasing. Opportunities to go shopping in town for minor reasons has also decreased. Well, her personality is still the same.
Speaking of other changes, the Butler told me that from today on, the Hunting Guard job of mine will also be paid 1 Gold coin per month. This means that I will now receive 2 Gold coins starting this month, including my 1 Gold coin salary as a manservant.
Today, the Knight Commander is coming back from his investigation of the Mithril mining area. I sincerely hope that he would report in the dining hall instead of the Meeting room. I will also get to know the result of the investigation if he reports in the dining hall.
The Knight Commander was reporting the situation over lunch, I listened closely as I served.
“So, what’s the status of the Mithril mining area?”
The Baron immediately started the main topic with the Knight Commander, who was instructed to investigate the vicinity immediately after learning that the White Dragon had moved into Viscount Carnell’s territory in March.
Apparently, the Baron wants to start mining the Mithril ore immediately. He was also quick to give instructions for the investigation. Since he is poor, I think he wants to start this business as soon as possible.
“Let’s start with the situation on the ground.”
The Commander started the report and the Baron listened with full concentration and looked so eager as if his hips were lifting slightly from the chair he was sitting in.
After all, the last time the mining area was used was over a hundred years ago. It has now become a den of magical beasts. The Baron listened to the Knight Commander with a furrowed brow.
There are several Goblin and Orc nests at the foot of the White Dragon Mountains, and several Armored Ant nests in the White Dragon Mountains.
“And as for transport routes…”
It’s not enough to just eliminate the magical beasts around the mining area. That’s why it took more than half a year to investigate.
A fairly large area is required for the mining, since refineries with smelters and other equipment to process the Mithril ore from the mining areas into Mithril, and roads for transportation are needed as well.
The Knight Commander said that a number of magical beast nests have been discovered on the road connecting the mining area to the site that was used for processing in the past, and also on the road used to transport Mithril from that processing area to the city of Grandver.
“So how long will it take to clean up all the magical beasts and start mining Mithril?”
The Baron asked what he wanted to hear most. When can we start mining?
“It may take at least five years. We also need to recruit miners and workers for the blast furnaces to process the ore.”
At least five years. If you include the reclamation of the mines and nests, it might take close to ten years, the Knight Commander explained. The Butler agreed that it would certainly take that long.
“No, I can’t wait five years. Isn’t there a way to make it faster? For example, we could start mining one at a time, starting with the one closest to Grandver?”
In the Baron’s opinion, there are four mining sites. There is no need to start mining Mithril in all of them at the same time.
The White Dragon Mountains run from north to south. The northernmost mining area is roughly at the same latitude as the city of Grandver. Therefore, he wants to proceed with the development of the mining areas in order from the north, closest to the city towards the south.
“Sure, but it might still take three years.”
“Well, three years? As soon as possible, please.”
The Baron looked up to the heavens and closed his eyes and wondered if it would really take three years. He really wants to start mining as soon as possible.
“Ha!”
(So we’ll attack from the north.)
I was serving and listening to the conversation. At this time, I was listening as I watched the mining area of the mountain range from above. I was flying over the mountain range, or to be more precise Eagle was flying over the mountain range.
I located the northernmost mining area in the White Dragon Mountains with the help of Eagle. He turns and starts looking for Goblin nests, Orc nests, and Armored Ant nests.
As I was using the <Sharing> to confirm, the Butler said, “Then we will begin recruiting personnel to work in the mining area and other areas.”
“And, what’s the situation in Viscount Carnel’s territory?”
Now that the Baron has some idea of what he’s talking about regarding Mithril mining, he asks the next question.
“Ha! The White Dragon reached the mining site, but workers were forced to mine, which incurred the White Dragon’s wrath.”
(Oh. It seems the Dragon has some kind of superior scouting skill than the [Eagle Eye]. I’m glad I didn’t go see the White Dragon.)
I haven’t seen a White Dragon yet. I could see one if I used <Sharing> with Eagle or Hollow, but I haven’t done so.
I did so because I judged it to be quite dangerous, considering [Eagle Eye]’s weaknesses and what White Dragon might do.
The [Eagle Eye] cannot see beyond obstacles, but its range extends over a radius of several kilometers.
Why does the White Dragon allow mining on the backside of the mountain range? From the White Dragon, the backside of the mountain range is closer than the most distant mining area on the front side of the mountain range.
The mining area is farther away from the White Dragon but cannot be mined, while the mine in the back of the mountain range is closer to the White dragon but can be mined.
I predict that this is because the White Dragon’s scouting skill is similar to [Eagle Eye], and it is unable to detect anything blocked by obstacles. That obstacle in this case is the mountain range. However, its range probably extends over tens of kilometers, far beyond that of the [Eagle Eye].
If the Eagle enters the White Dragon’s search range and the White Dragon reacts and returns to the Baron’s side, we will be in trouble. I can’t take such a risk just to see it.
“Hmm, so he forced workers to mine?”
The Baron listened with a difficult face.
“Yes.”
“Lord Carnell has been ignoring orders, saying he can’t handle anything new because of the Mithril mining.”
He is said to have flirted with some of Mithril’s profits and continued to ignore the Royal Orders. It sounds like he was also doing some pretty nasty things with his money.
(As expected of neighbors, they know quite a lot about each other.)
“Viscount Carnell can no longer mine any Mithril.”
“Well, he definitely has reserves this year, but I wouldn’t be so sure about next year and beyond. He may do something crazy. Don’t neglect to keep watch on them.”
“Yes, my Lord.
The Viscount’s territory will be able to get by this year or so by paying its reserves to the Royal Family. However, from next year onward, I expect that they will also be unable to pay taxes to the Royal Family. We don’t know what he will do in the future, so the Baron instructed the Butler to always check on the situation of the Viscount’s territory.
“Also, as you know, I have no plans to meet with Lord Carnell. It’s no use talking to him.”
“Then so be it.”
The Butler bowed and replied to the Baron’s words that he would refuse any request for a visit by Viscount.
Apparently, that is the end of the report.
From now on, the Knights will defeat the magical beasts in order starting from the north of the White Dragon Mountains.
The Butler will be recruiting new miners and confirming Viscount Carnell’s situation.
(From the north, then. I’ll take down the magical beasts from the north as well.)
My schedule has been set. There are a limited number of Goblin nests, Orc nests, and Armored Ant nests. Even though the number is limited, the total number of nests is going to exceed 100.
(That’s my job for the next two years.)
In two years, I will become an adventurer and leave the mansion. Before that, I will least try to clean up the magical beasts to thank the Baron’s family for their kindness. Especially if the Baron wants to start mining Mithril as soon as possible.
I now have a goal and that is to clear out all the Goblin nests, Orc nests, and Armored Ant nests that are in the way of Mithril mining.
(Let’s start with the weakest Goblin Nest first.)
And I can’t let the Knights take away my experience. Thus Allen decided to defeat the magical beasts from the north.