Chapter 117. To the East (2)

[So….]

A voice, mixed with a little noise, came through the crystal sphere.

[You're saying you'll subjugate the orcs and reopen the land trade route with the dwarves that has been cut off. And while you're at it, you'll show the resurrected Vampire Duke who's boss so he doesn't try any funny business.]

“That is correct.”

[Hmm…….]

The crackling noise momentarily intensified.

It was due to the Archduke’s sigh.

Crystal sphere communication had many similarities to Earth’s communication in various ways.

The sensitivity to the wind from sighing, like now, was one of them.

It was similar to how blowing on the microphone of a flip phone I used to carry as a child would make a crackling sound.

After a long silence, the crystal sphere once again relayed the voice of the person on the other end, Archduke Gabir Maraz.

[Are you sure you'll be alright? You say it like a joke, but neither of those are matters that can be handled ‘while you’re at it.’]

He wasn't wrong.

A brief summary of the ‘Eastern Expedition’ I told the Archduke is as follows.

First. The main objective is to help the dwarves and defeat the orc army besieging the Everlasting Mountains Hold.

However, to do that, a route to the eastern wasteland must be opened.

Therefore, second. I will conquer the territory of the Vampire Archduchy between Wolfskrig and the eastern wasteland.

As it happens, I recently obtained intelligence that the Vampire Duke has been resurrected.

I plan to strike first before he strikes us, to seize the initiative.

“It won’t be easy, but it is necessary. If we leave Zarhill alone, he might harm the Empire as he did three hundred years ago. We cannot let that happen.”

[That is true.]

“And we cannot ignore Balkan, son of Ungol. He is a lord who risked his life and broke through enemy lines to come to my territory to save his citizens.”

The Archduke fell silent again.

What a relief that we were discussing this matter over a call.

If the Archduke were in front of me, I would have had to rack my brain to avoid his ‘blue eyes.’

In the first place, I had no worries about the Vampire Duke, who had become my loyal subject.

And the noble journey of the dwarven royalty, Balkan, who had crossed the wasteland and the vampire’s land….

Well, it’s not like I shed tears of emotion or anything.

‘He’s a character added in World Scenario 4.0, so it would be good to put him in my debt.’

Anyway, the dwarf Balkan is just one of the reasons I decided on the eastern expedition.

Actually, there is another real reason.

The first is that the development plan for my territory includes trade with the dwarves.

And the second is precisely….

‘My uncle’s last words were this. I have left a memento for you. If you ever have the chance to visit the Everlasting Mountains Hold, find the source of the underground water vein and look deep inside the crystal cave.’

…William’s uncle’s last words that he mentioned before.

I think I know what the last words left by his uncle, who was a dwarf, William’s teacher, and the only family he had as an orphan, mean.

Each faction in Warlord Conquest has its own hidden ‘ultimate weapon.’

It's not something you start with from the beginning, but more like a potential that you may or may not be able to develop depending on how things unfold.

A representative example is the ‘improved soul core’ that the vampires obtain through the second Duke, Tribus.

Another example would be the monsters called the ‘Ascended Knights’ of the Theocracy, created by breaking the limits of existing super-human knights.

The dwarves have something similar.

The treasure that William’s uncle left as his last words seems to be the origin of that ‘ultimate weapon.’

It would be nice if I could get my hands on it, but I had given up on it inwardly as it seemed hopeless….

Just then, the Archduke cleared his throat.

[I commend your loyalty and courage.]

“Thank you. I believe it is my duty.”

[I will support you to the best of my ability. I will also speak to His Majesty the Emperor. Speaking of which, I have something in mind….]

Hmm?

There’s no need to go that far.

Of course, I have no intention of refusing a gift that is offered.

Since I didn’t need to manage my expression anyway, I smiled contentedly and waited for the Archduke’s words.

But you can never be sure about things in life.

As the Archduke’s support measures for my territory came out one by one, my mouth opened wider and wider.

Tax benefits.

Complete abolition of tariffs.

Strengthening of the explicit cooperative relationship with the Church Army within the territory.

A long-term supply contract with the Imperial Army for weapons and steel.

Recognition of the secured territory as private land and pioneer support benefits for that territory, subsidies for merchant guilds, and so on.

“……Uh, yes?”

[Well then, I have another meeting, so I must go.]

Even after the Archduke coolly hung up, I stared blankly at the crystal sphere for a while.

Every single one of them would be a great help to my territory.

No, it wasn't just help; it felt like they were openly backing me.

‘Master, did you secretly give a gift to the Emperor behind my back?’

“……”

Although he’s always been frivolous, even Kkumteuli, a so-called Outer God, was surprised.

Seeing him go this far, I wonder if the Emperor and the Archduke are trying to make me the gatekeeper of the south.

Just like the Northern Archduke.

‘This feels ominous somehow.’

When was it that the Northern Archduke rose to his current position?

I remember it was when the Empire was experiencing chaos equivalent to a civil war.

If so, is the situation in the Imperial court that difficult right now?

I don't know.

I don’t need to worry about it right now.

Let's focus on the task at hand.

I put down the crystal sphere and called for William.

“You called, Viscount?”

“Yes, William.”

I told him about the eastern expedition plan.

Similar to what I told the Archduke, but a bit more concise.

And with one more thing added.

“If the expedition is successful, let’s find the legacy your uncle left behind together.”

“Thank you……”

Was it a story he hadn't expected at all?

William’s face became an unreadable expression, smiling while contorting, his eyes reddening.

“Truly, thank you so much….”

I told him.

“First, we must reclaim the territory of the Empire. Double the production of consecrated cannonballs.”

It was time for a land grab.

Well, to be precise, it was a fixed Go-Stop game.

* * *

“Hoo.”

Gunterburk.

The city of merchants, orphans, and vagrants.

In the lord’s castle, which was under renovation, Gabir sank deep into his office chair.

He had been appointed as the acting lord here as the commander-in-chief of the southern army.

Thump-thump-thump!

Thud! Thump!

Construction was in full swing outside the window.

It was the work of filling and repairing the hole that the Princess of Blood had made.

Someone who didn't know might ask this.

Why is the construction being done now, when more than two years have passed since the day the beastmen invaded the city, the day the Princess of Blood blew away the wall of the lord’s castle?

Then Gabir would say this.

That is precisely the reason I am here.

After the death of Count Gunterburk, the territory became a chessboard for influential figures vying for power.

The Count had died without leaving an heir.

To make matters worse, it was a time when the winds of civil war were just beginning to blow.

The powerful figures, who had initially been divided into pro-emperor and anti-emperor factions, soon revealed their true colors and began to fight for their own interests.

Who would have known that the fights that had been taking place in the back alleys as clandestine bloody struggles would lead to a full-blown power struggle, and even to actual street fighting?

The merchants left the city.

The volume of trade rapidly shrank.

Belying its name as a home for vagrants and refugees, Gunterburk had now become a city from which refugees were flowing out.

One of the Empire’s largest trading cities, bordering the Theocracy and the City-State Alliance, was in decline.

To the extent that the collapsed part of the lord’s castle could not be repaired for over two years.

As the Emperor’s representative and the inspector of the border fortresses, Gabir had come to normalize this city under the Emperor’s orders.

‘…Come to think of it, it was Ash who saved this city.’

He had dug a trap in the plaza and lured and killed the beastman warchief, they said.

To be precise, the Princess of Blood had killed him, but even if the variable of her had not appeared, he would have had a plan to defeat him.

The feeling was new.

Just a few years ago, he was a simple mercenary mage, but now he was growing into such a powerful lord.

Gabir still remembered.

The gaze that had looked straight into his blue eyes, which even high nobles and archbishops subtly avoided, without a single flicker of wavering.

The voice full of anger that had declared he would take revenge on the vampires.

In fact, Viscount Ash had acted accordingly.

He had made a brilliant contribution to the recapture of Wolfskrig, and as a lord, he had staunchly defended the border.

Now, he was going beyond defending and trying to expand the territory of the Empire.

At a time when the ominous news of the Ratmen starting their activities again in the Imperial Capital was being heard, it would be a great help if he could solve the two problems of the vampires and the orcs like this.

I must not spare any support.

Gabir, the commander-in-chief of the southern army, had a dream.

It was to make the south just like the north.

To raise lords like the Northern Archduke, who defended the border with great power, but whose loyalty to the Emperor never wavered for generations.

Because that would be the way to help the Empire and His Majesty the Emperor.

Trrrring!

Just then, the crystal sphere rang.

“Yes, Count Maenenwood. How is the new territory? Has trade with Indika recovered a bit?”

It was a call from Count Maenenwood, who had been granted Berenburg as his territory in recognition of his service in striking the rebels from behind during the civil war.

“What? Indika?”

The Archduke shot up from his seat.

Indika had fallen.

* * *

Fwoosh!

A blast of hot air.

Clang! Clang!

The sound of a hammer ringing in the ears.

Bzzzzzz!

And the steam that billowed up explosively as the heated iron was submerged in water.

The forge was hot.

It was so thermodynamically, as the water wheel continuously fanned the bellows, and it was also so in the metaphorical sense of having a lot of work.

Because this forge complex was one of the two busiest places in preparation for the eastern expedition.

I am now out with Merchant Guild Leader Kambad Darwin to inspect production and discuss future plans.

“Guild Leader! This line has been checked!”

A young merchant shouted as he walked quickly from the other side of the forge.

He, who was helping us, was the nephew of Merchant Guild Leader Kambad.

Was his name Tommy?

The reason I remember his name is because he is a talent who is more than just the guild leader’s relative.

‘He’s quite smart. To the point where I can entrust the future of the guild to him.’

To be honest, I was half in doubt until the guild leader spoke as if bragging about his own son.

‘Hey, you’re really smart, aren’t you?’

If even Bart, our territory's self-proclaimed genius administrator who graduated early from the Imperial University at the top of his class, acknowledged him, that says it all.

‘That’s what I should be saying. How did you come up with a formula like this?’

‘Speaking of which, take a look at this too. I’ve researched the change in the critical load depending on the material of the pillar and the distribution of the center of gravity….’

‘Hmm, if this is refined well, it could be used for wagons too. If we can carry more weight at once, the profit margin of the merchant guild will increase by that much.’

Although the subsequent ‘conversation between geniuses’ felt a bit smug.

Perhaps because they were the same age, the two quickly became close.

As the lord, it is a pleasure to see two geniuses form a cooperative relationship.

“Let’s go to the next forge.”

“Yes.”

A week has passed since I returned from the Vampire Archduchy.

It was a busy week.

I bought supplies through the merchants.

I took out nearly half of the stored grain for military provisions.

While increasing the production of cannonballs from double to triple, I also moved the information organization led by old man Brol to take over the black market dealers who had taken root in the territory.

‘Wipe them all out… no, arrest them all! This organization is taking over here now!’

When I leave for the eastern expedition, the position of lord of the territory will be vacant for a while.

There is no reason to leave behind any bothersome elements.

Of course, it is difficult to completely root out smuggling itself.

Therefore, I plan to manage it by keeping it moderately loose through old man Brol’s organization.

[Smuggling Expert]

[Forbidden things are always more tempting. The success rate of smuggling and the quality of contraband for the possessed merchant guild or territory will increase. However, public security will decrease.]

As I had also obtained a related trait before, it could be beneficial if used well.

Anyway, after a busy period of activity, the preparations are finally coming to an end.

The departure is one week from now.

The soldiers have temporarily stopped their training and are familiarizing themselves with the operation and conserving their stamina.

I too will have to rest for a few days, formulate the detailed operation, and conduct personal training.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

“Uh, Viscount. A dwarf has come. But the thing is….”

Old man Brol said, poking his head out.

It seems the dwarven royalty, Balkan, son of Ungol, who had gone out of the city for a while, has returned.

For reference, a week ago, as soon as I announced the eastern expedition, he said he had a place to visit and left the city.

Honestly, I was wondering what he was up to, let alone saying thanks….

“Viscount Ash Wolfskrig.”

Now I see the reason.

“While I was here, I watched you for a long time.”

Thump. Thump.

Heavy metal boots step on the office floor.

“I was able to see your courage, military might, sacrifice, character, leadership, and righteousness.”

Chiiik. Chik-

Steam spouts from the pipes on his back.

“I have no gold coins, mithril weapons, or the king’s seal in my possession right now to repay you, but I wish to give you what I have.”

Balkan, son of Ungol, stood before me.

Even though he was a short dwarf, his eye level matched mine.

This was because the steel exoskeleton increased both his height and bulk.

That's right.

Although it was covered in dust, this was, by anyone's standards, a steel exoskeleton.

And it had a very similar feel to the one in the movie that had once touched the hearts of countless children, including myself.

The front plate of the exoskeleton opened, and the dwarf slowly descended.

Chiiiii-

“It is my treasure, which I brought through the wasteland and the vampire’s land. And it is also a treasure of the Everlasting Mountains Hold.”

The Steam Engine Iron Man Suit.

This is so damn cool.