227: Chapter 134, Closing the Net_1 227: Chapter 134, Closing the Net_1 After conducting a site inspection, amateur Hudson was still unable to determine the coal mine’s reserves.

He could only rely on the wildly gesturing Belsden for reference.

According to the mined products, it was primarily peat, with a portion of brown coal.

These were common accompanying ores in swamp areas, nothing miraculous.

Steel smelting was no longer an expectation, but their use as fuel was not bad.

Producing inferior iron was also feasible.

One only knows the importance of knowledge when they need it the most.

When it comes to coal washing, Hudson had only heard of it, but had no clue on how to implement it.

Do you wash the coal by placing it in water?

That’s kind of…*

Whatever, let’s just get someone to test it out.

As for coking, let’s not even go into that.

He was basically clueless there.

Rather than researching the technology, it’s better to just buy a set of magic smelting equipment from the Mage’s Association.

It’s said that using such equipment, he could produce top-quality steel no matter what type of fuel he used.

Cost…

That’s a tricky issue.

If it were cheaper, the price of iron items would have plummeted, and Hudson wouldn’t have been able to make a fortune.

That said, finding a coal mine was still a good thing.

The main use of peat was in agriculture; it could be considered an enhanced version of the “Swamp Brand Fertilizer”.

It had many other uses, but Hudson currently didn’t have the resources to exploit them.

Producing construction materials, well drilling stabilizers and diluents, ceramic industry raw material adjusters…

all those were beyond the current technological level of the Mountain Domain.

Brown coal was of insufficient carbonization for smelting iron, but it could replace charcoal in that role.

The constraining factor on the iron production capacity of Mountain Domain was actually its insufficient charcoal supply.

Despite having a lot of wood, they couldn’t afford to squander it every day.

Having mineable brown coal onsite could not only expand their production capacity, but also further reduce the cost of smelting.

Hudson was deep in thought, laying out plans, when a bear’s paw appeared in his line of sight, swaying back and forth.

“Belsden, what the hell are you doing?

Can’t you see I’m thinking?

Be a quality bear.”,

Before he was finished speaking, he received a disdainful look from the bear.

“Enough is enough, who doesn’t know who here!

Had it not been for my reminder, someone’s drool would have already started to flow.”

“Doing this in front of so many slaves, you aren’t embarrassed, but I am!

Enough talk.

Let me make it clear that discovering this coal mine is also thanks to my hard work.

Had it not been for me…”

Looking disdainfully at the younger bear, Hudson declared cleanly:

“Alright, you’ll get your due.

Half the coal mine’s profits will be given to you.

That should be enough, right?

Belsden, when will your petty mentality change?

Don’t forget that you aren’t a destitute bear anymore.

Now, you own thousands of cattle and sheep, and your land is going to cross over ten thousand acres.

You should learn to be magnanimous.

Don’t fuss over every small piece; it would attract ridicule.”

With merely “small rewards,” even a mine owner can’t guarantee a win.

The coal mine’s geographical location made it hard to profit from.

Within hundreds of miles, Hudson was the only buyer.

Dream on about making money!

Of course, as a principled master, Hudson would not let the coal mine make a loss.

The least he can ensure is that every year, the dividends would allow the bear to have his “melons and dates.”

…

“Master, a group of agents has arrived, coming together to pay a visit.

They claim that the goods they were exporting were stolen by someone and they want your help to retrieve them.”

Nick stated with a poker face.

It was obvious he didn’t care whether the agents had been robbed or not.

As all their purchases had already been made at the agreed price, it wasn’t affecting Master Hudson’s profit in any way.

So, there was no need to worry.

Had there not been a considerable number of visitors, threatening to impact the Domain’s business operation, he might not have even bothered to report this incident.

“Were they robbed of the iron goods we produced or their own other businesses?” Hudson asked, concerned.

He wasn’t a saint.

Doing business in these times was risky.

Getting robbed was a small issue.

If they were unlucky, they even lost their lives.

But if the stolen goods were the iron items produced by the Mountain Domain, then Hudson can’t just sit and watch anymore – that would affect their business.

Such face-slapping incidents hadn’t happened after the news of the Earth Bear’s coming-of-age spread.

“Both.”

After hearing this answer, Hudson instantly understood what was going on.

Smart businessmen wouldn’t bother him for no reason.

The Nobles of the North weren’t fools either.

They knew that Master Hudson wasn’t someone to mess with, yet dared to interfere with his transactions.

The only explanation was either an intelligent businessman had mixed merchandise in an attempt to deter bandits using Hudson’s name, or someone was intentionally pulling strings behind the scene, trying to incite conflict between him and the Nobles of the North.

They must be setting this up as a good show.

No matter which of the two scenarios, he had to step in and resolve it; otherwise, his future dealings would be done for.

“Tell them to wait patiently.

They will soon have their results.

For the time being, tell them not to go on business trips.”

Hudson said blankly.

Although he didn’t know what role these merchants had played in this, it certainly wasn’t just a simple accident.

If one house was robbed out of misunderstanding, it’s understandable, but a whole group – that’s just laughable.

If it wasn’t for the fact that these guys paid promptly and had not caused any trouble before, he wouldn’t even bother to say the comforting words.

Ignorance is bliss in life.

When the business waters are too clear, there are no fish to catch.