Border Guardian Hal Akircius

With Hal and Altrius on their asses expressing their thoughts looking at that and this and the diagram, Sittius slowly resumed the question as he turned some of the peppery new material.

"What do you do about taxes and finances?

"Um, I have money.

To the question from Sittius, when Altrius, hurriedly looking back from the diagram, explains the origin of the gold, Sittius' face turns to a surprising look.

"Really, so much wealth slept in this city... no, if so, this sudden development is also convincing. The foundation is still gold, so I'm not going to talk about it without this, but it's strong that you're free to use that much money from the start. Especially if you look around the city to see that it's not all there is to it, but from now on it's going to cost a lot of money, so it's helpful.

"I'm not going to take the tax until three years away, which I thought would be a prospect for exploration, is that good?

And when Hal said, Sittius nodded with a convincing face.

"Yeah, taxes will start in three years. There seems to be room in the finances, and I have no objection. Citizens need to be empowered to take things, and it's not a good idea to translate what the administration promised once. That much time will also be needed for the monetary economy to penetrate at a minimum, and first of all the administration will only turn smoothly for the first time if it has a relationship of trust with its citizens. Trust is important to everything, so keep your promise as long as it doesn't affect a lot of people. The measures taken against the goods of the Dongzhao merchant may also remain in place.

"Um, so far, Ho's only source of income for the Cilentium administration is the East Photo product he brings.

Altrius responded to Sittius' words.

Cilentium, which is supposed to not levy taxes for three years, so far has no tax revenues such as this, and has no income other than the revenues that Ho would have earned by selling the East Light merchandise he brings in to the Imperial Merchant at the Northern Gateway, but Sittius goes further and leans his head.

The Cittius dossier describes the dizzying products that were put up for sale on the blue sky market, among which there are many useful herbs, vanilla and animal resources.

So far it has only been consumed in the city of Cilentium, but there is no hand in not taking advantage of this.

"... the likeness of vanilla and herbs treasured in empires and eastern photographs seems to be producing much. This should be classified and organized, and items that can be produced by scrutinizing the place of production should be produced as commodity crops. Protect and regulate items that cannot be produced so that sampling can continue. That should earn you an immediate income. Later it's minerals... there are hot springs, can you take sulfur?

"Aquarius should be treating the water he drops. Perhaps that's when it's done?

The hot spring pulled by Aquarius is a dark sulphur spring, which contains large quantities of sulphur, so Aquarius is draining sulphur and ingredients from this water before returning them to the waterway.

Because it could have contaminated the soil as it was, Aquarius should have collected the sulphur and ingredients in one place.

Sulphur, which so far has no particular use, but its use as a chemical or disinfectant has long existed.

Hearing there was sulfur, Sittius said by adding something to the dossier with his eyes shining.

"That's good... pure sulfur can be a chemical raw material, and it can be sold to Siluha for a high price as a secret medicine. Do you have any other mineral resources? Don't you know anything about the Counsellor?

"Um, in the end, I'm in time, but I once tried to find and develop iron and copper mines on this side of the North Side Mountains. But isn't it appropriate now?

"Why not?

When Hal asked in wonder at the answer, Altrius answered.

"The drainage and development of wetlands is progressing. We used to run mineral water into the wetlands, but if we do that now, the farmland will be contaminated? Because of this, I don't feel comfortable polluting the land where the prospect of exploration stands.

"I see... that.

When Hal clouded his words, Sittius turned to Altrius.

"There's something about iron and copper mines, isn't there?

'Um, definitely. At that time, I called an imperial miner to look for the minerals, and I don't know what's going on now, but I also did some digging. Nor have I heard that it has been developed since then.

"That doesn't sound wrong. It would be better than a gold or silver mine. With such objects, there will be cross spears from the Empire. Iron and copper are more practical, and get a miner to start mining quickly. I have a problem with mineral poisoning, so I'll be fine.

"... hmm, what if we call a spirited miner?

To Altrius' words, Sittius nodded silently with the material.

"Uhm, well, I'm not talking about the city, so I think it's okay, but I have to talk to Aquarius for once..."

Spirited miners are miners originating in the Imperial West who use the power of the Spirit to purify contaminated water, toxic substances and crushed stones that come out when they are mined.

In general, mining is polluting, so it often occurs with the inhabitants of the area, especially peasants, and has also been a cause of persecution for miners mining minerals while moving.

It was in this way that a contract was signed with the Spirit, who had the ability to remove contamination to prevent it from occurring during mining, and a group emerged to mine it.

Some areas naturally don't have to worry about contamination, where mining is done as usual, but mostly large-scale mines directly run by the state, etc., and now the flushing miners are generally spirited.

However, because the original spirits that lead to terrain and natural objects are pulled away from the place where the spirits lead, they can also become mad spirits, and the time and cost of damage and exorcism caused at that time can be enormous, so it is not always a good thing.

Also, because of the high cost of employment, Altrius also took into account the cost-effectiveness aspect, and he didn't bother to call for a miner with a spirits because he had previously been able to run waste water into the wetlands.

Sittius had been turning the dossier for a while, but eventually he stops to see if he got to the dossier he was looking for.

"Its agriculture, but I heard the farming method was an imperial ceremony incorporated by the Armar tribe in the past. But from what I've seen, this is already stale. Crops are likely to need to change slightly to suit the climate, but let's incorporate the latest formula rotation prevalent in the Empire. Fortunately, we haven't planted the crops to a large extent just for the development of the nursery yet, so we'll be introducing them as soon as possible next spring. The installation of irrigation equipment and the development of the nursery are impeccable plans as they stand.

Where Sittius touched agriculture, Hal remembered, more than his own pocket, to take out the leather bag handed to him from the maple.

"Mr. Sittius... this is the species of a tree called crown yellow. On the group islands it was grown to harvest wax. Probably suits the climate here.

"Excellent!... but a tree doesn't yield immediately, does it? If so, you have to look at it in the long run, so if you hit it... yes, I remember it with wax, but there have been no swax from the group islands lately and beeswax values have jumped, so be interested in beekeeping. Winters in Cilentium seem tough, but there's nothing you can do about it if you take cold protection measures. Honey and beeswax are in high demand within the Empire, and you can collect them in no time.

Sittius said so while receiving the seed from Hull and making sure of its shape, returning each leather bag to Hull.

Then, I propose to interest the beekeeping industry and write the contents in the material.

When Sittius finished writing to the material, Altrius opened his mouth.

"I can take a lot of marble, but... what do you think?

"Try not to sell building materials such as marble and limestone as they are still needed in Cilentium from now on. The same applies to wood. What is happening to the coal?

"There is a place to join the village of Almar.

A place of admission is a land shared in a community that can be used by persons belonging to that community.

Since the village of Almar has already merged into Cilentium, permission to use it has been delegated from Alchiando to Cilentium, but ownership rights, etc. remain vague.

"... well, then formally as administrative land, let us have a system where we can hire and manage people to supply the minimum amount of coal. We have heard that the northern border is cold. Securing coal will probably be important alongside food, so make sure it can be fuel without throwing away the end or rebel material that leaves after building. Then when it comes to fuel, it's coal. Can't you get any coal around here?

"There are places near Fradia where coal is exposed, but utilization should not have been exchanged. It would be available to us now, but I couldn't help it before.

Naturally, it was when King Alford was there, so the mining was Altrius, which could not even be traded, but only the information was well collected.

However, that information has been lost with Altrius' death, and no one will yet know it in the Empire.

"It seems to have been quality coal for several minutes, but unfortunately it didn't come true when I stepped on it to sell to the Empire.

Demand is constantly pressing in the Empire for quality coal that can achieve the high temperatures needed when making iron and steel, the development and deep digging of coal mines within the Empire is not enough, and the Empire is also buying coal from the South and Western countries.

Iron mines have a large number of good quality objects in the empire, but coal fuel therefore tends to be scarce, which was one of the reasons the faction's eyes on the southern continent this time.

Iron and steel are essential for an army that consumes large quantities of weapons and protective equipment, because the army always wants cheap and massive access to the iron ore and coal from which it comes.

"... if we let them know that coal is here, will the army give up the Southern invasion?

'No, you probably won't. It would be one purpose to start a war, but that's not everything.

Following Altrius, Sittius also disagrees with Hal.

"Well, if the army knew there was a lot of coal here, the army would try to switch to direct rule by itself. It brings great misfortune to this land.

Hal, knowing the humiliation suffered by his homeland by the military junta and its harshness, became silent.

I don't want to do anything that would make people living on this land feel that way.

It was Altrius who felt something when he saw the silent Hull, but he dared not put it into words, and he watched quietly as he did.

Did Sittius also come to the point where Hal was born, and this one quietly re-repeated the material to carry on the words.

"You'd rather use it to make iron and steel that we're interested in. Imperial farm tools and life blades seem to be popular. Items handled by imperial merchants entering Cilentium are imperial iron products, including 1 for daily items and 2 for nails and . Nothing requires only weapons and protective equipment.

'Um, sure... but don't forget that it's one of the truths that weapons armor requires a large amount of iron. I wonder if it's sad, there are many things in this world that are protected by force. It is not only repellent.

While affirming the words that comfort Sittius' Hal, the words of Altrius, who looks to reality, echo.

It is a well-known fact that it was the force based on Hal's force that protected Cilentium, as well as many places based on the power of the sword that are building and defending the peace and prosperity of the Empire.

Hal knows the gist because he was once a swordsman with a realm, became a magistrate in Imperial Capital, and was always in a position to deal with something called "Wu” in close proximity, as he is now also the leader of the city.

The point depends on the concern of those who use it.

"I know... you make weapons protective equipment in Cilentium, right?

"No, actually, there were a few circumstances about this... and you can hit it off and convert the abundant inventory, so the 21st Corps portion is fine. We intend to rely on imports from the Empire for weapons protection equipment after that.

To Hal's words, Sittius said so with his face up as he noticed by stopping his hands turning the dossier.

Altrius asks as if he was in a bit of a panic.

"What about the lack of weapons production facilities in Cilentium, where all three regiments are based? Although it will be possible to repair it, it is impossible to produce firearms, including consumables such as arrows and throwing spears.

"Yeah, eventually there will always come a time when we have to produce everything with Cilentium, but now is not the time yet. If you were to do more than a certain deal with merchants in the Empire, you could buy or import the least suspicious and stable quality of weapons and equipment for the new Legion from within the Empire in large quantities. Use this deal to connect with politics and commerce.

In general, arms traders within the Empire are familiar not only with official and military personnel but also with aristocratic information and trends through dealings with the Empire.

Cilentium is in a situation where military trends can be fairly grasped through Adamantius, an active senior general.

Sittius also has a large number of acquaintances, supporters, former subordinates, etc. with government officials, even though he was retired, so information can be obtained about the central government.

However, since the information of the noblemen in potential hostilities, although not clearly in conflict, is unavailable except in external form, Sittius intends to cross with the merchants in close business relationship with the noblemen through the transaction.

They are the ones who are uncertain about their falling backs, depending on their profits, but conversely, they are quite usable as long as they give them profits.

"This information could also pass to the other person..."

"There will be no choice to some extent. Conversely, the absence of any information at all can lead to suspicious dark spots for each other and excessive reactions. Whatever your opponent is, now Cilentium is not in a state where you can create clear enemies and conflict within the Empire. We're just a local government. Keep the basement of weapons production underwater and stay down until the time comes.

If a deal with an enemy enters the Cilentium far longer than this, that information will pass to the other party.

Hal feared that point, but insists that Sittius should rather shed some information to elicit the reassurance and alarm of his opponent.

After a while of thinking, Hal slowly opened his mouth.

"... right, I get it. We decide to buy the weapon protection equipment from the Empire mainland.

"Thank you for your input. Because I choose a relatively decent merchant who doesn't become a spy.

Sittius grinned satisfactorily at Hal's answer, and when he wrote to his material, he turned the last material and took over the words.

"Then I talked to the Western Postal Association while I was at the Northern Guard. They will also set up a relay station for transmission stones here, so take advantage of this to build a network of contacts with each friendly tribe. The Western Postal Association is also considering introducing a full-scale system to the stable northern border, so a representative of the Western Postal Association will be coming to Cilentium shortly.

"Well, is it the postal association! It helps.

If the Western Postal Association were to be based in Cilentium, the northern border would participate in a major information network involving not only the entire Empire, but also Western countries present on the Western continent.

This allows some information to be obtained while in Cilentium, and makes it easier to send and receive information.

Until now, it will also be possible to use the postal system, which has had to travel to the northern border posts.

Only deliveries have ever been made by postmen only within the former state of Cliffona Superior, but from now on, they will be able to communicate letters and transmission stones freely on the northern border.

"This is the place to hit. This will further accelerate the development of Cilentium.

Cittius, who closed the dossier, concluded so at the end.