Dream Life

April 11th.

The day after we arrived in Welburn, we headed to Uncle Borderline's office after breakfast. I am accompanied by my father, my brother and Sharon, because they say they want to talk to me about the exchange of information and the future policies of the Northern Region.

Baron Ferdinand Oldham, the borderline uncle and belly-hearted Baron Ferdinand Oldham, as well as Associate Baron Desmond Gateskel and Chief Maiden Barbara Harding, were waiting for him in the office.

When we sit down, he says, "I'm sorry in the morning," and Uncle Borderline starts talking.

"I want you to tell me about the Empire City. Think about the future."

I couldn't ask you yesterday, but I'm curious why you're in such a hurry.

"Do you care why I'm in a hurry?," Gateskell asked. Nodding at the same time as my father, he checked with his eyes with Uncle Borderline before starting to talk.

"The war with Lukes is prolonging longer than I thought. Security in the northern region can be maintained in critical conditions, but it is more obvious than to see fire that the economy will collapse as it is. You've come to a dangerous place if you hit a bold hand. Nevertheless, if the Northern Governor's Office forces were to return early, it could be counterproductive to resort to poor measures. We wanted to make that identification, so we couldn't get together."

Initially, the punitive war on Lukes was expected to end in about six months. For this reason, many mercenaries have been hired to maintain law and order and to fill their holes.

But mercenaries cost money.

Assuming that it takes ten kronas per day, it would cost as much as ten thousand kronas if a thousand people were hired, and ten million yen if the Japanese yen were used. The Northern Governor's Office employs more than 3,000 mercenaries. It was also more than 50,000 kronas per day, as it focuses on the relatively good Grade VII and above. Nearly 100,000 kronas a day will be needed to add to the cost of food, accommodation, etc.

That's been going on for over a year. The Northern Governor's Office had already gasped at spending over 30 million kronas and up to 30 billion yen.

The total population of the northern region is two million. This is a population that surpasses the Kingdom of Kaum by 800,000 and the Kingdom of Lax by one and a half million. Naturally, they have comparable economic power to those countries.

Nevertheless, it is only a part of the Empire and cannot use all of the taxes collected. It's an impossible story to keep twisting out this much within that limited budget.

As it stands, it has responded by reversing the reserves for emergencies that were saved (pooled) in the Governor's Office, but it is still not enough, postponing utilities, and has been outraged by bold cuts in labor costs, etc.

But they're still getting tougher and forced to choose between borrowing from somewhere or cutting a contract with mercenaries ready for a worsening of security.

"... the only place you can lend us when it comes to borrowing is the Aurelia merchant. But if you sign up to them, you'll always see at your feet. Apart from making it conditional on high interest rates, it can even make it conditional on restoring security on the streets of Aurelia…"

As Gateskel puts it, no one has the ability and willingness to lend money to the Northern Governor's Office but Aurelia. Fortis, the enemy nation, the United Kingdom of Lax-Saltooth, is of course politically incapable of perpetual neutrality.

The Kaum kingdom is in friendship with the Empire, but it is unthinkable that that unrelenting Queen Katrina would risk lending money to the northern governor's office, which is bewitched by the imperial capital.

For the same reason the merchants of Imperial Plymouth won't get their hands on it either.

It is clear that the marine state Periplus can be a candidate, but if we borrow money from them, they will ask us to open up the ports in the territory, which will likely develop into a full confrontation with a commercial guild.

The rest is a candidate for the United Cities State and each guild, but there's not enough money in the Blacksmith Guild, Mage's Guild, and Adventurer's Guild to rebuild the Northern Region, and the Mercenary Guild is unlikely because it's united with Fortis.

In the case of the Union of Urban States, the allies are Aurelia and are strongly influenced by commercial guilds.

There is no denying the possibility of spending more than borrowed, as commercial guilds will come under conditions of restoring security on Aurelia Street, as Gateskel said.

I mean, it's an octagonal plug situation.

"... If the war against Lukes were to last any longer, northern finances would collapse sooner or later. It's a pitiful story, but I couldn't think of any effective measures. Sir Zacharias' wisdom."

That's what I said, I bowed my head and closed. I admire the mental power that previously plotted to assassinate and, conversely, to respond so calmly to someone who killed an unmatched stomach.

However, if you ask me to lend you my wisdom, you can't get it out right away.

I'll send my father a signal with my eyes and explain the situation.

"We will first explain the current situation. As I am sure you have already heard, on behalf of the Third Corps of His Royal Highness Prince Leopold, the Second Corps, led by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and the Fourth Corps, led by His Highness the Duke of Ezarrington, are on their way to the battlefield. Speaking from the speed of the march, before entering May, we will arrive at Lark Hill and we think we will continue to attack Lukes…"

I've heard stories around here from Lord Etherlington himself, and it's almost certain information.

"... Your Excellency the Duke will be in command, so we should have a settlement by autumn. However, it would be subtle if post-war processing could remain and the Northern Governor's Office forces could quickly pull up"

"When do you think Sir's prospects are?," asked Uncle Borderline.

"I was wondering if there would probably be a pull up order before winter. The Duke was also concerned about the situation in the northern region, so I wonder if it will be postponed rarely."

"So you can't expect it all this year..."

"Yes. I thought it would be safer to think about that. Either way, it is extremely unlikely that you will return within six months, and it is unlikely that you will be more than eight months."

"I see... Ferdinand, what is Sir's opinion?

Uncle Borderline spoke to his belly.

"As far as Sir Zacharias is concerned, I consider it extremely definite. But if it's more than six months, the funds won't last. As it stands, until the end of August. If it's going to be more than that, there's only borrowing or raising taxes."

Gateskell is also nodding at Baron Oldham's words.

(The fact that it will only last until the end of August means, conversely, that you have four months worth of funding. Then we can do it...)

I wanted to make a suggestion and decided to check the situation first.

"May I ask?

"What is it?," said Borderline Uncle urging ahead.

"Are you glad to think that the cause of your financial oppression is the cost of mercenaries? Assuming the payment for mercenaries is only two months away, does that mean the army can stand it until the end of the year when it returns?"

Gateskell answers my question.

"Exactly. Payments for mercenaries account for a large weight, so if it takes two months, no problem."

Two months means six million kronas can be spent.

"I have two questions. What is the quality of the mercenary commander? Also, I hear you are looking for prostitutes, how much do you think you can use them?"

Gateskell also answers that question.

"Mercenaries also hire reputable people in Fortis. So far we have heard that there are no major problems and that the Commander is not less capable. I'm a prostitute, but this one's just used for security in town. In fact, it's unknown how far we can fight. If I needed a little more accurate information, I'd call the military commander?

"No, that information is enough," I say and sort it out in my head.

And I started explaining it where I got some thoughts together.

"Let's run a massive sweep operation. The period is one month. Make sure you earn more money by offering a bounty and hunting bandits and demons. I think that way demons and bandits can be swept off the territory and kept safe. Especially since the bandits haven't had a massive sweep operation before, they should be alarmed. If you use the situation well to storm the base, you can crush many bandits."

"Sure, but isn't another demon or bandit just coming in one sweep operation?

Borderline uncle speaks the question.

"You're right, some demons occur naturally, but dangerous ones flow in from the Testa and Porta mountains. Once you reduce the number dramatically, you can buy months to come out along the streets."

"Sure, but... isn't that what bandits do?

"It's not much different in the case of bandits. Once crushed, a bandit who has been lucky enough to survive will circulate information that the north is dangerous. They don't have an information network if you fire a mercenary, so you should be months ahead of them to find out that fact. If the army returns in the meantime, it's fine, and you don't have to go back. Bandits don't know when the army will come back. What they think is that a bold operation could have been carried out because the army would be back. Then you're unlikely to dare come into the dangerous north."

Here's what I think.

Use 3,000 mercenaries and the remaining Fourth Knights of the Northern Governor's Office Army for a massive sweep operation. The bandits are also alarmed because they have only been patrolling for about a year already. For this reason, if you ask the locals where they seem to be, they will have some eye-catching.

Assuming you can't find it. If you find out the northern governor is seriously on the verge of crushing it, you should think about why. The only reason I haven't dared move before is because the army has no purpose to go back, and the fact that it has moved makes me think of it at will that the army will come back.

Demons are a little more troublesome, but once you've defeated the big guy, experience shows that it's about a year away from being resurrected. Unless, of course, you have a source of demons like the Aquila and Saeum mountains, but the Porta and Testa mountains are not that dangerous a place, so you'll get about six months of time.

"The problem is we have to pull out the commander of the prostitute," my brother remarks.

As my brother put it, the commanding class of prostitutes is dispatched by the Fourth Knights. For this reason, he thought that anxiety would remain in terms of the chain of command.

"Regarding that concern, I believe that a limited area, a limited period of time, is unlikely to develop into a major problem"

Gateskell nodded when I said so.

"Among the prostitutes are retired soldiers. Also, if you ask each lord to send retired knights and squires as commanders, you'll figure it out in the short term."

So Sharon raises his hand small.

"Something," said Borderline uncle, allowing him to speak.

"The northern region is huge, but can we sweep away all demons and bandits in a month?

Uncle Borderline nodded to this question, "Sure you do," and sent his gaze to ask me for my opinion.

"It's not that hard to identify crusade areas when it comes to demons. Set up a crusade area based on information from residents regarding bandits. Unlike demons, bandits should be lurking in areas where people live, near streets, so I don't think the crusade area will be that big"

"Still, though the length of the street is considerable," my father expresses concern.

Furthermore, my brother also expresses concern.

"It's quite a distance to the border with Fortis, but isn't it tough in a month"

"As I said earlier, I hope they get away with fear. First it will target the surprise effect, but then it will be advertised to a large extent. They don't know this one will stop in a month. If we know we're being targeted in that situation, we should get out of the northern region once we try to escape to a safe place. This time we can achieve our purpose."

"I see. Start the sweep operation electrically and show that this one is serious. And you're going to tell him," I'm going to do it thoroughly. "Then the bandits can't stay in peace and safe houses."

Uncle Borderline gave an accurate insight into my intentions.

"I have a suggestion," Gateskell asked to speak.

"If possible, why don't you ask Sir Rodrick to command a team? If Sir Rodrick, who had the alias Giant Slayer, the giant killer and was told there was that man in the Northern Governor's Office Army, were to take command, the bandits would also feel stronger that the Governor's Office was serious."

My brother Rodrick's popularity in the north doesn't know decay. My brother is also a relative of the Raswell family and can also be shown that the Raswell family is in direct command. It's a good way to make you think the Borderline House has raised its main waist.

Even if my brother acted separately from us here, the commander of the Lockhart family escort has a father, and if we did, the number of escorts would be small enough, so it wouldn't affect him. Besides, even if I go back to the village on my own, if I'm as armed as my brother, I won't have a problem acting alone.

Given that, Gateskell's suggestion is not a bad idea.

My father and brother seem to think the same thing, and they are snorting at each other.

"If I can help you, I'll be happy to help you," my brother says, "Uncle Borderline takes that hand and bows his head," I'm sorry, Rodrick, "he says.

For one thing, not all Lockhart families have the option of staying extra for a month or so, but this would be a bad hand against the nobility of the Imperial Capital because the Raswell Border Uncle and Lockhart families appear to have fully reconciled.

"Why don't you let Sims stay, too," Sharon suggests, which is also accepted.

In his case, there's something about marrying Angie, and I don't know if I can afford much, but leaving him alone wouldn't be a problem because he himself would run for his brother's deputy.

He then assembled captains of the Northern Governor's Office and key mercenaries for an operational meeting. I'm not telling you the deadline, I'm telling you the plan is to carry out a major sweep operation. This is to keep the bandits from leaking information.

There were no objections, although surprises were raised, including by mercenaries.

There were specific comments from the commanders, such as which areas to focus on sweeping, which determined the policy of replenishment and enemy defense.