Chapter 118: Unethical Business
After talking with the old man Steven for a while about the refinery, Edgar excused himself.
He had already done his part, as the creation of the new Smithing House would increase refined metal production severalfold.
In just a few weeks, Edgar should have enough to supply others.
’Though my priority will most definitely be the rail tracks.’
Without a reliable transportation network, every future project would continue suffering from the same problem.
Moving ore with carts pulled by Soul Guardians worked for now, but it wasn’t efficient, nor could it support the scale Edgar wanted.
’A proper railway changes everything.’
Once the first railway connected the Fortress to the northeastern mines, expanding farther into the surrounding territory would become much easier.
Edgar slowly walked through the Fortress while organizing his thoughts.
People greeted him wherever he went.
"Good morning, my lord."
"Morning."
Several children ran past him carrying small wooden swords.
Workers transported baskets of ore toward the newly expanded refinery.
Everyone had become noticeably busier than before.
"....."
Watching the Fortress slowly come to life gave Edgar an unexpected sense of satisfaction.
Compared to the abandoned land he had first arrived in, everything had changed.
’It’s nice to see the changes with my own eyes.’
Just then, a familiar notification appeared within the Soul Network.
One of the Soul Guardians had discovered something.
Edgar immediately focused on the connection.
His vision shifted, and through the Guardian’s eyes, he saw a narrow valley nearly three kilometres west of the Fortress.
The skeleton stood beside a small stream flowing between two rocky cliffs.
At first, nothing appeared unusual until Edgar noticed dozens of hoofprints covering the damp ground.
Several wagon tracks could also be seen leading deeper into the valley.
His expression slowly became serious. ’...People.’
The tracks were too organized to belong to hunters. They had been made by a large group.
Edgar quietly observed the area for another few moments before issuing a command through the Soul Network.
’Do not engage and continue observing from a distance.’
The Soul Guardian silently retreated deeper into the surrounding trees.
Edgar opened his eyes and frowned.
’Why are there so many people in the forest?’
There was a very small possibility of them being from the Northern Sect.
They shouldn’t have any reason to send an army into the forest this early.
’...Is there something going on that I am not aware of?’
Edgar, for most of his life in this world, had spent it within the range of the Fortress.
He had no idea what things were going on outside his range of view.
A ruler who didn’t know what happened beyond his own walls was nothing more than blind.
Soul Guardians could scout enormous areas without rest, but they couldn’t blend into human settlements.
’This is going to be a problem.’
Edgar let out a sigh and began to walk once again.
At the same time, Edgar also asked one of the Soul Guardians to move toward the Norwood Mountains.
’I want to level up as quickly as possible.’
---
More than three hours later, the same Soul Guardian that had contacted Edgar from the valley tried to pull his attention once again.
Edgar, who was in the warehouse, frowned. ’What happened now?’
He closed his eyes, and his vision shifted once again.
When his vision returned, he was no longer looking at the narrow valley.
The Soul Guardian had already moved several kilometres farther west.
It now stood hidden beneath the branches of a large pine tree overlooking a wide river.
"....."
Edgar quietly observed the unfamiliar landscape.
The river stretched as far as the eye could see.
Its current moved steadily from north to south, carrying countless pieces of driftwood across the water.
The opposite bank was barely visible through the grey mist. "...The Han River."
He immediately recognized the place.
The Guardian remained perfectly motionless among the trees. Its empty eye sockets overlooked the shallow shoreline below.
Edgar slowly followed its gaze, and his expression gradually stiffened.
A massive wooden ship stood anchored close to the riverbank. Its hull was far larger than any fishing boat he had seen before.
Several thick ropes secured it to enormous wooden stakes hammered into the shore.
A wide loading ramp extended from the deck onto the muddy riverbank. Dozens of wagons had formed a long line beside it.
One after another, their doors were opened, and people were dragged out. Their hands were bound behind their backs with thick ropes.
Some struggled, but most simply walked with empty expressions, as though they had already given up.
Edgar’s brows slowly furrowed. ’...Prisoners?’
Standing around the loading area were dozens of armed men.
Every one of them wore identical dark armor, but strangely, none of the armor bore any emblem or banner.
Edgar’s jaw slowly tightened when he finally understood what was happening.
’....Slavery.’
The blonde boy sat down on the warehouse floor while Hera, who was close by, looked at him curiously.
’...There are really people here selling other people.’
Edgar knew this world was no sunshine and rainbows, but he still hadn’t thought it was this bad.
His consciousness stayed connected to the Soul Guardian while he silently observed everything happening along the riverbank.
’How many times have they done this...?’
His gaze slowly swept across the river once more.
The ship was already nearly full, yet more wagons continued arriving from deeper within the forest.
Edgar rubbed his head and slowly looked at all the Soul Guardians that were in close proximity.
’...A total of six of them, huh?’ He thought, rubbing his head with his hand, debating with himself. ’Should I really get involved in this?’
There could really be a big shot behind the operation with the power to fuck me over.
He could be making enemies out of multiple people if he got himself involved in this mess today.
’...Why should I be so bothered by them?’ Edgar thought, standing up. ’It’s not like I am going to associate with scum.’
Rubbing his face, Edgar ordered the Soul Guardians,
’Kill everyone in the black armor except one.’