Chapter 183: Cooperation
KNOCK KNOCK~
Baron Jick knocked on Count Kais’s door. After receiving permission, he walked in slowly.
He reported, "My Lord, all the personnel captured by Duane have been escorted back. They are currently being held in the main dungeon."
The Count habitually stood by the window, watching the waves crash against the shoreline’s reefs.
"Good work, Jick. I’m leaving this group of prisoners for you to manage. Make sure no one tries to break them out, and also prevent them from committing suicide."
"Rest assured, my Lord. I’ve already assigned my most trusted subordinates to watch them 24 hours a day, without interruption."
Jick was well aware of the prisoners’ importance. If he messed this up, not only would he be unable to answer to the Count, but he might also face pressure from the King.
Kais grunted in acknowledgment, then moved to sit behind his desk. "Sit. Tell me what you saw on Black Forest Island."
Jick didn’t stand on ceremony and sat in a nearby chair. He then recounted everything he had seen.
First was the matter of the Hot Spring Mountain Tea trees, which the Count valued most. He briefly described the current number of trees and the state of the tea plantation’s development.
Kais listened and nodded silently. At least on these basic matters, Duane hadn’t lied to him.
However, he was quite surprised when he heard from Jick about the series of policies Duane had implemented.
But his foresight was certainly more long-term than Jick’s.
After some analysis, he considered the possible reasons for Duane’s actions.
’No noble has ever conceded so much profit before. It’s worth keeping an eye on just how effective Duane’s approach will be.’
Kais assessed internally, ’It seems this Little Baron has big ambitions. If his Territory were on the mainland, he’d probably provoke resistance from his neighbors, wouldn’t he?’
If Duane’s Territory wasn’t an island, he would likely have other nobles bordering his land.
Although he was free to implement his own policies in his Territory, they would inevitably affect the peasants living on the lands of other Lords.
Free People only had to hand over 25% of their harvest as rent for the fields they farmed. Such a low tax would undoubtedly attract the subjects of other territories.
Once this migration reached a large enough scale, it would surely provoke intervention and protests from other Lords.
’Duane is practically a king on Black Forest Island.’
No taxes to pay, no one to interfere, and he alone decides the policies for his Territory. Isn’t that just a little king under a greater kingdom?
"Count, there is a matter I’d like to cooperate with you on!"
Having finished recounting his observations, Jick began to steer the conversation toward the "rice thresher."
"Cooperate?"
The Kennedy and Buchanan families already had a partnership, mainly focused on the cotton trade.
The cooperation Jick was speaking of now was clearly not about cotton.
Kais was a bit confused. "Cooperate on what?"
"It’s like this."
Jick explained, "Baron Duane has invented a machine that can harvest rice quickly. He calls it a ’rice thresher’."
Kais frowned. "A rice thresher? I’ve never heard that term. What does it do?"
"Let me put it this way for you."
Jick explained, "For ten acres of rice paddies, it would take a family of five six days to harvest by hand. But with a rice thresher, it only takes three days. The time is cut in half!"
Kais’s eyes lit up, his interest suddenly piqued.
Jick continued, "As you know, threshing rice is not only time-consuming but also extremely exhausting. Using the rice thresher not only shortens the threshing time but also significantly reduces the physical exertion required."
"This allows the farmers to not only harvest faster but also to plant faster. They can cultivate more land!"
Kais nodded.
With increased efficiency, the extra time could be used to do more things.
Whether it was planting, pest control, or harvesting, it would all benefit the Territory.
"Duane was actually able to create something so impressive?"
Count Kais asked in surprise, "This guy, how is he so skilled in such strange and unusual fields?"
A man designing women’s dresses, isn’t that strange?
A Baron making tools is equally strange.
"Haha, I have no idea why he likes these things either. But he sold the manufacturing rights for the rice thresher to me."
Jick stated his plan, "I’m preparing to manufacture it and sell it throughout the Silent Shore and even the Pruck Kingdom. It should earn a good sum of money."
Kais’s eyes brightened. "So this is the cooperation you mentioned?"
"Yes!"
Baron Jick said, a little embarrassed, "That guy Duane is asking for five thousand Gold Coins. I can’t pay it all at once, so I was hoping to invite you to invest with me."
"Of course, if you’re not interested, could you perhaps lend me some money to cover it?"
Kais laughed and cursed, "You crafty devil!"
Then he cursed Duane, "That kid! One moment he owes me over three thousand Gold Coins, and the next he’s earning back five thousand. What a sly fox!"
Jick agreed with the assessment. "He wouldn’t budge on the price at all. So stingy!"
"Since you rate it so highly, I’m a bit interested myself. Count me in."
It was obvious from the description that the rice thresher would be profitable, so Count Kais agreed.
After Jick left, Count Kais couldn’t help but reflect on his various experiences with Duane since they had met.
He suddenly realized that this young man seemed to possess remarkable abilities in every field.
In terms of martial strength, Duane had single-handedly killed six assassins who were trying to kill him;
In terms of boldness and intellect, Duane had turned the tables and captured members of the Gale Corps, then sought the King’s help to instigate this diplomatic incident;
And now, it seemed he also had unique insights into business and territory management.
’A truly exceptional young man!’
Kais offered a new assessment. ’His Territory is just a bit lacking. If he could secure a piece of land on the mainland, his potential for growth would be even greater!’
He couldn’t help but stand up and walk over to the huge map hanging on the wall, studying it intently.
「Hot Spring Mountain Range.」
Although the purpose of this expedition was to find Red Sun Grass, Duane also wanted to take the opportunity to increase his Skill Level in Blade Skill and Combat Techniques.
Therefore, the two of them weren’t moving very fast. After four days in the mountains, they had only ventured less than fifty kilometers deep.
At this moment, in the dense forest, Duane was in the middle of a battle, wielding his Big Ring Saber.
His opponent was an eight-legged spider with dark red spots on its back. Perhaps due to the environment of the Hot Spring Mountain Range, neither Duane nor Kaelon recognized the species.
The spider’s legs were 1.3 meters long. With all eight legs moving in unison, it could move freely across the webs it had spun everywhere.
WHOOSH!
It spat a string of silk at Duane, which shot out like one of the Arrows.
It was not only fast but also created a sound of tearing air, as if it were incredibly sharp.
Duane dodged quickly. The silk thread shot past him and struck the ground, instantly creating a deep crater.
"My Lord, be careful! That silk is extremely powerful!"
Seeing its first attack miss, the eight-legged spider let out a sharp cry and spat a second, then a third, stream of silk.
Duane weaved through the forest, dodging while rapidly closing the distance to his opponent.
When he was only three to five meters away, he kicked off the ground with both legs, launching himself four to five meters into the air.
SLASH!
The Big Ring Saber swung in a cold arc. Before the spider could react, the sharp blade sliced open its head.
Dark green fluid spurted out. The eight-legged spider fell from its web and, after a few twitches, stopped moving.
Kaelon clapped in praise and walked over.
"Judging by the speed it shot its silk, it must have been a Level 3 Demon Beast, yet you killed it in a single exchange. My Lord, you’re getting stronger and stronger!"
Duane gave a noncommittal response.
Just a moment ago, his Basic Blade Skill’s Skill Level had broken through, successfully advancing to Mastery.
In that instant, Duane gained a new understanding of blade skills.
For him, Spirit Swordsmanship was paired with a Fast Sword, focusing on swift attacks and technique.
But a blade skill was different.
Blade skills emphasized the saying, "a blade like a ferocious tiger," often breaking an opponent’s rhythm through continuous, oppressive attacks.
Duane pondered for a moment. ’Perhaps I should have a Rapier custom-made, one lighter than the Storm Greatsword. That way, my attacks would be even more ferocious.’
Meanwhile, Kaelon had already skillfully extracted the spider’s Demon Core.
"My Lord, this looks like another Fire Attribute Demon Core."
On this trip into the mountains, the meat from the Demon Beasts they hunted was inconvenient to carry, so it had to be left to waste.
But they hadn’t missed a single Demon Core.
By now, they had seven or eight of them in their packs.
Duane took it and sensed the energy within the Demon Core. "It’s definitely Fire Attribute."
Although Demon Cores couldn’t be used directly, Duane was now a Level 1 Mage and could learn the Basic Extraction Spell.
Once he returned to his Territory, he could use this spell to refine Basic Fire Energy Essence from the Demon Cores.
By combining that with an Enchantment Spell and Magic Crystal Powder, Duane could begin enchanting his swords and sabers with the "Blazing Fire" effect.