Chapter 359 - Financial Adviser

Fourth Section, yes that's what they call it here in Bale Town. We are talking about the Coal mine of course, it has met a rather admirable breakthrough. Well, it still isn't half as comfortable with the second section of the mine but it still isn't bad either.

This fourth section is uniquely formed and when drawn out in a map it looks admirable. The main reason behind it is that it has too many twists and turn, accompanied by huge openings ranging from 10 to 50 meters wide or long.

But of course, like the trouble on Section three this one can also be reached with a drop. Meaning to reach this Fourth section, the Miners would need to tie some ropes around something heavy and sink 20 meters deep.

With enough manpower by their hand, they made another tower here which both helps to transport humans or coal. The concept is the same as the 50 meter tall tower I specified on the last Volume, it just is 30 meters shorter this time.

The most beautiful part of the cave, can be considered the very end of it. It is a wide opening stretching 60 meters long and 30 meters wide, and to make it more interesting at the left a spiraling tunnel leads at the possible fifth section, it really is beautiful.

The fourth section, can be considered about 20% bigger than the third, as for the resources in it the size is fairly triple. When we give it a overall overview, with some ratios being too high, some being too low and most originating around the middle, the Fourth Section contains 65% Coal, 33% rock and only 2% dirt!

Dirt is becoming more and more scarce, but at least it has a logical explanation for it and at the same time it makes everyone's work a lot safer. In the fourth section, they are basically 80 meters deep underground so it explains how scarce dirt is.

And due to the fact that these Caves held on for who knows how long, it would take a lot of carelessness and stupidity to cause a Collapse. These caves are merged in to perfection with rock and ore used as its mending, it would take a lot to cause a Collapse.

Getting on to estimations, Bale Town managed to cover this month's delivery (7 tons of Coal.) and there is an estimated 9-10 tons left for people to mine in the fourth section, they fairly have enough to cover the next month's order too and by then they would be exploring the possible fifth section.

On related news, on the Third Section's right wing they have discovered something they did not expect here, Iron ores! When drawn on a map, this right wing looks a bit funny, much like a deformed big Mushroom with two smaller mushrooms close to its root.

However, looks don't really matter here as the Iron ore hidden here is the most important. Being understaffed they haven't mined out its entire contents yet but since Iron doesn't commonly have long branches of ore, it is easier to estimate the amount.

After a big detailed view, Bill figured out that 70% of these tunnels and large openings contain Stone and the rest is Iron. When all piled up, they should be mining around 4 tons in total out of here, with 1 ton already mined out.

This ore will prove useful to cut some expenses from Pameres Kingdom and cover the shared order of Iron Swords with Bale Town's own Iron ores instead of maxing out Pameres Kingdom's resources.

Furthermore, there is enough ore to make spare tools for every craft and task which they will likely need in the following months with the recent hirings, increased work and Stonemasons.

It would be tremendous luck if they discover more deposits of Iron ore, but this one will do for a long time as well. Specifically for a year if they don't over do it with the spare tools.

...

When success is a topic, Gustav Iron can not be left unmentioned, as promised he has brought the town Stonemasons, in the middle of this disaster and population drops he managed to find Stonemasons, not a small amount either.

He managed to recruit 17 Stonemasons to aid a developing future rich town, at least that is how he portrayed it to them so they would come here, but that wasn't enough so he has spent about 50,000 Gold Coins all together to convince them, that's about 3k each. Apart from that they will also recieve a salary here.

You would think why Gustav made yet another investment for Bale Town? Well the answer is simple, this has become more than a good source of profit. He is earning around 5,000 Gold Coins at average from the 5% he has bought from the Town's Budget. How would the tale be if the Town earned more?

However, getting back to a bit of individual specifics. These 17 recruits are mostly men, only three of them are women. Based on years in experience, they range from 1 to 5, some ranging 6.

With the Blacksmith brought from Black Tail town, Valtera Katelyn the Seventh having the longest experience will be in charge of these recently arrived recruits.

Uniquely, 10 of them are ill.u.s.tratios. If there weren't any other ill.u.s.tratios here, it would neccesarily lead to drama. But with King Zar who has helped them tremendously, Gustav Iron who too has given a lot of gold without robbing them blind as a return and most of the third platoon of Pameres Kingdom being of the ill.u.s.tratian race, Drama due to racial differences is the least thing that can happen here. Baletown has come to accept the fact that not all ill.u.s.tratios are rotten in the head.

Pay-wise, these Stonemasons will earn a bit more than it was planned too just to keep them here and keep productivity up. Sure it will slow down their tremendous budget upgrades, but it will grant safety and what could be more important than safety?

All 18 of the Stonemasons earn a nice 150 Gold Coins a month, all Together the town will need to pay 2,700 Gold Coins a month. It really doesn't look too big, but it still is Gold. And at the same time this is the highest salary anyone earns here.

After all those expenses, Black Gr.a.p.e Ale from Pameres Kingdom included, Bale Town still breaks with a rather dependable profit of a bit over 18,000 Gold Coins. It is not as great as earning 37,000 but it still is not a bad number.

...

However, getting to the part that I want to mention the most, the construction of the square shaped wall. Now as mentioned on the previous Volume, the reason why it is square is due to aims of building the wall fast and cutting material or monetary expenses at the same time.

Each side of the wall will be around 50 meters long, with a foundation being a meter thick but the wall itself narrowing to being half a meter wide. Obviously Guards can't walk over it easily, but there will be built enough watch towers to compensate for that part.

With a 200 meter wall accompanied by enough watch towers built, not to forget the fact that there are only 18 Stonemasons at the moment, the Construction of this wall will take about about a year and 2-3 months to construct, perhaps even a year and a half if nothing goes wrong.

Only time will tell, but it is already in the process, the ditch is being built around town and the Stonemasons are filling in 8 hours a day, every day.

...

On unrelated news, regarding the Contract Bale Town and Pameres Kingdom made over a year ago, it has been continued for another year. BaleTown has thrived due to the new governing team brought from Pameres Kingdom and they need this thrive to last more.

Obviously there won't be any penalty paid since the governing team managed to provide the minimum 51% of the required daily necessities, King Zar would not need to pay the penalty of 50,000 Gold Coins especially since he tried to help. Imagine loosing 50 grand now, when they are trying so hard to build a budget.

Furthermore, the craftsmen that came from Pameres Kingdom have no plan of returning home as long as the governing team is here, but they asked for a break once every three months so they can go back home and visit their families.

They won't make a huge difference if they all leave at once but it is best if half leave this month and half on the other, repeating that process. Regardless of how much they want to help, everyone misses their families.

...

"What exactly is a financial adviser?" Asked Bert, being offered this special position by both Guard Commander Delrus Aze and the investor Gustav Iron.

"You will make the big decisions regarding expenses or new business deals. You as a financial advisor will be responsible for the profit, it is a big opportunity and can be risky. But you have been performing the tasks perfectly, without mistake and a lot of motivation. You deserve it." Delrus explained word by word, seeing Bert being both happy and confused.

The first thing he asked was, "What about my Brothers?" Of course he wants to see them progress as well.

"Your brothers need a bit more time, they need to fill in a bit more hours. They too are gifted, but Bert it is well established that you are smarter. Not just smarter than your brothers, but smarter than me too and I'm stinken rich!" Gustav explained, including wealth here to prove a point.

To convince the smart Bert Willson completely, Delrus explained. "There are other positions in the governing team that we desperately need before this Contract is over, but for the sake of Bale Town they have big shoes to fill. Your brothers have what it takes, but just need a bit more time."