Chapter 373 - Outpost plannings

64,400! That's how much Pameres Kingdom is currently spending at a monthly basis on the millitary! After the war that happened in Pameres Kingdom over half a year ago, King Zar does not want to take any other chances. Because after all, his own Revolution stands strong thanks to the help provided by the Calidum Lutum and the three Fire Controllers.

It is better to be safe than sorry, even though this little sacrifice of safety is taking nearly 1/4 of the monthly income. If it wasn't for the newly established income coming from the Gr.a.p.e Ale, he likely would have it a tad more troublesome to pay them and build up a bigger budget.

The Gr.a.p.e Ale is a good reminder, since the 40 Farmers/Clay sculptures couldn't really withstand to make 50,000 Ale Bottles and tend to their farming duties at the same time. And considering that there will be half or twice more black gr.a.p.es to handle the next year, King Zar found it best to hire 20 more. It is a minor sacrifice budget-wise, that will pay tremendously well.

Getting back to the Armies, Pameres Kingdom has build it up stronger than ever. Sure losing 2 Platoons in the previous battle was at first demotivating, but thanks to proper pays and removing gender restrictions, they now have 5 Platoons!

As a start, there are 200 Patrol Guards taking shift around the Kingdom. Rather small considering the diameter on the first walls, but they won't even be enough when the Second Wall is build and more residence constructions burst out within the second walls.

The third Platoon can be considered the one that will be sent to the other side of the Continent at Frozen Toe Kingdom to establish an outpost. These Guards count up to 100, which of course is the size of a full Platoon so they get their own Guard Commander which was easy to find considering that 60 recruits were partnered with Practical War Veterans.

Ordering the Platoons based on size, we can't of course skip the newly hired Archers. By King Zar they are considered prized, even though they are all Beginners (Level 1) in Archery. The reason why they are considered prized, is because they can throw ranged attacks.

King Zar saw their effect in battle, it is surely a tide turner and he doesn't want to enter another battle without them. Heck he doesn't even want his Soldiers to enter another battle, which is why he invested half of the Army budget on Ranged Attacks, it will hopefully lead to less losses.

The fourth Platoon, can be considered the 60 Ballista Operators. As mentioned on previous Volumes, King Zar invested on smaller wheeled Ballistas. He bought 30 of them for 1,200 Gold Coins each! And damn they sure are deadly, it could be the best investment yet because they can shoot far, can knock out several enemies at once and requires only two Guards to operate it.

It is indeed a weapon worth the time, but the Catapults he has bought, although more confusing they too can be deadly. Like the Ballistas, the Catapults can take out several enemies at once and when 10 of them are involved in battle, well Pameres Kingdom can fight off double its Armada's size!

Since Catapults require at least 5 people each to operate them properly, there are 50 people hired to operate them. But since one bad move can be fatal, King Zar made sure to not mix up men and women here to avoid distractions. A minor sacrifice for safety.

However, getting back to the outpost they plan to build. In order to make this plan successful, King Zar needs 2 medium sized sh.i.p.s. One to transport the 100 Guards and the other to transport enough food. Obviously the second one will be constantly functional, but he bought both of them at once so his Guards don't have to starve.

He found out about this disaster at Frozen Toe Kingdom in beginning of November so of course his Guards couldn't be there now. Because first the sh.i.p.s that he ordered, need to arrive from the Zamerians.

Pameres Kingdom doesn't have sh.i.p.s, and they will of course need to be left at the Gaster Kingdom docs, until then there is a bit more time left to send the Platoon to Frozen Toe Kingdom.

Price-wise, one of the captains that takes and gives the exchange back at the port, specified that such a ship can cost 15,000 Gold Coins each! It really is a big price to pay, and obviously another big investment in the Army.

But even after covering these expenses, Pameres Kingdom will be left with a total piled up budget of 410,000 Golr Coins. Double compared to last year, but when you look at it from other perspectives it isn't enough. It would be triple if they didn't have to spend so much on the millitary. I guess we can call it another sacrifice for safety.

Furthermore, King Zar felt tad bad about being so invasive on other people's homes, on a completely other Domain. But who else will use this domain? The ill.u.s.tratian Alliance kicked Frozen Toe Kingdom out of the alliance after taking the usable manpower.

Even bandits wouldn't want this place, it has no natural resources apart from huntable predators. People can get profit out of this Country if they don't go up the cold mountain at all, and try to tame wild Shire Horses in the little bit of greenery near the border with Meridionali Ignis.

Short said, no one will come up here so why not use the opportunity to compress the ill.u.s.tratian Alliance from two sides?

Regardless from that fact, King Zar still felt bad about being invasive. So he has ordered the Guards to be respectful towards the Frozen Corpses. If there is an official graveyard there, the Guards are to dig individual holes and place the elderlies in it. If there isn't a Graveyard, they just have to pick a random spot.

These elderlies are long dead, their families are sent to war and are likely long dead as well or living a life close to being considered a slave, so it is up to the Platoon to honour their corpses and at least grant them a proper ceremony.

After the ceremony, the Guard Commander is to report anything that the Kingdom needs. Be it tools to improve housing, perhaps even stonemasons to fortify the place and even report how many houses are here.

Knowing the amount of the houses here is very important, because King Zar doesn't plan to send one Platoon only here. After he establishes more sources of income, another full Platoon will be sent here and afterwards the other.

So he needs to know how much Frozen Toe Kingdom can fit, if a time comes when the domain can't fit in anymore Guards, another Outpost will be build 10 kilometers closer towards the opposing continent and of course 10 kilometers away in width from the Kingdom so the Outposts aren't set at a single file line but have more angles of attack.

These Outposts, could be the biggest investments in the Army yet. But Pameres Kingdom can't handle it alone, so King Zar plans to offer an investment. An investment for safety to the triangle of Domains.

Pameres Kingdom clearly has the most people to spare, but it obviously can't afford for half of the Kingdom to be transformed in to Guards. This beautiful domain has long surpassed its Guards/Soldiers capacity, it should have had only 200 considering that most domains only put 10% of their total population in the Army.

Pameres Kingdom has enough people, but not enough gold to support a doubled Army increase. So in the near future he plans to ask the two friendly domains for monthly investments, be it 10,000 or 20,000 or even 30,000 Gold Coins. Anything they can afford really!

These gold coins are non refundable, they will be entirely invested in the Army and are for the sake of everyone's safety. The ill.u.s.tratian Alliance is weaker than ever, but they are still dangerous and one day their numbers will increase.

It is always a good idea to be one step ahead, it is better to compress them from both sides. To warn them, if they do anything drastic then our forces will attack where you least expect it. If the enemy Alliance actually knows about the Outposts, it would be a damage in pride but at the same time they would think twice about attacking!

As for the triangle of domains this can indeed be something that can even eat up their piled up Budget, but it is either this or waiting for 20,000 Soldiers to be sent here and tear this place to the ground!

...

"I am very proud of you!" Crisa spoke, her tone as delicate as ever although carrying a lot of enthusiasm, her face carrying a wide joyful smile. She continued to add, "You really have quit alcohol, and you are performing better than ever. I see you everywhere!"

Of course the topic is about King Zar, who has been suffering with what Tedradia called "Depression". He felt bad of the lost lives in the battle of Pameres Kingdom but furthermore he felt bad that his own father by blood, wanted him dead.

Tedradia has helped him through by simply talking to him, well it is a little bit more advanced than that. She didn't just talk, but shaped his mind towards the better with words worth more than gold. King Zar confirmed that she isn't just doing fancy magic, which is even better because it means that everyone can do it with enough training.

"I indeed feel better, my mind hasn't been this clear in months." He answered, actually happy once throughout his life.

He managed to let go of what has been bothering him, but half of the happiness at the moment is coming from Crisa and the way she laughs and smiles in joy.

In the midst of being lost a tad bit on her smile, he managed to add. "Your mother is single handedly increasing the production rate of my workers. I mean, each are working two days less yet the numbers of products increased by 2%."

Finding the numbers a bit confusing, he gave it another thought and added. "Or at least that's what Seer said."

"Hehehehhehe" Crisa unleashed another giggle, finding the King's slight confusion entertaining. Afterwards feeling that the silence has stretched enough to being awkward, she expressed with a sigh. "Well, I have to get back to my duties now."

"Say it man!" He yelled at himself, with his own thoughts. Contemplating with himself, wanting to ask something that has been troubling him for a while. Finally, he managed to say. "Wait."

Crisa turned around, and awaited for what the King had to say. Afterwards he expressed. "Would you like to have dinner with me later, up in the Second floor. The Stars are just beautiful at night."