Volume 4 - CH 2

Act 4-2: Not Enough Manpower

「The low-grade potion was sold for 10 billion oar!」

Felis, who sat beside Rose ended up spurting tea upon hearing Rinrin, who reported proudly and made a V-sign.

「T-T-TEN BILLION OAR!!?」

Rose, who was seated beside Felis asked with trembling voice, and sipped her tea with a calm look on her face, as if she had expecting this outcome all along.

Maybe because Zack wasn’t that interested in this regard, he yawned loudly upon hearing the report. Good grief, it seems he had no interest in anything unrelated to combat. Well, the same could be said for Asta, who kept her head in her books.

「Ten billion, eh. Even after deducting that amount for maintenance cost, labor cost, and payment for Tao Family, we can pretty much start the next project with the remaining 4 billion oar. And while we are at this topic, we’ve no choice but to address our current, most urgent issue at hand, manpower.」

Manpower or ―― Human resources. The most important factor in an economy. Something that this Ket Guy lacked the most. First, on top of limiting the number of the potions being sold outside, there would be a new project to promote development here. I’ve had made several plans in that course since there’s a lot of prep work involved with that new project. Unfortunately, we’re critically lacking in manpower.

「Yes, 【Crimson Raven】 are working as part of defense force and 【Lost Forest】 are participating in construction, we can’t allot anymore personnel for the new project. The same goes for the eighty members of Wind Cat. Even if we kickstart the new project, we severely lack workforce.」

There was nothing worse for common folks than an incompetent lord. Ideals alone cannot achieve. Therefore, Rose set aside some of her time to read a business management book obtained from the dungeon, which I personally recommended. As expected, Rose absorbed the new information like a napkin absorbing water.

「Yes, we’ve no choice but to increase the number of the inhabitants.」

My plan needed at least a few tens of thousands of workforce. Though there was no other way but to gather inhabitants from other areas as East End was completely forsaken. We wouldn’t be troubled if gathering populace was easy.

「Kai, do you have any idea?」

「Sorry, but no.」

Rose sent disapproving stare towards me, hearing my denial.

「Is that the truth?」

She asked again, her face filled with doubt.

Hey, I’m not an almighty god, you know. I also have limits.

「Yeah, this problem is pretty serious. Unfortunately, I can’t think of any normal solutions for this.」

I raised my hands and shrugged, to let her know my honest judgement.

「How about recruiting those underworld people like you did?」

Felis pointed her thumb toward the three kings of underworld as she made such suggestion,

「Rejected.」

Her suggestion was denied on the spot.

「Why though? It sounds like a brilliant idea to this mistress?」

「Because our current situation is different from before.」

「Yes. This town has already become a target for underworld due to potion secrets. Not to mention that【Tao Family】’s involvement with this city has been extensive. That hoarding plan is a gamble, spies from other organization might sneak in, if not that, lowlifes blinded by greed could also join in the fray.」

Rinrin was right, the information about this city had already been spread wide in the underworld, and was available at every information broker. It would very soon reach the ears of the wealthy merchants who have connection with the underworld. Recruiting anyone from underworld at this point is equivalent to accepting the spies from the other organization.

「And the same goes for the slaves sold by slave traders. It has to be a group of people isolated from outside world for us to be absolutely sure.」

「That sounds difficult indeed.」

Lucas voiced his weighty remark as he lay with his face on the desk.

「Yes, it’s problematic. First, they mustn’t belong to any organization. I mean, what human in this land lives without being related to an organization? Even if we find one, it would be those who are close to dissolving.」

「But still, you said a while ago that 『Within Normal Means』. Since that’s the case, you must have thought of some plan outside normal means, right?」

When Felis asked Kai, Rose raised her head to listen.

「Well, it’s actually not a special method whatsoever. All we need to do is approach people with slightly different “Nature”.」

「And that is?」

I stepped away from Rose, who brought her ghastly face closer to mine out of nowhere,

「We just need to invite the demon race in the north. I heard that the demon race who lives in the north of this forest are living in poverty due to severe environment there. They’re most likely going to accept our invitation, but a much bigger problem is that the demon race lives within the influence of one of the four great demon kings, Aldebaran.」

I summed my “Not-so-normal” plan to her.

「Are you serious!? Amelia kingdom is currently at war with the demon race. Accepting demon race as citizens at this timing is akin to making an enemy of Amelia kingdom—no, the entire humanity itself!」

As amusing as ever, eh.

Since she specially said “Timing”, it means that she planned to accept the demon race in the future. Her train of thought clearly differed from the normal Amelia royalty.

「Yeah, that’s why I specially said that they’re people with slightly different “Nature”.」

Upon hearing that, Rose stared at me with a vigilant look on her face, but finally heaved a sigh of relief, since she might’ve finally understood that I didn’t have any intentions to consider that plan from the very beginning.

「Finding people whose lives aren’t related to any organization out there really isn’t a simple task.」

Rose muttered as a sigh escaped from her lips. Yup, you’re correct. We befriended Wind Cat’s folks after so much trouble.

「If I’m not wrong, there’s 『Something like human』? if we used that logic, we can try monsters.」

「Mons… ter?」

""

Rose’s lips flapped for a while like a parrot, and she just barely managed to squeeze her voice.

「Yup. In the 【North Grand】 which is located north of this East End’s 【Demonic Forest】 is the home of many monster tribe such as goblins or orcs, do you think that they’re suitable candidate for being citizens?」

This East End was split into marshland area, jungle area, and lastly wasteland area which was otherwise known as 【North Grand】 which was located on top of a hill, and 【Demonic Forest】, which was the jungle located below the tall cliff.

Though the area that was ruled by Aldebaran, one of the four great demon kings, it was located in the north part of 【North Grand】, because of existence of the tall cliff that cut off that place from this 【Demonic Forest】; the demon king army couldn’t launch a large-scale invasion to East End. Moreover, 【North Grand】 was a literal wasteland, ill-suited for growing crops. It was literally an extremely deprived region with no value. Therefore, since the 【North Grand】had zero value became some sort of paradise for the monsters.

Conferring to the investigations conducted by people from the subjugation picture book, with so many monster tribes such as kobold, orc, or goblins living in the 【North Grand】, that place was always embroiled in power struggles.

In normal situations, no one would try to rule the various packs of monsters who had no intelligence or will. The reason being they lived their life on instinct. But still, the monsters there have been in war against each other even before they were discovered. The reason was unclear, but at the very least, they seemed to possess the necessary intelligent and will. That’s why I considered the option of accepting them. I mean, I would just exterminate them if they’re no different from those wild monsters who harmed humankind. Thus, I made a really good plan for this.

「Uhm? What’s matter?」

When I asked so, everyone looked at me, upon seeing everyone watching me as some sort of unbelievable creature,

「Kai, that’s your usual evil joke, right?」

Rose asked, as if trying to make sure that fact despite the cramped smile on her face.

「No, I’m serious about this matter.」

「IT’S STRANGE! COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BOX IN A BAD SENSE! I MEAN, HOW DID YOU ARRIVE TO SUCH IDEA!?」

Maybe because she couldn’t hold back anymore, Rose spoke rapidly, as if she read some sort of spell aria and she looking at me with determined look in her eyes.

「BUHAHAHA!! GOBLINS AND ORCS AFTER THE THREE KINGS OF UNDRWORLD, EH! AS EXPECTED OF SHIFU, YOUR IDEA IS ALWAYS BEYOND OUR EXPECTATIONS!」

Zack burst into laughter as he banged the table.

「Is my idea really that strange?」

I ended up heaving a deep sigh upon seeing all participants of the meeting motionlessly, I nodded in unison with them as the meeting proceeded.

「I guess it really can’t be helped if you’re so against of my plans.」

Having said that, it means that we couldn’t start our new project for now. Winning this crown contest is the only way to fulfill my ambition (of living slow life). Moreover, we are undeniably in dire need for new citizens. Maybe I should start by visiting their hideout first.

I constructed such plan in my head while letting out a sinister chuckle from my mouth,

「Master hasn’t given up yet, eh.」

Asta, who had been observing the meeting in silence for a while, was the first one to pass a comment, filled with satire.