Chapter 78: Trade War

‘It’s faster than I expected.’

Various rumors were circulating about the Spiritual Land.

The primary cause was the Mana-infused iron.

The fact that iron, which only dwarves could typically create, was being produced in our Spiritual Land had become a major topic of discussion.

‘It had an effect I didn’t even anticipate.’

The Fire Spirit, who claimed to have worked with dwarves several times, was doing a better job than expected.

Whether its proficiency was increasing or it was learning from observing the workers at the Refinery was unclear.

—You know those three years’ worth of inner power you mentioned?

“What about it?”

—If you increase it to five years’ worth, I’ll make it even better.

Looking at your current accumulated Soulforce, you can easily afford that much, can’t you?

“Fine.

In exchange, you have to make it well, alright?”

—Of course.

Don’t underestimate how long I’ve lived, Mage.

The Fire Spirit had made repeated requests, and I had simply granted them.

Five years’ worth of inner power per day—it was merely a fraction of the internal energy that would be replenished after a single cycle of my Cultivation Heart Law.

‘It was a bargain.’

Nevertheless, the Fire Spirit ensured that the iron in the Refinery was even better infused with Mana every time I gave him Soulforce.

“Is it that good?”

—Yes.

It’s good Soulforce.

Perhaps because it’s my first time experiencing this kind of energy, it’s quite helpful for my growth.

As it gradually grew, it eventually reached a point where it possessed a fairly strong aura.

As the Fire Spirit grew stronger, the Mana within the iron accumulated more deeply over time.

From then on, the mages of the Magic Tower began to visit more frequently.

“Just give us the secret technique.”

“There is nothing special to it.

As I said, like the dwarves, you just need to use a Fire Spirit.

You just have to contract one and have it extract the iron.”

“Our Magic Tower can produce a tiny amount as well.

That is how we have been sourcing it.

However, mass production is impossible.

There must be something else.”

They began to covet the iron more earnestly.

It was unavoidable.

Dwarves produced Mana-infused iron under the pretext of a divine blessing.

Our Spiritual Land, far from having any blessing, achieved it purely through Magic.

‘I did borrow the power of a Spirit Summoner a little… but only for the summoning.’

Other mages could contract spirits as well.

But it was only for a very brief moment.

If they offered Mana, the spirit would do about one task in return as payment.

In that sense…

—Why?

“Nothing.”

The Fire Spirit sticking by my side was special.

‘How exactly is he maintaining a physical manifestation?’

This Fire Spirit remained summoned continuously, pumping out Mana-infused iron.

Not just once, but throughout the entire operation of the Blast Furnace!

Naturally, the Magic Tower coveted him.

They likely thought there was some special secret technique.

If I had to name a secret…

‘Mugong.’

It was thanks to the Mugong that hadn’t existed in this world.

However, there was no reason to explain that.

“I have told you the truth, haven’t I?”

“Please, don’t be like that.

Why don’t you share…”

“I don’t see what the Magic Tower is doing for me.

Why don’t we make a deal instead?”

“A deal?”

“Yes.

If there is something the Magic Tower can provide us…

I might consider passing it on then.”

The Spiritual Land had almost no mages at the moment.

I thought about recruiting some from the Magic Tower this time, but they were quite picky.

“I will report it to the higher-ups for now.”

“Yes.

Do that.”

A long time passed, but the Magic Tower did not return.

‘Their pride must be hurt.’

Since I wouldn’t teach them, they were surely making countless attempts to do it themselves.

I left them alone because it made things easier for me, but I didn’t expect the rumors to spread so far.

Thanks to that, numerous lords became interested in our Spiritual Land.

And among them…

‘…That damn Marquis sticks his nose into everything.’

The antagonistic Marquis of Owen was included.

Originally, our Spiritual Land could source its own iron.

We could supply the entire land using three iron mines we had painstakingly developed in the North and two in the Eastern Region.

‘It was cutting it close, though.’

The situation changed after building the Refinery.

The required amount became greater than what we could source internally.

We sourced that deficit through the Marquis of Owen.

A feud is a feud, but a deal is a deal.

‘The Marquis of Owen didn’t have a pretext to refuse.’

When we said we would purchase the surplus iron, he sold it happily.

Iron itself is a vital resource, but Marquis Owen’s House, with its many mountain ranges, was abundant in iron ore.

He saw it as a short-term gain to sell it to us.

‘He probably calculated that he could fully arm himself with the money earned from selling the iron.’

The problem was that the iron from our Spiritual Land was so incredible that even the Magic Tower coveted it.

This caused the Marquis of Owen’s House to stop selling iron to our Spiritual Land.

“Does the Duke’s Household of Jiseoteu still refuse to open trade?”

“You know how he is.

He has always been isolationist.

He even said he wouldn’t allow us passage.”

“Dammit…”

Duke Gisert of the Eastern Region had, of course, refused from the beginning.

I requested that if he wouldn’t sell from his own Spiritual Land, he should at least allow us to transport iron purchased from elsewhere through his territory.

Naturally, the request was ignored.

The Marquis also blocked the transit routes using various excuses.

It was a ridiculous pretext, claiming that the roads had to be closed to prepare for the movement of winter monsters since autumn was approaching.

‘That’s bullshit.

The problem is that the one spewing that bullshit has the power.’

Compared to our Spiritual Land, the Marquis’s territory is peaceful.

Even if the monsters in the North go wild as they do in our land or the Duke’s, the Marquis’s territory is located below ours.

While there are monsters, they aren’t on a massive scale like in our Spiritual Land.

Despite this, blocking trade while using monsters as an excuse meant he couldn’t stand to see this place grow.

‘We’re surrounded on all sides.’

Consequently, the Marquis’s method worked perfectly.

To the west is the border, and trading with the enemy Nation of Resen is difficult.

Going through the North is impossible because of monsters.

If the Marquis and the Duke block the paths, trade becomes difficult in any direction.

‘This is why it was so hard for our territory to grow…’

If the situation escalated, the Royal Family might mediate, but by then, the year would already be over.

In fact, it was questionable how much the Royal Family would even move for our sake.

Their job was always to keep almost every noble family in check, setting aside our Count’s household.

The probability of them moving for our Spiritual Land, which was on a fast track to growth, was slim.

Looking at the residents outside right now…

—Is life not pretty good lately?

—It’s all thanks to the Count.

Ah, and the Youngest Lord as well!

—I hear this year’s harvest will be something to see.

—It’s wonderful.

The people of the Spiritual Land were full of smiles, far from being miserable.

In a peace they hadn’t seen in a long time, and with increased harvests from the New Farming Method, they were overjoyed.

Internally, it was nothing short of a long-awaited era of peace.

‘The Royal Family must have their informants.’

Thus, there was no way the Royal Family was unaware of this situation.

Even a brief look would show that the conditions in the Spiritual Land had improved overall.

“Furthermore, the Marquis’s House is gradually deploying soldiers forward.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.

Word has it that it’s to keep this side in check.

They’re likely aiming for the winter when soldiers are focused on the North.”

The problem was that the outside world wouldn’t leave our Spiritual Land alone.

‘They think I’m a joke just because I’ve stayed quiet.’

It seemed I needed to show the Marquis’s House a thing or two.

At the same time, I had to find a way to source iron ore internally.

“What should we do?”

“We are blocked on all sides.

As for a solution…”

I racked my brain.

What should I do?

Should I establish another mine in the North?

Or was there another way?

I went through Jegal Hyeon’s knowledge and Kim Seonggeon’s memories, but nothing came up.

Then…

‘…Ah.

Why didn’t I think of this?’

I managed to pull out a single memory from one side.

Simultaneously…

‘I should take them all down this time.’

I also came up with a plan to deal with the person who blocked my work at every turn.

‘I’ll have to… tell Father later.’

What I planned was dangerous.

Father, who prioritized family, would surely oppose my plan.

Therefore, I had to carry it out myself.

‘It makes sense, considering the past.’

When Father became the Master of the House, his younger self had faced a crisis due to the Marquis of Owen’s schemes.

Many people died then.

In our family, where children were rare…

‘They were almost entirely wiped out.’

Quite a few people died in that incident.

A significant number of those who could be called branch family members were also killed.

From assassinations and poisonings to betrayals—the Marquis, who was middle-aged at the time, used every method available.

All Father could do was pick up the pieces of the family in crisis.

Since there was also movement from the enemy Nation of Resen at the time, it was difficult to step forward and wage a territorial war.

Just when he thought he was getting things under control, monsters attacked.

A significant number died again then.

‘The timing was perfect.’

After fending off the monsters, he looked toward the Marquis’s House only to find they had already sent troops and were heavily guarded.

It’s common sense that attacking is harder than defending.

It was difficult to break through the Marquis’s House when they were fully prepared.

If Duke Gisert, fearing our family would fall to the Marquis of Owen, hadn’t moved his troops…

‘The family might have been annihilated.’

Our family’s current power might have shriveled or collapsed significantly.

The Duke moved to check the Marquis rather than out of goodwill, but thanks to that, we survived.

And Father…

‘He’s always preparing.’

He devoted himself to building strength to strike the Marquis’s House, being called the Silent Knight by the outside world and staying out of politics.

He poured all his energy into cultivating the family’s internal strength.

Although various problems were scattered within…

‘It’s a feat in itself that he restored the lost influence after becoming the Master of the House.’

Even what he achieved would have been impossible if Father hadn’t poured his heart into it.

But now, as we tried to increase our influence again, the two families were moving to keep us in check.

I had to act.

‘Now, I’ll be the one to pay them back.’

If they had no intention of giving us time to build and grow the Spiritual Land’s internal strength, I had my own ways.

I moved calmly for that purpose.

“Pling.

I have a use for them.

How many can you spare?”

“I can make enough to arm 100 people, but will that be alright?”

“That’s enough.”

I organized the equipment using the Administrative Officer’s power.

The targets for the armaments were the Iron Fist.

A more robust Gajei asked me.

“Is it actual combat right away?”

“Gajei will take seventy members of his squad, and Sian will take thirty.

The rest will have to move separately when the time comes.”

“That’s a pity.”

“There will be plenty of reasons to move in the future.

There’s no need to feel bad.”

“Then we will also be preparing in our own way.”

“Good.”

Clang.

Under their leadership, the members of the Iron Fist began their preparations.

They donned their gear.

“You must break them in.”

“Swing them until it doesn’t matter even if you collapse.”

They began to break in their new weapons, making them their own cherished arms.

“Let’s perform a final check.”

“Yes!”

I watched and guided them.

‘They have the malice, but it’s still shallow.

A way to fill it completely is…’

I needed a strong few rather than a weak many.

‘There is one.’

The Iron Fist had been created to be my hands and feet.

I had to turn them into elites in a short amount of time.