Chapter 97

"It's a complete deadlock, isn't it?"

A week had passed since the arbitration negotiations began, and the Count of the Breychreider Margraviate sighed deeply, as no progress had been made.

The reason was that while the von Knappstein Viscount, the envoy from the kingdom, had proposed a plan that they would accept, the Brova family was rejecting it, saying it was "too high!"

Each day ended with the two sides' negotiation amounts never meeting.

Additionally, the two successors involved in the negotiations were in unison demanding, "Make Carla the wife of Count Baumayster!"

As a form of apology for assisting in the rebellion, though unofficially, they were offering to give Carla as a wife to me.

While I could understand this as a compromise in the negotiations between our house and the Brova family, it also meant sharing the profits from the development of the frontier lands with the Brova family.

Naturally, the Count of the Breychreider Margraviate was furious, and it seemed odd that the negotiations would come to an agreement this way.

"Those two are as stubborn as ever, but I can understand what they are aiming for."

The current conflict has essentially become a confrontation between the Breychreider Margraviate and Baumayster families against the Brova Margraviate.

Given the history, the Breychreider Margraviate would never back down, and our house, being a new and young-led family, is the target.

"The reduction of the ransom and Carla's marriage as a share of the profits. It's a sweet deal, but it's also their only option."

"That's a harsh situation."

"Whether it's royalty, nobility, or merchants, targeting weaknesses in negotiations is a standard tactic, right?"

Katarina and I, if we can secure a certain amount of ransom, would be in a significant profit, making it the easiest target for reduction.

Since we are not involved in the conflict's profit rights, the negotiations are simpler, which is a good thing.

"How much is the ransom for us, anyway?"

"450 million cents."

This is the combined amount for our house and the Waigel family.

The amount is high because there are many captives, and thus the ransom is high.

"Even a tenth of that would still be a profit."

Our army consists of fewer than a hundred people.

Considering the management costs of the captives, the profit margin was astronomical.

This also proved that high-level mages could earn a lot in the current rules of war.

"But if we only ask for a tenth, we'll be seen as being taken advantage of."

"Indeed..."

If we don't demand as much ransom as possible, we will be evaluated poorly as nobles.

However, it is difficult to get the other side to pay more under the current circumstances.

It would take time, and that delay would result in losses from the development of the frontier lands.

"What about in-kind payment?"

"That would also be difficult."

Land, mining rights, and treasures held by the Brova family.

None of these would be easily handed over.

"To accept in-kind payment, and for it to be valuable..."

"Moreover, something the Brova family considers to have little value... I have it!"

Katarina had been thinking for a while and seemed to have come up with an idea.

"Why not take the 'Hertania Valley'?"

"Hertania Valley? ...That's right! We have that option!"

While many people didn't know about it, Katarina, with her slightly longer experience as an adventurer, was familiar with it.

"It's a place known to have many high-quality mines and ore deposits."

"I didn't know such a place existed. I don't know why Katarina thinks it can be easily handed over to Vel."

According to ancient documents, the Hertania Valley was a famous mining area during the ancient magic civilization era.

It was rich in iron, copper, gold, silver, mithril, orichalcum, and various gemstones.

There were many unmined mines and ore deposits, and if they could be developed, they would bring enormous profits.

"But it hasn't been conquered yet, right?"

"Yes. Several famous mages have tried, but..."

They failed, which is why the Hertania Valley remains a den of monsters.

In response to Eina's question, Katarina answered.

"The monsters there are unique."

Typically, monsters in a monster domain have a somewhat biological shape, even if they are special.

There are some undead, but they are rare and can be relatively easily defeated with holy magic.

"However, the monsters in the Hertania Valley..."

For some reason, they are all made of rock.

They look like wolves, boars, bears, eagles, and wyverns, which are common in other domains, but their bodies are made of rock.

They don't need to eat and can reproduce, giving birth to rock children.

This could be considered a form of division.

Even the scholars in the capital are stumped by these strange monsters.

From what I've heard, they seem to be more like golems with independent actions.

"Even if we ask adventurers to exterminate them, most of them refuse."

They can be killed by cutting off their heads or piercing their hearts, just like regular monsters.

However, it's unclear if they are truly alive, as they don't bleed and simply stop moving.

When defeated, they drop magic stones and ore.

"Most of the ore is iron or copper, and the smaller monsters only drop fist-sized pieces. Moreover, their rock bodies cause significant weapon wear, so no one dares to enter."

Logically, other domains would be much more efficient.

"Could they be golems?"

"Many scholars think so."

In response to Louise's question, Katarina answered.

Regardless, the development of the Hertania Valley has been hindered by these rock monsters.

"You know a lot, Katarina."

"I once planned to conquer this place and become a noble."

"You're a challenger."

Indeed, if she could conquer this place, she could easily become a noble, regardless of her gender.

However, her plan failed at the planning stage.

One or two famous mages alone would not be enough to succeed.

"I've heard that the great-grandfather of the Brova Margraviate also sent troops."

He sent about ten thousand soldiers into the Hertania Valley, but they were immediately attacked by tens of thousands of rock wolves, boars, and bears, and then by tens of thousands of eagles and wyverns from the sky.

They were annihilated without even seeing the shadow of the domain's boss.

"Is the Brova family trying to recover from that debt by causing trouble in the south?"

"It's possible."

"It sounds familiar..."

Mainly, it's about my family.

"In the past, one high-level and two mid-level mages, and then two high-level and two mid-level mages, entered but were overwhelmed by the number of monsters and had to retreat. They only managed to bring back a little ore, according to the records of the Adventurer's Guild."

Like a dungeon, if the boss is defeated, the monsters lose their command and their numbers decrease.

Or, they might completely stop moving.

If the monsters in the Hertania Valley are rock golems, defeating the boss would likely disable the mechanism protecting the domain.

"A legacy of the ancient magic civilization."

"Vendelin, do you know about it?"

"Just a quick read in a book. I just remembered it."

The book was in the library of the Ishlberg family's manor in the dungeon.

I was half-dazed from recovering from a lack of mana and read it out of boredom, so I don't remember much, but it was a book listing his creations.

"Vel, you weren't interested because it wasn't yours."

"High-level traps were set to prevent others from mining. The ancient magic craftsmen were amazing."

Louise is right. If asked to open it, it wouldn't be worth it without a large sum of money.

Eina was genuinely impressed by the ancient magic crafts.

"We have the manpower, but we need a good plan to open it."

"Lord Vendelin, Lord Blantark, Katarina, Uncle, and Louise. If these five are the main force, it might be possible to defeat the boss."

Elise's reasoning didn't seem to bother anyone.

"Indeed, it might work."

At this point, the Hertania Valley is a burden for the Brova family.

If we reduce the ransom slightly and accept it as in-kind payment, and then open it ourselves, it would quickly turn into a valuable asset.

"Even if it seems impossible, it won't be too much trouble to manage."

It's near the border between the south and east, and as long as it remains a monster domain, no one will enter.

Even if we reduce the ransom by 100 million cents, it would still be a huge profit, and we could escape the tedious arbitration.

"Let's propose it immediately."

The next day, when I brought up this proposal at the arbitration, the Brova family's response was better than expected.

"You mean the Hertania Valley? Are you planning to open it, Count Baumayster?"

"It's worth a try."

"That's fine, but please be careful..."

They probably think it's impossible to conquer the Hertania Valley, even with three mages and ten thousand troops, as we would run out of mana and be overwhelmed by tens of thousands of rock golems.

Unusually, they didn't argue and readily accepted our terms.

"Viscount von Knappstein, please record this proposal officially."

"Is that acceptable?"

"It's fine."

By officially recording it, the Hertania Valley would legally belong to the Baumayster family, and any other family trying to mine it would be seen as an invasion.

While it's often better to keep the rights ambiguous, recording it here would prevent the Brova family from causing trouble after we open it.

"Then, the settlement amount will be 350 million cents, paid over ten years."

Paying the full amount immediately is impossible, so installment payments are necessary.

"Even with the costs, the settlement amount for one year alone would be a profit. If we can open the Hertania Valley, it would be a huge profit."

We can give the Brova family a scare, escape the arbitration, and free up our time.

After all, we aim to open the Hertania Valley.

"Count of the Breychreider Margraviate, I have a request."

"Sure, but if you open the Hertania Valley, give us a share."

"Of course."

We need to arrange personnel for actual mining and to protect against interference and theft from neighboring nobles.

Sharing some of the profits with the Count of the Breychreider Margraviate is necessary for safe mining.

"Then, let's keep dealing with those two for a while. I wonder what face they'll make if Count Baumayster opens the Hertania Valley?"

"Of course, I intend to succeed. I'll mobil