Chapter 62

Zezu proposed a problem regarding the recent increase in red tides.

"It hasn't affected fishing yet, but it could get quite bad as it gets warmer."

Everyone in the meeting room looked grim.

The damage to fishing caused by red tides was a headache for everyone.

Sora cast his gaze outside.

The cityscape was dotted with wooden houses that mimicked the Great Tree Hall.

The rare wooden architecture in the kingdom was beginning to become a characteristic of Sora's autonomous region.

The standard of living was approaching the kingdom's average, and there was still room for growth.

However, the situation in the Kleinzelt barony was the opposite, deteriorating steadily.

Sora was working behind the scenes, but his efforts were not enough to stop the decline.

The number of refugees flowing into the viscount's territory was increasing.

Moreover, it was revealed through investigations that the Kleinzelt barony was not taking any measures to stop the influx of refugees.

The issue was the food for the refugees.

The viscount's territory, where crops could not be grown, did not engage in livestock farming. Similarly, agriculture was not thriving.

Furthermore, the viscount's territory, which was covered by the Black Pine Forest, had started a business using pine resin as a specialty product. The land and labor were insufficient to cultivate crops.

Naturally, they had to rely on imports, but there were limits to transportation capacity and funds.

The influx of refugees was a form of siege warfare.

It seemed that someone, not the pig lord, had devised a strategy to hinder Sora's activities by depleting his funds through the support of refugees.

It was a skillful move that was steadily obstructing Sora's activities.

Currently, the demand for human resources was increasing, so he could provide jobs to the refugees, and the increase in the number of people producing goods was welcome.

However, not all exported goods would necessarily sell. If there was an oversupply, the value would decrease.

An increase in population would not necessarily lead to a proportional increase in income.

Moreover, even if there were funds, securing food was a separate issue.

The main source of food was from the Bartzel barony, but even with its renowned agriculture and forestry, there were limits to the supply.

It was time to find a new source of imports or invent a substitute, or the price of food in Sora's autonomous region would rise.

This would lead to a situation known as stagflation.

In simple terms, it was a situation where prices rose despite a lack of money.

While working on the reconstruction of the Kleinzelt territory, it was imperative to avoid entering a period of economic stagnation.

"That pig father really doesn't do anything useful."

Losing the energy to even click his tongue, Sora pondered the issue of securing food.

Chafu crossed his arms and spoke with a frown.

"Just hand over the wood processing technology to our Trinen family honestly."

The main export destination for compressed wood was the Trinen barony.

It was used as a building material, but the Trinen baron, focusing on its strength and lightness, was using it for siege weapons.

The technology for compressed wood was a coveted target for the Trinen family. Exchanging it for food would benefit both parties.

However,

"It's an important source of funds for me personally. I have no intention of giving it to anyone."

When Sora rejected the request, Chafu uncrossed his arms.

"Then, what are you going to do?"

Sora closed his eyes and pondered for about two minutes before turning to Zezu.

"Where does the red tide occur?"

"At the river mouth. As usual."

When Zezu answered without hesitation, Sora nodded and turned to Sania.

"Didn't I ask you to cultivate ice plants before? Do you have any data?"

"Yes. But cultivation on the sea hasn't been successful."

"This time, it's likely to succeed."

"What do you mean?"

Sania tilted her head.

Sora smiled slyly.

"The fact that the red tide occurs at the river mouth means that food is flowing in from the river. In other words, if we cultivate ice plants in the river, we can intercept the food for the red tide. By the way, the food is probably the ash from the trees that burned in the Bartzel barony."

"The nutrients were washed into the river by the rain?"

Sora chuckled and held up his hand to stop Lylu, who had leaned forward, sensing that the conversation had entered the realm of science.

"Yes, I'll explain in detail later, so calm down."

"Can I leave now? I need to tidy up the inspection of the new ship model I made yesterday. I'll also prepare the model of the viscount's territory and the simulation."

Lylu stood up, casually letting her red-tinted blonde hair flow down her back.

"New ship... the high-speed ship, right? Make sure to submit a proper report later."

"I understand. See you."

Lylu, who had become a science enthusiast, left the meeting room.

"Sania, we will cultivate ice plants hydroponically throughout the river. We will dredge the riverbed soil and use it as fertilizer, but the salinity will change depending on the time of tidal influx, so I'll ask Lylu to create the data. Sania, please compile the cultivation methods of ice plants with diagrams for clarity."

After seeing this, Kor timidly raised his hand and asked for permission to speak.

"I have a request, too..."

"What is it?"

"Complaints have been received about the vegetables transported to the coastal areas, saying that many of them are damaged and unusable."

Sora sighed involuntarily, and Kor apologized, "I'm sorry." Sora sighed again at the quick apology, typical of a middle manager.

"Zezu, is it possible to further reduce the transportation time using river boats?"

"It's at the limit. The boats would have to be faster."

"I see. That's a problem."

Muttering, Sora thought about transporting the imported vegetables in a refrigerated state to prevent them from spoiling, and he thought of dry ice.

"Would it be possible with magic?"

If there was a magic to apply pressure, it was already being used in the production of compressed wood. The values could be adjusted for reuse.

Sora glanced at Sania.

"I believe Sania won't complain even if the workload increases."

Sania smiled wryly.

The production of compressed wood was carried out by Sania and the Flame Team. However, the magic array used for processing was a culmination of advanced mathematics, which only Sora and Sania could handle.

To prevent misuse, advanced mathematics were not publicly disclosed.

As a result, the magic arrays that had developed through advanced mathematics were treated as forbidden books.

"Tell me the necessary values. And lend me the key to the forbidden book room."

Sania stood up and held out her hand.

"Thank you, Sania. I love you. If you let me touch your ears, I'll love you even more—"

"Key!"

"Damn. Here you go."

Sania, who had received the key to the forbidden book room, stuck out her tongue at Sora in disgust and left the meeting room.

Once she heard the values, she could modify the magic array herself to achieve the desired effect. Sania had become a skilled magician.

"Does anyone else have any requests?"

Sora asked the remaining members, but they all shook their heads.

—Except for Lazzette.

"Lazzette, do you have something to say?"

When Sora asked curiously, she opened her mouth with a very serious expression.

"I want a vacation."

"Sure. Let's adjourn the meeting."

Sora clapped his hands to announce the end of the meeting, and everyone stood up.

However, Zezu, noticing Lazzette's still serious expression, stopped and everyone turned to look at her.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Sora, genuinely worried, asked, and Lazzette nodded.

Then, with a few words, she plunged the meeting room, now devoid of women, into confusion.

"...I think I'm pregnant."