Chapter 82

When Sora told the merchant that the delivery of the timber would be confirmed after checking the details, the merchant fled as if escaping.

Chaf, who looked as if he was about to bite, glared at Sora.

"Von Kleinseilt, what do you intend to do?"

"First, we need to grasp the current situation. We don't even know if the contract was actually signed. We could ask the officials, but..."

"They won't speak honestly. We should just capture them, right?"

"There's a high possibility they have guards. At worst, it could turn into a battle. If blood is shed right after I take office, the people will become even more disheartened. It would be a win for the officials."

Chaf's brows furrowed.

"Is it a given that the officials will turn their swords against Von Kleinseilt?"

"Unfortunately, this is the kind of place. If they flee to the earl's territory, everything can be hushed up."

"Then, what should we do?"

Sora, with his arms crossed, had no solution either. He was trying to find a loophole in the contract, but the text, written by someone who had become an official, had no gaps.

As Sora was deep in thought, Zess and the others, who had been exploring the second floor, entered the room.

"Master Sora, we found the contract. It was stuck on the wall in the back room of the second floor, for all to see."

Zess sighed, holding the contract. Chaf, growing even more irritated, started tapping his foot on the floor. Sora, taking the contract from Zess, checked the text and clicked his tongue.

"It's a perfect act of spite."

"Do we really have to hand over the timber?"

Sania, shivering from the wind blowing in from outside, rubbed her arms to warm herself. It was the middle of winter, and the viscount's territory was about to be rebuilt. The demand for timber, both as fuel and materials, was expected to increase. Losing it would be painful.

"As long as the contract is in place, we have no choice but to fulfill it. The delivery of the timber is a certainty."

Sora stated this with a bitter feeling. The expressions of Sania and Luly darkened. The incident of the firewood shortage, which began with a lottery and involved homeless children, was deeply etched in their memories. This time, since the merchant would take the timber out of town, there would be no sawdust, making the situation even more dire than before. Gorgie, tapping the shoulders of the gloomy girls, suggested a solution.

"Importing from elsewhere is the quickest solution."

Unlike last time, there was no merchant guild hoarding the timber. If imports were possible, the problem could be solved quickly.

"Collecting enough for warmth from nearby villages is the best we can do. Even that, we don't know if it will be enough."

The demand for timber would also increase for the production of smoked wood for the birch trade with the Bartzel侯爵領 (Bartzel Marquessate). It would be difficult to gather enough to meet the demand. The birch wood was already contracted to be reverse-imported to the Bartzel Marquessate, so it couldn't be reallocated. Importing timber from the Bartzel Marquessate, which had been burned in a fire, was impossible. Sora looked at Chaf, considering using a hostage to resolve the situation. Chaf, realizing Sora's thoughts, frowned and looked reluctant.

"I want to help the people, but importing timber from our Trinen Marquessate is impossible."

The Trinen Marquessate, composed mostly of gentle hills and grasslands, was known for its livestock. The few forests were strictly managed, and the wood produced was used for the metalworking industry. Even then, it was insufficient, and they had to import from the neighboring Sildorba Marquessate. The Trinen Marquessate was chronically short of timber. Importing timber from the Sildorba Marquessate to the Von Kleinseilt Viscountate would be impractical due to the lack of river routes and high transportation costs.

"Metals, on the other hand, can be supplied..."

Chaf, looking regretfully at the town, muttered. He was a boy who cared for the people. While he sometimes went too far, like challenging to a duel, he was fundamentally kind. He was also thinking of a good plan. Sora, looking at him, turned to Lazzette and the others.

"Let's start with what we can do."

Even small results, when accumulated, can have a significant effect. Sora, resigned, looked at Lazzette and the others.

"Zess, have the Wood Dora Guild collect firewood and sawdust. Kor, go around the nearby villages and negotiate to share their stored firewood. Also, visit the restaurants and inns to ask for their cooperation in reducing fuel consumption."

If they didn't secure fuel, there would be deaths from the cold. Despite the rapid instructions, Zess and Kor nodded and immediately left the room. As they watched them go, Sora felt something nagging at the back of his mind. A sense that he had overlooked something settled in his thoughts.

– Why is the contract here in the first place...?

To create a shortage of timber, there was no need to leave the contract. If it had disappeared with other documents, the merchant could have tricked the town. In fact, if the purpose was to create a shortage, it would have been more effective to take it and run.

– To verify the validity of the contract?

If the merchant overstepped, the town officials could reject the contract as unfair and beyond their authority. This could make sense as a way to prevent the merchant from overstepping.

– What is it? Something still feels off.

With an uneasy feeling, Sora frowned and pursed his lips.

"– Master Sora, something seems strange in the town."

Luly, who had been looking out the broken wooden window at the town below, called out to Sora and beckoned him. Sora, momentarily puzzled, then, spurred by Luly's words, realized the source of his unease and his face changed. He immediately rushed to the window and looked at the town. He knew where to look.

"We've been had...!"

A crowd had gathered around the timber storage warehouse.

"Hey, Von Kleinseilt, what's going on there?"

Chaf, using his height to look over Sora's head, was puzzled. Sora looked as if he had bitten into a bitter bug.

"The one who ransacked this mansion has been spreading the word among the townspeople."

– Damn, if I had realized the intent earlier.

If someone had entered the mansion before Sora and the others, they would have seen it. The contract, prominently displayed in the back room of the second floor,

"Contract for the delivery of timber."

Whoever saw the contract must have hurried back to the town and gathered volunteers. To protect the essential firewood needed to survive the winter, they barricaded themselves in the storage warehouse.

"If we don't act, the confusion will only worsen. We need to get to the scene immediately!"

– One problem after another, and I just arrived today.

With a click of his tongue, Sora and the others rushed out.

May 8th, revised and added.