Otaku Translation: The Amber Sword V3C13

Please support the translation by reading the translation and commenting on otakutl official site.

Thank you.

Everyone from Otaku Translation

Chapter 13: The Territory Part 7

As Clenxia bowed his head, the fiery-haired mercenary leader flicked her long crimson locks, casting a slightly disgruntled glance at the silver-haired man. She thought to herself, Don’t drag us into your groveling. Yet, when she opened her mouth to protest, she found no words to justify her frustration. Though she disliked his tone, she couldn’t deny that his words held truth.

In fact, since the night they took their fateful step, they had all understood the consequences awaiting them today. Brandon was right—having already offended one lord, how could they dare offend another? If anyone was to blame, it was their impulsive actions during ’s crackdown that afternoon, which gave him grounds to retaliate.

She let out a soft snort but couldn’t help stealing another glance at him. When they first heard about the young lord’s newly issued tax policies, they exchanged uneasy glances. In , nobles didn’t need such populist measures. They understood that these policies held little practical value. If Brandon could withstand the , even without these concessions, the populace wouldn’t dare oppose a strong ruler. If he failed, everything would be for naught.

Had they imposed heavier taxes, they could have secured more immediate funds—with money, the lord could raise and maintain private troops.

“Doesn’t he realize this?” she wondered. But Brandon was no fool. He understood the workings of a territory from well. The triangular relationship between funds, resources, and development was clear to him. Funds came from trade, taxation, and mining revenue. Resources and population were the backbone of regional growth. was rich in timber and silver; alone had nine lumber mills and a silver mine, along with two quarries and numerous estates and workshops. Yet, aside from silver, these assets paled in comparison to most regions of . Without , this baron might as well have been considered a beggar in the eyes of many nobles.

This was precisely what Brandon despised about Grudin. Even in his diminished state, Grudin refused to adapt. Under his rule, Tonygel’s production methods lagged half a century behind Eruin’s current productivity levels. , vast as it was, boasted fewer than twenty blacksmiths, apprentices included. From the documents left by the previous lord, Cold Fir Castle’s monthly production limit barely exceeded ten suits of chainmail or leather armor. And while Eruin’s magic and technology were laughable compared to the true empires at the pinnacle of power, even within this kingdom, Tonygel was considered subpar. One could only imagine how barren this southern borderland of Jandel truly was.

As once remarked, the only commendable resource in the kingdom’s south was silver. But not all of it reached Grudin’s hands. Beyond the Earl of Jandel, the royal family and the temples claimed their shares, leaving our pitiable baron with only a fraction.

However, Brandon knew that if he acted swiftly, he could control the output of Shafrend’s silver mine for two to three months. He couldn’t fathom how much wealth that might bring—even in the game, he had never managed a territory, let alone operated a mine. Those assets were monopolized by large guilds, and even pay-to-win players trembled before such behemoths.

Brandon estimated it would be worth at least ten to twenty million torr.

With that sum, the mere 270,000 torr annual tax revenue of Cold Fir Barony seemed insignificant. He instructed Antietta to revise the tax policies, ostensibly to win over the populace, though his reasons ran deeper. Having already antagonized most nobles, he needed the support of ordinary citizens. But beyond immediate popularity, Brandon envisioned long-term benefits. He needed not just loyalty but also population growth. Lower taxes would encourage rapid population increases, providing more labor to develop the untamed wilderness.

This was a long-term investment—one that neither Yuta nor Grudin likely had the patience for. For Brandon, silver was enough.

He lowered his gaze to Clenxia, who stood respectfully before him, and replied simply, “We’re going to inspect the territory. Each of you take your men.”

Huh?

Fleur blinked in confusion upon hearing this. She knew Brandon might soon face a battle he had to win. Yet, even now, his tone suggested he intended to reclaim the lumber mills—a task fraught with danger. Those lumber mills were occupied by an entire tribe of cave dwellers, residents of Yhaggoroth’s lowest underground level. On average, their warriors were at least . Even if Brandon was confident of victory, how would he minimize casualties?

Were those lumber mills really that important?

“Inspect the territory?” Not just Fleur but Clenxia was taken aback.

“Cold Fir Castle oversees four lumber mills and two quarries,” Brandon explained. “Today, our mission is to make them ours.”

Yuta frowned. “My lord,” she interjected, raising her head, “we know those lumber mills, but they’re occupied by cave dwellers. Surely you don’t mean for us to retake them?”

Brandon said nothing, merely meeting their gazes.

Yuta and Clenxia exchanged troubled looks. They knew the cave dwellers well—they excelled in night combat and were individually formidable. A fight would cost them dearly, especially after the heavy losses they’d already suffered. And with another major battle looming against ’s forces, Brandon’s insistence on this seemingly unnecessary skirmish was hard to accept.

“My lord…” Clenxia hesitated, raising his head. “The cave dwellers… they come from underground, and their individual strength rivals our best fighters. If we engage them, we’ll suffer losses.” He licked his lips nervously. “Of course, that’s not the main issue, but… there’s word that Lord Minty’s army is gathering…”

His voice trailed off, hoping Brandon would understand his unspoken concerns.

Antietta shook her head. “Lord Minty, Grudin’s vassal, why would he attack us?”

The three mercenaries stared at her, unsure if she was being naive or deliberately obtuse. “Isn’t it obvious, Lady Antietta?” Yuta replied. “He’s Grudin’s vassal, and we killed Grudin. Moreover, the Earl of Jandel backs him. Even if he doesn’t want to act, the earl will pressure him.”

Antietta nodded. “Good point. So our real enemy is the Earl of Jandel, and Lord Minty is merely a pawn. But do you think we stand a chance against the earl?”

The three exchanged uneasy glances. This was their greatest fear. Antietta’s deliberate omission of the druids and the princess left them uneasy. Their eyes turned to Brandon, wondering if he might sacrifice them as scapegoats—a possibility that wasn’t entirely far-fetched.

Brandon glanced at Antietta, pleased that his advisor was finally catching up. Since the battle at , her growth had been remarkable. He raised his head, his thoughts aligning with hers. To deter the Earl of Jandel from outright conflict within a month, relying solely on this barren stretch of land called Tonygel seemed impossible—but it wasn’t.

He knew he had , the druids, and other variables. And Antietta wielded the power of .

But all these required time—and resources. Restoring the territory’s operations was paramount. The four lumber mills and two quarries near Cold Fir Castle had to resume production quickly. Rebuilding walls, training militias, constructing magitech workshops, and operating various crafts demanded materials. Once Roma’s plan began, Brandon needed these systems running smoothly before his own merchant guild could be established.

Thus, he had to conclude the war with Lord Minty before the autumn harvest. Once the territory stabilized, his options would expand.

Time was of the essence.

“Lady Antietta speaks for me,” Brandon declared, softening her expression slightly. “My family can protect me in this struggle, but you are different. I’m not one to abandon my subordinates, but there are limits. If I fail, your fate is clear.” His voice softened. “We are on the same ship, facing not only storms but also opportunities and treasures.”

“At least compared to Grudin, I consider myself a lenient lord,” he added. “As long as you don’t disappoint me, I won’t disappoint you.”

Seeing Clenxia still lost in thought, he added, “As for the cave dwellers…”

Brandon paused. “You know, fought a decade-long war with the underground dwellers over resources.”

Frein looked up, startled. “My lord, do you have a plan?”

“I always have a plan,” Brandon replied casually, adding silently in his mind—though it has nothing to do with the Black Tower wizards.

---

Please vote for this novel at

https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-amber-sword/

If you would like to support this translation, you may choose any one of the options below.