The Amber Sword

Chapter 107 – Trentheim and the young lord (7)

“Yes, she’s considered royalty, what of it, Ser Orthlyss?” Brendel said in his mind.

“Nothing, it’s just that she appears familiar to my eyes. Hmm, indeed, she’s very familiar to someone I know but it shouldn’t be her. Perhaps her descendant. But if she’s royalty, then your problem is as good as solved.” Orthlyss said.

“But— How?”

“One of the Legacies that the Silver Elves provide is the technique of conducting Elements. The royal members definitely know this technique.” Orthlyss said, and she became silent.

“…… I see,” Brendel nodded and looked at Medissa, “you mean to say that you possess the technique to control the Elements?”

She nodded.

“Very well, this matter is solved. That’s one obstacle down. Let’s move on to the question of conversion of Fire Element to flames. The majority of the alchemist’s Magic Formations formulas are instantaneous, but the Fire Element needs to be released in a continuous, steady pulse. I’m not sure if the existing formulas will be sufficient for what we need.” Brendel said.

“Is there no other way besides using an alchemist?” Bosley’s excited brows quickly sank down and said with a little anguish: “But it doesn’t sound like it’s very difficult.”

“Of course it’s difficult. The level of stability required for the Magic Formation is extremely high. But it’s not as if there are no alternate methods. The first is Fortification Magic Formation to stabilize and convert it, but that will limit the output. The second method is finding a better material and combine it with an alchemist’s Magic Formation. However, it will be expensive.”

Brendel thought for a while.

[A smaller furnace with Fortification Magic. A bigger furnace with a better material spent on it. That’s an acceptable sacrifice.]

“Well, it’s fine. A substitute is better than none. I’ll have my alchemist, Tamar, research on the magic formations and see if he comes up with a better alternative. Let’s move on to the final problem. A Mana Core and Mana Conductor.”

“I can do something…… about the Mana Core,” Bosley glanced at Brendel, and for the first time in the discussion, he stuttered: “I have some contacts that I know in Seifer, Corvado, and Ampere Seale. I can ask them to get a few Mana Cores for me, but Capital-sized cores will not be possible.”

“It’s enough if we can get some medium-sized ones!” Brendel answered.

Amandina had a few designs on machines that harnessed Magicite. It should be possible for her machines to use Mana Cores. Mana Conductors were much rarer as they are controlled by the Royal Family and powerful nobles.

But he was a little surprised at Bosley’s initiative. This was the first time the latter used his network, which meant that this furnace toy was really tempting to him. What really delighted Brendel was the Bosley’s revelation of such a wide network. If he could utilize it……

“Grandmaster Bosley, why don’t you ask your friends to bring over some people over? Are you not lacking with manpower?” He tested the water.

The old man glared at him: “You want to drag more people on your sinking pirate ship? I don’t care about other people, but stop thinking I will help you get my students or the Royal Faction’s members!”

“No, no, no, you’re wrong,” Brendel was not discouraged at all, and moved to persuade him: “The Royal Faction or us, are we not on the same? We’re all trying to help the princess right?”

Bosley scoffed loudly. He did not trust the youth, but once he thought about the Lionheart resonating to Brendel’s presence, he started to loosen up: “I’ve agreed to work for you, young man, but I have no power to interfere with my students’ lives. It is especially more so for the Royal Faction.”

“But I’m not asking you to interfere with their decisions. You can invite them over and I’m not asking you to force them too; they are just here to help us and they can leave whenever they like. We all need to be flexible!” Brendel sighed with a little exaggeratedly and shook his head.

Brendel put his arm around Bosley and drew a wonderful image for him:

“This isn’t very different from the fact that we’re smuggling silver, right? We’re trying to restore Aouine to its former glory, and I’ll definitely be paying them for their service. None of your students will suffer. This is a win-win trade for both us and the princess—”

[Phew. A few years as a commander in the game and experience in a working industry really helped out here. Really, if those godly CEOs come over, they might be able to create scams that would break a kingdom, ah, no, a multi-national company? Hmm, maybe they could set up a religion that permeates every kingdom!]

Brendel could not help but think they would be able to match the religions in this world.

This action made the girls giggle when they saw Brendel’s expressions. He resembled a devil from hell, persuading Bosley with his honeyed tongue and mischevious eyes.

Bosley finally looked as though he was convinced. He hesitated before speaking: “Very well, what does my lord needs exactly?”

“What I need exactly? People! As many as you can get! Any race will do! Even young children are fine!” Brendel blurted.

“What!? Young children? Y-you, want me to do human trafficking? Are you mad? Aouine outlaws human trafficking—”

Bosley’s voice faltered off at the end. Aouine had plenty of black markets, and nobles were always doing this dirty act. It was an open secret.

The Brendel that he knew was not someone like that. Even though he openly mocked the youth for being idealistic, he did admire his character for staying on that path. It was befitting for his age, after all.

“What are you talking about, what do you mean by ‘human trafficking’? These two words sound so nasty. Grandmaster Bosley, please don’t bring the horrendous habits of those old nobles to my land—” Brendel showed an overly offended expression and shook his head with disapproval at Bosley.

Bosley nearly choked. He glared exasperatedly at Brendel.

[You are the one who said you wanted people. You even want young children! What other reasons do you have if you want them!]

“Then what do you mean exactly, my lord?” Bosley looked at him with narrowed eyes.

“Let me give you an example. Do you know about the War of the Black Rose?”

“What’s that?”

“Hmm……?”

Brendel suddenly blinked a few times. He suddenly realized that the kingdom had not given a name to Madara’s invasion yet. The War of the Black Rose did not exist. He coughed and smoothly changed his contents.

“I’m referring to Madara’s invasion a few months ago.”

“….. But what does a black rose have to do with Madara?”

Brendel had black lines on his head. Would the old man stop going off-topic?

“I heard that Madara is also called as the Black Rose of Brumand. Perhaps my lord is talking about this?” Scarlett said.

Comprehension dawned on the old man and he nodded: “That makes sense. I believe the people who write Aouine’s history would give that name as well. And what of it?”

Brendel coughed lightly:

“Ahem. The War of the Black Rose will appear to be the biggest war after the second Holy War, but that isn’t true. Very soon, the Royal Crown will lose their power to rein in the nobles, and these nobles will eventually go to war with each other. In fact, for the past twenty years there have been constant skirmishes, and one day, a civil war will eventually happen……”

The young lord took a momentary pause and asked: “Do you know where the refugees are right now in the Macsen region?”

“Hmm? I do know some of the refugees are working for me—” Bosley suddenly realized what Brendel meant and he looked at him in surprise: “My lord, do you mean refugees?”

“Yes. The constant skirmishes between the nobles have caused a considerable amount of people to lose their homes. These refugees had to become farmers or even fall into servitude. They have hardly any clothes, no homes, no food, and no hope. Although I don’t have a clear number of the kingdom’s refugees, I’m sure there are many people who are troubled with their current lives. Attracting them would be simple. Sufficient meals and the direction to a better life would be able to get them to migrate to Trentheim. All we need to do is to provide a safe passage.”

TL: The one who actually committed the crime…is YOU! No alibi, no justice, no dream, no hope! It’s time to pay for your crimes! TAKE THAT!”