To Have Great Ambitions

Roland looked at the pile of reports that Barov brought over with an unfathomable expression. Perhaps seeing his face changing, Barov decided to look pleased from his own work.

Since Roland was the one asking for the detailed reports, he knew it wouldn't be small. He wasn't exactly complaining either; it was just surprising. As a responsible adult and prince, Roland was more than ready to swallow what he had requested.

Fortunately, while the pile looked intimidating, part of it was because the paper here was thicker than what he used to. When he went through all of it, he barely used half an hour.

He read and read to the point he felt a bit dizzy. This wasn't a story nor history, but various aspects of life that composed Border Town. It was naturally more complex, and he also doubted it would be all. But there were indeed limit what people with this technological progress could do. After all, even in the modern era, it's not like there were no unsupervised areas even for a big and powerful country.

Roland didn't just read through it; he had left some of the reports marked for further consideration.

At some point, a maid with a long flaxen hair had entered the room. After seeing Roland had done at what he was doing, she put down a warm empty cup and poured him a nice hot apple tea from the kettle on her hands.

The minister assistant at the side wasn't neglected; he also got a share of hot tea that he nervously received.

Roland gave his thanks to her as he took a sip. Tea drinking culture wasn't a thing here, and there was also no particular suitable tea leaves in the whole town. The apple tea made from simmering the peels was taken from his recipe after seeing the apples like fruits had their skin peels usually thrown away. The only downside that cinnamon stick and cloves were quite rare commodities, so he couldn't exactly drink it every day. And it was technically a tisane rather than a tea.

Nevertheless, the apple tea was distinctively hot yet smooth to the throat. It silently worked, warming his stomach and made his whole body comfortable against the cold air. He licked the corner of his lips for some droplets stuck there; the tea was slightly sweet when added with a bit of honey.

Satisfied, he picked the most significant and troublesome report from the pile and frowned before long.

He already knew about the zero trade revenue and annual taxes in winter, yet Roland still creased his brows. In the first place, Even when talking about the financial aspect in other seasons, Border Town was really pitiful.

Saying the town an underdeveloped one naturally had its cause. The biggest alarm was the town's trade being basically monopolised by Longsong Stronghold since the previous ruler was the Duke who also controlled Longsong Stronghold.

It was a pity since, in truth, Border Town had a lot of potentials. He didn't even need to know from reading the story ahead; just knowing there were various products that came out from the mine was already a considerable prospect.

All kinds of minerals, from common things like iron and copper to precious gems like ruby and sapphire could be found there. He felt it was odd that mine could be this versatile, and it seemed a lot of people agreed since a rumour circulated that it was an unknown underground lair of something. The seemingly bottomless mine was a mystery, but the only problem for Roland that the town didn't actually had completed grasped on it.

Of course, since he had become the ruler, things would change from then on.

Iron and coppers had a lot for their use, and precious minerals like ruby and sapphire could always be sold expensively as these luxurious goods were always high in value. So long they didn't find any bad snake there, even if the mine would eventually dry up years later, the money gathered from there could be used to develop other areas.

For example, regarding food production.

Border Town might be a small town, but there were a lot of unused plots of land in the vicinity, and it was really a waste to not use it all this time. Even if they could only start from scratch, personally he thought it was still a better course of action to take in the future.

Currently, Border Town mainly imported their food.

Besides the small flow of fishes, meats, and fruits that the people gathered from the redwater river and the misty forest nearby, it was entirely dependent on Longsong Stronghold. What else would this mean other than the Duke held the life of population from Border Town?

In fact, they had no other choices. The Duke was also doing unfair business that they didn't trade the ores with gold royals and only went for food, which not even using reasonable market price.

The people got a small sum of coins from the fur trade, but it was done in such way that no tax flew towards Border Town's treasury. For this practice, Roland can't really blame the people, but it would still need to change along with other systems.

"That duke..." Roland wished he could chew him.

Barov who stayed and silently watching the prince slowly worked on his pile of reports all this time showed a hint of surprise hearing that.

Roland didn't actually care for Barov and even temporarily forgot about him, but since he was already here, it was a good thing since he could directly consult the former Assistant Minister.

"We should stop dealing with Longsong Stronghold." With a light finger tap to the table, Roland made a statement.

Roland idea was so bold that Barov unconsciously gulped down a mouthful of saliva. Worthily a troublemaker prince, his suggestion really needed a harsh rating.

Logically and from the business perspective, it was just right. That Longsong Stronghold basically thought and treated Border Town as their backyard. How much care would one put into their backyard? It depends of course, but clearly, Border Town was a prime example of having an irresponsible owner.

But they can't help it.

The 'buts' were already covered in the report, and Roland understood that most people in Border Town could only retreat to there when the months of the demons started.

Living in the Border Town during the time demonic beasts could come attacking at any moment was simply not an option.

To survive, for that sake the people in Border Town would try to endure.

Even if they had to face a similar tragedy like two years ago when the people in Longsong Stronghold cruelly withstood food, resulting a lot of people died.

Unless a significant change happened to the town, what could be done?

Barov came out of the room with an unfathomable expression. Carter who was waiting outside saw this and immediately had doubts.

"Did the prince stir some troubles again?" The knight carefully asked.

Usually, there were only bitterness and worry, even irritation and frustration when dealing with the wilful prince. The display of that mysterious expression only only deepening the knight's anxiety.

Barov didn't answer; he only gestured Carter and his guests to enter. He would have his answer soon anyway.

Roland knew a lot of things in advance but didn't mean he could handle having the details escaped him. As he waited for Barov to prepare the reports, he also ordered the chief knight to get some local guards and hunter who had had the dealing, and it would be even better if they had fought the demonic beasts.

He couldn't handle both at once, so he read what Barov had prepared first and already told Carter who came later to wait outside. At any rate, it wasn't for long.

The door once again closed and Carter showed that he brings with him, two guards and one hunter. As he introduced them, their identities greatly surprised Roland since it was basically a prelude of a reenactment of what he already knew.

Though he didn't want some things to deviate much, something like this still creeped him out.

It was also depressing. After all, if some things were already fated, then what's the use for people to struggle? Of course, when he thought about it, their presence was only natural since his requirement for people were the same as what Roland in the story asked Carter to gather.

Roland closed his eyes for a moment to calm his heart and took another sip of his tea. Whether the plot experienced changes or not, all that matters were for him to take advantage of it in his favour.

After Carter finished what he wanted to say, the three people bowed simultaneously.

And with his acknowledgement, they started to talk.

It was indeed a reenactment.

Roland wasn't trying to be different when he didn't order them to leave after they finished their business. Since he already had options from the beginning, he also had considered some of his future actions.

Carter and the three guests were bestowed with snacks and teas. Besides the knight who showed an unfathomable expression when given the stuff from the maid in the room, the rest were cleaning them heartily. Evidently, they were satisfied with the treats.

It was to serve as an intermission for them as well a period for Roland to digest what he heard.

After a while, a light tapping resounded. Roland immediately captured the attention of all the people in the room.

"What do you think..." Roland spoke as he looked at the normal town men in the room. "If we stayed in the town during the months of the demons?"

"Absurd!" The knight tried his best to be loud. "This matter is out of the question, Your Highness!"

Roland had fully expected Carter response, so he only gave a glance before waiting for the people he initially looked at to give their answer.

The hunter was looking pensive while the town guards seemed at a loss about what to say. After a while, one of the guards, Brian, finally clenched his teeth and spoke his thought.

"I asked for your forgiveness saying this, but Your Highness, I think it would be impossible."

Roland nodded and urged him to elaborate.

"Perhaps Your Highness had never seen them before, but the threat of the demonic beast is the real deal," Brian showed an increasing restlessness as he spoke further. "Like the hunter previously said, they might be still similar in form to their normal animal's counterparts, but it's not an exaggeration to say that a demonic boar would be ten times tougher than normal boar to kill."

Roland mused briefly, where did the calculation come from? He remembered the hunter illustrated the toughness of demonic boar was that only until 30 meters that a crossbow would have some effect. Did that mean normal boar would be able to be shot from 300 meters?

Of course not.

Some of the best modern crossbows, to his knowledge, could shot as far as half a kilometre. But that was just their limit; the piercing power dismissed greatly not even passed 100 meters range.

But Roland was not in a hurry to rebuke, he gave another nod and looked at the hunter who seemed wanted to say something but preferred not to.

Understanding Roland's gaze, the tall and bulky hunter gave a soft sigh.

"It would be difficult Your Highness," But the hunter didn't immediately deny the possibility. "If you had capable and trained soldiers with walls to protect them perhaps."

"Yes, that's like what the Duke in Longsong Stronghold always does." Carter supplemented. "He also had strong cavalry, but even then what he cleaned yearly was just the remnants in the spring."

"Then, if just for defending, if I give you the wall?" Roland looked confident when saying that, but inwardly he was apprehensive.

This wall making was probably the first obstacle that the Roland in the story needed his knowledge of modern technology to clear. The difficulty of this, fortunately, was a bit low since the foundation for it was already there. And thus, it was something he had a bit of reasonable confidence.

After all, when remodelling his old home from the fortune he got, he used to hang around to supervise the workers for months. To an extent, he really had knowledge regarding modern cement since he also needed to know what they were doing. In fact, he even had some basic understanding in regards to making a foundation.

But without trying it first hand, he was still unsure.