C169

During the Western Roman Empire era, the Romans were skilled in producing iron tools. However, they used a low-temperature smelting method for wrought iron that prevented the production of steel, and made it challenging to separate iron and slag. Moreover, carbon could not penetrate quickly, which resulted in the empire's low iron production capacity.

Interestingly, there were court mages and wandering magi who practiced alchemy to create various metals, including the legendary mythril. They would then process these metals countless times, transforming them into powerful Mystic Codes.

Unfortunately, creating Mystic Code was a time-consuming process, and magi were a rare commodity, making them an unsuitable option for being the primary force in metal production for a country. Therefore, the production of iron tools and weapons required a significant amount of labor time, resulting in an extremely inefficient process.

The main issue with iron tools and weapons was their susceptibility to rust, cracks, and instability. Despite advancements in handicrafts and the emergence of higher quality iron tools and weapons, bronze was still the preferred choice for creating most metal objects. Consequently, the majority of commonly used objects were made of bronze.

In the Western Roman Empire, weapons were primarily composed of a mixture of bronze and iron, while farm tools were typically made of wood, similar to the Warring States period in the modern world.

The reason why iron tools became popular during the medieval era was due to the invention of the wootz steel method. Shirou also noticed that the weapons and materials provided by Sir Ywain were mostly made of bronze, with only a few items made of iron.

It's worth noting that bronze is created by combining copper and tin, making it the primary raw material for making bronze objects.

Copper tools and weapons are not very durable and lose their sharpness quickly. However, adding tin to copper can increase its toughness and make it easier to cast molten metal into molds, resulting in useful items such as axes, hammers, and jewelry.

Both copper and tin were essential resources that contributed to the prosperity of ancient civilizations. Interestingly, Cornwall had nothing else but tin mines and copper.

With the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, various movements such as the Bagaudes in Gaul and the Aghlabid revolt in North Africa have emerged, leading to wars of all sizes on the European continent. Other than the absence of mysterious disappearances, magical beasts, and gods, the situation is estimated to be even more lively than in Britain.

During this era, the need for strategic resources such as tin and copper was significant. Shirou recognized this and requested Merlin to use "Clairvoyance" to investigate the situation on the European continent. The results were quite promising, indicating that these resources were in high demand.

On the other side of the English Channel, King Ban of Benoic and his brother, King Bors, were engaged in a battle against King Claudas in the Gaul region. To give Shirou a better understanding of the situation, Merlin projected the battlefield of the three-party war for him to observe. It was on this battlefield that he recognized a familiar figure.

Amidst the chaos of the battlefield, a young and powerful knight with purple hair was wielding a sword, ruthlessly slaying his opponents. As Shirou observed the battle, he recognized this figure and uttered a name, "Lancelot!"

After observing the battle involving Lancelot, Shirou requested that Merlin investigate other areas. While there was no war on the island of Ireland, conflicts were occurring between the Burgundians and Basques in the vicinity of the Gaul region on the European continent.

As the Western Roman Empire declined, its soldiers spread out across various regions, engaging in sea battles against the Vandals who had taken over Carthage in North Africa and fighting against the Visigothic Kingdom in the southwest.

This era was characterized by chaos, with various kingdoms and tribes such as the Ostrogoths, Slavs, Lombards, and Thuringians constantly engaged in conflicts. Despite the absence of magical cannons, the excitement level was no less than that of Britain!

Given the ongoing conflicts and battles in the region, it was highly likely that there was a significant demand for minerals. Recognizing this, Shirou tapped his finger on the table and suggested, "Let's start by exploring Gaul."

Due to time constraints and limited resources, he could not venture too far and had to bring back food from Gaul within three days. To gain a better understanding of Cornwall's current mineral reserves, he consulted with Geraint, who provided promising information.

Due to the attack on Camelot by Vortigern, Cornwall's mineral production for the current year had not been handed over, resulting in the availability of several tons of tin and copper, as well as other minerals such as galena and sphalerite.

Shirou was intrigued by the abundance of mineral resources in Cornwall, considering that the people there were struggling to even have enough food to eat. He wondered how such wealth could coexist with poverty.

Geraint responded, "Sir Baldwin has ordered that Cornwall's mineral production can be traded for food with Camelot, and-"

Geraint hesitated a bit.

Shirou reassured him, "Go ahead and speak your mind. Past mistakes are not my concern, and I won't pursue them."

After some hesitation, Geraint revealed, "We also trade with neighboring kings, pirates, and mercenaries for food on the side."

Geraint observed Shirou's reaction carefully, but to his surprise, Shirou remained composed. This reassured Geraint, who thought to himself, 'This is a king with remarkable tolerance!'

Shirou nodded and asked further, "I understand. However, if you sell minerals externally in this manner, haven't you been targeted by other kings? At the very least, aren't there any merchants who come to buy and sell minerals?"

Geraint confirmed, "Yes, there are. In fact, during the time of Cornwall Kingdom, this was quite common, with merchants frequently visiting for trade. However, in recent years, such visits have become extremely rare."

He was curious and asked, "Why is that?"

Geraint replied, "I'm not entirely sure. Some merchants from the mainland have reported feeling very uncomfortable after visiting our island. They experience symptoms such as vomiting, coughing up blood, getting sick, and even dying. These incidents have led some to believe that Britain is cursed, which is why very few people come here."

Shirou frowned and inquired, "What about our people traveling to the European continent?"

"It's the same situation. Due to our financial constraints, our people often resort to stealing minerals and selling them on the European continent. However, they also experience these symptoms when they travel to the continent. They feel nauseous and experience difficulty breathing. Although it's tolerable in the Gaul region, traveling further can be fatal. Hence, most trading occurs in Gaul."

Shirou's expression became grave as he pulled Merlin aside and asked, "Could this be the result of the end of the Age of Gods?"

Merlin nodded and replied, "Yes, that's correct. The Age of Gods has already ended on the European continent, and the True Ether is slowly vanishing. Gaul is still within proximity to Britain and therefore tolerable, but traveling further would result in a complete absence of True Ether. The people of Britain are also considered creatures of the Age of Gods and cannot adapt to an environment devoid of True Ether."

"Does this mean that once the Age of Gods ends, all the people of Britain will perish?"

Merlin confirmed, "Yes, that is the law of the jungle, survival of the fittest. This is precisely why the magical beasts, led by the White Dragon, opted to rebel and reclaim the Age of Gods."

Upon hearing Merlin's response, he fell silent, lost in thought. He eventually broke the silence, stating, "As long as we're alive and well, there will always be solutions to our problems. For the time being, let's focus on addressing the food shortage."

Shirou instructed Geraint to arrange for a large ship and collect minerals.

Geraint hesitated before asking, "My King, are you planning to trade the minerals for food in Europe?"

He affirmed his intentions with a nod.

Geraint disclosed, "My King, there is something you should be aware of. The news of Cornwall's food shortage has spread to neighboring countries, resulting in low mineral prices for Cornwall. As a result, the amount of food that can be obtained through trading is quite limited."

Shirou arched an eyebrow and asked, "Are they deliberately manipulating the prices?"

Geraint nodded, confirming his suspicion.

Amused by the situation, Shirou commented, "Well, well! Baldwin and Sir Ywain seem to see Cornwall as nothing more than a gold mine, while the others treat its people like miners without even offering them a fair livelihood!"

Unfazed, he added, "Just because they refuse to raise the prices doesn't mean I can't do it myself!" After a brief moment of contemplation, he turned to Geraint, "Start preparing right away. We're on a tight schedule, and I'm giving you just one day to get this done!"

Geraint left, feeling skeptical and uncertain. After all, food was their primary source of sustenance, and it was entirely controlled by others. How could they possibly have the confidence to increase prices? However, he told himself that perhaps this king possessed the ability to accomplish the impossible!

...

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