episode_0108

“Coexistence… … . Yes, you emphasized that before.”

Count Carbon nodded when he heard that the goal was coexistence. I seemed to recall that I had said that my goal was to coexist when I took all the blacksmiths.

Seeing that Count Carbon seemed to be starting to look positively at transporting logistics on a regular basis, I decided to further appeal to some of its advantages.

“For your information, you will see greater benefits if you allow people to move. If a territory urgently needs a large number of workers, workers can be brought in temporarily from a territory with regular transportation, or conversely, when there are many people looking for work, workers can be sent to another territory. As a similar example, when a large number of mercenaries are needed, it may be possible to recruit them quickly.”

“Ho, that’s okay.”

Originally, workers and mercenaries were something you couldn’t find when you were in a hurry, and Count Carbon showed interest when he heard that workers and mercenaries could be easily supplied.

Seeing that he was reacting positively, I decided to drive a wedge.

“If the royalist nobles’ fiefdoms work together to develop together in this way, wouldn’t it become a strong fiefdom that the aristocratic faction would not dare to surpass? If we form a kind of alliance, it would be good to provide help even if we are attacked.”

Count Carbon’s eyes changed when he heard that it would be a strong territory that the nobles would not be able to conquer.

I understood that there were not only advantages to regular transportation, but I felt like I had firmly decided that the advantages would outweigh the disadvantages.

And, based on my judgment, Count Carbon gave permission for regular logistics transport.

“The tax-related part you mentioned may require further discussion, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to start right away. As of last year, farming in our territory was not very successful, so I was worried about how to store food this year. According to what you said, it would be good to get a large amount of food cheaply from Baron Farmer.”

Count Carbon must have already made a plan of his own, as he nodded and muttered to himself.

“Then, when you return to your territory, how about taking a carriage to transport the logistics?”

“Are you ready already?”

“Basic preparations were made from the beginning. Buses going around town… … . So, did you see the carriage being pulled by the skeleton horse?”

Count Carbon nodded to my question. My store was located close to the center of the city. No, it was safe to say that it was exactly in the center. The place where the three districts meet in the center of the city is the plaza, and it was adjacent to the plaza.

Given that position, it was impossible that Count Carbone, who came all the way here in person, could not have seen the bus. Since they were using several skeletal horses, even if you came by carriage, you were guaranteed to see them at least once.

“Are you saying that you are going to use that carriage to drive?”

“Yes. The form may be a little different. A very large carriage will be pulled using at least four heads and at most eight heads. A carriage made of iron. Not only do we have to transport large quantities of goods, but also many people.”

Count Carbon looked quite surprised when I heard that no matter what they did, they would make the carriage’s internal volume four times larger.

However, he quickly calmed down, probably because he felt that it was enough to secure enough supplies for the territory. No, he seemed to understand that it was natural.

“Good. If we go back as you suggested, the person you just mentioned… … ?”

“Bus. The official name is Bus Skeleton of the Logis Skeleton Division. However, since it’s difficult to call it, I’m thinking of just calling it a bus. Oh, by the way, this is the name given to the wagon that transports people, and the wagon that transports supplies will have a different name. I’m thinking about calling it a truck. The name can change at any time.”

“Okay, I guess we’ll take that bus of yours and return home.”

“You thought about it well. If you just took a regular carriage, it would probably take a while, but if you take a bus, 10 days would be enough, right? Most of the day, except for meal times or time to resolve physiological phenomena, I move without stopping.”

“Ten days? Saving time would be a good thing. I think it would be okay to proceed with the schedule that was postponed to come here… … .”

Count Carbon’s expression brightened when he heard that time would be drastically shortened. To nobles, time was more precious than gold. It may only be five days, but there were endless things a noble could do if he had that much time.

“You said it can also transport people. Then, can I use it when I go to another territory?”

“Logy Skeleton… … . So, if it is a territory where there is an agreement for buses and trucks to travel. If we look at it right now, it’s the Count’s territory and my territory. In the future, it will become something like the Viscounty of Defuty or the Barony of Farmer.”

“If we can bring about a positive effect and increase the participation of other territories, we can go further.”

“That’s right. Well, there may be cases where you can’t go straight and go around a bit to other places.”

Since I couldn’t create an infinite number of skeletons, I couldn’t connect each territory directly to each other even if the agreed territories increased. I planned to use my territory as the central hub and branch out from there. At the same time, we also get some additional benefits from the process.

Anyway, although it cannot be moved directly, it may be because it is very good for traveling to distant places, but Count Carbone responded that it was not a bad thing. Of course, the way he smiled lightly while looking at me made me feel like he knew that I would get the most benefit.

Since he had lived as a nobleman longer than I had, he seemed to have inferred to some extent what I did not say. However, there was no reaction other than a light laugh. It was clear that I took it for granted that as much as I took the initiative, I would reap greater benefits.

“Now that we have about five days, do you mind if I take a look around your territory? Oh, of course, if there are important facilities, I won’t go in, so don’t worry. That’s because watching a city that is changing so quickly is quite a fun pastime.”

“As much as you want. Feel free to look around, except for the blacksmith shop.”

Anyway, the most important place in my territory was the blacksmith shop. No, more precisely, the new research and development headquarters attached to the blacksmith shop was the most important. The blacksmith shop was large and spacious, but it was no different from dozens of other blacksmith shops attached together. The most important thing was the research and development headquarters, where all knowledge related to blacksmithing was accumulated and various results were produced.

It was so important that security was maintained by using various curses and even skeleton mages to prevent intruders.

“Then I’ll take a look around for a moment. Oh, can you board that bus in advance?”

“What is currently in operation in my territory is a different form of logistics transportation… … . Well, there isn’t much of a difference, so ride comfortably. However, there are currently no buses exclusively for nobles, so please understand.”

“Don’t worry. I do not discriminate or persecute commoners just because they are commoners. It’s just an inconvenience for my escort driver, who will have a lot to worry about. Hahaha!”

Count Carbone burst out laughing, saying it didn’t matter since he wasn’t in trouble, and immediately stood up.

It looked like he was going to go out and take a bus and tour the city, so I quickly grabbed Count Carbon. Because the topic of the story suddenly changed, there was something I couldn’t ask about.

“Why but?”

“There’s something I was going to ask you earlier. I’m supposed to supply the goods at a low price first, and then receive a separate subsidy later, right? So how do you figure out who is eligible to buy cheaply?”

“Ah! I forgot to explain. I’m really sorry.”

Count Carbon, who admitted his mistake as if he was truly sorry, continued to explain the method of distinction.

“First of all, the determination is simple. They will bring a separate certificate. The royal family is supposed to provide a subsidy in accordance with the quantity needed for the territory, so all you have to do is give the goods at a low price according to the token. It’s a badge with the same symbol as this, so keep it.”

Count Carbon quickly searched his chest and produced a square seal. When I turned it over, I saw a pattern drawn on it that I had never seen before. It seemed like they were trying to use a pattern that had never been used to identify a target without revealing that it was given to them by the royal family.

I took the stamp and decided to give it to Jiena and instruct her to send me those who bring a token with the corresponding pattern.

As if he had nothing more to say to me, Count Carbon immediately left the drawing room. I also left the living room to see Count Carbone off.

“Huh… … .”

Outside, the crowd of customers had completely disappeared, and two women, who were exhausted from serving the customers, could be seen leaning on each other in a friendly manner. However, it was after seeing Count Carbone off that I started to pay attention to those two women.

Count Carbone, who walked out of the store with his escort, immediately looked around. Since I was very interested in buses, I felt like I was looking for where to look at buses.

“Is there a sign posted here? If you look at the top of the sign, you can see the types of buses you can take here. If the top is round, it is to the east, and if the top is square, it is to the west. South is a triangle, and North is a pentagon. For reference, the central square here is shaped like a star. It would be simpler and better to express it in letters, but since most of the residents of the territory are illiterate, this part cannot be helped.”

“Oh, that’s amazing. Do you plan to operate it in a similar way for movement between territories in the future?”

“You will probably have to use staff to move between territories. If you make a mistake and go to a completely different destination, you won’t waste a day or two.”

Perhaps because he had imagined heading in the opposite direction from where he wanted to go, Count Carbon’s expression crumpled a little and he nodded.

“That’s right too. Oh, is that a bus coming over there? There is a circle and an asterisk above the skeleton horse, which means it travels back and forth between the east and here.”

“Yes, that’s right. That way, people who want to get on the bus check where the bus will move before boarding. Also, since you are supposed to get on and off at designated points along the way, you cannot get on and off at just any place. There’s nothing you can’t do if you jump, but we can’t guarantee your safety.”

“I will take a look at what others are using.”

Perhaps because he was excited about the bus, Count Carbon waited for the bus approaching from afar with a flushed face. And, after waiting for a while, the bus gently stopped a little in front of where Count Carbon was standing.

When the bus stopped, Count Carbon immediately got into the carriage with his escort. Soon the carriage started moving smoothly, and he waved to me through the carriage window.

“See you later!”

The bus carrying Count Carbone, who looked very happy, quickly moved out of my sight.

And, Count Carbon, who left by bus, returned about two hours later, just as the store was closing. With a face that looks flushed and excited.

“This is a huge item! How about starting transport between territories right away?”

Perhaps because he felt something while traveling around my territory on the bus, Count Carbone looked very refreshed and urged me to start transport between the territories right away.

Count Carbon, who urged me like that, finally received my consent, and without delay, he left my territory on a bus that had been prepared in advance for transportation between the territories.

Of course, it wasn’t a one-time move. From that point on, regular bus and truck operation began.