Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Heaven's Net
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Plain City.
I had recommended Isaac as the city administrator.
A reply had arrived today.
"Has Lord Harper come in person?"
Harper.
He was Father's friend when I was young,
and now he's Father's reliable right-hand man.
Currently a 5th Circle Master, he's expected to break through the 6th Circle wall soon.
He's one of the Frontier's key forces.
"The Lord has other matters to attend to, so he sent me. Please take this first."
The paper appointed Isaac as the administrator of Plain City.
"Thank you. This is good news."
Now we can develop Plain in earnest.
We plan to accept wanderers
and establish large farms around it.
"Heir, may I ask a few questions?"
"Of course. Go ahead."
His questions focused on Brilda's death.
That must be why he came.
After the conversation ended,
Harper rose from his seat.
His expression was ambiguous.
He seemed to believe me, yet not entirely.
"What do you think of my words, Lord Harper?"
Harper smiled faintly.
"I'll have to find out from now on. My mission is to report the undeniable truth to the Lord."
I saw him out of the room.
Before he left, I asked one thing.
"Where will you go next?"
"First, I'll start with the underground below."
After parting with him,
I summoned Isaac.
Now that he was officially appointed as city administrator,
it was time to begin full-scale development.
I brought over the prepared slaves to Plain.
We also transported materials needed for construction.
For now, the plan was to build six satellite cities centered around Plain City.
The surrounding plains were vast,
so this was for farming efficiency.
Scattering satellite cities would shorten travel distances.
It would also disperse the population.
While building the satellite cities,
we started clearing land for farmland as well.
I moved with them, purging the demonic energy.
Demonic Energy Removal (Lv 7)
The skill has specialized, and its level has risen.
Even so, it would take a long time.
The land to clear was enormous.
As I focused on the clearing,
one habit formed.
Whenever I recovered mana,
I climbed the walls to survey the surroundings.
I could see changes day by day.
The foundations for the satellite cities were leveled.
Cleared land expanded around them.
New city plans progressed,
and wanderers arrived in droves.
We set up temporary tents
and put them to work on land clearing.
.
.
Plain City.
Central Administration Office.
"Over two thousand wanderers have arrived so far. The existing slaves are on city construction, and land clearing is assigned to the wanderers."
"Is there enough shelter?"
"We've set up temporary tents. They'll move once the city is complete."
Because it was such a massive project, we accepted wanderers before the city was finished.
Putting them to work speeds up both city construction and land clearing.
"Any complaints?"
"They're used to outdoor life, so no major issues."
"Keep it going like this. Watch out for security problems."
"Understood."
With two thousand wanderers put to work,
construction progress accelerated.
That meant higher expenses too.
I had to provide for their food, clothing, and shelter.
"Funds should hold somehow."
On top of income from existing farmlands,
profits from industrial goods like ballistae had increased.
In the current situation,
there wouldn't be funding issues until construction ended.
"Once the Plain large farms are complete, we can supply food across the entire Frontier."
'Existing production + Plain production' would match the Frontier's total demand.
"Revenue will rise that much too."
As time passed,
my habit changed.
Instead of climbing the walls,
I patrolled the wanderer tents.
Checking their living conditions,
if they had any complaints about the current situation,
and so on.
Among the wanderer population,
there were many women and children.
Hardly any elderly.
Nomadic life must be tough on them.
Few elders meant short average lifespans.
'In this state...'
Building schools is a top priority.
To reduce childcare burdens so women can farm more.
After grasping the general situation,
I tried talking directly to the wanderers.
"How is it here? Livable?"
The wanderer's eyes flicked over me
and the guards behind, then returned.
We were in plain clothes.
They probably saw us as low-level Plain officials.
Perhaps that's why.
The wanderer didn't show excessive deference.
"It's good, sir."
"Good? The current setup?"
"Of course, sir. No more grueling marches, food every day. Even the clothes I'm wearing came from here."
Objectively, wanderer life was harsh.
Plowing fields by day,
sleeping packed in refugee tents by night.
Yet they said it was good.
"I see. Thanks for sharing."
The next day,
and the day after,
I visited the wanderer tents.
Maybe because they saw me often.
They opened up more.
The biggest reason they came to Monster Island wasn't food, clothing, or shelter.
It was safety.
"Safe here?"
Monster Island was far from safe.
The front lines warred with monsters daily.
The rear had more monsters than the continent.
"Yes, sir. The early settlers said so. Safer than the continent."
Digging deeper,
I learned why.
Current Monster Island was like Korea.
Many foreigners thought Korea dangerous.
It endured the Korean War,
and was still in ceasefire, not peace.
North Korea launches missiles,
even develops nukes.
But visiting Koreans marvel at the high security.
Monster Island was the same.
Every village had a militia.
Mine had slave soldiers and hunters too.
Monsters appear? They block them.
No monsters? They maintain order.
High local armed strength made crime hard.
If attempted, high chance of capture.
Where to flee with monsters everywhere?
Couldn't hide in mountains like on the continent.
Foraging wild plants risked demonic energy infection.
Thanks to this,
Monster Island—especially my villages—had top-tier isekai security.
"Do other wanderers know this?"
"Word's spread wide, sir. Even on the continent, island talk came first when meeting other groups."
This might require changing plans.
Far more wanderers could come than expected.
.
.
Plain.
Central Administration Office.
"They're still coming."
Since accepting wanderers,
settlements had sharply risen.
I thought the surge would taper off,
but it kept growing.
This brought several letters.
Callas Viscount asked to block wanderers.
Alensia wrote if we could handle it.
My replies:
Fine.
The current situation,
likened to mages,
was breaking the 3rd Circle wall toward 4th.
Even among mages, 4th Circle and up were true mages.
"Settling the incoming population makes us baron-level with our own forces."
I picked up the proposal beside me.
The front detailed finances.
Income, expenses.
Even projections a year out.
"Conclusion: put wanderers to work."
Hard to sustain rapidly growing wanderer needs.
But full farming changes that.
Expenses rise, but so does income.
"So, more manpower to farmlands?"
Isaac's proposal.
Clear meaning.
Delay satellite cities,
prioritize farmland for production boost.
"That makes sense."
I signed the proposal.
.
.
The initial six satellite cities were provisionally halted.
Manpower went to farmland clearing,
allowing some areas to start farming.
Plain City.
Central Administration Office.
"Current status?"
"Farming starts as clearing finishes. At this rate, we'll be in the black this year too."
Taking in this many refugees and still profitable?
The economy felt rock-solid.
"Don't push the wanderers too hard. Some deficit is fine."
This was the toughest phase.
We stretched to accept them, supporting their basics.
Survive this year,
next year's income doubles or more.
And keeps growing after.
"Manage refugee camp security strictly too."
"Understood."
Tents were unavoidable,
but safety must be guaranteed.
That's what they wanted most.
"That's the end of the report?"
"Yes."
"That's all for today."
Isaac bowed and left the office.
Alone, I double-checked the documents.
Verified income and expenses for errors.
Only then did I close the files.
"This looks good. We can settle the wanderers sufficiently."
Finances stable.
Clearing supplies ample.
Refugee provisions sufficient.
The biggest threat, monsters, blocked solidly by mercenaries and slave soldiers.
Everything stable.
So I thought.
Until the unexpected problem erupted.