"We got the Blacksmiths all covered. Now can you tell me more about the Hunters? This part is easier since the amount we need isn"t great!" Asked Zar very eager to hear of the Results."Yes we got reasonably good results. Although there were some complications. The people I paid misunderstood my words and told the population that we are hiring experienceless Hunters as well."
"So i suppose you had trouble sorting them all out?" Asked Zar in curiosity.
"Yes, i didn"t count but there were at least 80 trying to apply. It"s odd how they would be more interested in hunting. Probably because all they need to do is set nets and carry the catch. That slight misunderstanding took more time than interviewing the 54 Blacksmiths! But I got through it all with decent results. You said that getting even 1 Hunter is good, i got 6 of them sire!"
"While 6 hunters can"t provide enough food for the entire Kingdom, they do make it easier at least. Bringing meat to the poor with affordable prices is something even Crutal Kingdom didn"t tackle yet."
"Yes. I recall that only a kg of boar meat costs 20 Gold Coins there!"
Said Seer pointing out the insane prices. It"s just meat after all.
"Since we will basically get boar meat or any other for free, we can sell them for half the market price making them a food people can afford to enjoy from time to time if not everyday.
Such prices might bring people buying in large amounts even if they come from a Kingdom under the ill.u.s.tratian alliance"s influences!" This at least makes everything easier. They could do the same if they wanted to sell Iron Swords to those business owners, but selling Iron Swords with half the price would slowly kill their economy as they would spend more than earning.
"Right. Because the ill.u.s.tratian alliance doesn"t have word on businesses they don"t own. If the business owners are willing to do the travelling, they would come and buy or at least send someone else." Pointed out Seer.
"However, the Hunters main priority shall be to provide leather for the Blacksmiths, the Blacksmiths are to turn the leather to leather straps. What is excessive for one week, shall be brought to the castle, where we can aim to sell the leather. A full patch of boar leather costs 50 Gold Coins after all, it shall not be wasted!"
"If we strike a deal in selling leather, we can hire experienceless Hunters and train them, so we can expand this sort of business. It would be very beneficial to the economy.
Said Seer in great enthusiasm but his tone changed in the following question he had to ask. "What if the hunters fail to bring any of the so called "Game" here? Do we need to fire any if they keep failing?"
"The forest is practically next door, and I don"t expect them to hunt after bears either. They are however ordered to put up 10 traps and check them each day. If the hunt is to big to drag alone, they can ask for a.s.sistance from other Hunters, if the other hunters are busy themselves, they can ask Guards for a.s.sistance!" Of course Zar doesn"t want to tire Guards with responsibilities they technically don"t have to doo. But even if pulling with a cart, it is hard to carry big prey through a dense forest. The forest is so thick, it would be almost considered a Swamp!
"That isn"t a responsibility for Guards to take with all due respect sire.
I have a possibly better idea!"
"Do you? Please tell!"
Zar is keeping his manners under great control. Any other King would behead anyone who goes against the King"s word!
But as mentioned before, Zar had an emotional breakdown. The forces of good and evil battling inside of him, were eating his nerves and emotions for a long time.
That process went on for weeks until he found inner peace when he declared independence from the ill.u.s.tratian Alliance. He didn"t have precious time to support a father who publicly rejects him as a son.
"What if we equip Hunters with machetes or axes, for them to clear out a road through the forest. The road doesn"t have to be of high quality, but over the years, if it remains with no vegetation on it, there will be nothing but small rocks, aiding on pulling the prey.
I hear this is how the Lumbers drag Wood."
"But will this be effective on a forest which is commonly flat with small hills here and there?" Asked Zar who seems to be approving this plan. He is open minded.
"It will have some difficulties but it is better than dragging anything through thick trees and vegetation. And it will increase the productive rate more and more over time as forest roads get more common!"
"Then it shall be how you say. We are already spending 10,000 Gold Coins monthly on Lumbers, so they might as well use the way Lumbers made, but they can create new roads on their own to not feel limited. However, Axes are the best for wood cutting but if one prefers Machetes, give it to them. Equip all 6 with both. If there aren"t enough for all 6, have the Blacksmiths make some!"
"Thank you for considering my idea Sire. Speaking of expenses, I have to add, with the Blacksmiths and Hunters hired, it will cost 10,734 Gold Coins to pay them monthly. We need to strike a deal with the Zamerians as soon as possible or we will be spending more than earning."