Shadow King Chronicles: Building a Kingdom From Behind the Scenes
Network Mutualism
As prosperous as any Starfall Region, he could not meet all of his own needs. Indeed, so far, at least the Starfall region can meet their food needs without relying on any region. In fact they managed to export their surplus harvest to other regions of the kingdom.
Likewise with the need for clothing or clothing. The Starfall region was not completely independent. They have cotton fields and silkworm fields that are quite extensive in their territory. But, about 35 percent of the rest is supplied from the region around them. By orders of Issac, Anna had purchased suitable land from the surrounding area and built a network of highways to facilitate the transportation of their raw produce and then processed into finished products in the Starfall region.
The problem is the need for boards or more easily home. The Starfall Region could obviously produce sand, stone, and wood as their territory consisted of mountains, rivers, and forests. But for other materials, they had to buy them from other regions.
But , the only way to access the Starfall region is through Venz. It meant the distance that the merchants traveled to go to the Starfall region was far away. It's not that the Starfall region can't buy all those materials. It's just that, the price becomes expensive and if left constantly, finances can be drained later.
"So that's the problem, Olivia. I was pretty dizzy thinking about this myself. Could you have a better solution?"
"I thought.no. I mean, the only quickest way to get that done is to build a network of highways. Take a look at this map. If we cut through this forestry area, the distance from Versailles to Venz could be cut by up to two weeks.
"And if we coated the road with asphalt like the one in the Randall region, the distance they traveled from Venz to Versailles would only take about 10 days. You could say, this is the best and fastest solution as I said earlier."
Anna and Olivia are having a discussion about the problems at Versailles. Anna agrees with Olivia. And that was the plan. After all, he had budgeted funds to build the big road that Olivia meant.
The problem is, the forest they will pass through is part of the noble territory that is mostly hostile to Issac and worried about the rapid development of Versailles. If Anna were to build a highway that passed through that forest, the nobles there would definitely ask for such high compensation that Versailles could not pay them.
Highway network is something that is very vital for the survival of the community. In the former world of Issac, one of the reasons why basic goods are expensive is due to low accessibility. Roads with poor conditions will hinder transportation carrying basic materials. They have to pay a large fee for gasoline and vehicle service.
That's why the price of basic goods becomes expensive. Costs that should not be so expensive become very high because the cost of transportation is also high. And Issac learned from it.
In the middle of such an eternity, suddenly the necklace that Anna used was flickering. Issac has contacted him! He quickly received the incoming call.
[Well, Anna! There is also a via. How are you guys doing?]
"We're both fine. As you can see. Looks like I don't need to ask Is, huh? You look healthy."
[Well, that's it. You don't have to worry about me. By the way, why are your faces so upset? Are you guys in trouble?]
"Actually....."
Olivia and Anna begin to tell about the problems they face while showing them the map they hold. It was a cartographic map that Issac sent from the empire. His work is amazing. Details so Anna and Olivia didn't have a hard time learning.
Issac listened to all their problems. From his perspective, he must have had a solution.
[If it's just like that, it's not hard. I have the solution!]
[They were all nobles who were in debt with the La-Sa Guild. Of course they can't pay it all next month which has been the due time of that debt.]
[As a deal, in the beginning I made a deal with them. If they can't pay that debt, they will have to pay it with their assets.]
[One of them is their territory outside the walls of a vast forest. Maybe it was because they thought it wasn't very valuable, so they agreed to the agreement. Well, I've been thinking about it since the beginning. Sooner or later, the problem you complained about is coming. For that, I was prepared.]
Anna nodded with relief. But as the girl to be appointed as the head of the next La-Sa Guild trade union, Olivia still had some concerns.
"That's true. But what if they reject the deal? Though it was written, they could have ignored it all."
[Don't worry. If that happens, we'll have an embargo on them. Those nobles had a high dependence with the La-Sa Guild. If we cut off trade access and stop buying and selling with them, those guys are sure to fire a beard.]
[So no need to worry Olivia. They would definitely hand over the asset even with a heavy heart. If the ownership of their territory has already fallen into our hands, you can use that land for anything. Including building a large highway network.]
[True too! If the project has begun, don't forget to involve the experts I brought from the empire. Among them, there were quite a number of talented engineers. I'm sure they'll be useful to you!]
Anna and Olivia are so happy! So happy, they were eager to hug Issac and kiss him to the satisfaction if he was there now. But, since there isn't, how else, right?
After that, the two of them shifted the chatter from a serious thing to a more intimate thing. Pleasure for example.
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It has been a month since an agreement between Issac and Carolina representing the Lambard trade union was formed. They often hold meetings outside of business. Their relationship is getting closer to each other now.
In addition, Issac also made several other deals. He opened a hotel and restaurant in the Reichstaag. Although licensing to build the two places was more difficult than in the kingdom, Lambard's trade union lent their names so licensing became easy.
In exchange for that, the La-Sa Guild, which opened its new branch in the Reichstaag, made the Lambard trade union an exclusive supplier for their business needs. All furniture for the hotel including mattresses, cabinets, bathtubs, and others will be purchased from Lambard trade union.
And also the need for the restaurant. All cooking utensils and fresh food stocks such as meat, vegetables, and cooking spices will also be met through the Lambard trade union.
As a promotional event, Issac asked Prince Chris to help inaugurate his new business and make the Prince stay at the hotel and eat at his new restaurant. Of course, thanks to the honest testimony of Prince Chris, the nobles flocked to his hotel and restaurant.
Unbeknownst to the three of them, a web of mutualism had formed and became the net that encircled the Reichstaag and even the Grand Aria empire.