“They’re here.”
Says Roa.
I’m near the entrance to the camp, basking in the sunlight on top of Hipopo. For some reason, Kalin told Ahri and Roa to wait here with me.
“I can see them as well. One of them looks strong.”
Says Ahri.
Today is the day when we start our business over magic crystals with the neighboring dominion. I left the negotiations entirely to Kalin, so I don’t know the details, but according to her, having a number of trump cards makes it too easy and boring.
The supply of kagero fruits, their transportation to the camp, the delivery of magic crystals after they’re done, and distribution routes within the country are all being taken care of by them. This means all the annoying parts are being outsourced, and all I’m doing is transmuting the kagero fruits into magic crystals.
Not only that, but I don’t have a minimum or maximum amount of magic crystals I have to adhere to. I can decide based on what’s convenient for me, but Kalin did warn me that I need to inform her if I make big increases or decreases to the production output.
I’m impressed that they managed to work out these terms.
I stretch on top of Hipopo, and jump down. After waiting for a bit, I see a few mules. They’re not pulling carts, but instead have baskets on each side.
This region doesn’t have roads, not even poor ones, so it’s rough to travel on wheels, making this the best option.
Maybe we should make it a priority to fix the roads. I’ll see what Kalin has to say about it.
Developing a remote region with limited resources requires a good deal of decision making, both from a political and economic standpoint. I decide to leave all the hard decisions to my boss, Kalin, and focus on what’s in front of me.
I see injured people. I’m assuming they were attacked by something, but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of damage. I guess they fought back whatever attacked them.
The person leading the mules takes off his anti-dust hood. It’s Zahle from Toma.
“Hello again Zahle!”
“You! No, excuse me, Master Rust. I’m glad to take part in this transaction.”
Zahle greets me formally.
“Don’t stress yourself like this, we can talk like we did before. More importantly, are there wounded people in your group? I can treat them if you want.”
I say with a strained smile.
“You really are nice! No, sorry, thank you. Please do.”
No one looks seriously hurt. I grab my backpack and take out potions with a moderate effect but high versatility that I made in my spare time, and start treating them one at a time.
Although some people are hurt, I can’t see any injured mules.
Ah… The mules have so much kagero fruits they’re almost overflowing. Did they have to put down a few of them?
I reach the end of the line, and see a silver-haired woman in a blue priestess uniform that I feel I’ve seen before. It’s Taula, the woman I found collapsed due to poison and helped.
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Word of the chapter pannier: baskets put on the sides of beasts of burden, bikes or motorcycles.