Munitions Empire

In reality, that was just on paper. Brunas only had 36 soldiers; the rest were "nonexistent" personnel who were just names to collect pay without actually being present.

After all, on ordinary days, there were no real life-or-death matters to contend with, and only a fool would keep that many soldiers idle.

Yes, Solon was the Sheriff of Brunas. Together with the Mayor and the Tax Collector, they managed this little town called Brunas.

He hardly had any social obligations and would return to his home on time every day to enjoy peace and tranquility—there really wasn't any need for socializing, as the Mayor and Tax Collector would deliver his share of the profits regularly each year, so he didn't need to worry about anything.

If there were no ruffians fighting at the docks, there was no need for him to concern himself with the problems of the boatmen and fishermen. Merchants from afar complied with the tax laws, and no one would easily stir up trouble in such a place.

Thus, his life was both peaceful and full of pleasant surprises, much like recently when he received a new share of profits—as if by a miracle, a weapon workshop on the verge of bankruptcy in the northern outskirts of the town had sprung back to life and was providing him with a profit of 3 Gold Coins each month.

Although it wasn't a large sum, it was a steady monthly income. He had already received it for the third time and felt extremely at ease and natural about it.

That young man named Tang Mo never caused any trouble or disturbances, and seemed to almost never enter the town.

He didn't care about what Tang Mo was doing on the land he had bought. Even if Tang Mo wanted to build a castle with twenty cannons mounted on it, it would have nothing to do with him.

Besides, all Tang Mo did was build a school and expand some workshops, nothing more. Receiving such bribes in the form of profits made him very pleased, so he naturally developed a favorable impression of Tang Mo.

Even though in recent days, the workshop that had inexplicably changed its name to the Great Tang Group suddenly became overcrowded, he had no intention of inquiring into it.

After all, they had paid him. As long as they weren't rebelling, or even if they did rebel, as long as they didn't come after him, he wouldn't bother himself with complications.

Especially since Tang Mo himself had come to Brunas one day, invited him along with the Mayor and Tax Collector to a feast. After rounds of wine and a variety of dishes, Tang Mo had shown his Guardian Knight credentials to everyone present.

Now, it was beyond question that Tang Mo was a confidant of Earl Fisello. In this case, who would be foolish enough to cause trouble for Tang Mo?

Perhaps one day, this Guardian Knight would transform into a new Baron, and wouldn't he then seek revenge on those who had troubled him?

So it's best to keep one's distance and stay out of it when dealing with a rapidly rising young man like Tang Mo…

Today, Solon sat in his office, basking in the glorious sunshine outside. Since Brunas was a coastal town, he just had to open the window to immediately feel the salty sea breeze on his face.

It was a really comfortable feeling, so comfortable that it made him feel drowsy. He couldn't help but softly exclaim, "Ah... what a splendid afternoon."

"Sir!" A soldier from the City Defense Forces knocked on Solon's door and, after receiving permission, opened it to report, "A person claiming to be a messenger from the Shireck Consortium wishes to see you."

"Oh? Show him in…" Solon managed his facial muscles to brighten his smile further, stood up, and walked to the door, just in time to greet the man who had just entered.

"Sir," Solon greeted the man with a beaming smile and a slight bow, devoid of any pretense of his position as Sheriff, "I apologize for not being able to welcome you personally."

"My name is Beiji!" Beiji was straightforward, taking off his leather gloves and casually dusting his riding breeches as he briefly introduced himself, "I serve under Lord Xiuyi Jisi."

After his introduction, he looked at the respectful Sheriff Solon and asked, "I've come to inquire if anything has happened here recently?"

While asking, he handed an embossed business card from the Shireck Consortium to Solon, who instinctively received it and bowed even lower.

Even influential nobles wouldn't dare to offend someone from the Shireck Consortium, let alone the head of the Shireck Consortium in the Leite Kingdom, Xiuyi Jisi.

"Sir, may I ask which matter you are referring to?" Solon handed the business card back to Beiji and asked somewhat nervously.

"I heard there's someone here who has seen a new kind of firearm?" Beiji asked as he looked around the office, which seemed quite well-decorated.

The solid wood flooring made a pleasant clacking sound under leather shoes. Decorative paintings hung on the walls, and one side boasted a practical bookshelf.

Some nails were hammered into the wall by the door, from which hung belts with holsters and a longsword sheathed in its scabbard.

"Firearm? My lord, we only have one weapon forge here on the brink of bankruptcy, and all of our City Defense Forces' firearms are issued Shireck Flintlock Guns from the kingdom... I've never heard of any new kind of firearm," Solon said as he remembered Tang Mo's bizarre weapon forge of late.

"A forge? Oh, I remember now, that Tang Qi who died a few months ago, his little forge?" Beiji faintly recollected the somewhat obscure small weapon forge in Brunas.

"Yes, my lord, that's the one," Solon hastily nodded and said, "Where did you hear about this new weapon appearing here?"

"What do you think, could it be related to Tang Qi's weapon forge?" Beiji continued to inquire without answering Solon's question.

"How could it? My lord, as you know, that was just a small shop. The one who inherited the forge is just a teen, how could he possibly have such ability?" Solon answered as if it were obvious.

"Tell me everything you know about that weapon forge," Beiji strolled over to where Solon worked, plopped down onto Solon's chair, and gestured for Solon to sit wherever he liked.

Solon's brows knit almost imperceptibly before his smile quickly masked his displeasure. Not taking a seat, he immediately said, "After the shop couldn't survive any longer and Tang Qi died, his son Tang Mo dismissed half of the workers, which left us all in Brunas town on edge."

"Tang Mo..." Beiji muttered the name as though he intended to memorize it.

"Afterward, he went everywhere asking for help, trying to meet with Baron Stela... I heard he wanted to curry favor with Lord Baron," recalled Solon, appearing to share everything he knew: "Later on, when he couldn't find a way through Baron Stela, I heard he went to the Northern Ridge."

"Northern Ridge?" Beiji's interest piqued at the mention of this sensitive term, and he looked at Solon, dragging out the question.

"Yes, the Northern Ridge! I don't know how he fooled Lord Earl, but he got Earl Fisello to buy some wasteland north of Brunas, right by the Vicious Forest. It's all useless land. Lord Earl would surely kill him if he found out."

"Weapon forge... Vicious Forest... Northern Ridge... Earl... Wasteland..." Beiji repeated each keyword, his grim smile growing more pronounced.

All these familiar words seemed unconnected, yet they showed up in Solon's narrative. Was this a coincidence? No! It definitely wasn't a coincidence!

It was clear now that Tang Mo must have created some new weapon, first visiting Baron Stela, only to be driven away—which was understandable, as Baron Stela was certainly capable of such a reaction.

Then the damned Tang Mo, with his new weapon, went to try his luck with Earl Ronin Fisallo of the Northern Ridge.

And recently under great pressure, Earl Fisello decided to invest in this new weapon type. Thus, Tang Mo escaped his fate of bankruptcy and became a lackey under the Earl's command.

As for those unlucky bandits, they must have stumbled upon the carriage transporting the new weapons, witnessed the power of these weapons, and then went to seek a fortune from Lord Gis.

Linking it all together, Beiji felt he had almost guessed the entire sequence of events. In fact, he was spot on, as if he had witnessed the development himself.

"That's right, he's even expanding his factory, recruiting many workers," Solon continued to disclose, knowing that withholding information was futile. He wasn't close enough to Tang Mo to cover for him.

These were indeed details that could be readily obtained by asking around on the streets or simply visiting the site. If Solon concealed them for Tang Mo, it could easily implicate himself.

"Very good! It was a pleasure meeting you, Solon Sheriff! You are a good officer, and I will speak well of you to Lord Gis," Beiji said, standing up and patting Solon's shoulder, having obtained the information he needed.

Then, he left Solon's office, taking his trusty subordinates with him, heading toward the north side of Brunas town.

Watching them depart, Solon returned to his office, wrote a note, and called over one of his men, instructing, "Change into these civilian clothes and deliver this note to Tang Mo."

Watching his subordinate hurry off, Solon's expression darkened, "They really take me for a dog? If I don't cause some trouble for these Shireck bastards, what am I even doing as an official?"