BXBX NOVEL Chapter 106.2
“I bought about 10 types of cosmetics for the time being, but I wonder if it’s okay to use them all at the same... I don’t think any of them are the same one, but I wonder if that is the problem.”
After mumbling and unpacking, I sneaked into the bed and slept like pig.
The next day, after having breakfast with Kazura and the Narson family, as usual, they all moved to Kazura’s room.
To continue our conversation from last night.
From the next room, came the dull sound of chisels grinding away at the walls.
It is the sound of a craftsman drilling a hole in the wall to install an air conditioner in order to make the next room a comfortable workplace.
The supervisors of the job, Root, Isaac, and Havel, are also in Kazura’s room.
When the two entered the room they let out a, “Oh...” at the coolness of the air conditioner.
Narson opened his mouth as we all sat around the table.
“Then, I would like to continue last night’s conversation. First of all, the messenger is coming to talk about the water turbine, but I will handle that.”
“Please. Are you going to say that it was made by an Isterian engineer?”
“That’s what I’m going to do. I’ve already agreed with the craftsmen who are familiar with the structure, so they won’t be suspicious. Fortunately, the prototype of the hand pump and sawmill has just been completed. It doesn’t seem to leak. I think I’ll keep my mouth shut about those.”
“Oh, did you make a prototype? How is it?”
Kazura turned an expected gaze to Narson.
“The prototype of the power turbine has been completed, which is modified and improved on the sawmill and the existing turbine, and it seems that it can be used for the time being. However, there are some difficulties in the operation of the hand pump, and water leakage occurs. It seems that it may cause a malfunction.”
“Well, is that so? Which part was wrong?”
“It was said that it would work perfectly at the beginning of production, but the craftsman said, if you leave it unused for a few days, water will leak from the piston part. It’s because the wood used for the piston will shrink when it dries. so it is necessary to prepare replacement parts.”
“I see... the air has become quite dry these days, but if it’s a problem like that, it would be okay if we used it every day.”
The piston of the hand pump uses a cone-shaped part called a wooden ball, which is usually made of rubber in modern times.
Since rubber parts are not available in Isteria, instead of that we used a wooden ball wrapped with animal skin.
This is equivalent to the parts used in Japan post-war, and the explanation was given in the book bought from the company where I purchased the hand pump.
“Also, if you continue to use it for too long, the piston part will expand and become clogged, and the handle will not move. It is said that quite delicate adjustment is required, so we decided to limit it to one place and make it specialized.”
“Okay. Is it possible to start mass production?”
“Sawmills can be mass-produced; meanwhile hand pumps may take some time to manufacture, but once the forging machine trial is completed, it’s possible to manufacture it a little faster. However, my suggestion is it would be a good idea to cancel the planned trial production of flour mills and prioritize mass production of sawmills and forging machines.”
“Well, let’s do that. Let’s get the number of hand pumps in order as soon as possible.”
“Very well. Then, next, we had a problem with the salt trade with the neighboring Gregorn territory.”
“Salt?”
It seems to be an import-export-related story that Kazura has never dealt with before.
Since there is no sea in the Isteria territory, Isteria will need to depend on other territories with sea areas to gather salt.
“Yes. Currently, the salt we use in our territory is imported from Gregorn territory in the west and Milling territory in the south. The other day, a merchant in Gregorn territory asked us to reduce the scale of salt trading.”
“Why all of a sudden? What happened?”
When Kazura asked, Narson frowned in disbelief.
“Because of the recent bad weather along the coast of Gregorn territory, the merchant said that salt production couldn’t be done... but there was something I didn’t really understand.”
“What do you not understand?”
“Yes, it rained around here four days ago, and it seems that the sunshine has finally come to an end. I think it’s probably starting to rain in Gregorn territory as well, and it will hinder the salt production work. But I didn’t expect that the unseasonable weather had been going on for a long time. It was unusual for such a long rain to continue at this time.”
“Is there any problem with the transactions so far?”
“Yes, the quantity and price were the same as usual at the same time last year. This is the first time this happened.”
Kazura tilted his head at the story.
I understand that salt production cannot be done due to bad weather, but why would they suddenly ask to reduce the scale of transactions?
If the weather has been unseasonable for a long time, it’s safe to say that Narson has heard about it before.
“The salt produced in Gregorn territory is overwhelmingly high quality compared to other regions, so I wondered if the quality of the salt could not be maintained due to bad weather... but their salt-making method is confidential. Therefore, I don’t know the method at all and I can’t confirm it. “
“Hmm... Isn’t that merchant lying to do business with other areas? Maybe he found a place that would pay a higher price.”
If the reason for the reduction is not due to bad weather, it is normal to think so.
But Narson didn’t shake his head.
“That wouldn’t be the case. The only places Gregorn’s territory trades salt with is my territory, the Milling territory, and the royal capital.”
“Do you know if they have any dealings with the Clairats?”
“The salt trade with the Clairats have a wholesale arrangement between our territory and Gregorn’s territory. If Gregorn territory deals directly with Clairats without prior notice, it would create friction between us. So there is no benefit to concealing the facts. “
“Then, what about dealing with the adjacent Barber Territories?”
“Although it is in a truce, the royal family has instructed us to refrain from commercial transactions with Barber. Besides, Barber also has a long coastline, so they also make salt. Gregorn salt is of high quality and popular, but at the moment I don’t think we’re going to make a big deal for that reason. “
“For other reasons... Gregorn’s territory may be betraying us.”
A disturbing thought popped into Kazura’s head, but he kept it to himself.
From Narson’s point of view, Gregorn territory’s ally must be someone who had fought the last war together.
In the current situation without knowing the details of the war, I can’t say much about it.
You shouldn’t guess and say, “They might actually be betraying us,” to our friends who were holding hands till the end .
“In that case, it is unlikely that Barber would have piled up a lot of money to buy salt from Gregorn territory. It would be dangerous for Gregorn territory as well, and from the Barber side, it would be like funding an enemy country.”
“That’s right, it’s even more strange. Well, the trades are still shrinking anyway, so we have to increase imports from the Milling territory.”
“Oh yeah, so we can buy from the Milling territory. Did you talk to the merchant over there?”
“Yes. When I consulted with the merchant who came, he said, ‘I advised Herschel to be as flexible as possible, but I don’t think production can keep up.’ I can’t say anything about the Milling territory. However, I don’t want the salt price to soar, and I was wondering if something could be done. “
If the price of salt becomes inflated, it will put pressure on the household budget of the citizens, so I would like to do something about it.
I don’t know what kind of salt-making method they are using, but if we adopt the salt-making method used in Japan, it will be possible to increase production to some extent.
By the way, Herschel is the lord of the Milling territory, Herschel Milling.
“In that case, we have to make our own salt... I will provide salt-making technology. If the Gregorn coastline cannot be used due to bad weather, it would be nice if we could make salt on the Milling coastline. But can you talk?”
“It’s not easy because there is a problem with the connection, but if you only provide technology, there should be no problem. However, it would be strange that we have salt manufacturing technology, so I think it is necessary to go to the site and pretend to make trial and error to form joint development. Even then, it would be a lot of work.”
“Well... but running out of salt is a matter of life and death, so let’s push through with it somehow.”
“I’m clever. I’ll ask for salt production cooperation. There is a big river running from our territory to the Milling territory, so we can use a ship to transport supplies. If we can increase salt production, and get on track. The cost of transportation will be lower, so the price of salt will be kept down. We will deal with the civilian negotiating so that the volume of transactions with Gregorn territory will be reduced as much as possible. “
Suddenly, Kazura felt a gaze on him and looked next to him, and he met Liese.
Somehow her expression is cloudy and it looks like she seemed to be in low spirits.
When Kazura decided to call out, Narson continued the story.
“Then, let’s talk about the next story. Recently, there seem to be rumors among the citizens that Master Gracior has appeared in Isteria...”
Kazura was startled by Narson’s words.