The Damn Family Is Back Again

178. The Bottom (2)

From noble mtl dot come

Ferdi hesitated for a moment, but then answered with a determined face.

“Brother. It might be better to show you directly rather than explain.”

Right. Seeing is believing.

It’s much better to see things for yourself, and now we’re out of the grace period of the first day and have firmly received the main episode.

It would be better to look around occasionally than to just stay cooped up here.

So, I followed Ferdi to explore the Chatren estate.

-Ding!

▶You have stepped into a danger zone.◀

▶If discovered by the residents, combat is inevitable!◀

The moment I set foot in the area where the residents were trading, a status window notification followed.

This field seemed to be composed of residents who were quite discontented.

‘Even if it’s called combat, if you touch them… recognition flies away. And the affinity drops further from the grey box.’

Because of that, it’s not really combat but an inevitable decrease in HP. Throwing objects and threatening, Karsein’s body gets slightly injured.

This was all within my expectations. I had to fend off the incoming objects with a weapon to avoid any status ailments, and then…

“Brother. Not that way, this way.”

Ferdi whispered, covering his mouth with his palm.

“If we go that way, we’ll be caught. There’s a little-known shortcut over here, by those uncles and aunties.”

Just as Ferdi said, there was a shortcut behind a large vine in the field.

It was just big enough for a few people to sneak through. Could it be?

As I stepped onto the shortcut, the alarm sounded again, and the status window popped up.

-Ding!

▶You have stepped into a caution zone.◀

▶As long as you don’t make a loud noise, you won’t be discovered by the residents, so be mindful of the noise.◀

…Aha.

I didn’t realize it in the game, but could this be a way to avoid friction with the residents?

No. Rather, it’s more appropriate to praise Ferdi, who knows this place inside out. The difference in rank is truly felt.

As we entered the shortcut, Ferdi pointed with his finger and explained the gathering spot of the residents to me.

“Over there, can you see the separate trading happening right now? That’s it.”

True to Ferdi’s words.

The money offered by the Chatren estate was a considerable amount.

However, the cash was not that substantial. That money was just part of the support funds received from the ducal house.

“Hmm…”

“This, this alone might be resolved with the support funds received from the Bagrand ducal house, but… still. Still, something feels off. Brother!”

Ferdi clasped his hands together, appealing to me as if he knew something.

“I know that too, buddy.”

“…Yes?”

– It seems that some of the goods received from Lusmayer are being exported again.

The money corresponds to a part of the support funds received from the Duchy. As such, I thought perhaps Ferdi was mistaken about the exports from the Chatren domain…

‘Even from my perspective, it’s quite suspicious.’

In this secluded Chatren, the fact that such transactions were secretly taking place without anyone knowing, even though Lusmayer and Chatren were helping each other, is certainly a dubious matter.

And this guy, who was the only one to realize there was an enemy within Chatren, doesn’t seem like he would speak carelessly.

“This hasn’t just happened once or twice, has it?”

“No. I couldn’t tell my brother right away, so I didn’t say anything… but from what I’ve seen…”

Ferdi stretches out both hands.

Ten fingers. At least that many times the transactions have taken place.

Such a substantial amount of money was being exchanged in this closed-off village, unbeknownst to all.

Certainly, even to my eyes, not just Ferdi’s, it seems odd enough to question.

“Gathering all that money, what on earth are they using it for? There should be support funds from the Bagram Duchy as well.”

At my incomprehensible reaction, Ferdi cautiously began to speak.

“…That’s why I shared my thoughts with you, brother.”

“What?”

As I turned my head in the direction Ferdi was pointing, I saw large barrels being moved by the workers.

“The thing you asked for is here.”

“Oh.”

“I wondered if the quantity would be sufficient since we’ve expanded the land. Fortunately, it is.”

“They filled it generously? Haha.”

The villagers smiled, as if they could look forward to something this time.

Once again, it must be remembered that Chatren is a land of agriculture.

Those who have dedicated their lives to farming and have cultivated this domain through agriculture have gathered such a large sum of money to buy that.

“What in the world is that?”

“That’s a barrel of fertilizer.”

“A barrel of fertilizer?”

“In Chatren, they’ve always tried to make the crops grow well by purchasing high-quality fertilizer. But… after the poor harvest, looking at the number of fertilizer barrels coming in, it doesn’t seem like it will be covered by the support funds from the Bagram Duchy. There were much more than before.”

“Hmm.”

The sight of the premium fertilizer makes it clear there’s a desire to revive the Chatren grapes and strawberries.

But as the number of barrels shows, it’s not just one or two. Considering the dozens of large barrels pouring out…

It’s certain that the money for this premium fertilizer was gathered by exporting Ruthsmayer’s goods. Could this be it?

If that’s the case, then…!

“Ferdi, do you know the yield of crops directly cultivated from Chatren’s soil?”

“Currently, Chatren is getting by on potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, and the like. The rest of the land is…”

“It’s being used to grow Chatren strawberries and grapes, isn’t it?”

“Ye-yes, that’s right. How did you…?”

Ferdi’s eyes widened in panic.

“Chatren faced a crisis this winter, didn’t it? It was said to be so severe that without Ruthsmayer’s aid, it wouldn’t have been possible. What was the reason?”

“Uh… it was a food shortage.”

As expected.

The villagers foolishly thought that increasing the land would solve everything.

-Ding!

▶You have received information from the agent!◀

[ Chatren faced a crisis this winter due to a food shortage. ]

The claim itself was true, albeit flimsy.

If one were to call a villager and ask if Ferdi’s words were correct, they would all point fingers and call it a lie.

But I know.

Ferdi’s speculation wasn’t wrong at all.

-Ding!

▶You have identified a problem within the domain. How will you respond?

[ 5. Summon the key figures to the central hall. ]☑

“Ferdi, call the key figures to the central hall.”

“Bro-brother?”

“Just as you said. This isn’t something we can just overlook.”

And at the same time, a rare opportunity has come my way.

***

▶You have activated the Clue and Prove event using the temporary lord’s powers!◀

▶From this point on, achievements will be measured, and the authority and efficacy of the temporary lord will increase based on these achievements.◀

▶Choices may arise depending on the situation!◀

“…”

“…”

The people of the territory gather one by one, their faces a mix of reluctance and resignation.

In the silence, a man asked a question.

“Why have you summoned us?”

It has begun.

The grey box flickers, perhaps not feeling too fond of this gathering.

A single mistake here could lead to a disastrous downfall.

-Ding!

▶How will you respond to the man’s question?

[ 1. (Grabbing him by the collar) You dare speak such nonsense when you’ve been selling goods obtained from my trade? ]

[ 2. (Pointing outside) I’ve heard everything from Ferdi outside. Struggling with food shortages, yet why do you farm so poorly? ]

[ 3. (Sitting cross-legged, taunting) I wonder why you’ve been hiding such transactions? ]

…

…

For now, I’ll use the knowledge I have to delay the choices. It’s better to make the final decision at the end.

▶Using information obtained from the agent!◀

[ Chatren faced a crisis this winter due to a food shortage. ]

“Chatren faced a crisis this winter due to a food shortage, I hear.”

“…!”

The residents flinch at the mention of food scarcity.

I press on gently, probing them.

“I would like to hear more about why such a thing happened.”

“It’s because of the poor harvest, naturally…!”

“So, it’s natural for a territory famous for agriculture to face a crisis due to food shortages? This contradiction makes sense to you?”

The man who was shouting abruptly fell silent.

▶The residents’ power to speak is diminished.◀

▶Achievement level rises!◀

▶Using information obtained from the agent!◀

The agricultural ratio is in ruins!

“Truth be told, if we planted different crops all over that land, we wouldn’t have a food problem. But how can we be facing a crisis due to a shortage of food?”

-Ding!

▶The residents’ voices are stifled.◀

▶Achievement level rises!◀

After two consecutive attacks, the residents clammed up.

However, this game isn’t going to be that easy.

“Well, maybe this crisis arose because the Chatren territory was once greatly devastated?”

“There has never been such a time before. This is the first time since that day that our Chatren has suffered from food.”

“If that’s the case, perhaps the problem lies with the person who was the lord of our territory at the time!”

“It was also after that day that the children started looting!”

This unprecedented food crisis is a relic from the past, and the current residents are suffering the consequences of those past events.

The Chatren territory always maintains this stance.

Foolishly so.

That’s why I waited for that statement to come out.

“Let me say it outright! We reduced the number of crops and even our meals to save money. With that money, we bought premium fertilizer used for growing all sorts of plants!”

“We tried to grow crops with premium fertilizer purchased from outside. You must be unaware of our dedication!”

Yes, that’s exactly the statement.

[ 7. Wasn’t the problem trying to forcibly increase the yield of strawberries and grapes? ]☑

“You’re lying.”

“…What are you talking about.”

“Isn’t it true that you faced a food crisis because you tried to forcibly increase the yield of strawberries and grapes?”

“…!”

“That’s not dedication. It’s pitiful stubbornness.”

“What did you say?”

“You’re just unable to let go of the past glory of Chatren. You don’t want to fall to the bottom. You’re afraid of returning to being an ordinary territory. So, aren’t you just wasting money on fertilizer, ignoring the broken reality and enduring poverty?”

At that, the residents bristled with anger.

“Wasting money! We just want to revive that land by any means necessary!”

“That’s right. We don’t want to give up. We don’t want to lose those two specialties, the pride of our territory!”

“How desperate do you think we were to save up and keep saving money to buy that premium fertilizer!”

The villagers of the territory unanimously said,

“But that’s exactly the blind spot.”

“Yes. That method must have significantly increased the land for producing strawberries and grapes, right? Then what’s the improvement if you’re using even more fertilizer?”

“That, that is…”

“I’ve heard it’s the same old method. The way of growing crops hasn’t changed. But why hasn’t it changed, even though the land that used to grow carrots, potatoes, or sweet potatoes has been turned into strawberry fields? I haven’t even touched that land.”

“…”

“Then, has there ever been a time when strawberries and grapes of the same quality as before were produced after pouring that fertilizer?”

No one could answer those questions.

Even if the land was expanded, nothing changed. The land that I hadn’t ruined, the land that was cleared for other crops, remained unchanged. Not once were strawberries and grapes of the past quality produced after applying that fertilizer.

Then, wouldn’t something identical to the past be the problem?

I closed my eyes gently and then opened them, intending to give advice.

“…There’s only one thing that’s completely the same as the past.”

An elder, who seemed to have regained some sense, spoke up.

“Our farming methods, and land management. Are you suggesting those two are the problem, my lord?”

“Village chief!”

“What is that…!”

“Isn’t that the only thing that hasn’t changed for us?”

Indeed, a village chief is a village chief.

It was the same in the game, but at least here, it seemed like words could get through.

“That’s correct, Brem.”

From noble mtl dot come