Chapter 108 - Solutions?

Saint Edward's face turned weird, for he was telling facts and not his own opinion, "Umm, I'm only saying what I know, noble Robin, and as far as I know, furnaces can't melt most of the known metals completely, except for iron and a few metals which close in density to iron, as for the stronger metals, they hardly become soft under the highest a furnace can provide, and the degree of ductility decreases as the level of the metal increases…

There are metals that even a sage level figure would find extremely hard to temper, and other known minerals that even sages cannot do anything about!"

Robin furrowed his eyebrows and jumped back his thoughts, and began to nod constantly and speak to himself, "I see... well... if this happens... ok ... ok ...."

He left everyone around him exchanging looks, not knowing what he was doing.

After about a minute Robin looked at the patriarch, "I'm sure we still have a lot of money left?"

"Yes, of course, we have spent a lot on the new army, but we still haven't even finished spending all that you brought us from Sage Albert yet!" The patriarch nodded

"Good, I want you to use that money to set up factories that specialize in making all kinds of armaments! weapons, full body armor, shields, bow, arrows, etc… and these factories shall be built within our new territory!"

"Huh?! What's the point of setting up huge factories to make ordinary weapons when we already have plenty of those? Trust me, We don't lack these kinds of low quality weapons." Billy was surprised by Robin's words.

"Noble Robin, we are debating whether to withdraw or continue the assault, why would you get an idea to set up fixed factories that do not move, in such a hostile region? They would be ideal targets for the rebels." Edward also objected

"Just listen to me, build huge factories and equip them with metal liquefaction furnaces of the highest possible level, as for their ability to liquefy stringer metals... depend on me for it!"

The four saints opened their eyes to the fullest, this is a dangerous claim ..!!

Mila quickly asked, "Are you saying you could subsidize those factories to liquefy stronger metals? Are you saying... you want to mass produce categorized weapons?"

Robin nodded, "It's probably going to be categorized as low, at the beginning at least...maybe one day I will be able to bring this industry further, but I will have to wait until I gain some understanding of the field, and until the workers get used to what they're doing."

Of all the attendees, only Zara was still calm, because she didn't understand the scale of what had just been said

As for all the saints, they almost fell from their chairs!

This is a brand new revolution! 

A new revolution that is going in parallel with the importance of the fire talismans in battles!!

Even a Duke can't dream of such a stable supply of categorized weaponry! 

It is a known fact that less than a quarter of any Duke's army is equipped with categorized-level rated weapons, and that is considered a lot!! 

these weapons have been accumulated over thousands of years, this is one of the factors that put an impassable barrier between the old and new noble families, 

even if the two families have the same cultivation techniques, the same number of powerful figures, the same population... the older one will still win every time!

If the Burtons had a permanent source categorized weaponry...

"Robin.. you..!! heh~ Forget about it, I won't ask you to explain how you are going to do it… but at least tell us why you want to set up these factories in the new lands? Forget about Jura City itself, I prefer building those factories here inside the administrative zone!!" The patriarch muffled his excitement and asked

"Just build it there, and place advertisements for new recruits to work in the factories, and all of them must be locals, announce a wage so high that they cannot possibly ignore, and give them complete care for themselves and their families... Make everything about the working environment in the factories a paradise compared to everything they previously knew."

"This... it will cost a lot..! Building factories to the required scale and quality alone will eat hundreds of thousands of gold coins! And we will need thousands of gold coins per month to cover the workers' expenses to be at the level you require." Billy shook his head.

Robin burst shouting when hearing this, " What expenses are you talking about?! you were getting ready to send an army of our relatives to certain deaths, didn't that army cost us tons of gold also? do not talk to me about expenses!"

Billy gestured with both hands quickly, " Alright Alright, I misspoke, but you know what I mean! we have to make everything straight before starting then regretting."

Robin kept quiet for a couple of seconds then spoke, "We can cancel out the expenses by selling a small portion of the manufactured weapons per month to the Bradley family and the royal family, and when our current army has enough weapons we can sell a larger share to the two partner families, or even to the rest of the big and small families in the Kingdom of the Black Sun, as long as the classified weapons will be available in abundance. And at a reasonable price, do you think we'll have income problems? Forget about this point, workers' expenses wouldn't be a point worth mentioning at the time!

Listen... We, the Burtons are sincere in trying to expand our influence and lands, but our new citizens think that we are there to take revenge against Dolivar, they think we only want to loot and kill! and unfortunately, the current events confirm their suspicions. 

These factories will be a magnet for their working class to join us and earn a lot of money and tell their relatives and friends that we really came to raise their status and not to kill and steal them as they think, then everyone will aspire to join us and protect these factories that bring them gold, instead of trying to destroy them!"

Edward and Mila are still excited about Robin's announcement that he's willing to sell his categorized weapons to the Bradley family, while Billy and the patriarch sank deeply in thoughts about the suggestion.

After a few seconds, Billy started to nod, "This will really draw the poor locals to our advantage, as Stability and prosperity are always better than war... But what about the middle and the rich classes? If there is a link between the rebels and Dolivar's intelligence, they are certainly one of the bigger families, They will not be pursued by the factories thing and will certainly not be silent and will try to stir up strife, shall we kill these people?"

"No! Will you stop thinking about killing for a moment?!" Robin shouted, "...tell me more about them, are they nobles? Are there knights and cavalry Among them?"

"No, the noble families left the lands after signing the non-aggression pact, fearing that we would annihilate them. Those who remained are the relatively large and wealthy families but without any law techniques ... 

and therefore there is not a single knight among them, and yet they are our greatest danger there... They have deep relations with the Tinley nobles and their absolute loyalty is to Dolivar, as their numbers and the power they have over the rest of the locals, and being in control of all the cities make them the head of the snake in this war against the rebellion!

Robin was silent and then said back a few seconds later, "...I think I have a solution for them too."

" What is it ?!"

"Announce that if a family of over 500 members publicly swears allegiance to the Burton family... will receive a fire secondary law technique and become the new official nobles in their respective ancestral lands!"

Billy was surprised and exclaimed, "Forget it!! The method our ancestors used to break into the knighthood was flawed and was thrown aside, all the good laws we have today were bought from the royal family after our ancestors helped them win the wars to unify the kingdom thousands of years ago, and we swore to not leak it to someone else, or we will be considered traitors!"

"Is the only problem... the law itself? The rest of the idea is good?" Robin asked softly

Billy was surprised by the question and looked at the patriarch, who in turn spoke, "Yes, the idea is really excellent, a vast area like that needs its own local noble families to help us manage it, and we will not only suffice their evil, but we will have more men to summon to wars if we win their loyalty and make them stronger! But! These are just dreams.... We cannot use the property of the royal family in this way."