Chapter 18: The Brewing Storm
Macragge: 14:00 hrs. 25/08/1538 AFK
A fleet of dragon carriages has entered Macragge, the largest one yet, it brings in 1.000 people to the rapidly growing town. Bringing the population to 12.000. All of the people in the carriages where surprised when they were asked to register themselves and fill in a paper with questions. Since the kingdom had very limited forms of registration outside of nobility titles, fealty titles and a system of registration of official birth and death for most citizens. The people got even more surprised when they were guided to a place and handed tents to live in while their houses got made. A guide told them that in a week they would be assigned work posts in the town, the fields or in the factories of "The White Walers" according to their previous professions.
16:10 hrs.
Approximately an hour has passed since the group of immigrants were sent to this transition field. They had all set up their tents and were searching for ways to kill time. A man came and asked the crowd, "Do we have here anyone that has worked on construction?" a few men raised their hands "The ones that have come with me, we have work for you guys." They all left, presumably to start building the houses they would use everyone assumed.
In the Whalers HQ meanwhile Subaru has had the members of the camp familiarize themselves with the terrain and look for possible "kill zones" Ana's men could use. Subaru himself is happy to know that 2 factories, the clothing and carpet factories would be online at full capacity the next day. Followed closely by the book factory and Papermill expected to open the same week.
Subaru though during a brief brake 'I'm kind of glad that Meili didn't come to a possible showdown between our camp and Ana's. But I still miss the possibility of using her power in the upcoming showdown.'
Once Subaru got back from his brake, he started to organize the new logging operations in a nearby town they connected on the way to the Capitol. 'This should give us more than enough wood to build the new houses.' Thought Subaru.
The tourism and access to a few neighboring towns has made inflation less of a rampant issue and with the expected opening of new factories Subaru expects inflation to barley be an issue compared to the unemployment waiting for him if new factories aren't built.
Also, as of now the literacy rate seems off to Subaru, about 50% of males and 20% of females knew how to read and write. Not as good as he wished, but a lot more than expected. He wondered why so many people of this medieval age knew how to read 'Maybe the kingdom being so large has forced a lot of people to use letters if they want to keep in contact. Although the difference between woman and men literacy rate is quite big…maybe is has to do with the registration system used to manage the kingdom?'
(Exposition coming up, each paragraph details a different part.)
(I don't know if people usually realize just how absurdly big the kingdom of Lugnica is (50 million people at the least) compared to any nation state until just before the first world war, outside of China and India. China is a weird historical case, and India was for most of its history a bunch of smaller kingdoms fighting one another until the British slapped them together into one big nation. I still can't form a theory about Lugnica reaching such population without falling apart other than the Dragon serving the same role in the kingdom as the British served in India. That of crushing any feeling of independence from the central authority.)
(To justify the high literacy rate and stability of the nation, I'll say Lugnica has a more developed burocratic system then your regular late medieval era kingdom. Such system requires a fairly big amount of people that can read and write to run properly. But most importantly and to explain the large differences in literacy rate between men and women, the men that serve in the army are taught how to read and wright due to a Royal decree.)
(The Lugnican armies of this fic work with two parts. The first one is composed by yearlong conscripts, and who ever has to teach them to be soldiers, they are expected to just hold the line and introduce people to the army. The second and most used army is composed of professional soldiers and officers/knights, they are expected to serve as shock troops and perform offensives. (Up to here is how the army of my nation Chile is composed). Each domain and its lords are expected to maintain armies composed of people from those domains and follow the general guidelines above, the scale of the conscription and size of armies varies wildly in each of the different domains.)
Subaru then goes to check on Ivan who was looking at a video Subaru picked titled: "Sudayev's PPS-43: Submachine Gun Simplicity Perfected" (link: watch?v=zGGguFuFln4). Ivan's job was to copy everything necessary to eventually reproduce this weapon that Subaru described as "Wonderful, this one should be cheap to mass produce after the bolt actions." Ivan considers his work finished but has kept on watching the video over and over again in an attempt of comprehending what this weapon does while also looking for anything he may had overlooked. He was surprised by Subaru when he asked him about his progress.
Subaru: "Do you think we can replicate this further down the line with what you've got?"
Ivan: "Yes boss, I'm just making sure I didn't overlook anything."
Subaru: "Please make it quick, we need to get as much as we can before Ana can take away the computer."
Ivan: "Yes, I understand the urgency of the situation, but I'm working as hard as I can."
Subaru: "Ok. Just remember to call me to pick the next video."
Subaru then left Ivan to do his work, so far, they had copied the plans of medieval armor and a weapon that caught Subaru's attention 'The PTRD could perform very good against Vollachian dragon riders. Just fill the bullet with fire crystals and it's basically a rifle grenade how cool.'
Subaru was partially glad that they were copying the designs and would be capable of reproducing them later, but was a bit bothered about having to stop Ivan from designing instead the generator and alternator. 'I wish any of the books we have would give more details on how to make one…'
18:00 hrs.
Garfield was the first one to return from his scouting in the nearby areas, followed closely by Ram and Rem, Subaru and Beatrice waited for them to start discussing the changes they would do to the planes they had made or to make new ones, maybe both.
After talking for a few hours, sharing findings and discussing, the plans had undergone quite a lot of changes and a few other ones had been made. Unlike previous plans these ones also included the presence of the company's security forces.
The forces where nothing to scoff at since they came from the Mathers domain army, that is small but well trained and equipped, the members where also quite remarkable individuals as well as all of them being well motivated volunteers. The task force at Subaru's disposal was composed of 41 men and organized in what Subaru described as a platoon, which he read about in the great war book.
(For those that don't know the smallest military unit is in general the squad composed of 10 men, followed by the platoon composed of 4 squads and one officer. Going to the company level and above, it varies wieldy depending on an army's doctrine, strategic objectives and resource availability.)
For the situation at hand, the security forces would be deployed to keep any of Ana's mercenaries away from the factories and the rail yard where the trains will be stored.
Subaru wondered just how well they would face against someone like Ricardo or Julius, since they had some of the best quality swords, spears and war hammers the Kingdom could offer as well as full plated armor of the best steel, they would be a good match against anyone but Reinhard. 'As soon as we finish here, I have to tell Zhukov about his new mission.' Thought Subaru.
The group keeps on ironing out the details and possible changes depending on what direction Ana's approaches Macragge. At about 20:30 hrs. they finally finish and Subaru rushes to find Zhukov and tell him about what his men would do and what to look out for.
Next day - Macragge: 08:00 hrs. 26/08/1538 AFK
People wakeup in the camp to the sound of a bell to be met by a man arriving where they are.
Company Man: "We finally have work for the rest of you. Eat quick we will leave for the factory to introduce you people to the facilities and explain some important details regarding security."
Man: "We are going to start working so soon? Couldn't you guys at least give us some indication?"
Company Man: "Do not worry, you won't start working immediately for the raw material is not ready yet, in some 4 days you can start working."
09:00 hrs.
The group of people eat quick and then follow the man to the factory area. A few where afraid of working in "the smokestacks" but they were amazed at the amount of life and movement within the industrial zone. People tugging coal and wood carts into factories to feed the engines, people moving raw material into factories and coming out with finished products to load on the trains, but one thing left everyone worried. A man suddenly started to scream in one of the factories "My eyes! I can't see!" he was confronted by another man "You idiot I told you to wait! Someone get this moron to the infirmary!"
The group started to worry about what exactly they would be doing. Would they be in such a dangerous job as the man they heard screaming? The man guiding them noticed their unease.
Guide: "Do not worry, that only happened because he didn't follow the proper procedure."
Man: "I don't mean to be annoying but what kind of job will we be doing? I have a small girl that needs me along with my wife and other son waiting for me to send them money."
Guide: "Believe me, you guys won't be harmed if you follow the proper safety measures so pay attention when I explain."
The guide leads them into a factory that is clearly closed and stands just next of a construction site. The place is big, they see many machines and the guide start to explain what their jobs will consist of, "Welcome to the papermill you will be making paper!", as well as the shifts of 12 hours with one hour in the middle for them to eat. They would be paid for hours worked but needed to be constant if they want to keep their jobs.
13:00 hrs.
The guide finally concludes his explanation of the factory works, safety measures and details regarding pay as well as vacations and "sick days". He then announced, "If any of you don't want to work here, now is your time to get out." No one went out since this job offered more than any of them were hoping for. The guide then asked
Guide: "Any questions?"
Man: "I have one, can I get to meet the hero sir Natsuki-sama?"
Guide: "What for?"
Man: "I need to ask him for a favor that only he can help with."
Guide: "Follow me then, we will book you in at the HQ."
The group then gets dispersed. The man follows the guide to the HQ, where they book him in.
Man: "Today! Why so soon?"
Guide: "No one really uses this since the boss can be regularly seen walking around here and speaking with the workers."
The man was left silent, his brain raced to find an answer. Did he reach out to the wrong person? Is this the hero that tore the white whale in two with his bare hands? Is this the hero that slaughtered the witch cult's archbishops? Why is he spending so much time with commoners?
The man left without any further word to go to his tent where his daughter was waiting for him to eat lunch. "Hold on just a bit longer my love. This time I have a way out for you." He mumbled.
Same day – Road between Macragge and Roswaal's Mansion: 14:00 hrs. 26/08/1538 AFK
The small army of Anastasia has been on the move for a few days now, everyone was quite since they didn't have much to talk about until they were met with a crossroad where the stopped to eat.
Anastasia: "Are you sure this is the crossroad?"
Julius: "Yes I am, further down this old road we will find an abandoned village."
They both stare into the old dirt road, it was in a clear state of disrepair since it led to nowhere. From there on out they would go slower due to the bad road, but it was the only way Anastasia saw of taking out the beast without Subaru being there to take any credit.
14:34 hrs.
Emilia was now worried. This wasn't the road to Macragge and her metia is still not in range of the other metias. She decided to ask.
Emilia: "Ana, where are we going? This road seems old and abandoned."
Anastasia: "We are going to surprise the beast. Our reports have pinpointed an area where the beast is seen constantly running north and south or vice versa."
Emilia rapidly arrived at a conclusion, 'We are going for the railway that connects to Elior Forest…if so, I hope we get in range of our metias.'
Emilia: "Wouldn't it be better if we go to find Subaru at the town where I said he is?"
Anastasia: "Don't worry, we will just take a look and see how it reacts. If we can't beat it, we go to find Subaru and the other members of your camp."
Emilia was worried that Ana's men could possibly harm any of the train operators or passengers if she didn't manage to establish contact with Subaru.
Julius: "Worry not Emilia-sama, I will not allow that beast to overpower me and reach you or Anastasia-sama."
Emilia: "Thank you Julius."
Like that the group keeps on marching north though the old road.
Same day –Macragge: 17:00 hrs. 26/08/1538 AFK
A man could be seen entering the White Whalers HQ, he told the receptionist that he has an appointment with Subaru and is led into a small office room where he is told to wait. "This seems quite humble for such a great hero." Commented the men to no one in particular since he was alone waiting. Time starts to pass and man with nothing to do grows uneasy, he is bored yet tense at same time, not wanting to get out of the office for fear of losing his chance at speaking to the hero himself. More time passed by and now the man is even more uneasy, his bladder was now calling him into the bathroom.
17:12 hrs.
Finally, the man hears a sound, the doorknob is rolling, the man feels his face tense and times seems to stop. Then a string of light enters the room and door swings open.
Subaru: "Sorry for being late, hardly anyone books in so it caught me off-guard. Tom right?"
Tom: "Y-yes that's mee!"
The man called Tom was dumbfounded, was this Natsuki Subaru? He was smaller than Tom.
Subaru: "Don't worry I'm not going to do anything to you unless you are associated with an Archbishop."
Tom: "Hu…Umm…"
Subaru: "Despite many people having already reacted like you it's getting annoying. What did you call me here for?"
Tom: "Oh yes, I was losing myself for a bit."
Subaru: "You're not first one."
Tom: "Mister Sir Natsuki Subaru-sama I have to ask for a favor."
The man kneeled in front of Subaru.
Subaru: "Mister…sir…sama…that's a first. Get up and ask me, if you're not asking for too much then I will do what I can."
Tom: "Yes sir. I wish to ask you to please free my wife and son from serfdom."
Subaru: "So you want me to buy their freedom? To whom are they serfs?"
Tom: "They are serfs working for the Karsten family. The Duchess is sick so you should be able to buy it off from any of the other family members without getting into problems regarding the selection."
Subaru: "Seems like you haven't heard the news, Crusch is back, albeit she is still poised with the dragon blood, but she got her memories back."
Tom: "H-her memories? You mean the old Duchess is back?!"
Subaru: "I can still free you family from serfdom though. I am the only one capable of pulling the dragon blood from her body and was told to think of a sufficient reward…How about I free not just you family but everyone I can from serfdom under the Karsten?"
Tom: "You have no problems with it? Do you think the Duchess will accept?"
Subaru: "Do not worry, it will serve to boost Emilia's image even further. Beside Crusch can't ask anyone else to pull the dragon blood from her body."
Tom: "Thank you! You don't know how hard I have tried to free her! I-I!"
Tom started to cry tears of happiness in response to Subaru's kindness.
Subaru: "Don't get to exited yet. I will meet Crusch in about a month or two. In the meantime, write down the names of those you want freed."
(From now on new chapters won't come out as often. Classes are back in full swing, so my free time is now quite limited. I don't know how often I will be capable of uploading either.)