Chapter 267 267-The Corrupt Blacksmith
Howard then headed towards the exit, with Nora and her team clearing a path for him.
Nora, not carrying anything, simply moved from the left side of the corridor to the right.
However, those carrying the materials hurriedly shifted from left to right, causing a box to bump against the wall of the corridor, emitting a thud.
Immediately, a string of grumbles and curses came from the nearest furnace: "What are you good for if you can't even carry things properly? We only asked you to bring some materials, and you can't even manage that. What a bunch of useless fools!"
Nora's expression turned icy, but she remained silent.
The two men carrying the items felt unjustly treated and aggrieved.
It was in the process of making way for their lord that they had accidentally hit the wall; how could this be attributed to their incompetence?
At the same time, they also felt that the blacksmiths were being unreasonable.
Even if they had accidentally bumped into the wall, why resort to insults? Everyone was working in the castle, and it would be more appropriate to speak civilly.
Hearing the blacksmiths' remarks, Howard stopped in his tracks and turned back towards Nora and her group.
As he passed the two men carrying the items, he made a gesture for silence, then whispered reassuringly, "Don't worry, you won't be treated unjustly."The source of this content can be linked to n0velbin•
Howard gently inquired of Nora, "What's happening here? Is this a common occurrence?"
Nora replied coolly, "Yes, these blacksmiths have low output but high demands. The amount of materials they require daily is actually much more than their production justifies."
"But since you, my lord, instructed us to meet their needs as much as possible, we have spared no expense to procure these materials. As for their scolding and insults, it's sadly quite commonplace among them."
Howard felt a twinge of annoyance.
He signaled the two men carrying the materials to set them down, then asked Nora, "Do you suspect they are using these materials for personal gain?"
Nora's expression remained unchanged as she responded, "That seems to be the case."
Howard continued, "And about the scolding and insults, does that happen often?"
Nora maintained her composed demeanor, "Indeed, it does."
Howard understood.
Just then, a blacksmith emerged from the room, cursing, "A bunch of useless fools, weren't you almost done carrying it? Why have you stopped now? Are you all cowards, too scared to come near us?"
Howard looked at the blacksmith with a half-smile.
The blacksmith's expression quickly became a mix of emotions.
Whether it was Vettel's team working on the new specialties or Resarite's training, there was a sense of continuous progress at Castle Fernsouth.
However, the shortage of soldiers was a lurking concern for Howard.
After Resarite and his men completed a lap, Howard personally approached Resarite for a discussion.
Along the way, soldiers spotted Howard and excitedly shouted, "Lord Howard! Lord Howard!"
Howard responded with a warm, spring-like smile, waving his right hand and encouraging them, "Train hard! Once we take down Mibo's castle, I'll award bonuses to all of you!"
Hearing this, the soldiers let out joyful roars, many already eager to march into battle.
Howard approached Resarite and, shielding their conversation from the soldiers with his left hand, leaned in close to Resarite's left ear and asked, "Resarite, tell me honestly, are we short on soldiers in the castle?"
Resarite, turning away, led Howard to a more secluded spot and whispered, "My lord, when we first came here, it was with conscripted soldiers from several villages that we took this castle. Combined, they numbered only two to three hundred. It was your strategic use of troops that made it possible to seize the castle."
"As for Castle Fernsouth, its military force has always been limited. Blima was not a lord with strong military capabilities and never fully tapped into the potential of this castle."
"To be frank with you, my lord, Castle Fernsouth currently has 870 registered conscripted soldiers. In the event of war, they will be deployed, but only a few of them are veterans; most are new recruits with little combat experience."
Howard felt a surge of urgency.
If it weren't for the public setting, he might have grabbed Resarite by the collar to demand an explanation for this predicament.
Howard's expression was grave and puzzled, his eyebrows furrowed deeply in consternation.
He questioned Resarite, "What's going on? Didn't you say that we had a good chance of winning against Mibo? And now you're telling me these are all new recruits?"
Resarite gestured for calm and explained, "My lord, please don't worry, let me clarify."
"Firstly, it's true that these soldiers are new recruits, but under my training, they have already mastered the tactics of column and line formations, enhancing their combat effectiveness."
"Secondly, regarding the number of soldiers, I have been actively recruiting. Many have expressed interest in enlisting, but considering the costs of maintaining an army, I haven't been accepting just anyone."
"I have standards for individual soldier quality, and many who don't meet these standards are turned away. That's why Castle Fernsouth currently has only 870 soldiers."
"However, if you feel the number is insufficient, my lord, I can relax the criteria in the coming days and quickly fill the ranks to match the castle's military budget.
"My lord, even if we step back and consider, 870 soldiers are already significantly more than what Blima had at his disposal. With a great battle imminent, we must not lose our composure."
After hearing Resarite's explanation, Howard calmed down.
He took a couple of steps back, nodding repeatedly with pursed lips, then said, "Hmm, I apologize, I was too hasty. Resarite, issue my order: in the next few days, relax the recruitment standards and fill the ranks of the castle's soldiers."
"As for the economic aspect, as long as we can achieve a balanced budget, that will suffice. I will have Vettel discuss the specifics with you. Resarite, keep up the good work. Your future prospects extend far beyond this."
