The Strongest Farmer in Another World ~I'm a "Farmer", Not a Demon King! ~ - Chapter 234

The Strongest Farmer in Another World ~I’m a “Farmer”, Not a Demon King! ~

Chapter 234   A scheme of some minor aristocrat.

In a territory near Karakas,

“My lord, I have today’s report.”

As usual, while I was relaxing in my room, a civil servant entered with a bundle of papers in hand.

“Ah.”

This was the usual routine. At the same time every day, they would come to report on the events of the previous day.

But I had no interest in such trivial reports. After all, the content hardly ever changed from day to day, so it didn’t matter if I ignored it.

Besides, money would increase on its own if left alone. Therefore, I had no need to pay attention myself; I could simply leave it to my subordinates.

Let the lower-ranked individuals work, and I would only accept the results. Of course, if there were poor results, those responsible would lose their heads, but such incidents were rare. After all, even if there were minor failures, I could easily make up for it by squeezing the lower-class citizens.

That’s why I replied with a casual wave, not bothering to look at the civil servant, indicating that they could speak without my intervention.

“—Lastly, regarding Karakas.”

Having heard my response, the civil servant began speaking as I wished.

I hadn’t been paying much attention to the report, but the final words caught my focus.

“Karakas? Why would there be a need to report about that cesspool?”

“This city can be considered as an important neighbor to that city. Its developments have the potential to significantly impact this city and, by extension, the future of our territory. We must investigate its movements regularly, and depending on its actions—”

“Alright, alright. Just get on with the report.”

There were countless times when I had begrudgingly thought about the filth that was Karakas. After all, that city, despite being adjacent to my territory, did as it pleased without showing me any respect, and it was a place inhabited by lunatics who wouldn’t even listen to orders, let alone have a sensible conversation.

Those who gathered there were attractive but untouchable, and I had suffered from the bandits overflowing from that place on numerous occasions.

There was no need to explain about Karakas now, as I had long understood such things. Reporting on Karakas, however troublesome it may be, was necessary. There was a possibility that someone was targeting my life, or perhaps even the wealth of this castle.

Therefore, I interrupted the civil servant and ordered them to report quickly.

“…I will proceed with the report. It appears that recently, Karakas has been accepting ordinary citizens.”

“Ordinary citizens? In that city? What nonsense.”

There was no way that city would be accepting ordinary citizens. If such a thing were happening, it had to be a trap. Didn’t this civil servant understand even that?

“Sure, it’s not unreasonable to think that way. However, this is information confirmed by our subordinates who went there in person.”

“Even if it were true, what would ordinary people be doing?”

“They are accommodating ordinary people, providing lodging, and engaging in business, it seems.”

“What did you say?”

That den of criminals known as Karakas, engaging in business with ordinary people? Absurd…

If it were a trap, I could understand. More lunatics had probably gathered there. But providing lodging? Unbelievable.

“It’s said that a city calling itself ‘ Flower Town ‘ has been established near Karakas, not directly in Karakas itself. It forms a sort of waystation town centered around that place, and it appears that ordinary people are staying there.”

“However, even if it’s not in that city, if it’s nearby, wouldn’t the scum of that city make noise about it?”

“No, it seems that Flower Town is jointly operated by the bosses of the East and North. While you do need to pay a fee when entering the city, once you’re inside, it’s reported to be as peaceful as any other city. In fact, it seems that the bosses’ subordinates provide security, and the safety is even better than in other cities.”

“Unbelievable. Why has it come to this? Even if it has, won’t you be attacked before you even enter the city?”

That’s right. No matter how safe the city itself might be, as long as Karakas is nearby, it’s a given that the henchmen of the remaining sectors apart from the East and North will attack.

“They seem to handle that by assigning escorts.”

“Escorts? Even if they had them, it wouldn’t make a difference. The scum of that cesspool would attack even if their opponent was the king.”

“Yes, but if those escorts belong to the bosses, it changes the situation. By contracting them for a considerable fee, it’s possible to borrow henchmen from the bosses of the East and North as escorts, and you can display their emblem. That’s how they’re preventing attacks by bandits. Once the bandits are targeted by the bosses of Karakas, it’s over.”

The boss in the North is involved in business, while the one in the East handles matters of military force. If you can borrow their forces as escorts, it’s likely a more secure method than hiring regular mercenaries or adventurers.

And not only that, if you can borrow the emblem symbolizing the boss, attacks from mere bandits would cease. At the very least, those who attack will be small fry who don’t even recognize the emblem’s value.

“Furthermore, there seems to be a vast wheat field, and although it’s of moderate scale, it’s being cultivated at a pace where, with the assistance of the elves, one could expect a harvest in just over a month. If they can maintain this state throughout the year, it would easily yield more than double our annual harvest for our territory.”

“Hmm? Wheat… certainly, Karakas has forests where elves inhabit, and it’s said that elves can accelerate the growth of plants by communicating with them.”

If they managed to gain the cooperation of the elves, then a one-month harvest didn’t seem impossible.

“Recently, due to the Demon King incident, the demand for food through battles has been rising in the south. If things continue as they are, that town is likely to develop even further than it is now.”

“Tch! What good is development? It’s nothing more than an increase in garbage!”

Not only were they not showing respect to me, a noble, but they were also living in a den of thieves that marred my territory. Despite all this, they claimed that they would earn more than a noble like me? This was incredibly disrespectful.

A place like Flower Town, in a few years, or even as early as a few months, the word “safety” would disappear. Once that happened, it would only be a place where criminals lived.

Even having one of these was a nuisance, but if another place like this was established, and if that town could earn more than my territory, it was infuriating.

“These trashy scum from that cesspool have grown too bold!”

“…If we could seize that town, a huge sum of money would come in, but it’s practically difficult…”

As I angrily slammed the armrest of my chair, the civil servant who brought the report mentioned such a thing.

Seize that town?

“Seize it?… I see. Let’s seize it. If we do that, all the money from there will be mine!”

“But how would we go about it?”

“That’s something you all should figure out! A lord decides. The head decides on the action, and the limbs think and work to make it happen. Think and work quickly to seize that town!”

That’s right. That’s the mission of these individuals who act as my limbs.

If I decided to seize that town, they should think, prepare, and act to fulfill that decision. It should be that way. There’s no other way.

“…Then, how about launching an attack?”

However, the words spoken by the civil servant were nothing but foolish.

“An attack? You fool. Even when the king dispatched the army, they couldn’t crush it. What can you achieve by attacking such a place? If that were possible, not just the king, but other nobles, including myself, would have done it a long time ago!”

When Karakas was initially occupied, the national army sent forces and nobles from the surrounding areas to suppress it.

However, the result was a devastating defeat. They might have inflicted some damage on Karakas, but in the end, they couldn’t capture the city itself.

Sending my forces alone to such a place would yield the same results.

“Usually, that’s correct. However, His Majesty the King’s approach was flawed. It’s not easy to conquer from the outside only.”

But the civil servant shook his head and replied.

“However, they’re just a gathering of bandits after all. They lack cohesion and have loose ties. As evidence, despite being one town, they are called the ‘Five Emperors’ and are in conflict. Currently, one of their factions has been crushed.”

What? One of the Five Emperors was crushed? I vaguely remember hearing something like that before. When I heard it, it wasn’t confirmed information, and I dismissed it as impossible. But, is it true that one of their factions has actually been crushed

Even if they have been crushed, it’s just one of the central factions. Speaking of central factions, I’ve never heard much about their strength. I’ve heard rumors, but it’s a rather pitiful role known as a “buffer.” It’s an entity that manages the central area where the bosses interact, and it’s essentially a sacrificial offering that ensures the bosses don’t interfere too much with each other. That’s what I’ve heard about the central faction.

If such a faction has disappeared, I am certain that I don’t need to be particularly concerned.

“Taking advantage of that, there is a good chance it could work.”

“What specifically do you plan to do?”

As if prolonging the conclusion, I felt a slight annoyance in the conversation and prompted him to continue.

“If we can enlist an insider, it should crumble quite easily.”

“An insider? Who do you mean? In the south, it won’t make much of a difference. In the north, they are connected to the east, and is related to the recent ‘Flower Town’ incident? But as for the west, I wouldn’t even consider discussing it.”

“The west, yes. The boss there is particularly difficult to communicate with, even among the scum in that cesspool. Attempting to negotiate with them would likely end in death.”

“No, fundamentally, you’re right. However, if the east gets involved, the situation might change.”

“The east? Yes.”

“The boss from the east and the boss from the west have especially strained relations in Karakas, despite its loose connections. This time, if we destroy the business the east is involved in and propose sharing the profits, there is a high likelihood they will accept.”

“I see. And by breaking it down from the inside and quickly crushing it, that’s the plan?”

“Yes. The south is just a brothel, so it won’t pose much of a threat, and the north acts based on cost-benefit analysis, so if we clarify their interests, they won’t act. If we can just eliminate the east and west, we can take over and govern their positions. Eventually, we can aim to control the entire city.”

“Not a bad plan. If the newly established town has ties to the east, there’s a possibility they’ll lend their strength when asked to join the attack. Even if it’s a surprise attack, a conflict with the east will weaken the west significantly. Then, my army can strike during that opening.”

“I see. That’s sharp thinking. However, it may lack certainty with that alone. I can’t allow any loss on my end.”

“In that case, involving the neighboring nobles might be a good idea. If we inform them that the arrangements for insider assistance are in place, those who have suffered due to Karakas will likely agree to help.”

“Indeed. Very well, proceed as you’ve suggested. However, make sure that I get the most credit.”

“Understood. On another note, should we succeed in the attack on Karakas, could I be entrusted with the governance of that city as a deputy?”

I wondered why he was talking so much and making suggestions. I see now, that was his goal.

“You, are you after money? Trying to gain that city and the wealth it holds,”

If we could seize the city of Karakas, it would lead to immense riches, even if it was just a fraction of the total. This official seemed to have set his sights on it.

“Nevertheless, very well. I am a generous person, after all. If you succeed in bringing the wealth of that city to me, I’ll overlook your petty profiteering.”

Typically, planning to target my wealth would be a grave offense that warrants immediate execution, but I’ll refrain from that due to his contribution with this proposal. If, indeed, he successfully secure Karakas, I might be willing to grant him a portion of its riches. After all, there will be endless opportunities for wealth accumulation.

“However, should you choose to betray me and repay the favor of naming you as deputy with treachery… You do understand, right?”

“Of course, sir. As you astutely pointed out, I sought after wealth, but I am nothing more than a lowly individual. Trying to betray you, take your place as the city’s leader, or anything of the sort is beyond me.”

“Very well. I hope your words ring true.”

With a respectful nod and a bow, the official left the room.

Loyalty may be scarce, but for now, the focus was on that city. Who would have thought, gaining Karakas, a city even the king had abandoned, would become a reality?

Oh, I eagerly await the day when that city falls into my hands.

“In due time, it might not be such a bad idea for me to subtly rule this country from behind.”