- Fantasy Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence
- FLDI Chapter 24
Chapter 24: Planning for the Large Iron Mine
Of course, while there were resource points beyond his current reach, there were also those he could acquire right now. Among the third, fifth, seventh, and eighth points, all were within his grasp.
Even the first and second points seemed somewhat feasible for him to capture.
Thor’s gaze swept over the second and first points before finally settling on the first one.
Compared to the unicorns, the iron mine was undoubtedly of greater value for the development of his territory.
The only issue was the large goblin tribe. Goblin tribes typically number in the thousands, and could even reach several thousand. With his current strength, conquering a large goblin tribe would be challenging.
But it was only a challenge, not an impossibility.
Considering the immense value of the mine, any difficulty seemed insignificant.
Not to mention the iron mine itself, but also the monetary benefits it could provide for his territory’s development and farmland expansion. Additionally, as previously mentioned, it could become a major economic pillar for Eagle Ridge moving forward.
This was crucial.
At present, Eagle Ridge was still running at a deficit. Relying solely on farming might not be enough to foster the territory’s growth.
To secure a brighter future for the land, finding its own industry was of paramount importance.
And this iron mine was the perfect choice.
Even if sacrifices were necessary, it would be best to seize it as soon as possible.
As night deepened, Thor made his final decision.
When the morning sun rose, Thor summoned Steve.
“My lord!” Steve respectfully addressed him.
“Gather a team and investigate the area fifty miles east of our territory. It seems there is a group of timid goblins there. I want to know how many there are,” Thor commanded.
“Yes, my lord!” Steve was a bit surprised but quickly nodded in agreement.
Having witnessed his lord’s brilliance on several occasions, Steve had no doubts this time either.
After watching Steve depart, Thor settled in to wait.
To take control of the iron mine, he needed to be fully prepared.
The first step was to determine the number of timid goblins.
If there were only a thousand or so goblins, then Thor’s 400-strong knight corps could easily overwhelm them. But if their numbers reached several thousand, other strategies would need to be considered.
“Let’s hope there aren’t too many,” Thor muttered to himself, deep in thought.
Meanwhile, Steve led a team to investigate the area fifty miles east.
The investigation took nearly three days.
Three days later, Steve returned with startling news.
The number of timid goblins in the tribe far exceeded expectations.
Even with a preliminary investigation, Steve confirmed that the goblin population exceeded three to four thousand. In fact, the actual number was likely between five and six or even seven thousand.
This number was shocking.
Goblins were among the weakest of the beastfolk, generally regarded as the lowest tier in beastfolk tribes.
Timid goblins, in particular, were the weakest of the goblins.
However, numbers mattered.
With thousands—possibly six or seven thousand—goblins, even timid goblins posed a significant threat.
With only a little over 100 apprentice knights and fewer than 40 full knights, Thor could try to defeat them, but the losses would be heavy.
More importantly, even with 400 men, it would be nearly impossible to capture all the goblins. If any escaped, the large iron mine would be vulnerable to constant attacks, potentially drawing attention from other goblins or even other beastfolk.
That would be the most dangerous outcome.
At this stage, Eagle Ridge was not equipped to handle attacks from other beastfolk.
Inside the room, Thor furrowed his brow as he considered the situation.
Steve stood quietly beside him, not daring to interrupt.
“Steve, what do you think? Is there a way to deal with these goblins without letting them escape—at least not in large numbers?”
Thor finally broke the silence, turning to Steve for input.
“This…,” Steve began, but trailed off. He too furrowed his brow, lost in thought.
After a few moments, Steve admitted defeat.
“I don’t know, my lord.”
Thor waved a hand, dismissing him. “Alright, you may go. I’ll think about it some more.”
He hadn’t expected Steve to come up with a solution anyway.
Steve had potential, but that was about it. He wasn’t particularly gifted in other areas.
That was understandable.
At the beginning of a territory’s development, strength was what mattered most. This was why Count Engeldres Rossa had selected knights with good combat potential for Thor.
As for more specialized talents, those would likely be given to him when he returned to the family after becoming a baron.
“Yes, my lord!” Steve bowed and quietly left the room.
Once Steve had left, Thor wandered out into the territory, deep in thought.
By now, the territory resembled a small town, with the streets bustling with life.
Everyone’s faces were filled with energy and hope.
“My lord!”
“My lord!”
“Lord!”
“Master!”
As Thor walked through the town, both knights and serfs alike greeted him with respect.
It was a stark contrast to when he had first entered the territory.
The serfs, in particular, gazed at him with fervent admiration.
“Did you hear? In three months, the lord will free more serfs. I wonder if I’ll be one of them!”
“I heard! I hope I’m chosen too. Then I can become a free citizen of Eagle Ridge!”
“Ah, I don’t know if I stand a chance.”
Amidst the chatter, a smile tugged at Thor’s lips.
But as his smile spread, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck him.
Thor stopped in his tracks.
He had just thought of a solution—one that could ensure success.
As his thoughts raced, his gaze shifted to the serfs working in the fields, and his smile grew even wider.
(End of Chapter)