5.1 - Ambush
LtC. Slane's Office, Amethyst Marketing Complex
0751, 2 Jul 2025
Once the conflict with the Northern Coalition ended, LtC. Slane immediately moved Amethyst Merchant HQ to Magwurt Castle. Meanwhile, the old headquarters complex was converted into a marketing center.
Every day, LtC. Slane spent most of his time in the Marketing Office, and only went to Amethyst Merchant HQ when there was a meeting with Tuscan Region higher-ups.
Once he sits down at his desk, LtC. Slane immediately checked the Amethyst Merchant's latest progress report.
The essence of the report includes:
The supply of agricultural and livestock products from the Kandez Region is sufficient, so the supply from the earth will be reduced. Of course, the agricultural and livestock area projects in the Herron Mountains are still being carried out to prevent dependence from outside.
The Amur Beer factory in Magwurt City is fully operational. From the raw material preparation to the process of putting beer into the barrel, it only takes 7-8 hours. Then just wait two weeks before the beer is ready to be consumed, but to reach the best conditions it will take at least one month.
The Amur Beer's sales in Magwurt City were smaller than those in Walluo City, because in addition to the smaller population, Tuscan Region higher-ups agreed with Amethyst Merchant's proposal to set the legal age for consuming alcohol to be 20 years.
For Lada Whiskey, the current production is in the range of 6,000 bottles/month, and the whiskey produced takes 3-4 years before it is ready to sell. However, with a supply of 20,000 bottles produced on earth, sales can be carried out for up to four years if the quota is limited to 300 bottles/month.
Perry, cider, jam, syrup, candied fruit, jelly, meat sauce, and glass and cardboard packaging factories will also operate starting this month.
Therefore the production facilities on earth for these products can be closed to cut costs. Meanwhile, products that have already been produced can be sent to the Amstell Continent.
The sugar factory still has to wait for the first harvest of sugarcane before its real capacity is known, but in general there is nothing to worry about.
In his report, LtC. Slane also includes the impression he caught while visiting Walluo City, of course from an economic point of view, including intelligence regarding the closeness of Ruhark Family who ruled Kandez Region with several high-class noble families in Makai Royal City.
LtC. Slane suggested for the time being relations with Kandez Region should be limited to the level of economic cooperation, without entering into an alliance. At least until Kingdom Makai's reaction to the presence of TF Amethyst can be ascertained and how Kandez Region will respond to this.
After nodding three times, LtC. Slane then turned the next page, but before he could start reading, Vex suddenly walked into the room and sat directly opposite him.
LtC. Slane then turned to the sofa where Kim Dong Ree, the chief security detail in charge of protecting him, was sitting reading a fashion magazine.
Kim Dong Ree stared back at LtC. Slane, then got up and walked out of the room with two of her team members.
"I didn't expect you to come here. I hope you don't bring bad news."
Vex grabbed a glass of whiskey from LtC. Slane before answering.
"Of course not, I came to survey the Herron Mountains and I happen to have something to ask you."
"Well, then don't hesitate."
Vex put down his newly emptied whiskey glass before speaking.
"Are you sure that the energy needs for each production facility in Magwurt City can be fulfilled without waiting for the hydropower plant to be built?"
Vex does not understand agriculture, livestock, or the food processing industry. However, he knew the three states that are the largest food producers in the US of A are also recognized as the biggest energy users. So he wanted to determine how urgent the energy needs of Magwurt City were.
And steadily, LtC. Slane explained.
"For now, each production facility in Magwurt City is only in the household industry class. So we will be fine even without a hydropower plant."
Seeing LtC. Slane answered confidently, Vex didn't ask any further and chose to change the topic.
"I've brought some updates for you."
In a half-whisper, Vex then explained that Claire had succeeded in controlling 80% of the Antarctic Continent, so at any time she could build a fake oil refinery there and announce that she had found a new source of energy.
Nouel's first harvest along the South High Road was also quite successful, and in a few weeks the fuel for all of TF Amethyst's ground assets will be switched from palm oil to Nouel biogas. Of course, this does not include electric-powered vehicles.
Vex then closed the brief explanation he gave while handing LtC. Slane a flashdisk.
"This is the intel that Major Petrov obtained about the economic, social, political, cultural, and trade aspects in Kingdom Makai, including trade agreements and price lists for the various commodities that you are requesting."
Smiling from ear to ear, LtC. Slane grabbed the flashdisk in front of him.
"Thank you, with this intel I can immediately carry out trade negotiations with the nobles."
LtC. Slane turned his head towards Vex before continuing
"If possible, could Major Petrov dig deeper into the relations between Ruhark Family and noble families in Makai Royal City?"
Vex nodded slightly before saying.
"I will ask Major Petrov to prioritize your request."
- - - - -
Landei Gorge
1240, 5 Jul 2025
Landei Gorge is located at the northwestern tip of the Berril Plains, extending up to 7 km with the widest area reaching 3 km. The gorge, on which the surface is a dense forest, forms a barrier between Kandez Region on the south side and Liqua Region on the north side.
For decades the skirmish between Kandez Region and the Liqua Region took place in the Landei Gorge. However, two years ago, to be precise after the skirmish which caused both parties to suffer more than a thousand lives, the truce agreement was finally signed.
In the ceasefire agreement, the two parties agreed not to carry out any activity in the Landei Gorge and the border post must be at least 1.5 km from the outer boundary of the gorge.
It was also for this reason that Tuscan Guard decided along the border between the Berril Plains and the Landei Gorge, a border post was established 1.5 km from the outer boundary of the gorge. With the hope that the presence of Tuscan Guard border post will not be interpreted as a form of provocation to the two disputing regions.
By taking advantage of the vacuum in the Landei Gorge, Lassac and dozens of his men managed to infiltrate the outer boundary between the Berril Plains and the Landei Gorge. The mission carried by Lassac and his unit is to kidnap Amethyst Merchant personnel.
Since seven days ago Lassac has been observing the activity on the Berril Plains with great patience. Every day, Amethyst Merchant personnel would come to inspect the barley fields at the outer boundary of Landei Gorge using iron carriage, and it was not uncommon for them to approach several tens of meters from his position.
However, Lassac decided not to act because of the three iron carriages that arrived, only passengers on one of the iron carriages got off. So, if the rider on the other two iron carriages decided to get in the way of his mission, Lassac was completely sure he would fail.
Moreover, every time he imagined himself being hit by the iron carriage which was super heavy but could run very fast, the hairs on Lassac's nape immediately stood upright to the end.
But today, luck finally smiled at Lassac. Today there is only one iron carriage approaching Lassac's position, and all the passengers are getting off and moving away from the iron carriage which is a source of worry in his heart. Also, of the seven passengers, five of them were women while the other two men looked very weak.
From their gestures and clothes, Lassac could tell that four of them were not locals, while the other three were residents of the Tuscan Region.
With steady steps Lassac and his 60 men ran toward their prey. They are only 40 meters apart, while the closest group of Tuscan Guard members is about 500 meters, so speed is the key to success for the action he carries.
"Stop and state your identities!"
While his comrades were running towards the iron carriage, one of Amethyst Merchant personnel shouted and grabbed something from his waist. However, Lassac ignored the warning and sped up his pace.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
When a loud voice sounded along with the collapse of several of his men, Lassac also kept running toward the seven Amethyst Merchant personnel.
Lassac realized that Amethyst Merchant personnel had fire sticks that could kill from a distance. Therefore, for this mission he specifically chose the best runners and archers who were also ready to sacrifice their lives for the success of the mission.
Without waiting for orders, the archers placed arrows into their bows and aimed. A moment later, Amethyst Merchant personnel who had previously knocked their comrade down fell onto the ground with a body full of arrows.
An Amethyst Merchant personnel who ran to the back door of the iron carriage did not escape the rain of arrows either. He tumbled two meters off the iron carriage, and the companions behind him immediately stopped running.
In an instant, Lassac and his men arrived before the Amethyst Merchant five personnel who stood stunned as they raised their hands. When Lassac saw the horror in the gazes of the five women in front of him, he instantly grinned from ear to ear.
'Looks like Amethyst Merchant personnel aren't as terrifying as we thought.'
Of course Lassac didn't forget his job, because in the distance he saw a dozen Tuscan Guard running over with all their might.
As soon as Lassac blew a whistle, 40 Cloud Hawks shot out from the tree line at the edge of Landei Gorge.
Before long, Lassac and all of his men were already on the back of the Cloud Hawk, flying low over the Landei Gorge with their catch.
*****
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