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Chapter 127.1. Trade
Hmm, why would analyzing the core lead to accessing the Core Store? What were the scientists doing? Amano Bowto scratched his head in bewilderment. Where did such a misunderstanding come from?
[...Hmm, I don't know. If it were Serika-chan, she'd probably laugh it off and explain. Scientists tend to turn even accidental occurrences into achievements. Maybe the government pretended to go along with the story and withdrew from the deficit department.]
Shizuku-san chuckled. Indeed, if it were Serika, she would likely mock the scientist who said such things while explaining.
[Scientists need to ensure their results are reproducible and not refutable... Oh, I see. Maybe because I had the Core Store set up whenever I had free time. Reproducibility was achieved. But throughout Japan?]
[It's not unthinkable that there was some intervention in the dungeon's mechanism...]
I see. Shizuku might be right. It's a sloppy reproducibility. But there's no point in me worrying about it. Let's make the scientists think that way. Even if I contemplate it, it won't change anything. They might have thought it was irrelevant or just a coincidence. "I understand the situation. If there's no money, how about resources or labor? Are there any abandoned cars or guns that can no longer be used?"
If there's a shortage of bullets, aren't there things like that? I think so.
"As you say. There are several heavy machine guns, short guns, jeeps, and armored vehicles that couldn't be collected and are stockpiled due to a lack of bullets."
Great. That's really great. Masamune-kun, I'll take those. No... wait a minute? I've come up with an even better idea.
The issues of this fortress-turned-refugee camp might turn out to be in my favor.
"How many people live here?"
"About 3,000. Including children, it's around 10,000 in the entire Tsukuba Line area. There are about 500 soldiers among them."
"Was it okay to answer honestly? If the enemy finds out about our military strength, we'll be more vulnerable to attacks."
Masamune answers easily, but I give him a warning about his carefree attitude. Well, maybe he's doing it on purpose. He even mentioned including children. What a difficult person.
"If there are thieves who would come all the way here to attack, that would be surprising. If they invite us, I might consider it."
Masamune says with a sly smile. A frightening grin.
"We've been fighting since the dungeon appeared. We were even in a tank unit. We got the skill level-up potions that we didn't understand at the time. We cleared the dungeon by breaking through herds of minotaurs and cyclopes. Thanks to that, we have skills at level 5, you know?"
"Yeah, after clearing it, we touched the dungeon core. We even took turns drinking potions! I'm not handing over items we obtained at the risk of our lives!"
"Level 5? Are there many of them here?"
I ask with a serious expression to the three laughing loudly. They're stronger than I imagined. Seriously.
"Because we're strong, the higher-ups didn't like us. Unfortunately, we're the only ones at level 5. There are a few at level 3, mostly at level 1, and about 20 at level 2."
"We've been exterminating kobold nests and such for nearly 20 years. My colleagues are pretty strong."
"You've been doing that...? You probably got glared at because you were doing whatever you wanted, right?"
I feel sorry for the boss who has to deal with a subordinate at level 5. However, there's something strange about this story. Touched the dungeon core in turns? That's a lie. There's no way you become level 5 like that. Glared at by the boss, huh? Were you made to touch the dungeon core like experimental animals? Well, it's better not to ask about the past.
[Shura no Kuni was here, huh? Even if they brought 20,000 subordinates, they'd probably be repelled.]
[Shura no Kuni is too much.]
Whaaat. Kicking in the air and moving her body dramatically, Shizuku-san seems to be enjoying herself. But leaving aside Shura no Kuni, the trading partners I was hoping for seem to be here.
While watching Masamune and the others who are trying to appeal to their strength, I think if they go to the inner city, they will be very popular. No, definitely, many skilled individuals withdrew from here to Noda. I should be careful when going to Noda.
"Why withdraw completely just because the Core Store appeared? If there are high-level guys, there will be those who seek immense favors with a little support, right?"
"On the way to Noda, trolls, orcs, ogres, and kobolds have built nests. Not nests, fortresses. Monster Line Fortress. It's been built all the way to the eastern sea, and Chiba completely gets cut off on the surface. Wyverns are flying around, too."
What the heck? Monsters are building a fortress. Wyverns, huh? Why wouldn't the military destroy such fortresses?
After seeing my skeptical expression, Masamune's face becomes bitter.
"There's some ulterior motive. That's probably a terrible one. They didn't move the capital. But they went south and have been building a solid base for a long time."
"Are they trying to create an independent country? It's impossible with just Chiba. Chiba has a port and an airport, so trade is possible, and it's a pseudo-declaration of a nation. Do they want to appeal to be a special zone with extraterritoriality? If they move, it's no longer Noda."
Don't think stupid things. It's not decided like that. They might be trying to do something using the technology obtained in the Underground Empire.
In any case, support from Noda seems unlikely. In fact, isn't the Monster Line Fortress stronger? The Tsukuba Line Fortress is clearly losing.
[I'm sure they're building an army called the Titans. Well, the monsters who build fortifications are at least B-rank, and probably A-rank monsters with vassal skills.]
[There is no choice but to leave it to the military.]
The armored units don't have the means to break through the fortress. We'll have to rely on the national military. It's unsettling.
More importantly, in such a situation, I can move more freely. I open my mouth to Masamune with a cynical and cunning smile.
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