IRER 77

Chapter 77 

Stability and Challenge

“Trade with the South,” huh. River thought back to the past.

Before the war with the Empire, how desperately had they begged the South for food supplies?

The South was technically part of the Empire, but in truth, it was highly autonomous—just as the North was.

But unlike the North, the South hadn’t shown any leniency. Understandably so, perhaps—they were also wary of the Empire’s gaze.

Because the North simply had nothing attractive enough to offer to risk defying the Empire.

They had already exhausted all their jewels and precious metals in trade. And even then, they’d had to hand them over at humiliatingly low prices because every deal had to be done under the Emperor’s watchful eye.

Once even that resource had run dry, the South turned its back on the North completely.

Well, fine. River had understood. If it had been him, he might have made the same choice—to protect his own land, even at the cost of abandoning the North.

But that was why, up until now, he could never imagine trade with the South as any sort of viable solution.

But what if it worked?

In recent years, famine had ravaged the North, but the South—blessed with a warmer climate and abundant water—had enjoyed rich harvests during the very same period.

If they could find a deal that the South couldn’t refuse, then even if famine struck again, the North would never again be reduced to such devastation.

Still, River wasn’t sure. Trade was risky; success or failure was uncertain. Maybe a 50% chance at best? But compared to the near-zero chance they’d had before, that was fifty times better odds.

And it was Brody who had given him the confidence to even consider it.

So, he decided to hear her out further.

“If we build a fortress in this region, it won’t just secure the harbor. Because it’s south of Ferdan, we could also secure farmland in a relatively warmer area. The previous staff chief must have thought it was too hard to manage, so he left it as a free zone. But I couldn’t stop thinking it was far too valuable to abandon. It may not be as fertile as the South, but it could become the breadbasket of the North.”

River quickly calculated in his head.

The costs of building the fortress and defending against the Empire… weighed against the potential profits from trade and farmland.

But farmland alone didn’t feel like enough justification, given all the uncertainty.

What if they spent enormous sums and failed to complete the fortress? Or even if they succeeded, what if the national finances collapsed?

Seeing his hesitation, Brody pressed on.

“The decision must be made quickly.”

“This isn’t a matter to decide rashly. As long as the region is left neutral, the Empire will leave it be. But if we try to claim it, they will not remain silent.”

“Exactly. Which is why now is the time—while the Empire is at its weakest.”

“You mean we should push ourselves to build a fortress no matter the strain? The North is exhausted. It won’t be easy to gather manpower.”

“Ah, manpower. I thought about that too.”

“You thought about that too?” River and Aidan both looked dumbfounded. Brody kept giving answers far beyond their expectations.

“Instead of just distributing relief grain, we’ll use it as wages to pay workers. Thanks to some luck, we actually have more food this winter than before.”

“Food? You mean the grain we received from the Empire? You’re saying not to release it as relief, but to use it as payment?”

“Not entirely as payment, of course—some people won’t be able to work. But if we offer larger rations to those who do, plenty of people will flock to us for the opportunity. A fortress means a new settlement. If we help fund that, refugees with nowhere to go after the war could move there. That would reduce vagrancy as well—two birds with one stone.”

“……”

River stroked his chin thoughtfully.

She was right.

In the short term, it might feel harsh. But in the long run?

If they simply released the food now, it would be nothing more than temporary relief.

But rebuilding from ruins required strength—and hope was what moved people.

If we build the fortress, we’ll create jobs and motivation. We won’t waste labor, and we’ll have a solid reason to ration food fairly. We won’t waste endless meetings debating how to distribute grain when no one knows if the famine will end next year or not. Securing farmland, securing a port… who knows how profitable it will be? But at worst, we lose nothing.

To continue as before—or to take on a new challenge.

If they kept to the old ways, they would only ever repeat the same mistakes.

Even if trade failed, securing farmland south of Ferdan would be a long-term gain.

And if they failed to secure it? As long as it wasn’t such a disaster that they could never recover, it would still be worth trying.

As long as it doesn’t break us beyond recovery… that’s the key question: do we have that much leeway?

River was cautious. As a strategist, he always sought the best methods, but he never gambled on slim odds. Risk-taking was not his role.

When he stayed silent too long, Brody added again:

“Of course, we’ll also work on food self-sufficiency. I’m planning to develop new crop strains that can withstand cold and drought better. But if we think about the cause of this great famine… who knows when it will end? If the North keeps relying on potatoes alone, we’ll do nothing but barely avoid starvation.”

Aidan, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke.

“The cause of the famine? You know what it is?”

“Well, not exactly… It’s a natural disaster, after all. And natural disasters are beyond human power.”

In truth, Brody thought she did know.

From the statistics she’d studied under River and the geographic patterns she’d mapped out, she suspected it was due to a cold current pushing in, cooling the air, and stabilizing the atmosphere so much that even rain stopped falling.

But people of this era couldn’t understand such things, so “natural disaster” was the simplest explanation. And technically, it wasn’t wrong.

Irrigation could help if they could redirect water from other regions, but with current technology, even Brody couldn’t make it possible.

“So, even if the famine continues, we must build resilience against it.”

Aidan nodded in agreement.

“So it comes down to this: will we risk something that could bring great success—or great failure—or will we take the so-called stable path?”

“If the famine ends, the stable path isn’t bad. But if it doesn’t? With the grain we have now, we’ll last a year, maybe two at most. Potatoes might keep us from starving, but the North will still remain poor. And if, in that time, the Empire regains its strength? What are our chances of winning another war three years from now?”

Aidan stared down at the map.

“Not good. Especially since… the Empire has that princess now.”

He pictured her in his mind.

The day she had staged a hostage crisis atop the capital’s walls, and the day she’d chased Brody at Ferdan Fortress.

She had ability. And ambition.

If she ever gained true power in the Empire, the North could not remain as it was.

Aidan collected his thoughts and nodded.

“Continuing as before isn’t even the safe choice anymore. That leaves only one option.”

Brody smiled faintly at his words.

The man who had been nervously avoiding her lately was now discussing strategy with her as a partner. That was proof enough—he now saw her as a true strategist.

The realization gave her a strange thrill, as if she’d just won approval for a key project or secured a major deal.

River, too, seemed swayed. Though he was pinching the bridge of his nose with a long sigh, he wasn’t voicing any real objection.

“Fine. I’ll admit I’m halfway convinced we need to build this fortress. The other half depends on what goods you intend to trade with the South. You seem to have something in mind. Let’s hear it.”

His tone was sharp, like he was daring her—‘If you’ve led us this far only to propose something worthless, just watch how I tear it apart.’

Ugh, what a pain.

Brody glanced at Aidan instead. His handsome face calmed her nerves.

“I can’t give all the details until we’re at the implementation stage. But—”

River cut in again.

“At least give us a rough idea of the products.”

Brody frowned at his nagging, crossed her arms, and lifted her chin, as if to say ‘Fine, I’ll tell you.’

“Hm, alright. First, a new kind of medicine. Strategist River, you’re aware of that one, aren’t you?”

“You don’t mean that’s the only thing?”

Good grief. Did he think she owed him a full trade catalog? They’d never had any decent export goods before, and now he wanted to complain?

Holding back her irritation, Brody replied coolly:

“It’s not the only one. But if you think it’s worthless, I’ll take it off the list.”

“……”

In truth, the power lay in Brody’s hands. The items she was about to list could not be produced without her involvement.

So, even River eventually fell silent, though his anxious eyes still darted back and forth, betraying his eagerness.

Really… he’s hopelessly devoted to the North.

Brody sighed inwardly. Given how long they had suffered through famine and war, and how deeply she’d heard of his attachment to the North, she could understand his desperation.

So she softened her tone and explained:

“Besides the new medicine—rare herbs, rare flowers (ornamental use), unique foods made with potatoes, and lastly… contraceptives. That’s the list, for now.”

She counted them off on her fingers.

Because she was looking upward as she recalled them, she only noticed the two men freezing in shock when she folded down her fifth finger.

“And I’ll need a few things for that, but… hm? What’s wrong, you two?”

“A-hem! Nothing.”

“What is it that you need?”

Aidan’s ears were red as he cleared his throat.

River seemed calm, but considering how nervous he’d been earlier, his composure now looked strange.

Brody quickly realized why.

Ah. The contraceptives.

Of course. For a woman to say such a thing so bluntly in public—how scandalous it must sound in this era.

But what could she do? It was, in truth, perhaps the most profitable product of all.

The existing contraceptives of this time were almost useless. Some methods were downright absurd.

Compared to that, mine are the best in existence—99.99% effective, guaranteed.

If she’d had this formula in her previous life, she would’ve made a fortune. But only her “ability” in this life made it possible.

Really, she was only talking business. Yet the two men looked utterly flustered. Aidan, maybe—but River too? That was unexpected.

Well, judging by how he reacted when I treated him before, I guess he really is hopelessly innocent.

When Brody let out a small laugh, both men bit their lips and looked even more embarrassed.

Feeling a little sorry for them, Brody decided to change the subject as if nothing had happened.