Chapter 558: Volume 14: Accumulate Thinly and Erupt Powerfully, - 3: Empathy for Each Other
"Maha Gummi, how much surplus food is left in Murray? How long can it be sustained?" After a long while, Komer finally spoke.
"It’s almost depleted. The merchants from Muscat provided them with food two weeks ago. At that time, they sent over the collected ore and coal as well as anything they could pawn, but two weeks is pretty much their limit. Their production is slightly better than Banassia and Izmir, so the Carreila Knight is a bit more confident than Woodhardt and Mizar. However, under the deliberate oppression of the Muscat traders, he too is on the brink of desperation. I believe they will have no choice but to turn to us within three days." Maha Gummi was more confident. With the deliberate cooperation of the Muscat traders, Murray could have lasted a bit longer, but Maha Gummi wouldn’t allow that to happen, leaving the Carreila Knight with no way out.
"Very well, since Woodhardt and Mizar have already indicated their willingness to pledge allegiance, there’s no need for us to be overly fastidious. As long as Banassia and Izmir submit, Murray alone will not pose a threat. We didn’t meet the Carreila Knight last time, but this time I’m quite keen to see just how much benevolence lies in the heart of this knight from the Salvation Society," Komer said with a faint smile.
Carreila came to Ugru with complex feelings, having seen the orderliness of Mandu and the prosperity of Muscat, and upon arriving at the center of the Caucasus—Ugru, he couldn’t help but grimly admit that what he had done in Murray paled in comparison to this enigmatic Lord. Although he had tried his best, the inevitable collapse of Murray, with no food supply, was not his fault, but rather a result of his own incompetence.
Seeing how Mandu quickly became orderly and how the coal and iron mines resumed full production, flourishing even more than before and attracting people from Murray and other areas of Leon like a magnet, it was clear that, although food and other living supplies were still somewhat scarce, the situation was vastly different than in Murray.
Coming to Ugru this time, Carreila was also driven by urgency. When there was food available, his influence was fairly good, but now that the food aid couldn’t keep up, the mood of the people began to destabilize. The number of fleeing citizens was on the rise, spreading even to the army. Although he tried to restore some mine production, the efficiency was terribly low, and the miners were greatly dissatisfied, wondering why some people could eat without working, while they had to toil.