The Vastness of Magical Destiny

"Mr. Kamado," Komer began with a slight smile, "the scenery of the Akmon River is indeed as famous as they say, with clear waters like a ribbon and fertile banks on both sides. No wonder I heard even in the North that Sparta might replace Corinth as the leader of the City-state Alliance. Patrae has developed rapidly, I recall four years ago when I last visited Patrae it was nothing like it is now. I wonder what has caused Patrae to become so lively all of a sudden?"

Upon hearing Komer ask this question, Kamado was momentarily taken aback. He hadn’t expected a merchant from the North to be interested in these matters, but as a Spartan, he naturally felt proud of his country’s development. "Mr. Karadin, have you visited Sparta before?"

"Oh, I only passed by Patrae by boat and spent just one night there. The lime wine from the ’Old Sailor’ Tavern by the dock in Patrae let me sleep soundly." Reno laughed, his face lighting up with genuine recollection.

"Heh, it seems that Mr. Karadin doesn’t hold his liquor well, getting sound sleep from lime wine? Perhaps only our Spartan honey wine would suit you best." There was an odd look on Kamado’s face; not being able to hold one’s liquor was a somewhat embarrassing topic for any man, but it seemed that the merchant from Susoer wasn’t bothered by it, which made Kamado feel more favorably towards this straightforward business partner. "In Athens City, Mr. Karadin, you can freely enjoy our honey wine made with rose honey. It will leave you feeling tipsy all day," he laughed heartily.

"Mmm, I’ve been looking forward to such a delightful time. I tried Spartan honey wine four years ago in Patrae, but that accursed owner took advantage of me being a foreigner and added too much sugar water to my drink, which was quite disappointing. This time in Athens, I must have a proper taste," Komer replied, also laughing, and their interaction seemed to bring them much closer.

"Wasn’t Mr. Karadin just asking why Patrae has undergone such significant changes in recent years? One of the reasons has to do with the Caucasus Lord you serve now," Kamado said, steering the conversation back and casting a glance at his counterpart.

"Oh? What do you mean by that?" Komer asked with a hint of surprise.

"Mr. Karadin must know that although our forging and smelting technology in the Southern Mediterranean Region has always been the best on the Continent, we have very limited metal ores in our region. Whether it’s iron, silver, or copper mines, the quantities are modest and the quality not very good. Most raw materials need to be imported from the North or inland regions, which is why, with this limitation, the entire Southern Mediterranean Region, aside from Corinth known for producing high-end and unique weapons and armor, other areas, though technically advanced, have struggled to scale up. Patrae is no exception."

"However, this situation has recently changed. After the Caucasus replaced its Lord with the one you serve now, a massive shift occurred. The iron ore and pig iron from the Caucasus are exported in large quantities to our Southern Mediterranean, and now the high-quality smokeless coal from the region neighboring the Caucasus, also under his jurisdiction, is being continuously supplied to our area. With secure supplies of raw materials and fuel, it’s unsurprising that the local smelting and forging industries have developed. Sparta has some advantages too - we have special minerals in the Pindus region. When added to the smelting process through special methods, they significantly improve the quality of wrought iron and give it unique properties. While we can’t yet compare to Corinth’s magic armor, our ironware, especially armor, is very sought after. I believe this is something Mr. Karadin is also aware of since you have come here to place orders," Kamado explained.

"Oh? Is that the reason for such a dramatic change in Patrae?" Komer was skeptical of this rationale. The idea that the development of just one industry, the smelting and forging industry, could cause such growth in Patrae seemed astonishing.