Iron Harvest: When Farming Becomes Conquest-Chapter 243 - 12: One Tree Does Not Make a Forest
Chapter 243: Chapter 12: One Tree Does Not Make a Forest
Roman had previously only known that Witch Forest was the greatest secret society of this era, and now he had finally learned of their true origins.
A group of court witches from the Conqueror Period. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
To speak of the present, they would certainly be considered antiques, after all, more than a hundred and twenty years had passed.
The Church Court hoped to eradicate the witches’ influence, but found themselves willing but unable.
Because the Fury Family had always blockaded the Church Court.
Morry said that Witch Forest had support from many sides.
Let’s not even mention the Black Iron King for now.
To speak of it, the Fury Family could definitely be considered an overt ally.
Because it was the Grand Duke of Fury who had restrained the main force of the Church Court, prohibiting their reckless actions.
Thus, giving the witches a tremendous breathing space.
In a stroke of bad luck, the witches just happened to possess the family legacies of two other Black Iron dukes.
It was widely rumored that the witches assassinated Duke Riptide and stole the Riptide Family’s legacy.
And had covert dealings with Perea, pilfering the Oak Family’s legacy.
But neither of these could bear close scrutiny.
Because that’s not how it actually happened.
He had willingly given them away, Roman thought.
Alster must have given the Immortal Shield to the witches.
The Oak Family, too, had handed over the Glory Divine Sword to the witches through the agency of Perea.
Both Duke Riptide and the Grand Duke of Oak had some kind of great expectation for the witches.
But no one expected Alster’s death to be proven so conclusively at the hands of the witches.
Gael, who succeeded the title of Duke Riptide, immediately raised his sword to slaughter the latter.
Since this year, he had rooted out and settled scores with too many forces in collusion with the witches.
The Earl of Buck from Buck High Land was just one among them.
The witches were instantly driven into a dead end.
They had no choice but to launch a suicidal attack on Holy City, headlong into the Holy Temple—it is said they almost severed the head of the Holy Seat.
But a miss was as good as a mile, a chasm too great; it was a mission impossible to accomplish.
Under those circumstances, the fact that the witches managed to break out was actually more surprising to Roman.
Even in his grand strategy, he had left that Holy City and Divine Castle to be dealt with last.
Because he didn’t know what kind of tricks the latter held up their sleeves.
So the witches’ defeat was, in fact, to be expected.
They were courting death, a needless sacrifice.
But on the other hand, if they hadn’t done that, they would have had to face mutual destruction with Gael.
Their scale had been too large and absolutely impossible to conceal.
Of course, not so large now.
After all, most of them were dead.
He asked, "So you’re going to find the witches?"
"It’s the responsibility of a member of the Pereya Family..." Morry said, his voice tinged with bitterness.
He thought to himself, what’s all this for?
He despised that group of freakish spell-casters and had sworn never to deal with them in his lifetime.
But in the end, he still had to run around for their sake.
"A single tree does not make a forest!" Lord Roman, the family creed of Pereya is just that—’A single tree does not make a forest!’ Do you know who this phrase describes?"
Roman quietly gazed at Morry.
The young merchant’s face was filled with struggle.
"It was the Conqueror who told the Witch, ’A single tree does not make a forest.’ This is also the origin of the Witch Forest title. He said the Human Clan cannot be without witches, we need to join hands to fend off the calamities of the future."
"I don’t know about the calamities of the future, nor the use of the witches, nor why it has to be them. But there must be some reason for such a great man to speak these words. Thus, the Pereya Family regards this statement as a principle, seeing it as a family creed, and it now also influences me—I feel like I am standing in a vortex, clearly able to pull myself away, yet I have to throw myself into it, all for a grand scheme and future that I do not even understand!" He vented to Roman, treating him as someone he could entrust with his worries and confide in.
He did not want to do so, but reality thought otherwise.
He was very sad, feeling a great trend that was invisible yet genuinely existing, entwining around him in countless strands.
He was like a marionette, being manipulated to dance on the stage of Destiny.
"Do you have a way to ensure your own safety?"
"I have some skills in altering appearances, so I can disguise myself as someone else."
Roman nodded, "Then continue to disguise yourself as a merchant, your old line of work. I will give you a ship and a few guards. Get ready... If possible, bring back some sulfur for me, I am in great need of it right now."
Current mining methods were extremely backward, only allowing for the ignition of black gunpowder to begin with.
There was nothing that the appropriate amount couldn’t solve.
If there was, it meant the amount was insufficient.
Direct blasting!
This method excelled in its simplicity and brutality, and it could significantly increase the output of ore veins.
Moreover, Roman also needed black gunpowder to help him with future construction projects.
But the downside was that Roman had only found one Sulfur Iron Ore mine, located far away, even more remote than the gold mines, the treacherous terrain extending over two hundred kilometers put off his mining intentions.
The saltpeter mines were relatively close, yet still within the mountains, and no easier to mine than gold mines.
Morry, having received Roman’s promise, wasn’t particularly elated, his mind quite conflicted.
"If you find any witches, bring them back," he heard Roman say as he turned to leave, and a great weight suddenly lifted from his heart.
"You’ve solved a big problem for me," he said.
Otherwise, where else could he go?
He was now alone and without kin.
No money, no power, no capital. Now a penniless beggar, begging others for funding to do anything.
He knew of a merchant named Daken in Origin Manor, hoping to get a ship and guards from the Lord of the manor. After toiling for over a year, the promise was still far from being fulfilled, leaving Daken to labor even harder, only to shorten the period until repayment.
Yet, with just a few words, he managed to get a ship and guards, which was already excellent.
"Perhaps so, but I have to tell you, Morry, you paid your price in the past, so I am willing to help you, but the witches haven’t, so my support comes with conditions—
"First, you must remain covert, do not expose your whereabouts. I do not wish to become a prime target of both the Church Court and Gael at the same time.
"Second, the witches must pay their dues, they have the right to negotiate a price with me, and they also have the right to refuse, but I will also refuse a person who refuses me. There’s no room for negotiation."
Morry bowed slightly, "I understand, I will convey your message accurately."
As he watched Morry’s retreating figure, Roman bit his fingertip and began to bury himself in work again.
He was now planning personnel movements among various departments in Origin City—mostly involving promotion and appointments of most people.
Ideally, Roman should establish a personnel department to handle this task.
But there were far more vacancies than capable people.
Seth could do it, but he didn’t have the time.
Nillie could do it, but she also didn’t have the time.
Every one of his Conquest Knights was a fool with muscles for brains, none adept at internal affairs.
Talk about deploying troops, inspiring morale, assaulting strongholds—each one was a chatterbox, never running out of topics.
But if you bring up political systems, personnel management, regulations, and procedures, they all become dumb as doorknobs.
To date, Roman had asked Aaron and Green to come up with a more complete military regiment system, and so far, they only had a rough outline.