After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World - Chapter 1705

Chapter 1705: Baccal Town
Baccal Town

Like any black metal territory, Baccal Town was a bustling territory characterized by the heavy air with a slightly metallic scent mixing in the wind. There were carts after carts carrying ores or finished products across several streets, or to the very active marketplace.

The Town had mines and quarries located on its adjacent hill, just beyond its walls. It also had an entire area dedicated to smelting and forging facilities. Here, blacksmiths, bloomeries, and large furnaces dominated the sight.

There were also warehouse districts, which were filled with raw ore and processed ingots. It was abutted by markets that locals and visitors alike frequented, adding to the overall activity of the Town.

The people here were characterized by tough, practical folks, many of whom were built for manual labor. After all, the population also had a large fighter population, while the rest would mostly be working in the metalworking industry.

Interestingly enough, there were also a handful of metal users here. Some were recruited, while some were born here, with people saying they had been born of metal, so they developed the affinity.

This was the case with Hassen City, and a few other territories that had been exposed to this industry for generations. It wasn’t to say that there were more elementalists compared to their peers. It was just that those who had the potential to be elementalists developed metal affinity instead of other elements.

It was an interesting observation, showing how the environment, through generations, could indeed affect the predominant element.

The desert also had a lot more fire users in proportion, though they’d have preferred water elementalists instead.

Interestingly, unlike many other places, what was different about Baccal Town was that it had a vibrant apprenticeship culture.

Here, teaching most of what one knew about metalworking was encouraged and rewarded, so it became the home of many great blacksmiths, weaponsmiths, and the like.

Currently, its Lord was walking along the hallways of his palace. The palace had a corridor along its walls, adjacent to long verandahs that faced the town proper. As they walked, they could also appreciate the bustling townscape while they chatted.

The current holder of the Lord Token was a man named Bangkal, a man in his mid-60s (with the appearance of someone in his early 50s). He was tall, big, and gruff, but he also had an experienced air around him.

At this time, however, he had a very respectful stance in front of the man in front of him. It was unlike his usual image of a revered lord, and it was obvious that he genuinely respected the man in front of him.

And who was the man he was with? It was none other than Cauis Glen.

Cauis’ family, the Glens, actually owned Baccal Town. That was to say, even if someone was given the Token, the property was under their name.

It was one of their more lucrative properties, in fact.

“Milord,” Bangkal said, slightly bowing. “Voumi contacted us and claimed that they will help us, should we hope to wage war against Valov.”

Cauis cocked his head as he looked at the man. “Now… why would they even think of giving that offer as a poor level 1 Town?”

He had been in Voumi before, and it was truly nothing remarkable except for that elementalist auction of theirs. From what he heard, it had even been declining the past few months, which was really shameful. What a useless Lord and administration team he had.

Bangkal paused and thought. “It seems like they have heard our rivalry.”

He was referring to the industry of handling metals, which Valov was also known for. They were relatively close to each other, too, so they were often compared.

They were also associated with different cities, which fueled the rivalry even more.

However, it was also why—even if Baccal always had some conflicts with Valov due to the similar nature of their industries— they didn’t allow anything to develop excessively.

So what was this, now?

“But to try and start a war?” Mattheo, Cauis’ right hand, couldn’t help but say. His position was equal to the Lord here, so he could be casual with Bangkal.

“According to our investigation, they are in dire need of money,” Bangkal began. “Their industry had been dipping the past few weeks, and their expenditures were the highest ever.”

“I understand why their industries are dipping,” Cauis said, vaguely remembering what he had observed when he was in Voumi. “But what are they spending so much on?”

“It is because of those powders, Milord.”

Those powders had also arrived in his area. However, he had made sure to add huge tariffs on it and placed control. If it were up to him, he’d have forbidden it outright. However, it did not have much effect on the people who could afford it.

They were not blatant in their use after that, so there was not much reason for Bangkal to be too hard on them.

Bangkal paused and then mentioned their own insights. “Voumi claims that Valov also has manufacturing infrastructure for the powder in their lands. From what I gathered, it is more likely that he is greedy for it, using us as a front.”

“Ridiculous!” Mattheo said, gritting his teeth. “I knew that man was an idiot the moment I saw his ugly face.”

Cauis was quiet this entire time. After a moment, he finally spoke and told the other to shut up.

“You say Voumi had been encountering trouble, yes?” he asked. “Did it start when the drugs came to be?”

Bangkal paused in thought. He wasn’t sure. He wasn’t exactly keeping track of a weaker territory so far away from them. “I am not certain, Milord, but the timeline should not be far apart.”

Cauis’s arms were crossed as he stared into the townscape in thought, his finger habitually tapping on his arm.

“Something is brewing in that area,” he said, a flash of interest passing his eyes. “I am sure of it.”