Tensei Saki ga Shoujo Manga no Shiro Buta Reijou datta Chapter 88

From daytime to late afternoon, I cooperated with officials in the territory to arrange supplies to various areas, after that, I then visited the injured people.

Doctors had already been dispatched, but many of the medical supplies had been sent to the north.

There were enough currently, but it seems that it might be a troublesome situation when the number of patients increased in the future.

[…All right. For the citizens, have the soap inventory of the territory sent to the south and west. For other commodities, we will distribute them for free for now. Can you tell me if there are any other missing items?]

I asked the person in charge of the facility where injured people were gathered about the situation in detail.

There were shortages of medical supplies at the west and south, so I would likely had to ask for more from Ricardo. For the north, it would be faster to ask from Nora.

The southern land was a part of the territory where crops were easily grown so there were quite a few vegetables and fruits harvested. There was no present food shortage.

However, if crops that were scheduled to be harvested now and those that would be harvested in the autumn were damaged, it would be hard for the people when winter came.

(I have to investigate properly and take proper measures… I'm worried about the future.)

Currently, I was also prepared for the punishment from my cousin who's currently at the north… but I had not received any reply.

If I provided as a backup, Ryuze should be somewhat be more at ease.

He wouldn't rely on others, and he would work until he collapsed, so his surroundings must recognize it and moved by themselves. He was such a worrisome earl.

(For families who lost their breadwinners in these raids, we need to provide appropriate assistance.)

Since there were two places at the south where hot springs could naturally be found, I encouraged them to use those. During summer, we had to pay particular attention to hygiene.

People whose houses were destroyed were evacuated to wider conference rooms of government offices and other facilities.

(As soon as possible, I must do it. But first, we have to settle the damages caused by the bandits and repeat the same thing at other places that were attacked.)

My grandfather had headed north, so I decided to head west. My grandfather and cousin were not there, so there may be some troubles.

Originally, the quality of Hakusu earldom's officials was not bad. Since Ryuze became the earl however, their directivity had become clearer and their work had improved.

I could immediately listen to the current situation from each person who was in charge of their respective towns, so it was very helpful. In this case, I would be able to quickly arrange supplies and provide aid.

While I was doing various tasks, Ricardo joined me.

[Britney, is there something the Astor territory can do to help? Big things have to be approved by my father first though…]

[For the time being, medical instruments or medicines… if you can, I would like you to arrange those.]

[My home territory has been putting emphasis on medical care from a while ago, so we can give you these kinds of things. I had thought that they would be necessary, so I had sent a messenger to Millard.]

[Thank you. Then… this winter, if the damage to our farmland is too great, can you support us with food? Of course, it's only to an extent so that your people don't starve.]

[No problem. As you know, agriculture is thriving in my territory. I will be able to give you the excess food cheaply. Feel free to order any other daily necessities.]

Hakusu earldom bought food little by little from Astor earldom every year. On the other hand, it's not a bad thing since excess inventory could be decreased and they obtained money from it.

At great pains, the dependence of Astor earldom had ceased, but he guessed that it's unlikely to occur in this case, and she was troubled that her people were unable to pass through the winter.

[So, what are you going to do now?]

[After we finish arranging the delivery of supplies to the north, we plan on heading to the west where the bandit brigands had been exterminated. Based on the report of the western town, the damages occurred are the same as here or slightly bigger. I plan to go there and head to the north afterwards. The journey to the western town from here takes several hours, so I'd like to leave as soon as possible.]

Thus, we left the southern town as soon as the sun had set.

It was late at night when we arrived at the western town.

Fog was enshrouding the neighborhood, and the seaside town was very quiet.

[Excuse us for the late hour. I will ask for the details tomorrow, but please contact me if there is any emergency now.]

It seemed that the officials who met me were pleased at my arrival. Maybe they were a bit uneasy since neither my grandfather nor my cousin came.

I finished what I had to do until it was time for me to sleep and I returned to the prepared room.

(Even so… currently, the cause of the bandit activities in the southern and western towns is unknown. I investigated everything that I had suspected. My aunt and uncle are unrelated this time.)

If the culprit was not in the Hakusu territory, there's a high possibility that the bandits were sent from another territory.

More or less there were people who were envious of our recent rapid development.

However, Ryuze was on good terms with the crown prince and I was liked by the princess… and, the current Earl Astor was good friends with grandfather, there should be little blatant harassments from other nobles.

(Geographically speaking, what's suspicious is that Astor territory is the one that bordering our western and southern sides, but there's no reason for Ricardo to attack us. Are there forces seeking misunderstandings between our territories? Or maybe someone in Astor earldom that wants to fit in Ricardo's family?)

Unless there were any clear facts, I couldn't say anything careless. I might feel impatient, but I still had to investigate it clearly.

It seemed that it had begun to rain outside, and the mood that's already low became worse. The way it was, I couldn't fall asleep.

While late at night, I decided to take a walk at the neighborhood. I wasn't worried since I could fight off ordinary perverts.

The town office of the western town was near the harbor. Even though it was a harbor, the waves were rough and there were many rocky areas, so almost no trade boats came in and out. There were only dozens of local fishermen's ships.

Those familiar with this sea could freely manipulate the ship without encountering the reefs.

When my head was deeply covered in hood and I was walking while checking the topography of the town, there was presence of a person behind me.

I looked over my shoulder and saw Ricardo.

[Oi, Britney! What are you doing alone in the middle of the night, you'll catch a cold.]

[Ricardo?]

[I saw you from the window, so I hurriedly came out. What would you do if there is something!]

[So, sorry… I was being absent-minded so you surprised me. I couldn't sleep… many thoughts are swirling in my head so I became depressed.]

[It doesn't matter, I'm the same since I can't fall asleep too. Millard's reply has not arrived yet, and there's no contact from my subordinate who I had sent. Just to be sure, I had sent another subordinate…]

Looking at Ricardo's depressed face, I pulled him to under a roof nearby. Unlike me who was wearing clothes to repel rain, Ricardo who came out in panic was wearing ordinary clothes.

While we were taking shelter from the rain, red light began to appear from a place a bit far from us.

[I wonder what that is.]

[…Oi, perhaps, isn't that fire?]

[E, but, it's raining now. For a fire to occur now, then it's man-made… don't tell me!]

[It might be bandits, let's head back!]

[Un!]

Ricardo and I ran to the office in a hurry.

TN: For those who guessed that the culprits are the aunt and uncle, try again. This arc sure is full of cliffhangers.

Chapter end