Well, at least that was part of the plan, but when they discussed where to find the livestock, Ethan took the chance to scan the system's options for the livestock, and without hesitation, his expression fell flat.
The commodities in the system were indeed quite expensive. Ethan stared at the animals in question, which were three particular ones: the Sky Horn Sheep, the Starbeard Goats, and the Honey Glimmer Bees. These were the three animals that would bring in a lot of money and resources for the kingdom, yet their price made Ethan falter.
After purchasing the blueprints, he had only 68 gold coins left, which was only enough to buy 5 Honey Glimmer Bees, the cheapest of the three, for a total of 40 gold coins.
The honey-glimmer bees have wings that glint and shimmer in the sunlight, making their hives appear to twinkle from a distance. They are known to produce sweet, golden honey, which is a staple in most diets. Honey Glimmer wax is also highly sought after for making candles that burn brighter and longer than ordinary ones.
Ethan had a war brewing in himself as he considered the facts regarding the money. Soon, the war came to an end. Ethan purchased the 5 bees for a total of 40 gold coins, leaving only a measly 18 in storage.
These bees could improve their financial wealth, as the extra could be sold to other kingdoms, which would boost the kingdom's income drastically. Once he had enough money to buy more livestock, that number would only skyrocket.
That should be sufficient to upstart agriculture for now. I can only do but wait.
"Good! Now, since the matter regarding agriculture was resolved, what is next?" he asked, some concern echoing in his voice as he asked. His gaze once more fell onto his people.
"Your Majesty! During the brief war, we sustained damage to infrastructure, specifically the buildings and outposts located outside of the city. The farms and storages in particular have sustained the most damage." The minister of Works, Lord Gareth Stonehand, emerged from the crowd and gave Ethan a respectful bow.
Ethan eyed the man curiously. Thanks to his memories, he knew the man was the minister of works, but he rarely showed himself. The large, muscular man with short, close-cropped salt-and-pepper hair now stood in the meeting hall.
The man was different from Rhys, who was a humble and diligent man. Ethan sensed the man's commanding and confident demeanor just as he stood there, his head bowed slightly.
Hmm, the war with the kingdom of Blackthorn has lasted around four months. The borders are a mess, and the roads, towns, and villages surrounding the area should be ruined based on their violent tendencies.
Ethan's thoughts wondered as he pondered the matter carefully, "What do you suggest would be the best course of action, Lord Gareth?" he asked, his tone serious and laced with intrigue.
Reconstructing their infrastructure was another colossal task, and they could not go about it haphazardly. The war had left many homes damaged, roads ruined, and essential facilities in shambles. They needed a systematic approach to rebuilding their kingdom.
"We should use the manpower we have to reconstruct the buildings as soon as possible, but since the manpower that we need is more than we have, the rebuilding would take time. With possible help from soldiers and others, not just the builders, we can reconstruct the kingdom many times faster than planned." Lord Gareth's words flowed smoothly. He spoke with a measured and deliberate tone.
"Very well, Commander Magnus! I want you to speak with Lord Gareth regarding the soldiers, we shall need the buildings finished as soon as possible and make sure every man is paid their dues for this job, give each man that helps 50 coppers."
"As your Majesty wishes," Magnus's loud and harsh voice rang out amongst the crowd as he accepted the command.
"Are there other matters to report then?" After speaking, silence filled the halls, and Ethan, with what seemed to be a sigh of relief, breathed out silently before he spoke, "General Asher and Butler William shall stay behind; the rest of you are dismissed!"
"William, i want you to speak with the Minister of Finance and make sure he starts reporting to me every week regarding the finances, he should also catalog every incoming and outgoing transaction possible. We are currently under a lot of pressure regarding finances and it should be carefully monitored."
"Very well Your Majesty, if that is your wish!" Butler William bowed slightly with a nod before he waltzed off, leaving the room for General Asher and Ethan to speak privately.
After William left the room, Ethan turned to Asher." Uncle, I am afraid the finances are too little to rebuild everything for the time being. I want to know if you have any ideas on how to increase our military strength? We are currently very vulnerable and at our weakest point. Were it not for the disastrous defeat at our hands, I fear the Blackthorn kingdom would have already destroyed our kingdom and conquered us." he began.
The General listened quietly before Ethan saw him fall into contemplation as if the answer to their woes seemed too hard to find easily.
"The kingdom is nestled between the towering Elvenwood forest and the mighty Ebonflow river. These natural barriers provide an excellent defensive advantage, but it also isolates us from potential allies. To overcome this, I propose to build bridges over the river and clear a path through the forest. This would enable us to establish trade routes and alliances with neighboring kingdoms, and in turn, strengthen our own." the old man began after a long time of silence. His strong and powerful voice rang like bells across the empty hall.
"And I think we should recruit more soldiers. Our military strength now is not even able to let us keep our kingdom ranking. If we do not recruit immediately, I am afraid we will soon become an unranked kingdom and be at the mercy of others." Asher replied wisely after some deliberation.