After the spring sowing, the formation of the army would not delay the agricultural progress. The importance of food to a country cannot be underestimated. By the time they spend two or three months forming their army and reaching the north, it will likely be almost time for the autumn harvest in the north. This period is sufficient for the kingdom's army to launch an offensive, stabilize the situation before the snow falls, and the barbarians won't be able to counterattack in the winter.
Clearly, the high nobles are very clear-headed and not out of touch with reality. Even Derek never thought of failure. From the Holy United Kingdom to the current divided three kingdoms, the barbarians have been looked down upon. The common noble perception is that the barbarians only succeeded because they took advantage of the kingdom's division. Now that the three kingdoms have stabilized and reached a new balance, knowing that destroying each other is not easy, most eyes have turned towards the barbarians.
It must be noted that the barbarians occupy a considerable amount of the old kingdom's land and population. Land, to the nobles, is a powerful foundation. The news Marco revealed must now be known by many nobles. Mobilizing in the south and central regions means the northern provinces will soon follow. Being the closest royal territory to the barbarians, this battle will undoubtedly be significant.
Nobles who lost their family territories now have a chance for revenge. Derek can already see the upcoming grand scenes. Training! Intensify the training! Derek is highly motivated and no longer worries about attracting attention. The current environment is such that even significant movements won't arouse suspicion. The prices of weapons and equipment in the market are visibly rising, and news of the impending northern campaign against the barbarians is spreading. Noble children, merchant families, and even some city dwellers are preparing.
Despite Derek's early efforts in stockpiling supplies, he quickly encounters difficulties. "The consumption of iron ore is too high," Tru complains to Derek. As the blacksmith team expanded, the consumption increased more than tenfold. The demand for refined steel is even greater. A full set of knight equipment, weighing dozens of pounds, might require nearly a thousand pounds of ore.
Derek's reserves, combined with the Ferrera family's, were far from enough. Even if they could exchange weapons for more, there was still a severe shortage of ore on the market. It wasn't just a matter of money; the ore simply wasn't available for purchase.
The Ferrera family had no expertise in smelting and didn't own any mines. Even their relatives were scarcely involved in such businesses. Despite trying to leverage some connections, they couldn't secure enough raw materials. The problem lay at the source: families controlling the ore were intentionally tightening supply to maximize profits.
"If it comes to it, I'll take some men and rob them," Simon suggested with a fierce glint in his eye. He had climbed from the bottom and, despite learning some etiquette, wouldn't remember these manners in crucial moments.
Derek was momentarily tempted by this idea but quickly dismissed it. The northern provinces were heavily armed, with military presence everywhere, and the kingdom's control was stronger than ever. Only a fool would cause trouble now. Even Lloyd had been keeping a low profile. Local bandits had disappeared, fearing they'd become practice targets for the army.
"List all the families that can supply ore. I'll visit them one by one and hope to secure some share," Derek instructed, mobilizing his connections to seek potential contacts. The northern provinces had a small social circle; asking enough people would eventually lead to someone who could help.
Derek soon found some introducers and began visiting these families. The families controlling the mines were polite but unhelpful, each offering a token amount—one cart per month here, three to five carts once there—essentially polite refusals.
After making the rounds, Derek had achieved nothing. Despite these small promises, his consumption vastly outpaced supply. Moreover, his bargaining chips were inadequate. Families with mines had their own blacksmiths and didn't need weapons. The few warhorses Derek could offer weren't enough to trade for resources.
"This won't do. In a month, we'll run out of stock," Derek became increasingly anxious. Just as he was about to take desperate measures, good news arrived.
"There are not many families with large mines, but plenty of small mine owners. With the rising prices of iron ore, some might be willing to sell," suggested Baron Ferrera, who had seen much in his lifetime and knew other avenues.
Besides the noble landowners, some court-titled merchants also controlled mines. Derek began visiting these smaller operations. Despite some mines being near exhaustion or of varying quality, he wasn't picky. Even small monthly outputs of one or two carts were valuable.
One notable discovery was a new mine owned by the Garcia family, a baronial family. Unlike the Ferrera family, the current Garcia baron served the kingdom and held the title of viscount, albeit a non-hereditary one, reflecting their elevated status.
The Garcia family, relatively new, had recently discovered a significant ore deposit, boosting their status dramatically. However, their lack of skilled blacksmiths limited their potential profits. It takes generations to develop such expertise, often deliberately guarded by others.
Derek saw an opportunity for a new ore source and sent a visit request. After three days with no response, a servant finally invited him over. The Garcia family's estate was modest, more a fortified manor than a castle, reflecting their new wealth and status.
Adrian, Derek's companion, was displeased by the delay. Derek calmed his entourage, reminding them they were seeking a favor and needed to be patient. However, upon meeting their contact, Derek's frustration resurfaced.
"Harvey Garcia?" Derek repeated in disbelief. The person before him was not the head of the Garcia family but a younger, arrogant second son.
The primary decision-maker, Viscount Garcia, was absent. For such negotiations, they should have sent the heir, not a lesser son. Moreover, Harvey's arrogant demeanor was infuriating.