Vol 2 Chapter 5 (1/2)

The Chief Sentry, Howard, told me he wants to borrow enough battle slave for a short term.

He told me, that it was necessary to crush a nest of Giant Desert Isopods soon.

“We seemed to have discovered a nest of Giant Desert Isopods near the trading road. In this situation, all trading had ceased.”

“Is that so?”

Howard was telling me all about it with a serious expression, the Oasis district was in a crisis.

The Oasis district, as we know, was a town where trade was flouris.h.i.+ng.

Generally speaking, it was a hotspot were people incessantly comes from all directions, from the north, south, east, and west.

However, there was a cloud hanging over the prosperity because a nest of Giant Desert Isopod had appeared.

It was only natural from the perspective of traders, if they are attacked, their merchandise will be spoiled. So they will hesitate in visiting the Oasis district.

Just because the nest had appeared only on the western route, it doesn’t mean northern and southern route was safe.

It was said that visitors coming into the Oasis district will decrease significantly from now on.

“And so…”

“Ah, therefore I had negotiated with the adventurer’s guild and will form a subjugation party.”

Was that just my imagination that Howard had a disappointed expression?

Perhaps the preparation for the subjugation party won’t be enough.

Thinking out aloud “Not enough manpower?”, his appearance showed that it was exactly how I thought when he heard it.

“That’s right, we don’t have enough manpower.”

Howard had a look that he was deeply regretting.

As far as I could see from his expression, it was almost telling me to lend as much manpower I can give.

I thought that the Giant Desert Isopod are monsters that can be easily subjugated. I asked Mina and Hetty to confirm, but the answer I got was “They are not weak, but they are not strong too.” What kind of answer was that?

“We of the sentinel division know to some extent the method to subjugate it. Douse them with flammable liquid and set them on fire, then attack when they are weakened.”

“I see.”

“However, if there are young isopods inside the Giant Desert Isopods, a mult.i.tude of them will come out immediately and it will become a picture of h.e.l.l.”

“Umm, that is…”

The nest must not be set on fire then.

That’s what I thought but Howard rebuked me by saying “Well, even if a ma.s.sive amount of young isopods comes out, they don’t have the ability to cause any casualties. As long as there are a lot of adventurers, we can finish them however we want.”

“When the number of adventurers is not enough, then it becomes a problem. Attacking a young isopod will just cause it to run away, thus, it is difficult. Even though it doesn’t have the ability to kill us, it will devour our livestock.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Therefore, I want to get as much help as possible. … I ask of you, please lend me your slaves.”

I have now understood Howard’s story.

The point was because there were not enough hands to kill the Isopods, it is expected there would be secondary damage from the young isopods. So it means they need more manpower.

“However Sir Howard, I cannot just simply help.”

“Of course, I have prepared reparations. … Just don’t expect a large sum of money.”

It seems this was the cause why Howard had disappointed look.

The rewards were probably limited by budgetary problems.

I felt like the reward was too little for this kind of work.

“I don’t care if the reward is small. However, can I request some other things in return?”

“What is it? I do not mind if I can arrange it within my abilities.”

I don’t know whether he can arrange it, but talk was cheap.

I tried to demand something that I wanted for some time.

“I think I want management rights in the Oasis district.”

“That…”

Management rights in the Oasis district.

The former shopkeeper, Mark, wasn’t able to obtain it. I think that would be considerably attractive.

It was a status symbol to be able to manage in Oasis district.

If it was the usual route, one had to prove they had managed for a long time or expect a stable profit and pay large amount of money to the authorities, then they can get into the Oasis district.