Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 7: First Transfer
Since the upgrade was complete, it was time to test out the new features.
Owen tapped the emergency call icon, causing the main interface to retreat and a small window to pop up, displaying:
Calling in progress…
Before long, the call connected to Winston.
[Looks like your system upgrade finished. Perfect timing, I was just about to—]
Knock knock!
Standing at the door was Clive, holding two rolls of parchment—clearly here to deliver reports.
[Let’s talk later.]
Owen responded mentally, then nodded to Clive.
“Come in.”
After entering the study, Clive came to a halt before the desk and bowed, hand on chest.
“My Lord Marquis, the wheat harvest statistics for this year have been completed. These documents include both this year’s yield report and comparative data from previous years. In addition, here is the financial report for this year’s first half as well as past years for reference.”
With that, he respectfully laid both reports on the desk. Including past data was to help the lord make year-over-year comparisons and better understand recent trends.
Owen picked up the wheat yield report first and skimmed through it.
As expected, this year’s wheat production had decreased again compared to last year.
If not for the plan to plant Winston’s salt-tolerant wheat next spring, Owen would have been deeply troubled.
But since he’d already anticipated this, Owen didn’t say much. After reading, he set the yield report aside and picked up the financial report.
Seeing this, a flash of confusion passed across Clive’s face.
Although Owen had only officially inherited his father’s title this year, he’d already been handling various affairs before that. Normally, he would grumble upon seeing another drop in the wheat yield.
But today, he was oddly calm.
Still, Clive didn’t dare pry. He simply focused on fulfilling his duties properly.
The financial report contained detailed figures, so Owen reviewed it more carefully.
Bianshu Town’s income came primarily from the sale of iron and copper ore from the Transcontinental-Spine Mines, and Blazing and Lightning magic stones from the Skyvault Magic Stone Region, totaling at least 2,000 gold coins annually.
If high-grade magic stones were found, the income could skyrocket—but unfortunately, it had been years since any were discovered.
As for expenditures, the largest cost was grain procurement—and this expense increased year after year.
[Huh? Wait, what are Blazing and Lightning magic stones?]
Winston asked, suddenly intrigued.
[You guys probably don’t have them. They’re unique to our world—stones that contain a large amount of magical energy.]
Owen replied.
[Interesting. Once the transfer pad is ready, bring a few of each over so I can study them.]
[No problem.]
After replying, Owen returned to examining the report.
A moment later, he set it down and looked up at Clive.
“How are things going with the grain stockpile this year?”
Hearing that there were no issues with the reports, Clive let out a quiet sigh of relief.
After thinking for a moment, he answered cautiously:
“My Lord, this year’s demand is projected to be slightly higher than last year. However, the food prices from Dongsheng Fortress and Linsui City have gone up by more than 10% compared to last year.”
“What? The price went up again?! And by that much? Are they having a poor harvest or something?”
Owen frowned deeply.
This wasn’t the first time prices had risen—food costs had crept up almost every year. But this year’s spike was too much, and it annoyed him greatly.
“According to the intel I’ve received, both Dongsheng Fortress and Linsui City had good harvests this year—better than average, even.”
Clive paused for a moment before continuing.
“Marquis, I have a personal theory.”
“Speak.”
“I believe Dongsheng Fortress and Linsui City are colluding. They know very well that Bianshu Town has a food shortage, so they’ve jointly inflated prices. They know that even if we’re unhappy about it, we have no choice but to buy.”
Bang!
Owen slammed the table with his fist, furious for the first time.
“Outrageous! This is intolerable! Every winter, Bianshu Town fends off invasions from the Undead Monsters while they sit back and enjoy their luxuries—and now they take advantage of us by hiking up food prices!”
[Those selfish nobles are infuriating. I now understand why you’re so desperate for Bianshu Town to achieve food self-sufficiency. Being at the mercy of others’ pricing is truly frustrating.]
Winston chimed in, sharing in the indignation.
Owen exhaled to calm himself. After thinking for a moment, he asked Clive:
“What if we don’t buy food from them and source it elsewhere instead? How would the costs add up?”
Clive did a quick mental calculation before replying:
“Food prices from other places would be slightly cheaper, but once you factor in shipping and related expenses, it doesn’t save much. Plus, delivery times would be delayed—so it’s not a very cost-effective alternative.”
Owen closed his eyes and thought for a while before making a decision.
“We’ll source half of this year’s food supply from Dongsheng Fortress and Linsui City. The other half we’ll buy from elsewhere. It’s fine if the rest arrives late—as long as it doesn’t disrupt the town’s operations.”
In any case, next year, we won’t be buying food at all. When stockpiles pile up in their granaries and no one buys them, let’s see if that tight-fisted Duke Eddie panics—Owen sneered to himself.
“Yes, I’ll take care of it immediately.”
Clive replied and took his leave.
Not long after Clive left, the butler Ryan arrived with another report.
Bowing with a hand on his chest, he announced:
“Master, the sandpit has been dug just as you instructed.”
“Oh?”
Owen raised an eyebrow.
“Perfect. Go fetch three Blazing Magic Stones and three Lightning Magic Stones—I want to run some tests.”
“Understood.”
The castle already had a few high-quality magic stones in storage. Ryan quickly retrieved them and handed them to Owen.
Both types of stones looked like crystal-clear gemstones—only their colors differed.
- Red: Blazing Magic Stone
- Yellow: Lightning Magic Stone
With six stones in hand, Owen made his way to the deepest room on the castle’s first floor. He ordered his guards to stand at the door and not allow anyone to enter without permission.
Inside, the room was empty and dimly lit with dark curtains, but visibility was enough.
The sandpit in the center had been filled and leveled, flush with the surrounding floor—perhaps unnecessarily neat, but Owen didn’t complain.
[Quickly place the magic stones in the center of the pit. Then open the transfer function, move the transfer point to the stones’ location, and activate it. They’ll be sucked up and sent to me.]
Winston sounded impatient—eager to study the stones.
[Yeah, yeah, I got it. Are the wheat seeds on your end ready?]
[Of course they’re ready.]
Owen placed the six stones in the center of the sandpit, then stepped back to the edge. He opened the main interface and tapped the transfer function.
The main interface vanished. In the air a short distance away, a black orb the size of an egg appeared. A small window popped up at the lower-right, displaying the Transfer Activation button.
“So this is the transfer point…”
Glancing at the black orb, Owen manipulated it remotely, moving it over to the stones.
He activated the transfer.
A familiar black hole appeared, instantly sucking in the sand and the six stones. A shallow circular depression was left in the center of the pit.
Soon, the black hole expanded to the size of a watermelon, and a translucent sphere wrapped around a burlap sack emerged from the center.
The black hole vanished.
As the translucent sphere touched the sand, it popped like a bubble—leaving behind a bulging sack full of something in the pit.