Chapter 36: A Brief Interlude (Port Town of Terek – Iron Town)
The moment news spread that the battleship—technically a destroyer, but recognized as a battleship by the townsfolk—of the Paraiso had docked, a wave of confusion swept through the community. Until then, the ship had been seen as a graceful vessel that bought up cheap scrap iron, a favored customer whose true intentions were shrouded in mystery. It was only natural that many townspeople felt a pang of anxiety, fearing that the ship might suddenly turn its fangs toward the town. The cannon fire that erupted on the first day left an indelible mark of terror in their hearts.
However, as time passed, that fear was gradually dispelled, transforming into a welcoming atmosphere. Tales spread of how the Paraiso had blown away the bandit group that had been preying on refugees, along with the promise of abundant supplies of food, farming tools, and weapons. The ship’s reputation soared.
The supply of weapons, in particular, was met with great enthusiasm. Logically speaking, no one would supply weapons to a force they intended to dominate. The perception that they were being treated as equals fueled a rising sentiment for autonomy, leading to a surge of volunteers. A large quantity of swords, bows, and arrows of consistent quality began to fill the hands of eager townsfolk. Most understood the current situation, even if the details were murky. They recognized that the reason Port Town of Terek could operate safely was primarily due to its location and trade goods. Armed with the supplied weapons, the volunteers dedicated themselves to rigorous training.
“We must acquire the iron that the Paraiso seeks.”
They did not ask for much. At this moment, they were simply a benefactor. However, this generosity came with a price. The reason they could give so much was that they could obtain the iron they desired. Fortunately, the townsfolk were not required to surrender the iron within the town itself. Had that been the case, they would have struggled to accept the situation. What the Paraiso had set its sights on was Iron Town, located inland. Although information had ceased to flow due to the disruption of transport caravans, the last confirmed reports indicated that the town was still holding out. Originally a small settlement with few permanent residents and no specialty products aside from iron, it had been reported that the supply of fuel for the furnaces had been cut off, and iron ore mining had ceased.
If that is the case…
They should go liberate Iron Town, as the Paraiso desired. There lay what they sought, and Port Town of Terek had the strength to reclaim it.
Approximately four months after Port Town of Terek began its earnest quest for independence, the first wave of volunteers, composed of eager recruits, set out for Iron Town.
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Despair, or perhaps resignation. The dwindling food supplies, the frequent appearances of bandits, and the envoys of surrender weighed heavily on the townsfolk. With the surrounding water sources contaminated, they could barely cultivate food, and the besieged residents were growing weary.
In just a week, they would have to make some kind of decision. It was at this critical juncture that reinforcements arrived from Port Town of Terek, a town that had maintained contact until the end. While some voices raised concerns about treachery, the people of Iron Town accepted the proposal from Port Town of Terek.
In other words, they agreed to the stationing of defensive forces and the resumption of trade. They would once again operate the mines, exchanging the iron ore they extracted for food. Dried fish, seaweed, and most importantly, safe drinking water were brought in as samples.
The water sources of Iron Town had become thoroughly contaminated due to mining toxins. Originally, the water had been quite hard, but as mining progressed, it became irreparably polluted. Consequently, it became common practice for the residents to collect and use rainwater. This reliance on weather made it difficult to maintain a sufficient supply, which in turn limited the population of the town. Thus, the arrival of preserved water was met with great enthusiasm. The ability to drink safe, uncontaminated water at any time was a revolutionary development.
Immediately, the unrefined iron ore that had been piled high was loaded onto carts and sent to Port Town of Terek. The remaining men rallied their spirits and surged into the mines. With the long-awaited food and abundant water, the women began cooking with cheers of joy.
The revitalized Iron Town quickly caught the attention of nearby factions. The first to attack were the bandits who had established a base nearby. Upon confirming that a merchant caravan had entered the town, they gathered their forces and planned an assault for the following night. However, they were met with fierce resistance from the guards of Port Town of Terek.
The bandits, armed with stolen weapons and armor, attempted to infiltrate the town under the cover of darkness. They faced off against men clad in the equipment supplied by the Paraiso. The sturdy armor, woven with resilient threads, was impervious to their feeble strikes, and the cutlasses—both sharp and durable—easily shattered the weapons and armor used by the weary combatants of the civil war. Breastplates were torn asunder, and swords shattered within moments. Unable to inflict any significant damage, the bandits fell one after another, ultimately meeting their demise. Those who turned to flee were turned into pincushions by the archers. The quality bows and arrows significantly enhanced their accuracy, proving their effectiveness in the fray. Additionally, the flares promoted by the Paraiso played a crucial role. When launched into the sky using longbows, they opened parachutes at their peak, emitting a blinding light that illuminated the darkness and exposed the hidden bandits.
The outcome of this assault and subsequent annihilation greatly boosted the morale of the townsfolk and the defense forces of Iron Town. The ability to secure essential supplies through self-defense and autonomy allowed Iron Town, which had once hit rock bottom, to gradually regain its vitality.
Weeks passed, and soon contact came from a nearby lord. His demand for the surrender of all their resources was met with fierce resistance from the townsfolk. The envoy’s arrogant demeanor, coupled with the brazen act of drawing weapons, led to the execution of the entire envoy party. This situation had been anticipated from the start, and instructions had already been relayed from Port Town of Terek. The town immediately established a defensive posture and began constructing fortifications. They piled up the rubble from the mines to create makeshift walls and processed the surrounding trees into timber to build horse fences and archer towers. They successfully eliminated several of the lord’s envoys, buying precious time. By the time the lord’s side grasped the situation in Iron Town, the defensive structures were fully prepared. The tools provided by the Paraiso were instrumental in this endeavor. Wheelbarrows for transporting goods, shovels for construction, saws, and hammers—all made of steel—greatly enhanced work efficiency, allowing the preparations for the siege to be completed in no time.
The first wave of troops sent by the lord was unable to breach the outer walls and retreated in defeat.
The next force dispatched was believed to be the lord’s main army. Recognizing the need to secure trade routes with Port Town of Terek, the defense forces engaged them in open battle, successfully repelling the attack at the cost of some casualties.
With the loss of their main force, the lord was subsequently struck down by another faction. In the ensuing chaos, information about Iron Town vanished from records, leaving it a blank spot unrecognized by any faction, allowing the town to enjoy a brief period of peace.
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“How goes trade with Iron Town? Are they still able to mine iron ore? …Ah, so using the tools from the Paraiso, they can now access areas that were previously unreachable…”
“Yes, it seems they can expand the tunnels. They’ve even found new veins using some kind of detector whose principles are still a mystery.”
“…I hate to say it, but it feels like our lifeline is firmly in the hands of the Paraiso…”
“Indeed! Hahaha! The Guild Master and we are completely at their mercy!”
“This is no laughing matter… but what else can we do but laugh?”
“I’ve already given up! There’s nothing we can do about it!”
“…True. It would be easier to just resign ourselves to it…”