Now, we are heading north on the road to Kishina again.

　We had some extermination work to do on the way, but we'll be able to return to Kishina in about three days. By the way, I heard that the nobles who were fighting over mining rights have already been disbanded. Their lands have been confiscated and they don't have a nobleman's pension, and now they're being hustled around on a job allowance.

　However, the survival of the family has been recognized, and although their rank has been reduced, their status as nobles has been preserved. From the second generation, the stipend is also increased and they can't go against it.

　Lady Sailor and the Princess of Aegis Shield sold IOUs at 25% more and made a lot of money in a short period of time. Robert's Chamber of Commerce paid for the IOUs and won the high-yielding bonds and mining development orders from Odesses in exchange.

　

　Before we left, we sent a message to Hasty, but he said that we would be arriving first. At the speed of an armored car and a self-propelled car in the ruins, it's only natural.

　So, in my free time, I changed my destination to the cotton hamlet of Xina.

　For the reason that there's also a lot of orc back oil, the window flower wants to collect the cotton and turn it into gunpowder... probably in preparation for making full-scale use of the 84mm field gun.

　He's also going to ask Roberto's company to transport and store the cotton to the place he's going to visit. I think Mado's ammo stockpiling habits are a bit excessive.

　Well, it's not an amount that can be used to fight a war on its own, and since the amount of explosives used is large, it's a relief that it's rarely used. But if the profits from hunting demons are good, I'm sure they'll be even less selective in their opponents... though I wouldn't want to fight strong demons if I could.

　So, when I arrived at the village, I got caught up in some weird trouble.


The village where I found Xina's cotton

You must be Ryota, the cotton discoverer. It's a pleasure to meet you, my name is Bernando from Roberto's Trading Company and I have been appointed by the chairman as the chief developer of cotton. We are having trouble with bandits at the moment, would you be able to help us?

　Chairman Roberto had already sent personnel and funds to the site. Furthermore, it seems that Representative Mendale has already agreed that the punishment of the bandits can be carried out by me.

　That old man is amazing, he moves so fast for such a large organization. But what is the status of a development chief in this world?

''I'm Ryota, the demon exterminator. Thank you for your quick work, please convey my regards to Chairman Robert. Of course, I'll take care of defeating the bandits as well. So, what's the situation?

　Bandits aren't demons, but they're subject to the exterminator's exception to be defeated. I've heard that they can do whatever they want with their punishment, but I'll apply it to the laws of the Alp.

"So far there have been no casualties, but our experimental farm has been ransacked and it seems that they're after the seeds, but the bandits apparently don't know what cotton seeds look like. There were seeds in the cotton and they were abandoned.

　He used to be a famous agriculturist, but he is not very good at business and rough stuff. Moreover, he doesn't know what he's stealing, so his research doesn't progress because the planting experimental station has been vandalized many times.

They don't even know what seeds to steal.　I know it's annoying, but it's tricky if you're working for another Chamber of Commerce.

　It may be a different chamber of commerce or a pawn of another country, but whatever it is, I think you should think about selecting a few people.　You're just going to walk right past the treasure?　We don't have any - but it's a relief that the seeds are safe, thanks to the idiot.

'No, we're open to co-development by individuals and merchant associations if you're willing to invest in us.　Joint development with an investor rather than a monopoly is a better way to spread out the risk, and the success rate and the speed of research will be higher if they provide the personnel. I think bandits are just idiots.

　Looking at the conditions, by all accounts, the alleged theft is more of a loss than research funding. Even if you sell it to another chamber of commerce, the Roberto Chamber of Commerce's partition will confirm the report.

　Even if you grow your own, the cultivation method itself is under research, so the seeds alone are a drop in the bucket. I'm starting to feel like it's tricky to do the opposite if you're an idiot to this extent.

　However, when I asked for more details, it seems to be due to a selfish delusion spread by the townspeople of Xina. It's a seed shaped like a small sheep, and when planted, it produces a sheep that grows cotton thread hair. Such a rumor was spread in Kishina it gives me a headache.

　Bernand-san also took countermeasures against the rumor, to a point. He disclosed the very rudimentary cotton substance and joint development materials, and made them available to anyone who wanted to see them at the branch office and the metropolitan library in Kishina.

　But no one smart enough to read the materials would tell the idiots about the delicious profits of the joint development, and apparently there has been no improvement at all.

　I don't know if it's the idiot's fault or the smart little guy's fault....

I can't tell you how sorry I am for the trouble I'm causing you. But if there's anything I can do to help, I'd be happy to oblige.

　I didn't know it had become such a hassle, I didn't want to owe Roberto Chamber of Commerce if possible. Maybe if I owe that old man a debt, I have a feeling that he will definitely collect it with interest.

　At all!　Whoever speculated first!

I'd appreciate it if you could help me, Ryota-san. Can you take care of the bandits as we discussed in the beginning?　And I'll be excited about the rewards.

　What he asked for, of course, he accepted, and after finalizing some things with Bernand-san, this time he returned to the armored car and held a countermeasure meeting with everyone.


★ Armored Car.

Well that's why I'm asking for the extermination of the stupid bandits who are destroying the farm.

　I tried to talk to them, but they all seemed to have a troublesome air about them.

It sounds easy, but I don't feel motivated to do it at all. Why is that?

Because there's no casualties, right?　I feel kind of silly too...

　I don't know if I'm saying this myself, but I'm not motivated to do any of this now either. He's a bandit, but he smells like an amateur that can't be hidden. And they're not robbers who actively kill people.

　At best, they're at the level of a sneak thief, but they're still very annoying, no doubt.

You can get a reward, one silver coin for each bandit. Also, if we solve the problem, they'll store our cotton and transport it to the various branches.

　The place has gone sober and I can only think of ways to catch them with rewards. If money is involved, I'm sure the window flowers will bite.

Ladies and gentlemen, it's your job.　If you're not motivated, this time we'll only release the Earth's online shop to those who catch at least 15 people!　Up to a maximum of 1 kg each, how about that?

　The sass window!　Motivation lit up in everyone's eyes!

　This is a precious earth product that can only be obtained through the Goddess Supply Quota. That's the privilege of releasing a quota of up to 1 Kg to an individual this time. Midea, Manya and Pina each emitted an aura like a starving carnivore.

　Finally, a serious strategy meeting has begun, and the action will begin tomorrow.