Chapter 453: The Holy Moly Merchants

After the New Year celebrations, time seemed to fly by.

Since returning from Ashenford, Simon had devoted most of his attention to the Steam Engine Workshop and the production of the Jenny spinning machine. With so many projects demanding his attention, the days passed almost unnoticed.

Before he realised it, another month had arrived.

Just as Simon was concentrating on the industrial development of Brambleford, Richard brought him some disturbing news.

"Foreign forces are building warships on a large scale?"

Simon carefully examined the intelligence reports Richard had brought.

Now that Richard no longer needed Simon’s direct supervision, the Secret Guard had expanded its operations throughout the surrounding territories. Its agents gathered intelligence from merchants, officials, military outposts, and other sources. After the information was collected and analysed, the most important reports were delivered directly to Simon.

Richard nodded.

"Yes, Your Highness. Since your departure from Ashenford, the ruler of the outsiders has ordered his craftsmen to accelerate warship production. The Reavers have also supplied them with a large number of slaves to support their shipbuilding efforts."

He paused before adding, "There are also reports that Fern has appeared in Blackridge City."

"Fern?"

Simon narrowed his eyes.

Ever since the disastrous battle at Preston, Fern had practically disappeared from public view. According to the reports Richard had previously obtained, Fern had suffered a crushing defeat, lost three fingers, and been expelled from Cloverton.

Simon had assumed that the humiliation had forced him into hiding.

Yet now, the man had resurfaced in Blackridge City, apparently working alongside the outsiders.

This was no coincidence.

"Your Highness, I suspect Fern may be behind the sudden expansion of their naval forces," Richard continued.

Simon looked up.

"Why do you think so?"

Richard’s expression grew serious.

"According to the intelligence I’ve gathered, the Reavers may be preparing for a full-scale invasion of the Eldorian Empire from the south. If Fern is cooperating with them, he could coordinate their advance with a naval assault from Blackridge City, allowing the enemy to attack Ashenford from two directions."

Simon’s expression darkened.

For some time, he had suspected that the Reavers were preparing something significant. Their defeat at Dunmere and the subsequent setbacks in Preston had damaged their reputation, but they had never abandoned their ambition to conquer the Eldorian Empire.

Now, the possibility of a coordinated attack was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

"What other intelligence have you obtained?" Simon asked solemnly.

Richard straightened.

"Ever since the assassination attempt against you in the imperial capital, I’ve kept a close watch on the Holy Moly merchants. They’re a group of traders who care about profit above everything else."

He continued, "Recently, they’ve been purchasing enormous quantities of military supplies throughout the Eldorian Empire, including iron ore, coal, and saltpetre. These materials are then transported through Dornhal territory and sold to the Reavers on the grasslands."

Simon frowned.

"The Holy Moly merchants have been engaging in questionable business for years. This isn’t exactly surprising."

"Under normal circumstances, I would agree," Richard replied. "But the situation has changed. Their purchases of strategic materials have increased more than tenfold in recent months."

Simon’s expression hardened.

Richard continued, "Even more suspiciously, some of their agents have been surveying the terrain inside the empire and recording the locations of military towns, fortifications, and important routes."

The room fell silent.

Simon leaned back in his chair, considering the implications.

Buying and selling goods was one thing. Every merchant wanted to make money, and border trade had always been difficult to regulate completely.

But purchasing military materials on such a massive scale while mapping the empire’s defensive positions was another matter entirely.

If Richard’s intelligence was accurate, the merchants were not merely conducting business.

They were helping a potential enemy prepare for war.

"If everything you’ve reported is true, then the Reavers’ ambitions are greater than I expected," Simon said coldly.

His fingers tapped against the desk.

"These merchants enjoy the protection and prosperity of the empire, yet they’re willing to supply its enemies for profit. They have no sense of loyalty whatsoever."

"Your Highness, that’s only part of the problem."

Richard sighed.

"The real difficulty is Dornhal."

Simon raised his eyes.

Richard explained, "Dornhal has always treated the Second Prince as his own son. Now that the Second Prince has been demoted and sent to Snake Town, no one knows what Dornhal is thinking."

He paused before continuing.

"In the past, Dornhal tolerated the Holy Moly merchants’ trade with the Reavers because it brought him considerable benefits. Even then, he maintained certain restrictions. Recently, however, those restrictions have practically disappeared. The merchants are becoming increasingly brazen, and Dornhal has done little to stop them."

Simon’s brow furrowed.

He understood the political situation.

The Second Prince’s demotion had undoubtedly angered Dornhal. A powerful noble who believed the imperial court had wronged someone he regarded as a son could easily become resentful.

But political grievances did not excuse endangering the entire empire.

"Dornhal has every right to be dissatisfied with the imperial court," Simon said. "But allowing merchants to supply the enemy simply because he wants to vent his anger is another matter entirely."

His voice turned colder.

"If he refuses to distinguish between his personal interests and the security of the empire, then someone else will have to deal with the problem."

Richard nodded, though a trace of hesitation remained on his face.

"Your Highness is right. However, these merchants operate primarily within Dornhal’s territory. How exactly do you intend to deal with them?"

He hesitated before adding, "Are you considering sending the Secret Guard to eliminate their leaders? That would be dangerous. These merchants belong to powerful local clans, many of which maintain their own private troops. Any direct action could provoke serious resistance."

Simon shook his head.

"There’s no need to resort to that."

He looked at Richard with a faint smile.

"Have you forgotten Prince Augustus?"

Richard paused.

Simon continued, "Prince Augustus has always relied on our cooperation. Let him deal with the merchants. It would be the most convenient solution for everyone."

Prince Augustus had long coveted Brambleford’s flintlock guns. When Simon had visited the imperial capital, Augustus had signed a trade agreement with him, and access to those weapons had been one of the prince’s primary motivations.

If Simon made the right offer, Augustus might be persuaded to act.

However, Richard’s expression remained troubled.

"Your Highness, there’s a complication."

"What is it?"

"According to the intelligence I’ve gathered, Prince Augustus has also benefited considerably from his dealings with the Holy Moly merchants. Their guild has become deeply entrenched in his sphere of influence."

Richard shook his head.

"In practice, the merchants operate almost like an independent kingdom within the territory. Even Prince Augustus may find it difficult to control them without provoking a serious backlash."

Simon’s smile disappeared.

"Prince Augustus is involved with them too?"

He rubbed his forehead.

The situation was becoming more complicated than he had anticipated.

The merchants were not simply a collection of wealthy traders operating along the border. They had established connections with powerful nobles, accumulated private military forces, and built a commercial network that crossed political boundaries.

Their influence had grown so extensive that even a prince might hesitate to challenge them.

But Simon had no intention of allowing the situation to continue.

"If that’s the case, I’ll have to invite Prince Augustus to Brambleford immediately," he said firmly.

Richard nodded.

Simon continued, "I’ll discuss the matter with him personally. If these merchants are truly helping the Reavers prepare for war, then their commercial interests can no longer be treated as ordinary business."

After discussing several other matters concerning the empire and Brambleford, Richard took his leave.

Once the Secret Guard’s commander had departed, Simon immediately sat down and wrote a letter to Prince Augustus.

He then ordered a messenger to deliver it without delay.

The journey between Preston and Brambleford took only three or four days. Simon deliberately used the delivery of the first batch of flintlock guns as an excuse for the invitation, suggesting that Augustus could collect the weapons while they discussed several important matters.

It was a reasonable pretext.

And Simon hoped that Augustus would be wise enough to understand that the invitation involved far more than firearms.

After sending the letter, Simon issued several additional orders.

The shipyard at Ashenford was instructed to accelerate warship construction, while Desmond was ordered to continue recruiting and training naval personnel.

If the outsiders were expanding their fleet, Brambleford would have to respond in kind.

Fern had already suffered a humiliating defeat at Preston. If he now believed that a larger fleet would allow him to return and settle the score, Simon was prepared to disappoint him again.

Once the next batch of warships was completed, Simon intended to lead his forces against Blackridge City and eliminate the outsiders’ naval threat.

He wanted to see whether Fern’s shipbuilding efforts could outpace Brambleford’s rapidly advancing military technology.

More importantly, Simon could not afford to ignore the possibility of a southern invasion by the Reavers.

The northern neighbour of the Eldorian Empire had never abandoned its territorial ambitions. Its recent setbacks might have delayed its plans, but they had not erased its desire for conquest.

Simon, however, was no longer the same man who had once been forced to react to every new threat.

The battle at Dunmere had shattered the myth of the Reavers’ invincibility. Fern’s subsequent advance into Preston had also failed to deliver the decisive victory his allies had expected.

The Reavers could still field formidable armies, but they were no longer an unstoppable force.

Simon had learned an important lesson from those conflicts.

A powerful enemy did not become invincible simply because it possessed a large army.

Preparation, technology, logistics, and the ability to exploit the enemy’s weaknesses could change the outcome of a war.

As long as Brambleford continued developing, Simon would have more options available to him when the next conflict arrived.

Furthermore, Snake Pass was now under his control.

Should the Reavers launch a major offensive from the south, Simon could potentially threaten their rear and force them to divide their forces. The pass was not merely a defensive position. It was a strategic advantage that could make any invasion far more costly.

After considering these matters, Simon summoned Benjamin and explained the intelligence Richard had uncovered.

"The barbarians are stirring again?" Benjamin asked.

Surprisingly, he showed little concern.

Instead, he gave a faint smile.

"Your Highness, Dornhal is practically digging his own grave. With Snake Pass under our control, the Reavers cannot easily bypass our defences. If they advance northward through the southern routes, they’ll have to cross Dornhal’s or Ravencrest’s territory."

Benjamin paused.

"Ultimately, Dornhal may be the one who suffers most."

Simon nodded slowly.

"The Crown Prince’s position appears secure, and Ravencrest’s territory should remain relatively stable. Dornhal is the real concern."

His expression grew serious.

"If the Reavers break through Dornhal’s defences, the heartland of the Eldorian Empire will be exposed to their cavalry. Once they gain access to the central territories, containing their advance will become much more difficult."

Benjamin considered this before replying.

"Your Highness, I don’t believe you need to worry excessively."

He continued, "Since Richard has uncovered these activities, the imperial court will likely receive the intelligence as well. The Emperor may already know what is happening."

Benjamin’s tone remained confident.

"Our immediate responsibility is to hold Snake Pass and ensure that the Imperial Guards cannot be attacked from both sides. As long as we maintain control of the pass, the Reavers will have to account for our forces when planning their invasion."

He paused before adding, "And we shouldn’t underestimate the Emperor. He didn’t ascend the throne through political manoeuvring alone. He earned his position through military achievements. If the Reavers truly launch a large-scale invasion, I doubt he’ll simply sit back and watch."

Simon listened without interrupting.

Benjamin’s assessment was reasonable.

The Emperor had fought his way to power and understood the realities of warfare better than most nobles. Even if political rivalries weakened the empire’s unity, he was unlikely to ignore a threat capable of destroying everything he had built.

Still, Simon knew that imperial strength could not be taken for granted.

The Holy Moly merchants were selling strategic resources to the enemy. Dornhal was allowing them to operate with increasing freedom. Fern was helping the outsiders build warships, while the Reavers might be preparing a major offensive.

These developments were not isolated incidents.

They were pieces of a much larger picture.

Simon rose and walked toward the window.

Beyond the glass, Brambleford’s workshops continued their work. Craftsmen were preparing machinery, testing designs, and laying the foundations for industries that would soon transform the territory.

The sound of hammers carried through the cold air.

For Simon, it was a reassuring reminder of what mattered most.

The world beyond Brambleford was becoming increasingly dangerous, but he would not abandon development to chase every rumour or threat.

He would strengthen his factories, expand his fleet, improve his weapons, and prepare his defences.

If the Reavers came, he would meet them.

If Fern returned, he would face him.

And if the traitorous merchants believed their wealth and noble connections placed them beyond the reach of justice, they would soon discover how mistaken they were.

Simon had no intention of allowing anyone to finance the destruction of his empire while hiding behind the excuse of doing business.