Free Web NovelChapter 24: Immediate Crisis
"...and so, the trains returned due to collapsed lines."
The Railguard repeated the same thing as the servant.
"In the last two weeks, there has not been any food import, My Lord. We have only seen coal and machinery. Even passengers and merchants have stopped travelling."
Vincent clutched his forehead.
After a few more questions and answers, he dismissed the Railguard and turned to Leona while sighing visibly. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
"What now?"
Leona had no change of expression as she said, "from what the servant and the guards have said, there seems to be corruption and neglect at play in the administrative ranks of the County. However, those are not our immediate concerns."
Leona turned to the mine entrance.
People were pushing hard to clear the rubble as fast as they could.
Her gaze then turned to the young women and elderly working with the cooks, clearing patches of wet earth to set up stone fire pits.
"The main issue is still food. There’s no rations for supper."
"I have money." Vincent replied, trying to come up with a solution. "Where can I buy grains with it?"
Leona thought about it and said, "The Capital is the closest. To buy from there..."
Before Leona could finish, a loud cheer erupted in the distance, distracting her.
Her, Vincent, and Anastasia turned to the source of noise.
A crowd was gathering around the mine entrance and cheering.
Wondering what was happening, Vincent walked in the crowd’s direction while being escorted by the Knight Order.
"They’re here! They’re here!"
"Heavens, they’re alive!"
The crowd parted as a few people carried out the unconscious survivors from the darkness of the passage.
"Someone get them water!"
People burst into hurried activity, several rushing towards the survivors and bringing them water, medicine, and food.
Vincent saw the condition of the miners. The expression on his face was not as bright as the rest.
’Covered in debris. Multiple broken bones, injuries to the head, and barely breathing...’
He was not a doctor but knew the extent of damage the injuries could bring.
Most of the survivors might not be able to walk again or go without any potential disability.
The commoners around Vincent were just happy that the people survived and began tending to themselves to the best of their abilities.
A Railguard in a gas mask walked out of the narrow passage and immediately looked for Vincent.
Noticing him nearby, he appeared before him and said while placing a hand on his chest, "My Lord, we’ve cleared a passage to the inner tunnel network."
"Tunnel network?" Vincent asked while tilting his head. "Did everything not collapse?"
The Railguard shook his head. "For now, it only seems to be the main shafts."
Vincent didn’t fully understand what the Railguard meant. He didn’t know how mines worked but knowing the insides were not completely collapsed meant the miners could probably be rescued.
He turned to the silver-haired beside him. Out of habit, he leaned forward to whisper in her ear but found himself crashing against something soft.
’Shit.’ Vincent immediately retracted himself and coughed lightly, trying to cover up the embarrassment.
He seemed to have forgotten that he barely reached the level of Leona’s clavicle.
He looked up and found her staring at him with a neutral expression, as if he didn’t just headbutt her front.
"I wanted to ask..." Vincent closed his eyes and did a light cough again, trying to remember what he wanted to ask.
After a short pause, he continued.
"...the miners can be saved and the Railguards are already working for it, right? So maybe we can focus on other things now?"
Leona nodded lightly. Vincent wasn’t wrong about this.
The Railguards were experts responsible for the County’s infrastructure—its mines, rails, and supply lines.
They did not need instruction on how they could save the trapped miners as they themselves were responsible for making the mine’s tunnel network.
"Let us continue this discussion elsewhere, My Lord." Leona said calmly.
Vincent noticed the many eyes on them. They were surrounded by the commoners and the guards, it was indeed not a convenient place to talk.
They came back to their previous corner near the chairs.
The Knight Order stood scattered around them, keeping distance and ensuring privacy while also ensuring no commoner reached them.
Vincent took support of the wooden chair’s backrest and leaned on it.
"So... should we focus on other things now?" He repeated his previous question.
Leona and Anastasia sat down on the chairs.
Leona crossed her legs while nodding. "It is of utmost importance. I’m sure you haven’t forgotten the immediate food crisis looming over us."
Vincent shook his head. "I haven’t."
"Then, as I mentioned, the Capital is our best bet. Someone from the house would need to visit other noble houses and negotiate a contract immediately."
"We can’t buy from merchants?" Vincent asked, thinking in the direction of convenience. With merchants, they would just need to pay, collect, and transport the goods.
Leona shook her head. "Merchants do not hold such large reserves of grains at immediate disposal."
"Fine." Vincent sighed. "I’ll send a telegraph home, asking them to negotiate a deal."
Leona nodded lightly. "Then we better get going."
Without a delay, Vincent and the two ladies beside him left for the telegraph office.
The carriage rolled on the muddy path with the Knight Order as their escorts.
Halfway through, just as Vincent was passing a forest with tall canopies, the carriages immediately came to a stop as a knight at the front shouted:
"Halt!"
Immediately after, Vincent heard the system’s mechanical voice. It followed with lines of text appearing before his eyes.
[Your sister Vanessa D’Arc has eliminated an assassin targeting you.]
[Your sister Vanessa D’Arc has eliminated an assassin targeting you.]
[Your sister Vanessa D’Arc has wiped out the entire squad of assassins targeting you.]
"What the fuck!?" Vincent almost jumped from his seat.
"My Lord?"
"Young master?"
Leona and Anastasia voiced their concerns.
Vincent looked around and found nobody. The forest was empty.
A knight appeared before his carriage and lightly knocked on the door.
"My Lord, you have an audience."
Vincent knitted his brows and looked at the door. It did not look appealing to be opened.
Knock. Knock.
"My Lord..."
The knight called out again.
Beside him, Anastasia reached for the door handle.
Vincent instinctively wanted to stop her, but then stopped.
’The assassins were eliminated so this shouldn’t be a threat. Plus, if Anastasia is fine opening the door and isn’t alarmed then...’
Vincent carefully studied her expression.
She did not have a hint of worry over it.
Click.
The carriage door opened.
A knight in light armor stood outside with one hand resting on his chest.
Behind him stood a fat man in formal attire, holding his hat tightly against his chest while being in a slight bow.
’Him?’ Vincent remembered this man. How could he not? He was the one who kept asking Vincent to not go to the mines immediately.
Vincent stepped out of the carriage and stood before the knight and the fat man.
"My Lord," the knight said while bowing lightly. "The District Magistrate has an urgent telegraph for you."
Gazing beyond the two, Vincent found himself surrounded by the Knight Order.
They were alert but not wary.
Further down the muddy road stood a lone carriage, its wheels half-sunken into wet earth.
Vincent turned his attention back to the fat man. free𝑤ebnovel.com
His breathing was uneven while mud covered his boots.
"What is it?" Vincent asked.
The District Magistrate lowered his head further and handed a slightly scrunched envelope.
"My Lord..." the man said in a low tone. "...it’s from the South."
Vincent took the letter and opened it.
Only two lines were written inside.
"Heavy rains broke the Nanteaux Dam at dawn."
"The South is flooded."
