After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World - Chapter 705

Chapter 705: Unfriendly Visitors (Part 1)
There was silence in the room for a while, and Althea looked at the two men whose guards had gone to the highest level.

She had heard the village mentioned in association with an interesting new race—Goblins—but they didn’t really discuss the place’s force value.

“Are they very strong?” she asked and the two men nodded.

“Guia Village could easily be the strongest village in our region,” Garan explained. “Their lord is at least level 30 and the average level of guards there are strong, but they always keep a certain number within the level limit to make sure they can cause real damage during wars.”

That was to say, they had plenty of guards level 20s and above, but they also had forces at level 15 or below. This average was way beyond the level 3 village, which averaged at level 12 or so.

Garan and the others knew this clearly because this was public knowledge they gathered after investigating the place. It was their point of pride and was a great way to discourage enemies from causing trouble. Baltimore was also the type to prefer people getting intimidated just by his, or his territory’s, name.

“Don’t their guards upgrade?” she asked. The other two shook their heads.

“I think they never run out.”

“Must’ve been sent by their backer,” Eagle said. If the guards upgrades beyond the level cap, they could send the stronger ones back to the ‘master’, which was not a disadvantage at all, especially when the master would send younger ‘new blood’ within the level cap to replace them.

At this Eagle flinched, remembering something. “Isn’t Guia a subordinate village of Ferrol?”

This made the couple frown and look at each other.

Jonathan didn’t seem like someone who’d attack them. There was no point.

Garan shook his head in the end. “Subordinate territories are still free. For a bit of clout, they simply have to pay a good amount of tribute to the other territory until the contract ended.”

Subordinate villages separating from the ‘master’ territory—at least after the year ended—was nothing new. Of course, getting into the bad side of the master, unless a better one was found, was a stupid move that would just place a target on the territory’s head.

There were also some cases where it was likely to happen. For example, when a subordinate village lost ownership of the token. The new owner naturally refused to be under a backer they didn’t acknowledge and would not renew the contract after it ended. This would often lead to the backer sending other subordinate villages to wear it down, getting the territory back in the end.

This was, of course, unless the conquestor had a backer.

“Would he target Alterra specifically?” Althea asked, eyebrows furrowing in worry.

“The lord is the vindictive type,” Garan said, telling her more details about what happened with the goblin slaves. “Since he found Luis and the others, he’d definitely consider attacking us.

“However, as long as we defend well, we shouldn’t lose, not on my watch.” He said, reassuring her. “It’s just that… there would definitely be losses.”

There was silence in the room, and Althea’s heart clenched.

Human lives naturally had great weight in all their decision-making. Even if it would cost more and need more effort and resources, they would definitely choose options that would save more lives.

“That will indeed be a problem,” Althea mumbled, gripping her skirt. Garan’s large hand immediately enveloped hers, calming her down a bit.

“Well, we’re not sure if he will really attack,” he said, baritone voice soothing her worries. “If he does… then we will be ready.”

….

As such, they called the soldiers within the territory to start discussing what they knew about Guia Village. Led by Eagle and Garan, Althea knew more and more details about the village.

She had roughly known about Goblins and their situation in this world was—even before, from her husband. That was where she first understood the reality of how harsh slavery was in this world.

However, this was the first time she had heard of the detailed account of the enemy’s strength. Garan and the others only

If anyone said they were the strongest village in the region, she would believe it.

She was also reminded of the… resources available in the place.

“You said they had an Iron mine and goblin slaves, right?” Althea asked, eyes a little dazed as she entered a deep thought process.

Garan nodded. “Do you want it?” he asked, deep azure eyes staring at her as he waited for her response.

If she said yes, then he’d do what it takes to get it.

She didn’t answer immediately. “Rather than hunt for it, I just thought it’d be a convenient loot if we get our hands on it without extra losses.”

The soldiers nodded at this, though at the same time also hoping to achieve the best case scenario. The Iron bog could only give so much iron, and it was public knowledge they were running out.

They… really needed that mine.

Althea had vowed not to be the attacking territory unless there was no other choice. They weren’t even entirely sure if Guia would attack. What if they could be talked to? Maybe a deal could be made? Money could fix a lot of things…

Besides, even if Guia did attack, it’ll be difficult to get the token as the lord was very strong. Not to mention, he might be in his territory during the war. Garan wouldn’t even be able to attack him then because he wouldn’t be able to go through the array in the first place.

Even if he did, he might not win. Althea would never risk her husband’s life.

“We won’t be attacking,” Althea said after a few moments. “But if he decides to attack us, then we’ll just make him regret it.”

Anyway, there was also some new stuff from the Research Center that quite needed a few ‘subjects’.

If they were stupid enough to try and hurt them, then Althea would not mind turning them into guinea pigs.