Let's begin this monthly meeting by going over this month's extra income from the secret realms," Karl said. He had already heard the news about the closing of the secret realm, which was evident from Bennie's crestfallen expression. The silver mine that had supplied them with a steady stream of income had finally dried up. As a result, the family would have to start looking for other sources of revenue.
"Right, once Gaia deposits this month's silver into the clan and guild vaults, we should still have quite a lot of money. At the very least, the secret realm has already paid for itself," Bennie said with a grin. Despite losing the mine, he could not deny how profitable it had been. The realm had generated wealth far beyond the family's original expectations. That alone softened the blow considerably.
"Just our regular shifts of clan members stationed there day and night have brought in forty thousand silver coins," Bennie continued. "And that doesn't even include the other half of the profit they have to hand over." His grin widened as he looked around the table. "That brings the total to eighty thousand silver coins." Several elders immediately smiled at the impressive figure.
"Now onto the income generated by the recruits," Bennie said as he consulted his notes. Around two hundred recruits had been present at the secret realm for roughly ten hours each day. Their combined efforts had resulted in a profit of two hundred and twenty-four thousand silver coins. That number already included the portion of earnings handed over to the family.
Such arrangements were simply the price of joining a faction. Half of the income earned from kills in Trials and secret realms was automatically divided between the faction and the nation. From the remaining half, the faction usually took another portion as payment for training, equipment, and support. Most factions considered this arrangement perfectly reasonable. Many recruits, however, viewed it somewhat differently.
That difference in perspective was one of the reasons many people avoided joining factions altogether. In numerous organizations, the benefits did not appear to justify the costs. Instead of receiving valuable training, many members simply became employees expected to fight in exchange for a salary. Compared to that, independent adventuring often seemed far more attractive. Unfortunately, freedom came with its own dangers.
Adventurers never knew when their next payday would arrive. They also never knew whether they would survive long enough to enjoy it. The wilderness remained filled with dangerous predators and poisonous creatures. Every expedition carried risks that most faction members never had to face. Even so, many preferred that uncertainty over what they perceived as faction servitude.
"Good. Let's set aside two hundred thousand silver coins for additional loyalty contracts," Karl said. He slowly looked around the room, giving every elder the opportunity to object. No one did. The secret realm had been an incredible source of wealth, and everyone understood the importance of honoring promises made to recruits. Fulfilling those promises would encourage others to sign contracts as well.
The loyalty contracts remained one of the family's highest priorities. Much of what the System currently offered simply was not valuable enough for the Sonnenbergs to spend large sums pursuing it. Many of the knowledge totems focused on professions and classes that the family already understood quite well. Their historical records allowed them to train skills to Rare quality without outside assistance. As a result, their priorities differed from those of most factions.
That was not surprising. For nations and technology-focused factions, those knowledge totems were priceless. They explained the fundamentals of mana and provided insights into how the new world functioned. To many people, they represented shortcuts that saved years of experimentation. Naturally, governments and organizations competed fiercely to obtain them.
The public, however, gradually lost interest. Most of the information contained within the books dealt with basic concepts and early-stage development. Researchers had also noticed a strange pattern. Much of the truly advanced information appeared inaccessible until individuals reached Stage One. While unusual, that limitation seemed deliberate rather than accidental.
Many of the books focused on practical subjects. They explained how to cultivate medicinal herbs and other valuable plants that benefited cultivation. Yarrow was one such example. Ancient texts had long described its ability to stop bleeding, but mana had amplified those properties considerably. As a result, doctors and alchemists were eager to obtain reliable supplies of it.
When processed correctly, such plants could become effective salves or even rudimentary health potions. Demand for those products was enormous. Factions purchased knowledge books both to awaken specialized professions and to establish reliable cultivation operations. Every successful harvest represented profit, influence, and greater self-sufficiency. Competition over such resources had become fierce.
The Sonnenbergs enjoyed a significant advantage in that regard. Many useful plants already grew naturally throughout their forest. Furthermore, the family possessed centuries of records describing their properties, cultivation methods, and applications. While other factions paid large sums to acquire information, the Sonnenbergs often simply consulted their archives. It was a luxury few organizations could match.
Because of that advantage, the family could focus on what truly mattered. Expanding the number of recruits bound by full loyalty contracts remained their primary objective. Every contract strengthened the family's future. Every recruit represented another trained member who could contribute to the clan's growth. Wealth was simply the tool that made that expansion possible.
"So, does anyone have ideas for increasing our income?" Karl asked. "We still need at least another six hundred thousand silver coins if we want to contract the remaining recruits." His gaze shifted around the table. Several elders immediately began considering possibilities. The treasury might be healthy, but the family's ambitions required much more.
"I do," Bennie said without hesitation. "I propose that we establish a road connecting us to the nearest city. That would allow us to sell herbs and other resources from our forest that we currently have little use for." His enthusiasm was obvious. The prospect of filling the treasury clearly appealed to him. Given the cost of future contracts, nobody could blame him.
"I've been speaking with elders from the Bingen family," Bennie continued. "They are already connected to five cities because merchants wanted access to their potions and services. The profits they're making are unbelievable." His eyes practically sparkled as he spoke. "The demand for healing and cultivation resources is far greater than anyone expected."
That demand existed for a simple reason. Everyone had discovered that cultivation could only be performed for roughly two hours each day. Nobody fully understood why, but the limitation appeared universal. Consequently, any potion that improved mana absorption or cultivation efficiency became extremely valuable. Faster progress meant greater strength, and greater strength meant survival.
The System Shop sold such products, but few people were satisfied with the quality. In many cases, marketplace alternatives offered better value despite transportation costs. Merchants quickly recognized the opportunity. Roads appeared wherever significant profits could be made. It was hardly surprising that successful trade routes expanded rapidly across newly settled territory.
"Building the road shouldn't be too difficult," Karl replied after considering the proposal. "We could use the wood for our reconstructions of our facilities." He leaned forward slightly. "The real question is distance. How far away is the nearest road?" His attention settled on Bennie. Hopefully, the treasury elder had already prepared the answer.