The temperature on Black Forest Island was lower than in Pruck City, so the wood burning in the fireplace didn’t make the room feel stuffy.

Mara and her assistants were still busy preparing dinner for the Guards and servants, while Duane and those who had already finished eating sat around the long table in the great hall.

Besides Duane’s core team, Black Forest Island’s Civil Servant, Monbodt, was also present.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Monbodt. Everyone had a wonderful meal tonight," Duane said appreciatively.

"Everything here is yours, my Lord. It’s hardly my hospitality to offer."

Monbodt’s demeanor was exceedingly humble, like that of a loyal servant. No one could find any fault with him.

Duane nodded slightly, then gestured to Julian and said, "This is Julian, my General Affairs Consultant."

Monbodt and Julian exchanged a look and nodded at each other. They both knew Duane was about to make personnel changes.

From Julian’s perspective, he was very curious to see how the Baron would handle the Civil Servant.

As for Monbodt, he had no desire to lose his current position.

Duane smiled and explained, "I am well aware of Julian’s capabilities. He is excellent and had my father’s full approval. Now that we are on Black Forest Island, I plan to have him take over all civil, legal, and agricultural affairs. He is my general consultant."

He continued, looking at Monbodt, "Of course, your position will not change. As the Lord, I will continue to pay you an ample salary. However, in terms of work, Julian will be your direct superior."

Julian was essentially a new leader parachuted in, and not just as a figurehead—he was there to actually run things.

Although Monbodt’s title remained the same, his power had been diminished in all but name.

No one would be happy with such an arrangement, but Duane didn’t have time to spare for others’ feelings.

Monbodt had anticipated this situation. He didn’t argue, simply nodding in acceptance.

In fact, he was somewhat surprised that Duane hadn’t immediately seized all of his assets.

Next, Duane assigned Julian his tasks, which mainly consisted of taking over the various civil affairs in the areas Monbodt had managed.

He also brought up Ralph’s son, Haien, appointing him to the position of Agricultural Officer, also as Julian’s subordinate.

With this, a preliminary hierarchy of officials was established: assistants at the lowest Level, followed by the various officers, then the consultant, and finally the Lord himself.

There was no need to make it any more complicated for the time being.

After settling these matters, Duane finally began to ask about the issues that concerned him and Captain Conaberton.

"Monbodt, I noticed the port on Black Forest Island shows signs of maintenance and repair. Do ships dock here often?"

’If this were truly a remote and forgotten place, the port should be in ruins.’

Monbodt couldn’t help but sit up straighter. The conversation had finally reached this topic.

"Your Insight is very sharp! Cargo ships dock at Black Forest Island roughly every six to eight months. At least three ships each time."

"Oh?" This took Duane by surprise.

"What are these ships doing here?"

He asked, "Are the Broken Wave Gang and the Holy Hand Association selling grain? From what I know, Black Forest Island’s grain production is barely enough to pay taxes."

Monbodt explained, "It’s true that there isn’t much grain on the island available for taxes, but that’s not because of low yields. It’s because the Broken Wave Gang and the Holy Hand Association control a large amount of the farmland and sell the rice, wheat, and other grains they squeeze out of it."

Duane nodded to himself.

Just then, Monbodt’s tone shifted. "But grain isn’t their main commodity."

"Oh?" Duane’s interest was piqued.

’What else could this island sell? Lumber?’

Monbodt showed no intention of hiding anything. "To the South of Broken Wave City, there’s a forest. It’s full of Demon Beasts, but it’s also home to a large grove of oak trees. The Broken Wave Gang has felled a great deal of them over the years and established Hutou Village there."

Duane looked at Julian, who understood the unspoken question and explained:

"Oak is a hard wood with high strength and density. It has remarkable resistance to bending and compression, and it’s also waterproof and rot-resistant. It has many uses, including in construction, bridges, ships, furniture, and wine barrels. It’s considered a high-end lumber."

"Exactly!"

Monbodt had to admit that Julian was quite knowledgeable. "The Broken Wave Gang ships out many boatloads of oak every year, earning a lot of Gold Coins."

Kaelon clenched his fist. "My Lord, Black Forest Island is your domain, which means those oak trees are your resource as well! We must take them back!"

Duane just grunted in acknowledgment but didn’t elaborate further.

He pressed on, "Besides oak, do they sell anything else?"

"Yes!"

Monbodt said with great certainty, "To the northeast of Broken Wave Bay and Forest Village, there is a range of hills we call the ’Hot Spring Mountain Range.’ Many of the springs in the mountains are warm year-round, but the area is also infested with Demon Beasts."

"A few years ago, the Holy Hand Association’s Mage, Daniels, discovered an iron deposit while exploring the area, but it was inhabited by a Demon Beast. So he teamed up with the Broken Wave Gang to kill the beast, and they seized and began to develop the mine."

’An iron mine!’

He never expected to find an iron mine on such a small island.

A fire ignited in Duane’s heart.

He had brought a good number of iron tools to Black Forest Island, but they would eventually wear out and be consumed.

Although he had recruited a Blacksmith, he would still need to purchase iron ore from elsewhere once he ran out, which would be a huge hassle.

But now there was a vein of iron ore on Black Forest Island itself—this was undoubtedly a massive treasure!

Monbodt continued, "Aside from what they use to forge their own tools and weapons, they ship out the rest of the iron they mine on cargo ships and sell it."

"It’s said the mine is jointly developed and protected by the two groups. The Broken Wave Gang takes sixty percent of the profits, and the Holy Hand Association takes forty percent."

Hearing this, Kaelon and Raymond couldn’t help but exchange a look.

They both understood that this was another resource that had to be taken from the Broken Wave Gang and the Holy Hand Association.

Duane naturally wanted to seize it as well, but the Broken Wave Gang and the Holy Hand Association were clearly allied on the matter of the iron mine. If he made a move, he would surely face retaliation from both sides.

His current strength was not yet sufficient to confront both of them.

"Oak, iron ore... Black Forest Island is not as barren as the outside world claims. I just don’t understand why there’s no information about this out there." Duane voiced his question. The amount of these two resources sold abroad might not be huge, but it shouldn’t have escaped the notice of the Nobility.

If the Pruck Kingdom knew there were resources here, the high Nobility might not be interested, but some Barons and Knight Clans definitely would be tempted.

Yet the reality was that no one was interested in Black Forest Island, which meant they didn’t know about its resources.

Duane asked, "Do you know where the Broken Wave Gang and the Holy Hand Association are selling these goods?"

Monbodt lowered his voice slightly. "My Lord, they’re selling them to the Starfall Islands."

Duane froze. ’The Starfall Islands?’

The name sounded unfamiliar; it didn’t seem to be a place within the Pruck Kingdom.

However, his predecessor’s knowledge of geography was quite good, and he quickly recalled where the Starfall Islands were located.

The Shadow Mist Continent had a total of five kingdoms:

The Pruck Kingdom on the eastern side of the continent, the Asando Kingdom in the northwest, the Fidun Kingdom in the south, the Kasa Kingdom in the north-central region, and the Akutas Kingdom in the south-central region.

The Pruck Kingdom bordered the Kasa and Akutas Kingdoms and had fought wars with them in the past.

The Starfall Islands were located at sea, southeast of the Akutas Kingdom, forming an island chain.

It was said that a Starfall Kingdom had once existed there, but it was later defeated by Akutas and became its vassal state.

Duane hadn’t expected Bard, the leader of the Broken Wave Gang, to be doing business with a foreign power.

Monbodt said with some indignation, "My Lord, the actions of the Broken Wave Gang and the Holy Hand Association are clearly treasonous collusion with a foreign enemy! As a Baron of the Pruck Kingdom, you should eradicate them!"