Original subtitles

Your Highness, the Blacksail Fleet has returned.

They intercepted a merchant fleet from Valencia heading to Wolfheart.

The haul from this trip is substantial,

enough to arm an entire squad.

Hmm, not bad.

What's the name of the Blacksail Fleet's captain again?

Captain Drake, Your Highness.

Knight him.

Give the Blacksail Fleet all the spoils from this raid.

I believe Sir Drake and all the warriors of the Blacksail Fleet

will be sincerely grateful for your generosity, Your Highness.

Also, Kingfisher replied that the mission had failed.

She said that the pills were mixed into the wine and drunk.

However, Prince Roland only slept for a short while, and...

Failure is failure.

I don't want to hear excuses.

Yes, Your Highness.

Give her one last chance.

Send some of her sister's belongings as well.

Let her act accordingly.

You may go.

Yes, Your Highness.

By the way,

those pills were provided by Alchemy Master Enbis, right?

What did he say at the time?

"Dissolves in water. Death upon ingestion."

Hang him.

The city wall construction is going very smoothly.

Mr. van Bate guarantees it will be completed on time.

Good.

How's trade?

Also going very well.

The food purchased from Willow Town arrived at the docks today.

The exact quantity is here.

As you can see, Your Highness, it's enough to see us through the winter.

Good.

After deducting the cost of buying food,

we still have a small surplus.

Um, Your Highness,

although we have trade income now,

our fiscal deficit remains extremely severe.

I'm afraid this isn't a long-term solution.

Currently, our main expenditures are all coming from your personal treasury.

At this rate, it will only last until next spring at most.

That's fine.

It's already very good if we can hold out until then.

Besides, we still have the ore trade.

As long as we finish building the wall and secure our foothold in Border Town,

subsequent ore production will be guaranteed.

I'm not worried about that, Your Highness.

Duke Ryan won't let it go if we cut off the ore supply to Longsong Stronghold.

What if...

Come in.

Your Highness, the Longsong Stronghold Ambassador has arrived.

Barov, you said that the food bought from Willow Town already arrived, right?

Yes, Your Highness.

Instruct the kitchen to prepare a lavish feast using the delivered food.

Clean the council chamber.

I need to host a guest.

Mr. Hull, please help yourself.

Ah, thank you, Your Highness.

Your Highness, what are you holding?

Oh, you mean these?

I call them chopsticks.

My people can't afford silver knives and forks.

But these little wooden sticks are cheap and hygienic.

The materials are readily available.

I plan to promote them in Border Town.

Of course, there's not much good food in Border Town right now.

I'm afraid you'll have to make do.

Oh no, Your Highness, you're too kind.

Even at the Stronghold, we don't often get meals like this.

This is all to welcome you, of course.

We don't usually do things like this.

All these ingredients arrived from Willow Town today.

Willow Town?

Yes.

Please help yourself, Mr. Hull.

Don't hold back.

We can discuss business after we eat.

Thank you for your hospitality, Your Highness.

I'm here on behalf of Longsong Stronghold to inform you that

the deadline for the ore delivery has passed.

The Stronghold has already prepared the food to be sent to Border Town.

But...

We have yet to receive the ore.

The thing is,

an unfortunate incident occurred recently.

The northern mine collapsed,

and production stopped for a long time.

Oops, they fell.

Basically, we can't produce the agreed quantity of ore.

We only have about two months' worth of production.

I heard about the mine's situation.

Well then... why not deliver two months' worth for now?

The food I'd get in return for two months' worth of ore

wouldn't be enough to feed my people.

Two years ago, many people in Border Town starved to death due to food shortages.

I will not allow that to happen again.

This practice of bartering with the Stronghold...

must be abolished.

Ah, Your Highness, you mean...

To be honest with you,

I have already sold the ore to Willow Town,

and bought enough food from them to last through the winter.

Not only were they willing to buy the ore with gold royals,

but were also prepared to sell various goods at market prices.

Anything that can be bought with money, they sell.

So...

Trading with Willow Town is more advantageous for Border Town.

They fell again.

So... that explains the ships from Willow Town at the dock.

Your Highness, I understand your reasoning now.

But it seems there are a few problems with this.

Oh? Please elaborate.

To my knowledge, Willow Town has never traded in ore before.

Even if they pay in currency,

the price wouldn't be high.

I think, at most, it would be half the market price.

For you, that would be a loss.

It won't be sustainable.

Trade is determined by the market.

Longsong Stronghold has operated in the Western Region for over a century.

Only a fortress on our scale

has the capacity to consume so much ore.

The Stronghold far surpasses Willow Town,

both in development prospects and market size.

So, in the long term,

Border Town's primary trading partner should be the Stronghold,

as that would better serve the interests of both parties.

Thirty percent.

If the Stronghold can purchase ore at 30% below market price,

then it'd be a win-win situation.

I've long heard that Petrov Hull of the Honeysuckle family is a skilled merchant.

Your reputation is well-deserved.

Thank you for your compliment, Your Highness.

Based on the terms you just proposed,

it would indeed create a win-win situation.

However...

Can you guarantee that this will be

the unanimous decision of the Stronghold's Six Families?

Well...

I can't guarantee it 100%,

but I manage all of the Stronghold's foreign trade.

I will do my best to convince the Duke and the Six Families

to accept this mutually beneficial outcome.

I will return to the Stronghold to draft a new contract

before visiting Your Highness again.

Good. Then I shall await your good news, Ambassador.

Your Highness,

there is one more thing.

There are only two months left until winter.

Willow Town is quite far away.

The journey can be dangerous.

Therefore, I strongly advise you to consider certain practical matters,

from Duke Ryan's perspective.

You misunderstand, Mr. Hull.

I never planned for my people to spend the winter in Willow Town.

Then you mean...

Nor do I plan to go to Longsong Stronghold.

We're not going anywhere.

This winter, I will build a city wall to defend Border Town,

making it the new border of the Kingdom of Graycastle.

I understand.

But, Your Highness, let me say one last thing.

Your decision affects the fate of everyone in Border Town.

If anything goes wrong, you have a way out,

but they do not.

Thank you for your concern, Ambassador.

I am fully aware of what my decision means.

Very well. I have noted all your conditions.

Barov,

prepare the food as planned.

Yes, Your Highness.

Oh?

What else did that kid say?

His Highness said he has already sold the existing ore

to Willow Town in exchange for currency.

Also,

he has bought enough food for the entire town this winter from Willow Town.

He did what?

What does this mean?

Yeah...

Anything else?

Also, Prince Roland said that

during this year's Months of Demons,

he won't be seeking refuge at the Stronghold.

The people won't leave either.

His Highness is building a city wall in Border Town.

He also said...

What else did he say?

He also said that he will lead his people to defeat the demonic beasts

and protect Border Town,

making it the new border of the Kingdom of Graycastle.

What does he think this place is?

Graycastle?

His Highness doesn't think building a city wall

is the same as playing house, does he?

Piling up a few broken rocks and slapping on some wet mud?

If he built it a bit higher,

it would collapse immediately.

Your Grace, the Prince is bluffing!

Petrov is timid and got tricked by him.

We can't fall for it.

But it's not a bad thing.

If he fails and flees back to Longsong Stronghold,

he'll naturally be at our mercy.

And if he dies over there...

The farce ends,

and all's well that ends well.

Boris.

Yes, Your Grace?

What do you know about the city wall?

Well, Your Grace, a while back,

that kid was indeed recruiting stonemasons and workers.

But I thought...

I thought he was just renovating his garden or something.

I didn't hear anything about a city wall.

Petrov, did you see that city wall?

Before leaving Border Town, I specifically went to check.

On the edge of the Misty Forest, there were indeed people building a wall.

I don't know what method the Prince is using,

but construction is proceeding rapidly.

However, the wall isn't very large.

In my opinion, it would be difficult to resist the demonic beasts.

What do you think we should do?

Residents of Border Town!

I am Roland Wimbledon, the Fourth Prince of the Kingdom of Graycastle.

I have gathered you here today

because there is an important matter I must tell you.

Earlier this morning,

the Longsong Stronghold ambassador arrived in Border Town.

He came for the ore delivery.

As you all know, a month ago,

we suffered an unfortunate accident.

The North Slope Mine collapsed,

and to this day, mining operations have not fully resumed.

We cannot produce enough ore.

I explained the situation to the ambassador,

hoping he would make an exception

and give us our winter allocation of food in full.

However, he refused.

There was no room for negotiation.

He refused to give us our full allocation of food, just like

during the Months of Demons two years ago.

And what's worse, the Graycastle astrologers have told me that

this winter will be longer than usual.

The Months of Demons could last for more than four months.

That means, if we let things proceed as they are,

the tragedy of two years ago will repeat itself,

perhaps even worse.

Everyone, please remember.

Please remember what we lost two years ago.

Some of us lost friends,

some lost loved ones,

and some lost children.

This time...

What more will we have to lose?

What more do we have left to lose?

I believe the Prince's move with the city wall is ultimately about trade.

His strategy is to advance by retreating.

His ultimate goal is probably to force us to trade with Border Town using currency.

Prince Roland was sent to govern Border Town due to the Royal Decree,

so these actions make sense.

Also, there's no need for a direct conflict with the Graycastle royal family.

If we can fulfill His Highness's request,

and purchase ore at 30% below market price from now on,

it would still be a worthwhile deal.

Furthermore, if he truly can hold Border Town,

it benefits us as well.

First, we can save the enormous expense of fighting the demonic beasts.

Second, the vast lands between the Stronghold and Border Town

could be cultivated and utilized.

This is all your territory.

Finally, Prince Roland won't stay here forever.

The Royal Decree lasts only five years.

In five years, we will have a more prosperous Border Town.

The people there will still be your subjects.

By then, you'll have the third largest territory in the entire Kingdom.

So my suggestion is that

we should, from now on, purchase ore at 30% below market price.

Also, send people to help the Fourth Prince build the wall,

and resist the demonic beasts together.

Hah! Petrov, you're being far too naive!

Are you joking?

Interesting.

According to you, this must be another so-called "win-win" conclusion, right?

Yes.

The idea isn't bad.

But ultimately, it's still a merchant's perspective.

Merchants only see gains and losses, but...

Petrov...

I didn't get to my current position by only considering profits.

Why would I do business with someone I can't control?

Under my rule, disobey me, and you will be punished.

As for Border Town, whether it prospers or decays is unimportant.

What matters is that it's my territory.

No one else gets to interfere,

not even a Prince.

Everyone, look! This is the food for winter I purchased from Willow Town.

It arrived in Border Town earlier this morning.

There's bread, cheese, mead, and dried meat,

enough for the entire winter.

Everyone will be fed.

I swear in the name of Wimbledon:

I won't allow the tragedy of two years ago to repeat itself.

Thank you, Your Highness!

Long live the Prince!

However!

By doing this, we have essentially offended Longsong Stronghold.

They've threatened to stop providing shelter for everyone this winter.

I told them that we're not going anywhere this winter.

We'll stay in our homeland,

and spend the winter in Border Town.

Some of you may have already seen it.

To the west of Border Town,

a sturdy city wall is steadily being built.

I know some worry whether we can withstand the demonic beasts' onslaught.

But let me tell you this:

demonic beasts are no stronger than ordinary wild animals.

Though they have thick hides and tough flesh,

they can't climb walls, and they can't bite through stone.

They're nothing but pitiful targets.

I, Roland Wimbledon, Fourth Prince of the Kingdom of Graycastle,

hereby issue an urgent call to action.

All those who can take up arms,

in order to defend our homeland,

in order to let us live with dignity,

pick up your weapons and join the militia!

All militia members will receive 25 silver royals every month.

If someone unfortunately falls in battle,

their family will receive five gold royals as compensation.

Tell me, would you rather hide in the shacks of Longsong Stronghold,

pathetically starve to death, and freeze to death without dignity?

Or would you rather follow me and protect your friends and family,

defend Border Town, and defend your homeland

until the final moment?!

Defend Border Town!

You just said the air around us is made up of many different kinds of gases.

Is that true?

Of course. Even though they all look the same.

Your Highness, I don't understand.

If they all look the same,

how do you know there are different gases?

Let me prove it to you.

Anna, light this candle for me.

Oh, sure.

If I cover it with this glass jar,

do you know what will happen?

Um, the flame will go out.

And why will the flame go out?

Because the air inside the jar is used up.

You mean, because there's no air left in the jar,

that's why the flame goes out?

Yes, Your Highness.

Nana, pour that limewater over there into this basin.

Oh! Okay.

Now, let's take a look.

If I lift this jar, what do you think will happen?

Ah! This is...

If there was nothing in the jar,

we wouldn't see bubbles or changes in the water surface.

This proves that air contains at least two different gases.

In fact, the candle only consumes a part of the air as it burns.

The other part cannot participate in combustion,

and also turns the limewater cloudy.

Although they're both colorless and odorless,

they have completely different properties.

So that's how it is.

But what's the use of knowing all this?

If we use the first gas alone,

we can make the flame burn brighter.

And the second type of gas

can extinguish the flame quickly.

Well said.

Ever since humans learned to use fire,

we've set ourselves apart from animals.

And its origin might have been an accident,

perhaps lightning striking a tree,

or sparks from stones colliding that ignited a flame.

But if no one had noticed this,

if no one had tried to harness it,

we might still be no different from beasts today.

This experiment is meant to show you that

curiosity and thinking are the driving forces of human progress.

You've just been in the rain. Have some hot water, Your Highness.

Thank you, Carter.

In fact, there are many such potential forces in nature

waiting for us to discover and use them.

They may seem insignificant, but when harnessed together,

they can produce astonishing power.

I believe the power of witches is the same.

That's all for today's lesson.

Carter, you're responsible for taking Nana back.

Yes, Your Highness.

Goodbye, Your Highness.

Anna, you should also go back and get some rest.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Oh, by the way, Carter.

Did you confirm it?

Are the Snow Powder and ice that I requested

in the shipment that arrived from Willow Town today?

Oh, yes, Your Highness.

I've already had someone check.

But why do you need so much Snow Powder and ice?

We don't have any celebrations right now,

nor anything that needs to be kept cold.

For the next experiment.

Don't move.

Translator: Henry Lin Timer: Henry Lin Editor: Zachary Carlysle QC: William Haggard