Release That Witch

As the Lord of the western region, Roland naturally did not have any hands-on experience, he just made a rough sketch on paper, and then expounded the lines to a tailor that had been recruited.     

Despite Roland having no personal experience with bras, he had seen more than enough various advertisements, television shows and films. He chose the most common shoulder strap and clasp from a few models, a buckle with three copper hooks. It allowed one to choose a certain amount of slack.     

Due to the need for it to be worn tightly to meet the requirements of the bust, Roland also called the castle maid in order for the tailor to measure sizes. While the tailor had engaged in cutting clothes for many years, her experience was also very rich. When listening to His Highness's explanation, she immediately understood the role of the bra and in accordance with the actual measurement results, would divide the several grades of bust into different sizes and then subdivide those for the adjustment range.     

In fact, long ago in this era, there had been a prototype of the bra, the corset. It was not to make women more comfortable but to tighten the waist as much as possible and hold up the chest so that the body would show an hourglass-like appearance. Those gorgeous aristocratic dresses were also in accordance with the thin waist design with no corset assistance. It could be seen that the average woman had difficulty in wearing these type of very fine, tight-waisted dresses as too much oppression of the waist was a very uncomfortable experience. It was severe and could even may affect blood circulation, leading to fainting.     

The bra, in addition to holding the bust, would also play a role in fixing the bust and lowering the movement. Wearing it daily would only make women more relaxed.     

In only two days, the old tailor cut out 20 bra patterns. The material that Roland provided was silk and high-quality cotton, which were both beautiful and breathable, working exceptionally well.     

However, before Roland sent the gifts to the witches, the caravan from the King's City had arrived at Border Town.     

Compared to what had been scheduled the previous month, the fleet was not only late, but the scale was far less than the last time. Even when the sailing ships docked at the edge of the pier in front of the expanded part of the town, it had a sparse feeling.     

"Your Highness, we meet again." Margaret smiled.     

"Welcome, the prior transportation of refugees exhausted you." Roland looked to the fleet by the river. "This time's load seems to be a lot less?"     

"That's because of... An unforeseen mishap." She wiped the sweat from her forehead. "If you don't mind, let's go to the living room. It's too hot."     

"I think so, too," muttered Hogg, "I'm just a typical man from Graycastle, this darned weather is going to be the end of me. If not for the steam engine, I wouldn't want to leave the house."     

Roland nodded and headed back to the castle with a row of people. When entering the hall, they felt cool air suddenly flutter at them head-on. Hogg took a deep breath. "Thank the deities that we found such a good thing… If I hadn't seen the production process of ice cooler, I wouldn't have believed it comes out of manure. Ah, there's also ice water! Your Highness, May I..."     

"Of course." Roland made an inviting gesture and then sat. Going back to the main ordeal, he asked the businesswoman, "So what was the accident that led to the issue with this month's cargo? Was it mainly the sharp drop of saltpeter?"     

According to the contract, she should provide Border Town with at least three ships of saltpeter each month, but this time there was only one sailing ship carrying saltpeter.     

"Because the Alchemy Workshop of King's City has recently been acquiring saltpeter. The price isn't high, but they received the support of the former Prime Minister Marquis Wyke and so this isn't a pure trade. Businessmen won't buy or sell," Margaret said, "I guess it may mean that Timothy is behind this. After all, his Prime Minister Marquis Wyke seems to have his nose in the air."     

"Timothy?" Roland asked puzzled, "He's not going to the Southern Territory?"     

"It's true." She nodded. "It seems That Theo has told you the news. I heard that he left King's City already and also brought a lot of troops and baggage. In all likelihood, it's to go through the trouble of finding Garcia. Just after his departure, the Alchemist Workshop of King's City rampantly bought saltpeter."     

Roland knew more about the matter. It was indeed fruitful to arrange Theo to work in King's City. At first he only received the news of Timothy through the underground Rats. In order to prevent an outsider's sudden attack, he also asked Petrov to strengthen the Stronghold in the realm of work, but the next letter from the guard made Roland feel a little relieved. Timothy went straight to the south, it was clear that the shipment was not for him.     

As for the purpose of this group of Rats, Roland and the guard's views were basically the same. That was, they were not suitable for frontal combat and that they were even less disciplined than civilians and serfs. Timothy's use of this group of people must have been the same as the last time. First, he gave them addictive drugs and then forced them to go forward and kill the enemy. This repeated consumption of cannon fodder was his opponent's strategic strength. For the king who owned two-thirds of Kingdom of Graycastle, it was a safe strategy.     

But why did the Alchemist Workshop of King's City suddenly acquire a lot of saltpeter? Snow powder was one of their hit products, but the wrong ratio can only be used to ring the ceremonial cannon. Did they find the correct recipe for gunpowder? Were they planning to manufacture in bulk, or were they trying to determine the best mix by performing a multitude of tests?     

Roland shook his head and put aside the doubt that had emerged in his mind, speculating that it would not make sense. Though he felt that, as soon as possible, it would be prudent to complete the industrialization of triacyl acid production into a more advanced chemical gunpowder.     

"So there can't be a guarantee of a three-ship supply of saltpeter next month?"     

"This... I don't know," said Margaret, though she seemed a bit embarrassed, she still spoke bluntly, "I did spend a lot of effort to bring this ship to the western region from Silver City. This is the hottest part of summer, so the demand for the saltpeter is very large. I'm unsure if I'm able to buy it. If it was another season, I could guarantee the supply of the three ships."     

"I see." Roland took a drink of ice water. "So try it again next month, yeah? There's no need to be so reluctant. I have new goods to buy from you."     

"Oh?" Margaret was relieved. "What's it? Or is it ore?"     

"Washing stones for cleaning laundry," he replied, "They look like a white turbid chip or pillar. If you soak them in water, they give off a greasy feeling. They aren't uncommon in King's City."     

"Sure enough... It's an ore." The business woman reluctantly laughed. "It's clear that there's a big mine in your domain. Alright then, this item could be lots of things, and it's not expensive. What're you going to do with it?"     

"Naturally, it's for more convenient ways of doing laundry." Roland laughed.     

In Prince Roland's memory, the washing stone was essentially a natural base. The main component was sodium bicarbonate and it had a strong decontamination effect. In addition to vegetation ash and the pancreas, it was said to be one of the three ancient cleaning tools. In the absence of an ion exchange membrane, the electrolysis of salt water collects sodium hydroxide at an extremely low efficiency. Salt was not cheap like cabbage, so he intended to buy tartrate directly in order to produce a caustic soda. With sufficient caustic soda, he could make soap on a large scale... Also soap by-products, like glycerol.     

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