"To be honest, we can't afford it!"
Caesar looked at Isaac and spread his hands helplessly.
"Hmm? That can't be right, can it? Before coming here, I took a rough look. The Solomon Kingdom has gained two towns—one an adventurer town, the other barely a commercial town. Add in Big Sister's workshop, and you still can't afford it?" Isaac looked at Caesar suspiciously. He suspected his eldest brother wanted to freeload!
The Solomon Kingdom had not been independent for long, and it was considered a fairly small kingdom. But small and refined was still refined. Not every kingdom could have high-level wizards serving it, much less have them wholeheartedly focus on production. So Solomon was not actually short on money.
"It can earn money—it just can't save any..." Caesar spread his hands with a bitter smile.
Whether before or after independence, Solomon's development philosophy had not changed much: sustainable overexploitation and militarism. It was thoroughly a martial faction.
And aside from military expenses, the annual research funding given to Big Sister Cheryl was also considerable. After all, she was not some exploited laborer hired from outside.
So while the territory's income was not low, its expenses were even higher!
Not only was the territory's annual surplus tiny, but every couple of years, whenever they wanted to make a move, all of it would be poured right back in—
So if Isaac wanted Caesar to produce a large sum of money right now to buy this thing—
Then Caesar really could not manage it. This thing would cost at least several years' worth of military funding, and that might not even be enough. They would have to cut some of Big Sister's research budget too!
Isaac quickly realized it as well. Looking at the Inheritance Longsword, he frowned slightly. In truth,