Bear Kid never smiled as he inspected the disaster areas. This natural disaster had dealt Hudson heavy losses, and Beldens had not fared much better.
Because most of their territories lay downstream, the surging floods had swept through them, turning both Bear Ranch and Bear Farm into vast expanses of water.
Looking down from the sky, they could still see busy crowds harvesting wheat soaked by floodwater in the rain.
In an agrarian age, no matter how severe the yield reduction, once the grain in the fields had ripened, there was no reason not to bring it in.
The ranches had not fared much better either. The livestock had been rescued, but after being battered by continuous rainstorms, their stored fodder was no longer sufficient. They had no choice but to slaughter the animals.
Watching his source of milk being slaughtered and turned into jerky, Beldens was in no mood to feel happy.
Maxim, standing nearby, was in an excellent mood instead, shamelessly enjoying Hudson and Beldens' misfortune.
Investments came with risks; enter the market with caution.
Agriculture had never been a business that made quick money. Natural disasters not only reduced grain production, but also forced the reconstruction of many waterworks.
This wave of losses alone would leave Hudson and Beldens working for years before they could make up for them.
By comparison, Maxim's business was far more profitable and carried no risk.
After muddling through a period while in heat, he would have several million gold coins flowing into his account.
Based purely on the returns from farming, even with favorable weather, Mountain Territory would need years of hard work to earn that much.
Making money with his kidneys was a talent only Maxim possessed. No one else could envy it.
As reports of losses continued to arrive,