Just as Azure Stone Viscount Territory had lapis lazuli as its specialty, Mist Viscount Territory had its own unique specialty as well: all kinds of charcoal.
For some reason, the charcoal produced in Mist Viscount Territory was better than that from other noble territories. It burned slowly, gave off even heat, and produced neither unpleasant odors nor smoke. The finest varieties even emitted all sorts of fragrances and were greatly beloved.
Thus, charcoal became a specialty of Mist Viscount Territory. Nearly half the villages in the territory made their living by burning charcoal, earning considerable profits.
If not for the Mist Viscount's regulations, every village in the territory would have wanted to burn charcoal for money instead of having half the villages farm and the other half make charcoal.
Red Leaf Village was a small village that made its living by burning charcoal. Thanks to its uniquely favorable location, the Red Leaf Charcoal produced there was considered a treasure by merchants from Mist City. Once it was transported to other noble territories and resold, the profits were enormous.
Especially at this time of year, with cold winds approaching and harsh winter in sight, demand for charcoal was at its highest. Every year at this time, merchants came endlessly to Red Leaf Village to purchase Red Leaf Charcoal.
But because of the plague, no merchants had come to purchase Red Leaf Charcoal in the past few days. That did not stop the villagers of Red Leaf Village from continuing to make charcoal and stockpile it, waiting until after the plague to sell it at a good price. They believed that the Church's healers would not abandon them.
And sure enough, that very afternoon, a carriage arrived from afar. After stopping at the village entrance, three people got down—two adults and a