Victor listened to the girl standing before him, but his mind was busy constructing plans related to the territories of Baltès and Clint. He was already willing to help her, not because she asked, but because it gave him an opportunity to discover what resources Clint possessed.
Located to the south of his domains, they were roughly in the same position as he was, their territory not bordering another county like Baltès', though this hardly benefitted them economically.
Clint lies by the sea, with land similar to his own, lacking the knowledge Victor possessed. This granted him the chance to gain complete control over their economy, and he even had an idea of how assisting them could benefit him as well.
— I will send one of my knights with your caravan; there's no cause for concern. Just focus on recovering, — Victor finally answered after some deliberation.
— I'm deeply grateful, and as a knight, I will ensure repayment, — the girl responded, striving to maintain a chivalrous manner.
Her attempt at nobility in that instant amused Victor, reminding him of their initial encounter, where she had similarly struggled to act dignified.
Following a brief conversation, the lord bid his farewell, as it was getting late and he had skipped meals all day. Moreover, cooking in the castle had recently improved, and he didn't want to revert to bland diets. Hence, seizing the moment, the baron resolved to enjoy varied cuisine.
Proceeding to the dining hall, he promptly took his seat, and this time, food was promptly served. Prepared for him was a mushroom soup, absolutely divine. Longing for flavorful soups, he appreciated this preparation, arranged specifically for him upon the arrival of this noblewoman. His appetite for meat, delivered thrice daily, had waned considerably.
Post-dinner, he retired to his bedroom, but his thoughts intruded, leaving no respite. His territory burned like a wildfire, flames erupting everywhere. Simultaneously, he needed to prepare for an assault on the enemy stronghold established on his land and gear up for a conflict with Armandèl.
Tossing and turning nearly an hour, slumber eventually claimed him.
***
The next day dawned with preparations underway for sending soldiers alongside Clint's caravan. Alganís intended to take only iron-ranked guards.
Considering that each guard had risen at least to rank one since receiving concentration stones, and one had reached peak iron-level, Alganís deemed it sufficient to overcome any adversary they might face.
Victor stood beside his knight, surveying the assembly of the caravan and escorting soldiers.
— Remember, I care little for either the merchandise or the caravan itself, — stated Victor, gazing ahead. — Return my soldiers alive—that's all I ask. If matters go smoothly, learn if they have access to lime on their territory—it's essential for us.
— Understood, my lord, you have no reason to worry, — Alganís assured him, vaulting onto his horse and leading his soldiers onwards.
To Victor, the caravan meant nothing, given their lack of connection. However, losing four knights and their captain would severely impact Baltès' security. This prompted his directive, and he fretted as he watched the procession depart.
Once the soldiers left the castle, he chose not to waste time and accompanied his squire, newly adept at riding, to the eastern village. He aimed to inspect this neglected portion of his holdings, having largely ignored southern and eastern regions beforehand.
En route, seeking distraction, he devised names for the settlements on his lands.
Generally, Viktor found Earth's naming conventions intriguing. Many city names held no apparent meaning in modern language.
Adhering to this logic, he opted for aesthetically pleasing titles. The western village became Rivenhall, the southern Akiron, the western Eron, and the sole settlement lacking a fitting title, the eastern, named Westerville.
Amusing himself with naming villages, he eventually reached Westerville, encountering another dilapidated community.
Despite adherence to his decrees and receipt of humanitarian aid from the castle, residents appeared listless. Among five villages, only two were uninvolved in production, making this location ideal for transferring soap production to stimulate industry and transform Westerville into a future industrial hub.
Akiron produced salt and would assume brickmaking; Rivenhall would serve agriculture; Ironwood emerge as a trade hub; Westerville designated for industry; Eron earmarked for winemaking.
Reflecting on the latter, he concluded the vineyard would remain close to the castle, fearing exposure of its secrets.
On Earth, alcohol production ranked among the most lucrative businesses, and relinquishing such profit was unacceptable. Even now, the garrison guarded the vineyard more vigilantly than the castle itself.
Additionally, he harbored ambitions for an arms business, requiring workshops constructed in Rivenhall and transfer of the smithy there. Establishing an Ironwood store selling weapons would complement this arrangement.
Such measures would secure Rivenhall from outsiders, temporarily safeguarding all his secrets.
These were ambitious plans, perhaps unrealizable, especially considering the reality before him.
— Go, locate the village chief — he ordered Arthur.
The boy leaped off his horse and scurried to find the person responsible, questioning villagers who cautiously avoided him.
Five minutes later, a thirty-five-year-old woman introduced herself as Rhina, widow of the former chief, now holding the post since no successor volunteered.
Gender and age held little significance for Viktor; compliance with his directives was paramount. Observing the streets and work demonstrated consistent execution.
Ordering fifty men assembled, he assumed leadership, instructing Rhina as he distributed them into five groups.
Ten men were dispatched to nearby forests to chop timber; another ten tasked with transport; the remainder mobilized to prepare a construction site.
For the remainder of the day, he supervised the operation. Unlike other villages, Rhina displayed greater initiative and intelligence. Witnessing this, Viktor grasped why she had been chosen over male candidates. Swiftly understanding his instructions, she commanded the men effectively, even refining the lord's guidelines.
Naturally, such activity did not escape Viktor's notice, prompting him to reward her trustworthiness by teaching literacy. Equipped with reading and writing, she would evolve into a capable administrator capable of delegating more responsibility.
Over subsequent days, he toured constructions across his domain, reducing his involvement incrementally.
The brick-production camp acquired numerous test blocks, and masons embarked on furnace construction. Though simplified by necessity, the structure still fulfilled basic requirements.
Initially designed from processed stone, it now comprised assorted rocks and clay plugged into gaps.
Eager to avoid wasting time, he intended to conduct firing trials and observe results. Without temperature monitoring equipment, achieving desired brick quality mandated meticulously repeating each step, including type of wood fuel.
First stage: drying in the kiln, ensuring temperatures below ninety degrees. Inability to measure led him to keep several ventilation holes open, preventing damage to the first batch.
Even oven-drying would span two-three days versus naturally air-drying for weeks. Hence, determining optimal methods to reduce duration appealed to him.
Entirely covered in clay, Victor oversaw the kiln, puzzling locals and irritating the butler. Preferring practical action over explanations, he persisted.
Finally completing arrangements, he ordered the loading of the first hundred experimental bricks into the kiln.
Igniting the wood, he faced agonizing wait, but staying three days was untenable. Casting a final glance at the kiln, he departed for the castle.
Arriving home, he found Linea supported by Lulu walking toward the parlor.
The girl froze, taken aback by the sight of the baron, dirtied with clay, looking no different from a peasant.
— Baron, did you fall off your horse? — she inquired, drawing conclusions based on his appearance.
— No, I conducted an experiment, — replied Victor, bowing politely, then proceeding to his newly installed tub, fashioned from an adjacent room.
Linea scrutinized him intently, maintaining her gaze until he disappeared upstairs.
"What kind of experiment could possibly result in such filth? When did noblemen start conducting experiments beyond magic?" Wondered the baroness.
She was captivated, for in a mundane world, unusual actions attracted interest. An aristocrat emerging in such a state implied adventure.
Nobles often transformed trivial incidents into tales. Peasants falling into mud, horses tripping—anything became entertaining. This highlighted their intellectual limitations.
This underscored why nobles aspired to attain higher levels of magical prowess. Magic enhanced physical beauty, prolonged lifespan, and significantly boosted intellect.
Unspoken but widely acknowledged, countless dynasties vanished from history due to lacking competent leaders. Conversely, skillful rulers revitalized declining houses.
Pondering further, she resolved to question him at dinner about his activities leading to this state.
***
Victor was oblivious to the fascination his muddied visage aroused in the girl. Submerged in tepid water, he contemplated cement, vital for various projects. With cement, he could construct homes, roads, estates—and, crucially, a proper castle.
Castles in this world were indispensable, not mere decorations. His makeshift cottage would prove insufficient shelter in times of crisis.
Moreover, he required two castles: one replacing the existing structure, another northwards to secure borders with neighboring counties and deter potential monster waves. Although rare, occasionally monsters congregated in massive swarms exceeding thousands, rampaging across kingdoms.
Kingdom mages theorized such occurrences might increase, but monsters feared the dragon formerly dwelling here. Attacks occurred only when desperate, fleeing once satisfied.
Fear of monster invasion motivated Victor's zealous efforts.
Simultaneously launching multiple ventures would require additional manpower, gold, and resources—assets he lacked.
Nonetheless, addressing one challenge was achievable: recruitment. Awaiting his merchant's return, he tasked him with a mission critical to implementing his vision.