In the study room of the castle, the air was still and warm, the faint aroma of a recently enjoyed lunch lingering in the room. The hour was just past midday, and while some of the castle's inhabitants had retired for a brief nap or busied themselves with their daily tasks, the study room was now occupied by only a select few: Lucas, the young lord of Sedona City, Mina, Elisa, Annie, and Amelia. The room was a sanctuary of knowledge, lined with towering bookshelves filled with tomes and scrolls, their leather bindings gleaming faintly in the soft light streaming through the tall, arched windows. A large oak desk dominated the center, cluttered with maps, ledgers, and Lucas's personal notebook, a testament to his relentless ambition to modernize his domain.
Annie, seated primly in a cushioned chair, straightened her posture and flashed a slightly nervous grin as she delivered her report. "Young Master, our stockpile of steel has now exceeded one hundred tons." Her voice carried a mix of pride and disbelief, as if the sheer volume of the resource was almost incomprehensible to her.
The number was staggering, and Annie's mind wandered to the broader world beyond Sedona City. She thought of the neighboring Valtoria Beastkin Kingdom, a rugged land where even the combined annual production of crude iron across the entire kingdom likely paled in comparison to Sedona's steel reserves. Steel, after all, was a rare commodity in this era, far superior to the crude iron that most relied upon. In many regions, beastkins and commoners alike still wielded tools crafted from stone or wood, their lives untouched by the advancements of metallurgy. The idea of amassing over a hundred tons of refined steel was nothing short of revolutionary.
In this world, iron-smelting technology was still in its infancy, producing pitifully low yields that left most commoners without even a basic iron knife, let alone steel. The bulk of any iron produced was hoarded by lords and nobles, forged into armor or weapons for their private armies. The notion of using such a precious resource for agricultural tools or, as Lucas had audaciously done, to construct buildings, was unheard of. Behind his back, the common folk of Sedona City whispered about their lord, calling him the "profligate lord" for his seemingly reckless expenditure of steel on infrastructure. Yet Lucas's vision was far grander than they could comprehend.
"One hundred tons of steel, huh?" Lucas murmured, his brow furrowing as he leaned back in his chair, one hand cradling his chin in thought. His dark eyes glinted with a mix of contemplation and dissatisfaction. Since the onset of winter, the steel stockpile had grown steadily, primarily reserved for crafting weapons but otherwise left largely untouched. Lucas had introduced advanced steelmaking techniques from his knowledge of Earth, yet even with these innovations, a mere hundred tons felt woefully inadequate to him.
Was a hundred tons a lot? In his mind, it was far from sufficient. Sedona City's ambitious construction projects devoured steel at an alarming rate. A single two-story building required nearly two tons of steel, and that was with conservative designs due to their modest height. Taller structures would demand even more. With plans for a massive development push in the coming year, the city would need to erect countless buildings to accommodate its growing population. The military, too, required steel for armor—particularly heavy plate armor for the infantry, a project that was still in its infancy as Lucas had yet to recruit enough soldiers. But the steel had to be stockpiled now, in preparation for these future demands.
More than that, Lucas harbored a grand ambition, a vision so vast it would require an immense quantity of steel. To realize it, he needed to begin amassing resources now, lest his plans be delayed by shortages. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk as he considered his next steps, his mind racing with possibilities.
"Do any of you know of nearby cities with iron ore deposits?" Lucas asked, his gaze sweeping across Elisa, Mina, and Annie. His voice was calm but carried an undercurrent of urgency, as if the answer could unlock the next phase of his plans.
Annie shook her head, her expression apologetic. "I'm not sure, Young Master. Cities with iron ore are rare, and those that have it tend to keep it a closely guarded secret to avoid raids from rival factions." Her words reflected the harsh reality of this world, where resources like iron were as coveted as gold and fiercely protected.
Elisa, her emerald-green eyes lifting from the book she'd been reading, paused to consider the question. After a moment of thought, she spoke, her voice measured and precise. "I've heard that the Kingdom of Siacan sources most of its crude iron from the Dwarf Kingdom."
"The Dwarf Kingdom?" Lucas's eyebrow arched with intrigue. The name was unfamiliar to him, sparking his curiosity. A kingdom of dwarves? The idea conjured images of stout, bearded craftsmen toiling in smoky forges, their hammers ringing against molten metal.
Annie, sensing her lord's unfamiliarity with the region, quickly elaborated. "Young Master, the Dwarf Kingdom is renowned for its vast iron ore deposits. The population is mostly dwarfs, and their economy thrives on the trade of iron goods. They're one of the wealthiest kingdoms in the region, and many other nations tread carefully to avoid provoking them." Her tone was earnest, eager to provide Lucas with the context he needed to make informed decisions.
Lucas's dark eyes narrowed slightly, a spark of ambition flickering within them. A kingdom rich in iron ore? That was a tantalizing prospect, one that could be leveraged to fuel Sedona City's growth. His mind began to churn with possibilities—trade agreements, negotiations, or perhaps something more audacious. "Interesting," He murmured, his voice low and thoughtful.
Mina, shifting slightly in her seat, her cat-like ears twitching, spoke up softly. "Young Master, the Dwarf Kingdom is quite far from Sedona City. It's located near the ocean, on the far side of the continent." Her words were a gentle reminder of the logistical challenges, her tone cautious but respectful.
"The ocean? That's a fair distance," Lucas conceded, his brow creasing as he weighed the implications. He reached for his notebook, flipping it open to a fresh page. With a quill, he carefully scrawled "Dwarf Kingdom" in bold strokes, a note to himself that this was a resource he couldn't ignore. Even if a plan wasn't feasible now, it didn't mean it couldn't be pursued in the future. A kingdom rich in iron was too valuable to overlook.
Shifting gears, Lucas turned to Annie. "How many plows have been produced so far?" His gaze briefly flicked to Amelia, who sat quietly in the corner, her expression blank. The emotionless girl had skipped her afternoon lessons, a fact Lucas noted with mild amusement but chose not to address for now.
Annie responded promptly, her tone confident. "We've crafted over one hundred and fifty plows, and the agricultural workshop is working at full capacity to produce more." Her report reflected the progress made in Sedona City during the twenty days Lucas had been absent, a testament to the city's growing efficiency under his leadership.
"Good. We can't neglect agricultural tools," Lucas said, his voice firm. "Plows, hoes, and rakes must be produced in large quantities. Next spring, we'll launch a massive land reclamation project, and that will determine whether our city can feed itself next year." His words carried the weight of his vision for Sedona City—a self-sufficient stronghold capable of sustaining its people through careful planning and innovation.
The granary project was already in its early stages, with preparations underway to ensure its success. Lucas knew that waiting until spring to begin would be too late. The first batch of crops needed to be planted immediately after the thaw, and the groundwork had to be laid now. In the city's greenhouses, seeds for various crops were already being nurtured, including potatoes, which Lucas had introduced to this world. These seeds were nearly mature, ready to be transplanted in the spring. He wasn't concerned about their adaptability to this world's soil and climate—he had prepared a variety of crops to test, ensuring at least some would thrive.
"I understand," Annie said earnestly. "I'll instruct the agricultural workshop to prioritize tool production." She was already planning to allocate more workers to the task and implement a numbering system for the tools to streamline distribution and collection. Steel tools were valuable, and Annie was determined to ensure they were managed efficiently for the upcoming reclamation project.
A sudden knock echoed through the room—three sharp raps on the heavy wooden door.
Lucas's eyebrow quirked. "Come in," He called, his voice steady but curious.
The door creaked open, revealing Henry and Chris, two of Lucas's trusted subordinates. Both men stepped inside, their postures rigid as they offered a crisp military salute. "City Lord!" They greeted in unison, their voices resonating with loyalty.
Lucas waved a hand dismissively, signaling them to relax. "I called you here today because I have tasks for you," He said, his tone shifting to one of authority.
"Please give us your orders, City Lord!" Henry and Chris responded in perfect sync, their voices brimming with readiness.
Lucas's gaze settled on Chris. "Chris, you're the captain of the War Wolves. How are the new recruits faring?"
Chris's face grew serious, his eyes sharp with determination. "City Lord, the recruits are ready for active duty. They've reached the stage where they can handle real combat."
"Excellent," Lucas said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Effective immediately, I'm establishing the Security Department. Mina will serve as its director, and Chris, you'll be the deputy director while continuing your role as captain of the War Wolves."
Lucas's dark eyes gleamed with purpose as he continued, "The Security Department will be responsible for intelligence gathering, ensuring Sedona City's safety, and carrying out special operations as needed."
Mina, caught off guard, leapt up from her seat at the desk, her cat ears twitching with surprise. "Yes, my lord!" She exclaimed, standing ramrod straight. Internally, she was reeling—how had she, a simple cat-eared girl, been appointed director of an entire department? The responsibility of overseeing intelligence operations was daunting, but she resolved to rise to the challenge.
Chris, meanwhile, couldn't hide the glint of excitement in his eyes. "Yes, my lord!" He responded, his voice steady but tinged with pride. The promotion to deputy director was a significant step up, one that promised not only greater responsibility but also a substantial increase in pay. For Chris, it meant his future was secure—perhaps even enough to finally consider marriage.
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