Max was not one to indulge in prolonged victory celebrations. The report from Operation Redoubt—a single, sterile sheet detailing the complete, absolute erasure of the Fort Astra Garrison—confirmed the MSW-1's devastating power and the initial success of Scorpia's Air Force. The Empire's largest conventional military concentration in the South had been neutralized, buying Valum the crucial time and security Max needed to enact his true vision. His attention instantly snapped from the military destruction of the past to the industrial necessity of the future: infrastructure and housing. The war against the Emperor was not just fought with guns and bombs; it was won with logistics and social stability.
In his streamlined command center, Max acknowledged the success report with a single, sharp nod, handing the parchment to a junior ISB officer for immediate, classified archival. He didn't allow for analysis or discussion of the horrific death toll. "The threat in the South is neutralized. General Volkov will commence Phase Two: securing the new oil fields and maximizing extraction capacity. Elias," he commanded, turning to his chief engineer, "the immediate priority shifts. We are no longer solely building weapons of war; we are building a home for our growing population, and a road network to support the motorized war effort to come."
The population of Valum and the annexed Scofield territory had swelled dramatically since the initial revolution. The promise of consistent food, unparalleled safety, and a meritocratic system of work had drawn thousands of refugees, dispossessed farmers, and skilled artisans from across the crumbling Empire. They were currently living in overcrowded, temporary barracks and makeshift tents, a situation Max viewed as a ticking clock for disease, unrest, and a catastrophic drop in industrial output. Max knew that if he was to maintain social order and the furious pace of industrial expansion, he had to provide modern, dignified, and permanent housing, and the logistics to support it. His plan centered on two crucial infrastructure projects: a network of paved roads utilizing the waste asphalt residue from the oil refinery to connect the mines, the oil fields, and the castle; and, more ambitiously, a complete, total overhaul of the housing system for his new citizenry.
The New Architecture: Concrete Brutality and the Green City
Max despised the cramped, unsanitary, and fire-prone wooden and mud-brick structures common in the feudal world. His vision for Valum's expansion was rooted in the early 20th-century architectural aesthetic of Brutalism, but fundamentally modified and adapted to reflect a commitment to a sustainable, livable, green environment. He saw the cold, raw power of concrete as the perfect physical metaphor for Valum itself: uncompromisingly logical, durable, and ruthlessly efficient.
"We will use concrete," Max instructed his newly formed Bureau of Urban Planning, a mix of former masons, engineers, and drafters now studying Max's advanced structural drawings. "It is fireproof, durable, and uses readily available materials—limestone, clay, and aggregate. It is the cheapest and most reliable material we have at scale. The style will be what I call 'Concrete Brutality with Purpose.'"
His designs rejected the common perception of brutalism as solely ugly or purely oppressive. The residential structures would feature bold, geometric, and massive forms: stark, towering blocks of unpainted, textured concrete with wide, recessed balconies and massive windows to maximize natural light and air circulation. However, the inherent rigidity and coldness of the concrete would be deliberately offset by an intensive integration of greenery and meticulous horticulture. The recessed areas, the rooftops, and the foundations of the buildings would be integrated with deep soil beds and extensive planting systems. Specialized climbing vines would be encouraged to climb the exterior walls, slowly softening the harsh lines of the concrete. Rooftop gardens, designed by Max's agricultural engineers, would provide fresh food, vital insulation against the extreme seasonal temperatures, and communal gathering spaces. Internal courtyards would be lush, communal green spaces with recycled water fountains and thick, protective tree cover. The resulting architecture was a deliberate and striking clashing but beautiful appearance: the cold, uncompromising, scientific logic of the concrete contrasted sharply and dramatically with the vibrant, untamed, resilient life of the plants. It was, Max understood, a physical representation of Valum's foundational philosophy—a society built on scientific rigidity and military efficiency, yet striving for human prosperity and environmental sustainability.
The homes were designed to be functional, standardized, and safe. Each residential unit featured thick, soundproof concrete walls, piped water access (a revolutionary concept for most of the new citizens), basic but effective sanitation, and standardized sizes that maximized living space without sacrificing structural integrity. Max mandated that these structures be built in planned, modular blocks adjacent to the main industrial centers, drastically cutting down on commute times and organizing the workforce efficiently. The promise of a modern, clean, and secure home was, in Max's eyes, the most effective tool of propaganda and control he possessed—far more effective than any loyalty oath or magical charm.
The Arterial System: Asphalt and Efficiency
The second crucial element of his plan was ensuring the immense, growing volume of material could move swiftly and reliably. Simultaneously with the start of the housing project, Max ordered the immediate construction of a network of high-quality paved roads. Elias's team was immediately tasked with maximizing the output of asphalt—the heavy, sticky residue that was the least useful fraction from refining the crude oil.
"A modern war is won not on the battlefield, but in the supply line," Max dictated to his newly appointed Roads and Logistics Czar. "A smooth road triples the efficiency of our old steam wagons and will quadruple the efficiency of the new motorized transport we will soon build. Mud and stone tracks are the hallmark of a collapsing civilization. We will not be subject to weather or terrain."
The primary arterial roads were designed using cross-sections taken directly from historical Roman and modern highway design principles. They would be built wide enough for two lanes of two-way traffic, layered with carefully crushed aggregate and gravel for drainage, and then sealed with a thick, smooth layer of the asphalt binder. This network was prioritized geographically: the main arterial paths must connect the Iron Mines to the Central Forge, the Crude Oil Fields to the Refinery, and both centers to the Scofield Logistics Hub and the main storage bunkers beneath the castle. This systematic approach ensured that the enormous volume of iron ore, steel ingots, and, most critically, refined oil and fuel could flow continuously and quickly to the manufacturing centers. This continuous, unimpeded flow was the essential prerequisite for the next phase of his war: building a rapid, motorized army capable of challenging the Emperor's legions directly. The age of feudal paths, muddy tracks, and unreliable travel times was over.
This infrastructure plan was not just about comfort; it was about locking in the long-term industrial advantage purchased by the blood shed at Fort Astra. The reliable, durable housing would attract and retain the skilled labor force needed to operate his factories, and the paved roads would ensure that Valum's enormous manufacturing output—steel, weapons, and eventually, vehicles—could be delivered to the front lines with unmatched speed and reliability. The Grand Isolation Doctrine imposed by the Emperor had ironically given Max the perfect excuse and the perfect window of opportunity to build the foundation of a modern nation-state while the rest of the continent wallowed in feudal chaos.
Max knew the MSW-1 strike had guaranteed him several months of inaction from the paralyzed Imperial center. He would not waste a single hour of that time on politics or posturing. He would build. He would pave. He would refine. The next confrontation would not be between men, but between the organized might of an industrialized nation and the decaying structure of a feudal empire.