Kenshin deliberately avoided overly technological houses, settling on an optimal late-19th-century style with central water and electric lighting to avoid drawing attention with tech excess.
Thanks to "Shelter Creation," he effortlessly claimed the current settlement's territory as his own, freeing him for unrestricted building. That's why he built houses over several nights, creating the illusion strong shinobi did it.
On the morning of day 471, after breakfast, Kenshin spoke with Komamura again, assessed his skills, and offered him master position in the budding steel mill, with potential promotion to head of casting and rolling shops.
The broad-shouldered blacksmith didn't fully grasp it but agreed to a five-year contract barring secrets or leaving Nakayama territory.
It took Kenshin hours to impart foundational info to him and ten other workers. They were utterly shocked and knew leaking it doomed them and their families.
Until lunch, Kenshin oversaw the team, trying to launch the first iron ore smelting section. Despite theory on high-tech gear, men made errors nearly causing injuries.
Finally, production started; the massive blast furnace roared full force, melting ore into steel.
Kenshin had no grand plans for it—just train workers in new tech before launching major enterprises to boost this world's progress.
That evening, he finally impregnated Aiyu and Meyumi, fully sating their sexual appetites. To his surprise, they took the threesome well and fell asleep cuddling.
By lunch on day 473, Kenshin had to approve the trunk road to Shukuba city, meeting the Kimura family head at the negotiation table for the first time.
The start of the negotiations was a bit strained, but Kimura Ichinose wasn't the unofficial master of Shukuba city for nothing—he possessed exceptional intellect and a keen sense for profit.
Incredible carriages, the most delicious and expensive chocolate, as well as various canned goods, and extraordinary construction methods—all of this was backed by one small mercenary organization, and the head of the Kimura Family couldn't fail to notice the enormous potential from cooperation.
"Please, Nakayama-san, have a seat. The head will arrive any minute," Kimura Masao said respectfully; he had been tasked with being the go-between in these negotiations.
"Hm? Alright," Kenshin said, frowning slightly.
The man sitting on the other side of the table, with his hair tied in a ponytail, was slightly surprised by this reaction but said nothing, intending to give no quarter to this arrogant mercenary in the upcoming talks.
Ten minutes later, a stately man of about fifty entered the room, and everyone present bowed respectfully, while Kenshin merely nodded in greeting to an equal.
"Accept my apologies for being late, Nakayama-san," Kimura Ichinose said with a slight smile, stunning all his men with such courtesy toward a mercenary, no matter how strong.
"No harm done, Ichinose-san," Kenshin replied no less politely, smiling in return.
After several minutes of pleasantries and beating around the bush, the negotiations finally began, and Kenshin had no intention of holding back his ambitions, greatly surprising everyone present.
"Nakayama-san, don't you think the amount you're asking for is a bit high?" Ichinose asked politely.
"On the contrary, Ichinose-san, I consider it insufficient for maximum profit. You need only know that any amount you invest will return to you double within a year, and the productions will continue to generate revenue, strengthening the Kimura Family's power," Kenshin replied with a smile.
"With all due respect, Nakayama-san, you sound like a swindler. Father, we mustn't tarnish our reputation with ties to mercenaries," said a thirty-year-old man in rich robes.
Kenshin didn't so much as twitch an eyebrow at these words, completely ignoring the man and looking expectantly into the eyes of the Kimura Family head.
"My apologies, Nakayama-san. I have a very ill-mannered son... Akihiko, get out," Kimura Ichinose said in a calm tone.
"B-but..." Akihiko began, but he saw his father's eyes flash with an unkind light and felt overwhelming fear.
"P-please forgive me, Nakayama-san, I'd better go..." he stammered, and quietly left the negotiation table.
Few of those present could see the full picture and understand the reason for the family head's severity. Only the two great elders and Kimura Ichinose himself sensed the power of the two bodyguards behind the Nakayama Family head, and saw how far from ordinary he was.
Seeming like a simple man at first glance, Kenshin made an extremely dangerous impression on the truly strong members of the Kimura Family. No trace of chakra could be felt in his body, yet he reacted calmly to every move of the not-weak Jonin, and several times demonstrated comparable speed.
Moreover, Kimura Ichinose had received numerous reports on the Nakayama Family and was more than interested in fruitful cooperation, but he needed to know what he was signing up for, so the negotiations continued in a more peaceful vein.
"Very well, Nakayama-san, what exactly do you propose?" Ichinose asked gently.
"Here, all points of cooperation are outlined. I assure you, Ichinose-san, they are far more profitable than they seem," Kenshin replied amiably, handing over a slim folder with large sheets.
The Kimura Family head took the unfamiliar item and began reading, noting with interest the detailed elaboration of each point. This fact alone was enough to set Kenshin apart from other mercenaries, who often couldn't even read, let alone draft complex plans.
"You claim to possess lost knowledge and can increase our mines' output more than fivefold?" Kimura Ichinose asked in surprise, pausing at one point.
"That's correct, Ichinose-san, but only if you fully adopt my recommendations for production organization and don't hinder the implementation of equipment built from that lost knowledge."
Kimura Ichinose continued asking questions about each point, and the more he heard, the more his interest was piqued. The promised "mountains of gold" seemed unrealistic, but the Nakayama Family head convinced him to go and see examples of the promised "miracles."
The Kimura Family elders subtly tried to dissuade the head from visiting unsafe places, but Ichinose was confident nothing threatened him. Kenshin, in turn, was extremely pleased with the Kimura Family head's openness, and upon returning to the Nakayama settlement, happily showed him the sights.