Striking It Rich

A month later, on a hot summer day, the next supply shipment arrived, with a thousand slaves and their families in tow. The citizens of Gadreel lined the streets to welcome the newcomers. Guilds openly competed for the new slaves and migrants.

No matter the number of new arrivals, the number was not enough.

Gadreel was like a starving insatiable dragon. Yet, the population was never enough. There was more work to be done than hands available. Shop owners completed for works by increasing pay. Which drove more and more migrants to Gadreel chasing the rising wages.

The only occupation not accepting workers was were farmers. The massive farms surrounding Gadreel all had golden sprouts of wheat. Even the paddy farms near the river had sprouted.

Today, more than 10,000 people stood inside the city, patiently listening to Kurosawa giving instructions. While Kurosawa dealt with the city, Will read over reports in his office.

Will sat at his desk. Will enjoyed reading the reports. He found joy watching his barony grow. But, what he enjoyed most was his schedule. His schedule made him feel like he returned to Earth, and regained his C.E.O positions.

Every morning, he read Mei, Vanessa, and Mile's daily reports. In the afternoon, he sat down with Kurosawa to discuss the barony. At night he'd read Kurosawa's brief. Will enjoyed reading the daily reports.

In the morning, Michael put the city's progress report on the back right-hand side corner of his desk. And on the back left-hand corner of the desk sat his business reports. At night, before bed Will filed the reports in his library.

Today, Will sat at his desk. He had just finished reading Kurosawa's report. Will starred at the updated map of Gadreel and Friendship Valley on his back wall. After reading Kurosawa's reports, Will would mark on his map.

If there was a new store or house that went up, Will would mark its location on the map. Will also marked problem areas as well on the map. If the Administration's clock tower was broken, Will would make a note.

In Will's office, the map and window faced one another. To his left was a map of Fermion and door. To his right were bookcases filled with Fermion's legal code and other books of law.

The entire 184 encyclopedia of law, were a present from his majesty. They were sent down along with the first collection of slaves. The king wanted to make sure, Will had a good grasp of the legal code.

As Will was updating his map, Michael knocked on his door.

"Master Will, Grandmaster Thaddeus, and a Chief Savage Wolf are here to see you," Michael said bowing.

Michael had long gotten used to his young master's antics. The first time Will introduced Michael to Savage Wolf he was a little surprised and scared.

Now, almost nothing phased Michael. Not just Michael, Will's entire staff at gotten used to seeing Dwarves and Beastmen coming in and out of the house.

"Send them in," Will replied looking forward to his next lesson with Elder Thaddeus.

After his delusions subside, Elder Thaddeus spent more time lecturing on the principles of conjuring and transfiguration, less on intense battle combat.

"Hail, Baron vont Ballard," Savage Wolf said happily.

Immediately, Will could tell something was a matter. First, Savage Wolf never used the word "hail before. Second, he kept looking nervously back to Elder Thaddeus.

"Greetings," Will returned and bowed as well.

"The Elder Council vote, unanimously to grant you a crypt in the Sacred Mountain, behind the waterfall," Savage Wolf said diplomatically.

"A crypt?" Will said shocked. 'Where had that come from?' Will wondered. But he could guess by the way Savage Wolf looked at him, Elder Thaddeus had spoken to the Council of Elders.

"Yes! Is it wonderful? Now your body may lay entomb with the of our great clan leaders," Savage Wolf said selling Will on the idea.

"How big is the crypt?" Will asked.

"I would say largest enough to fill five of your bank vaults," Savage Wolf said. Math was not his strongest subject.

"Five bank vaults!" Will was shocked. That was large enough to house all the money from his four banks, plus another.

"Yes, we bury our leaders in large tombs. Inside the tomb, our leaders place their valuables. Most beastmen believe after you die you return to the great beyond. That's why every beastmen is buried with a few silver coins.

A couple of our leaders have hundreds or thousands saved in their tombs. No doubt, you'll die with multimillions in your vault. You make need to add extra protection to prevent grave robbers. We've caught human grave robbers before.

"Please thank the council," Will said diplomatically. All Will could think about was filling that crypt with gold bars.

"Ahem," Elder Thaddeus said

"I also forgot, the Wolf Clan would like to discuss a trade agreement with you. The Elder Council requests access to your shops and markets. We permit you to make a mountain pass, for which you'll control 100% of the taxes," Savage Wolf finished.

"Mountain passes are hard to maintain. I'll need to build a toll road. All your people may enjoy our entertainment or purchase food from our vendors, but they must pay 25 coppers to enter," Will said.

"Agreed," Savage Wolf Said sitting down to finalize the agreement.

As soon as they finished signing the agreement, Michael knocked on the door.

"Master Duncan is here to see you," he said.

"Perfect timing, please see him in please," Will said.

"Oi, what's this here? You all signing something behind my back?" Master Duncan said in a thick Scottish accent.

"We just signed a trade agreement, are you interested in signing one too?" Will asked.

"Maybe, if you would agree to import dwarven whiskey. What you humans make taste like goat piss!" Master Duncan said making a disgusted face.

"If I had an operational mine, I would be happy to import such luxuries monthly," Will said sarcastically.

"Then I bring you good tidings," Master Duncan said.

Will stood from his desk in surprise, and Savage Wolf grinned widely.

"We've found a deep iron vein! But we won't know how deep until we dig," Master Duncan said.

"We're rich! What a gold mine!" Savage Wolf exclaimed.

"Oi, we found one of that too!" Master Duncan said.

"Wait! You found gold in the mine?" Will said in disbelief.

"Aye, the entire mountain is filled with untapped metals and gems. Even with 40%, you just became richer than the king," Master Duncan said.

Will sat back down in deliberation. Those were words he did not want to be repeated. Phrases like that usually put men on the wrong side of the king. A side on which Will did not want to be found.

Will slowly read over Master Duncan's report. After about 10 minutes he put the report down. the report was very optimistic. The valley's mountain was an untapped resource.

Even by conservative estimations, the dwarves estimated millions of cubic tons of metal. Frankly, the number was staggering.

"Indeed, an iron vein of this size is quite unheard of. It might be the largest in the on the continent." Savage Wolf said after taking and reading the report from Will.

"Michael!" Will shouted.

Michael entered the study quickly.

"Immediately send this report to Regent! Send a competent rider with our fastest horse. Coordinate with Vanessa and Mei to provide fresh horse and lodging along the way!" Will ordered pressing his seal on the wax.

Will knew the Regent would be interested in such a massive find. Moreover, the iron alone was enough to fund and equip an army of 50,000 easily.

If Will didn't alert his majesty and the Regent they might accuse him of treason.

"Why did you message your king?" Savage Wolf asked worriedly.

Humans might not be powerful, but they outnumbered the entire population of beastmen.

"I messaged the King and the Regent because as long as the crown backs me, it will stop the other nobles from taking action against me. Once word of this discovery leaks, other nobles may petition the Regent to create another settlement in Friendship Valley," Will said.

"I thought you humans called this place, 'Death Valley," Master Duncan said.

"I had the name changed, when the valley became my fiefdom," Will answered.

"You we're expecting our cooperation in advance?" Savage Wolf said impressed.

"I was hoping for your cooperation, yes," Will said.

"Ha-ha, to think you thought this through that long ago. I wonder what else you have planned?" Master Duncan laughed.

"If the Regent certifies my right to the mines, it would prohibit other nobles from gaining access. Nobody wants to rock the boat that much," Will said ignoring Savage Wolf and Master Duncan.

"My lord, the rider has left," Michael said.

'The regent should jump at this opportunity. Between the regent's infrastructure initiative and your barony's construction, the price of iron has skyrocketed. This should ease the demand.

Instead of selling the iron at a premium price, I'll sell it below cost to show my allegiance.

However to anyone else, outside of my barony, they'll be forced to purchase my iron at a high price,' Will thought to recuperate the lost profit.

"One more thing, whilst I am are here, my lord," Michael said

"Yes, what news?"

"Lady Elizabeth, wanted me to inform you the emissary from Albania has agreed to attend your Home Debut Ball," Michael said.

"His comfort and safety are our top priority, please inform Kurosawa. Tell Kurosawa I want a plan on my desk by tomorrow morning," Will said.

"Speaking of my debut ball, neither of you replied yet to accept my invitation," Will said almost forgetting to ask.

"Oi, I appreciate your invitation, but humans do not mix well with other races. Most humans do not consider us equals," Master Duncan said.

"You know this well, we do not consider humans our equals. Humans are weak creatures," Savage Wolf said.

"I consider you two my close business partners, which means more than a friendship to me. I hope you both decided to attend," Will said diplomatically.

"Aye, fine, I'll come. But, I won't promise to hurt the first person who insults me," Master Duncan said.

"Same here," Savage Wolf growled.

"Holo and Lawrence replied, if it's any consolation," Will consoled.

"At least, I'll have one other," said Savage Wolf emphasizing the word 'one.'

"Back to the topic at hand, we'll need a road built from the mines to the barony, no? Will asked.

"Yes," Master Duncan said.

"The migrants that just arrived, make for perfect timing. I'll build a road from the mines to Gadreel," Will said.

No, my clan shall be responsible. We'll build the road up to your farmland. Then you can build the road from the farms to your gates," Savage Wolf said.

This was quickly agreed upon by the dwarves, beastmen, and Will.

After the negotiation concluded, Savage Wolf and Master Duncan returned to their territories. Once they exited the house, Will called Michael back into his office.

"Michael, about the other matter, what did the emissary write?" Will asked grabbing the letter and reading it himself.

"The emissary said the king agreed to build a road to the Albanian border," Michael said.

"Connect Kurosawa, I want a road built that runs by outpost, across the river. I want a road the road to transgresses the entire valley, linking Guidon to the closest Albania city.

This was the true purpose of my fief, a waypoint between two kingdoms. The center of commerce between two prosperous kingdoms. I'll grow this territory into the economic hub between both kingdoms. My city shall become the number one destination for travelers.

Once the Albanian emissary and I formalized an accord, merchants and tradesmen from both kingdoms shall fight to the death to pay for my seal," Will said.