Ramsgate,
While the plan to visit Lord Hornwood progressed, Wylis spent his day working on his city. While the smallfolk worked on the planned administrative district, he worked alone in the industrial district, which was walled off in the northern region.
He had multiple reasons to work alone. The first was that he planned to build some really advanced factories, at least compared to this era. They would still be powered by water mills, but the level of automation would increase production.
But for now, the first step was to build more canals in the industrial region to place those water mills. That was something he had to do alone. And since he was hidden by trees all around and the walls, there was no fear of being seen.
"Alright, the canal will go here."
He began marking the land for the canal. The plan was simple, but also complex. It was simple for him, but to any builder out there, this would be a miracle. Since the flow of the Broken Branch was intense, he wanted to build at least three straight canals that would curve into his lands.
As they flowed closer to the industrial district's western wall, the canal would go underground, passing through multiple large sewer passages, moving underneath the city, and also taking away all the sewer waste with it.
In the end, the waste would come out of the other side and fall directly into the sea, where the waves would do the rest of the work. The Shivering Sea wasn't gentle, after all.
Meanwhile, in the industrial districts, those canals would house multiple, perhaps dozens of water mills. They won't be the main factories, however. No, instead, each water mill would be connected with gears that would turn dozens of belt systems, which would travel to other buildings around the mill. That belt would then move the multiple simple but efficient machines.
Anything from trip hammers, drill presses, to power looms, oil presses, and bellows. They would supplement other places, reducing the time taken at each step. With blast furnaces, the entire industrial district was going to be the heart of the entire North, not just Ramsgate.
"Maybe I should hold a tourney for blacksmiths once the furnaces are made."
Wylis fell into thought. He wanted to attract talent, but they had no reason to come to the cold, harsh North. But one thing was certain: he was going to generate an insane level of employment, and that was without counting his army and navy.
How the fuck will I pay them all? Eternal conquest? Make my own East India Company?
Woosh!
Finally, finished with marking his canal, he began digging from the western wall side, where the canal was going to go underground. He planted his feet firmly into the ground, clapped both his hands, then dramatically parted them.
In response to his will, just as his hands parted, so did the ground, forming a perfect canal segment, five meters deep and eight meters wide.
Next, he waved his arms around, flattening the newly dug canal, giving it a firm shape, and then laying rocks at its bottom. Earthbending allowed him to put immense pressure on the dirt and make it solid.
Then, he moved a few steps further into the designated path and dug again. It was a job, simply rinse and repeat the same thing, again and again.
Ting!
"Oh?"
[New Side Quest - An Empire Was Born
Description - Every journey begins with the first step. You have taken the first step to seize the world's wealth.
Goal - Establish ten factories.
Reward - Factory Worker Management Skill: Always know who goes where.]
"..."
The title of the quest was immensely thought-provoking and exhausting. Every single time, the Tyrant's Squire reminded him of its endless appetite. But the reward was just as sweet, especially for something he was going to do anyway. Ten factories were already planned.
"Hmm, a five-year skill?" He checked the shop and found the skill's price. It was a skill with such a boring name that he'd have never noticed it if not for this quest. The description of it was exciting, however. He'd already lost the sailor talent finder after losing the Maidenpool's quest.
This time, he had no desire to lose it. By knowing the best role for each worker, he'd be able to maximize the efficiency of his factories.
[Confusion.]
Wylis stopped abruptly and looked back. Caliburn was standing there, staring at him, marking the ground with a big metal rod with a pointy top, leaving sticks in place as markers.
"Of course, you don't understand. All you know is to eat, run, and fuck these days."
[Pride.]
"Shameless." Wylis corrected. "Why're you here? Run around, play. This entire place is walled, just don't fall into the damn river."
[Observe.]
"Show what?"
[Hostility.]
Wylis felt Caliburn's emotions. That hostility wasn't directed at him, but someone else. He wasted no time and summoned the Tyrant's Fief map to find any intruders. And sure enough, he saw six red dots hiding in the heavily forested area in the soon-to-be-industrial district. The trees had not been cleared from there, and since the walls surrounded it, the guards didn't patrol it yet.
But I checked the map this morning. They just arrived then?
"Take me to them, Caliburn." Wylis mounted Caliburn's back. "No noise. I mean to take them alive."
"Neighehe!"
"I said quiet, boy!"
And quite Caliburn was. Despite the big size, Caliburn knew how to move by not tapping his hooves hard. And just as Wylis had expected, Caliburn took him towards the river's shore. That was the only place intruders could enter.
Should wall it off as well. Ugh… another miracle, I guess.
[Revulsion.]
Wylis looked through the tree lines ahead. Four men were dragging their boat out of the water. Two were setting up their little camp. The Tyrant's Fief marked them red, which meant they were enemies, not mere travelers.
Instead of attacking, Wylis got off the horse and crouch-walked closer to the camp. With the help of his stealth skill, he knew exactly where to hide to remain unseen. And his goal was only to listen.
The forest was noisy, and because of the harsh river nearby, his steps weren't noticeable even as the dried leaves were crushed underfoot. He held his metal spear, which he was using to mark the land, his main sword at home, only a bastard sword hung at his hip.
More than enough, however. The six were dead men, and it didn't matter how he captured them.
"Nage, where's the money?"
Wylis crouched behind the tree and listened carefully. All the men had gathered around but were ready to be lit. But they weren't, likely waiting for the night.
Looks well-armed.
All six men had swords at their hips, simple leather armor, and shaved faces. They didn't look like villagers, but not knight material either.
"Coin, is it? Already asking? You'll have your silver when the work's done," the man, Nage, replied. He was small and round, very unremarkable. Yet, he seemed to be their leader.
"What's the work? You didn't tell us," asked a third man, the tallest of them all, a battle axe on his back.
"Since we're here, I'll tell you," Nage said, taking a look around first. "These walls. Folks say they rose from the earth itself. We're here to see if it's true. After, we slip into the town, bide with the folk, learn what we can of Ramsgate. I've heard no spy keeps his head there past a day."
"Then why not head on into town, eh? What're we standing out here for?" another asked.
"Guards search you at the gate, you fool. Look at us, blades on our hips clear as day. But don't you worry, we won't be going in as smallfolk. There's armor coming, the same as Ramsgate's guard wear. We'll put it on and walk in bold as you please. Trust me, lads, see this through, and you'll never go hungry again. Coin enough to marry a fine lady and still have a couple of wenches for sport."
We?
Wylis frowned, though he didn't take them seriously. Their plan was laughable. No guard was allowed inside his main keep in the first place. None other than Chett and Small Paul.
"Who's paying us?"
"You need not know," Nage barked.
"What if it's all false talk? What if there's no coin in it?"
"Lew, you thick bastard, you calling me a liar? You know who I answer to. If I say there's a coin, then there is. Now—"
Crunch!
Wylis came out of hiding and walked straight towards their little camp. In one hand was his sword, and the other held the metal rod that was far too heavy to be a spear, but it was pointy.
"Did you say coin? I love coins. Which one is it? Silver or gold?"
"Fuck! It's the giant!" Nage cursed and tried to stand up. "W-What? I can't…"
Wylis didn't step any closer. From a distance, he watched them panic while their bodies started to sink into the ground, which was now no different from quicksand.
"Nage! Help me!"
"I can't move!"
"Hold onto Reek!"
"No, you bastards! I'm sinking too!"
Wylis watched in silence. They screamed, they cursed, they tried their best, which only made them sink faster. It took a while, however, but eventually only their heads were left sticking out.
"Now." Wylis walked beside Nage's head and gently tapped his sword on the top of the guy's skull. "Give me truth, and you live. Give me drivel, and I leave. And you all go under."
"My lord!" Lew cried. "I came for the gold!"
"..."
What gold?
But before Wylis could ask that, it was Nage who questioned.
"What gold? What nonsense are you crying?"
"Me gold! My gold!" Lew cried with rage. "Lord Kaiser took it off me, he did. We was there that night, pulling plenty from the river. Me uncles, they drowned trying to flee. I want what's mine returned!"
At that point, Wylis crossed his legs and sat down fully. "Well, I thank you for delivering yourself to me. But tell me, what was the plan? How did you mean to steal it, when you only just learned you'd sneak into my castle?"
"..."
"You didn't plan that far, did you?" Wylis asked. There were hints of madness on Lew's face. Madness born out of immense greed.
"And you? Nage? How's Lord Bolton treating you these days?"
"H-How did you know?!" Nage gasped.
Wylis chuckled, nearly breaking into laughter. "I didn't. Just took a guess."
"..."
______________________
Advance chapters on [PATREON] are in long-form format. I have 12 long chapters of this story on P@treon. That's equal to 45-50 Webnovel chapters.
Check out Solo Dacey Mormont & Wylis X Elia NSFW art, and advance chapters at [email protected]/MrPlotThickens Or Subscribestar.adult/mrplotthickens
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