Boom Town

A fortnight ago, the king, crown prince, Elizabeth, and nobles returned to their residences.

His Home Debut Party, and airship launch, and Gadreel were the talk of the high society.

Every detail of his house was shared and picked apart. The tableware, food, and staff were judged.

Yet, the most popular topic in society was the airship and the rapid growth of the city.

It was common knowledge cities took years to build and expand.

Yet, his city's growth was too sudden. Nobles complained about their disappearing fiefs. Some nobles even purchased mercenaries to bring back their peasants.

For eight months, he built and lived in Gadreel. In those Gadreel has become a boomtown.

A boomtown was a municipality that experiences a sudden rapid population and economic growth.

Boomtowns were newly established cities whose sudden rapid growth was attributed to a nearby discovery of mines, huge construction projects, and attractive climate.

It just happened, that Gadreel met all the criteria.

In those eight months, seven supply shipments arrived, bringing 7,000 debt slaves and their families.

More than 50,000 forced migrants from the Eastern fringe, and over 500,000 migrants between Albania and Fermion arrived in Gadreel.

Still, with over half a million residents the city was lively but not yet overcrowded.

When the king published his awards for the first successful flight, both society and commoners were stunned to learn a fourth academy was to be built and for commoners!.

Land-owning nobles released a collective groan. Before, runaway peasants were like a trickle, but after the announcement, peasants and commoners flooded down to Gadreel.

Same was true in Albania once the news was released.

Of all the cities, none was impacted more than Guidon. When the Commoners' Academy, as it was called by nobles, was announced a deluge commoners departure Guidon for Gadreel.

At first, Timothy vont Alms was satisfied to see commoners leaving. But when the Southern District was almost empty, he realized his mistake. Soon noble shop owners faced employment shortages and a lack of customers.

When the commoners left, the commoner shop owners chased after them, then the commoner crafters went to chase after the shop owners.

The overcrowded Guidon felt like a ghost town. Besides the beastwoman brothel, and a few restaurants not much remained in the Southern District.

Timothy vont Alms, Guidon's City Lord, cursed William. Yet he consoled himself, while Guidon might no longer be the commerce city it once was, as long as the Mage and Knight Academies were here Guidon would survive.

At the Mage Academy, Elizabeth had become a celebrity. As the future Mrs. vont Ballard, every woman wanted to be her friend. She was hounded for details, about her fiancée's next innovation.

While Elizabeth was feeling the pressure in the Mage Academy, Kurosawa was busy seeing his lord's ideas become a reality.

Thankfully, he had a capable magic Lord, that could construct the most daunting building in days rather than months.

Kurosawa watched his Lord, build townhouses, the Valley A&M Academy, and the Silver Phoenix Racecourse.

Will named the Warrior's College, after his father-in-law. The library was named in honor of his master, And, the Farmer's College after his father.

Will modeled his racecourse after the Ascot Racecourse. By next summer, he would host his inaugural Royal Race Tournament.

With the edifices finished, it was much easier for construction workers and carpenters to complete the interior.

We will also build the first Silver Phoenix Airport on the banks of Friendship River. The Airport was a large two-story open building. Debarking passengers would have to visit the fort first, before crossing the bridge to Gadreel.

The first floor checked tickets and passenger manifests, the luggage carriers, the washroom, the passenger lounger, and the officer and staff quarters.

The roof only covered half the second story, and three large gangplanks, that could comfortably fit four large men standing shoulder to shoulder, with protective railing.

After Will finished he turned to Miles and asked, "These eight months have been rough on you, no?"

"Compared to our time in the military, this was about the speed as you reorganized the Quartermaster Command," Miles said.

"You were exceptional then, as your time here!" Will said.

"Boss Will, your Gadreel businesses are performing well. It was wise of you to place the racecourse near the casino!" Miles said.

"No, we were lucky no one bought that property. Remember schedule meets are the 3rd to 4th months, months 6th to 7th, and 9th to 10th months," Will said.

"Yes, Boss Will. And as instructed, I'll let you know the moment the capital's airport is complete," Miles said.

"How is Claud?" Will asked.

"He no longer calls you a crazed madman, sir," Miles smiled.

"Very well! Now, that's done, where is Kurosawa?" Will asked.

"In his office, Boss Will," Miles said.

"You know I've yet been to the Administration Building, I'll pay him a visit" Will chuckled knowing Kurosawa would be caught off guard.

"Farewell," Miles saluted.

"We are civilians again, saluting is not necessary. It's bad enough my employees address me as, 'Boss Will," Will said walking into the city, bypassing an endless line of migrants waiting to enter the city.

Since the arrival of the first migrants, Kurosawa had asked the guards to take names and offer identification cards.

With this, he could better enforce taxes and order.

Will walked through the streets, as he walked, he could feel the [Earth Gathering Array] helping to replenish his expended mana.

As he walked, the guards patrolling saluted him as he passed.

Various shop owners would greet him, offering free food or baked goods. They loved Will because he pay a silver coin for an apple-priced 2 coppers.

It was that magnanimity that earned him his populous respect. Other city lords, would take without paying, yet Will overpaid every time.

Will entered the central pentagon and walked straight into the Administration Building.

The various clerks' mouths dropped seeing him, Will kindly greeted each church before being led to Kurosawa's office by a plain-looking smug secretary and knocked on the door.

"I asked not to be disturbed! Who is it, and what's the emergency?" Kurosawa yelled.

"I'll come back later when your less busy," Will said.

"Master Will! I was not expecting you! Please forgive my insolence!" Kurosawa bowed deeply.

"What are you working on?" Will asked.

"Tomorrow's morning report," Kurosawa said sheepishly.

"Very well, how fares the city?" Will asked.

"The news of interest is that an Albanian silk merchant brought Mulberry seeds and silkworms. He purchased farmland and a storefront.

Next, with the last supply shipment, we've seen a further expansion in livestock in the territory. Our city has 22,000 chickens, 12,000 goats and sheep, and 10,000 pigs, and 28 cattle.

The farmers reported over a million bushels of wheat, cotton, and barley, and over a thousand bushels of rice, potatoes, maize, lettuce, peppers, greens, carrots, and other vegetables, shall be harvested in two months. Congratulations my lord, Gadreel is now the second-largest grain and largest cotton fief.

The farmers are also overjoyed to learn about the commoner's academy, as it's affectionately called by our local citizens.

Even with the withdrawal of the king's 30,000 troops, Gadreel still has a respectable 50,000 soldiers patrolling the city. Bubba has done well recruiting. You were correct to double the salary, sir.

With the large increase in population, I have worked tirelessly to fill divisions and departments with competent bureaucrats. If there was one weakness of this city, it would be the lack of competent officials," Kurosawa said rubbing his temples.

"Why the difficulty?" Will asked curiously.

"My Lord, most of the applicants are sons, or nephews looking to infiltrate your administration. Moreover, these nobles are lazy and egotistical, relying only on their family names to gain jobs," Kurosawa complained.

"Which families are causing the most trouble?" Will asked.

"The Sloan and Hernandes families," Kurosawa said.

"Then what is your suggestion?" Will asked.

"I suggest, we poach veteran bureaucrats, and clerks with higher pay," Kurosawa suggested.

"Indeed, I agree," Will said.

"Very well, I'll write to Vanessa and Mei, as well as some of my classmates," Kurosawa said.

"Anything else?" Will asked.

"There has been a large influx of Albanian immigrants, I suspect some spies infiltrated as well," Kurosawa said.

"That's fine, this is expected. I already wrote to Duke vont Khan and asked to build an airport outside the Albanian capital, Tirana. After all, Gadreel shall become a destination city.

"We've also had a few people from the Eastern Empire arriving as refugees, I suspect they are also spies," Kurosawa informed.

"Do your best to make sure the whole of Terra accepts refugees," Will said.

"Very well," Kurosawa said.

"Nisha, and I shall leave travel north to the Dwarven Kingdom. In my absence, I have full confidence, you'll manage the affairs of the territory well," Will said.

"Thank you, my Lord. Do you have any special instructions?" Kurosawa asked pointedly.

"Ah, you know me so well. Hold a thanking feast for the city employees at my restaurant. I'll pay for it. Afterward, you must rest one full day, or Ms. Park shall scold you," Will laughed

Will returned to the manor, passing many construction sites, along the bustling roads. Sounds of sawing, hammering, painting, singing, and laughter filled the air.

As Will walked he saw busy bakers, butchers, tailors, cobblers, chandlers, barbers, General stores, herbalists, and alchemist shops.

Outside when he constructed the airport, he saw busy farmers, millers, lumberjacks, lumber mills, and carpenters, everyone was working hard and enjoying their work.

Bubba's guards patrolled, the farmlands and woods, as well as the city.

Will watched as the wave of privatization grew and intensified in his city. Each new arrival of migrants, immigrants, or refugees increased property value. Even at half capacity real estate became a premium.

Across Fermion, almost 80% of loans the Silver Phoenix Bank and Trust processed were home loans.

The other 19% were business loans. The last 1%, were municipality loans. Of all his loans, the riskiest was the loan to Crown Prince Roland.

At any point, he could decide not to pay the loan, and Will would be out millions of dollars. Currently, the kingdom made regular payments. So Will's investment was safe for now.

In the future, he'd steer Crown Prince Roland and city lords to municipal bonds.

Just as Will, was about to enter the noble district he heard commoners speaking.

"As long as I can buy a house, the woman I fancy said she agree to marry me!" a young man said carrying construction materials.

"Still, a deposit of 40% is quite a lot, and the price of housing goes up every day!" the other young man said.

"I know, but I'm so close! I'm only five silvers away," he said excitedly.

That was 500 coppers, 16 days from now, if the price didn't rise, he'd have his house.

"Young man, Will called out. May Gaia blesses your family," Will said handing the man 10 silvers before entering the noble district.

"Bless you City Lord!" the young smiling man shouted, almost dropping his load.

When Will arrived at his manor, he went straight to the dining table.

"Master Will, these reports came just arrived you arrived," Michael said.

Kurosawa was surely a good worker. He thanked the king in his heart for introducing them to one another.

As Will ate his beef stew, he read Kurosawa's report covering mining, forestry, trapping and fishing, and animal breeding.

The dwarfs recently began their mining operation, and Kurosawa had a tire porter to bring the iron and other minerals to the city's treasury.

The forestry official hired 120 people to plant trees, clear brush, thin out overgrown areas, and remove deadwood from the forest to minimize the spread of forest fires.

The forest that used to push up against the southern wall of Gadreel was gone. The lumberjacks had cleared out hectares of forest to meet the Gadreel's construction needs.

Will knew how costly deforestation could be, and Will knew it was more inexpensive to plant trees now, than wait for the financial burden later.

Will knew deforestation happens to runoff from groundwater could deplete soil nutrients causing desertification

Already over 20,000 trees this month had already been planted. A hundred and twenty people planting 10 trees a day resulted in a financial net loss because planting trees cost more than cutting down trees. To save money,

Will ordered the Forestry Department to package the deadwood as firewood for five coppers a bundle. Since electricity did not exist, firewood was used to heat stoves and warm houses. There would be a never-ending demand for firewood.

Each fisherman was limited to 20 river fish a day. Also, hunters could kill any animal except doe elk and deer.

For animal breeding, it listed the number of pregnant goats, sheep, pigs, and cattle. The report also detailed the number of refs collected in the past month.

'Slowly,' Will thought. The title Friendship Valley would replace Death Valley.

When I return to Gadreel, next year this city shall be completely different.

With the Prince's infrastructure plan well underway, the economy balanced, and people began having more money than expenses. More and more people started buying long overdue purchases and/or depositing their money in savings account.

Customers had also started borrowing bank loans. This created a virtuous circle, with an increase in new saving accounts and loans.

Moreover, his casino, cafe, and General store also increased in profit. Bicycles, marbles, and backgammon sales shot up.

Will did not plan to return to Gadreel until after his third auction. After New Year, the two-year contracts on his games would expire. Will licked his lips not from the stew, but from things about the piles of coin he earn. He had a surprise in store for his next auction.