Winter coming

"Rehmer, sir, you have a missive." Told a guild employee when he found his boss, holding a small rolled message.

Nodding in thank, Rehmer unrolled the courier pigeon message. Reading the short text from Tiris, he was stumped for a second. Still, he processed to warn the concerned parties.

The following morning, a group of five guild employee send off to Tiris. Among them was Rehmer, curious as to what Alex seems to have already constructed. Rob, another employee, charged with the finance of the guild. He was here to erect the secondary contract and fix the final price of the project.

The remaining three were employee charged to prospect and contact the necessary Familia houses and land through Orario.

After the event of Tiris, a large part of the guild had remarked the frequent travel Eina had done and turned curious when Rehmer himself moved. When he learned that the guild had contracted someone to repair the outposts, Rob had been dubious. He knew that no Familia would send workers their useless sky-high remuneration from the deals with them.

When he learned that a third party made it, is opinion was divided. On one side, taking someone outside Orario was bound to be way cheaper than those greedy crafters. On the other hand, the third party was unknown. While he trusts Rehmer decision, he asked to come to make sure not to be ripped off.

If they were as good had he heard, that may be an opportunity for the guild to have a contract under the hand for menial tasks. He would ensure that both parties are correctly recompensated; after all, it was his job, not Rehmer one.

~~~

"Are you sure it was a good idea?" Asked Rob as they rode through the forest toward the newly outpost. "They needed seven days, just for one. While it was not too long, I can't say they worked fast for a simple wooden structure. Winter will be here in a little more than two months and a half. If a single outpost needed ten days, that would be around a month for the three and perhaps another one for the larger outpost.

They may be finished before the snowfall, but if they aren't, that will leave the settlement vulnerable, and nothing would be finished before spring. Tiris can't afford to stay without its main outpost during the winter... What is this?!" Suddenly screamed Rob, seeing the large building at the place of the last outpost. "When did we agree for a bloody house!"

Rob anger could be easily understood; while the guild would pay, they don't have the time to play around. The last outpost was constructed on a twenty metres square base. The building they had in front of them was at least three time its size.

All four others were also stunned to see the construction. Rehmer shooked his head in disbelief, not thinking Alex would go this far after been given free rein on the project.

"Well, at least the building seems sturdy." Commented one of the three employees.

Catching the form of Alex storing some crate on a cart, Rehmer, followed by Rob and the three employees, goes at his encounter.

~~~

"I wasn't expecting something like this when we contracted you, Alexander." Say, Rehmer, attracting Alex attention, even if he had already heard them. "I was surprised to hear that you only finished yesterday, but seeing the building' size, seven days are rather short." Say him while shaking his hand.

"four and a half." Corrected Alex. "I needed three days to gather the tree, clear a path for a small carry of rocks, and bring them here." Said him while pointing at the large opening made in the wood behind his back.

When they heard him, all five looked at him and the pathway, shocked.

'If he isn't lying, then this is a gold mine!' Though Rob, looking back at the outpost. Such a creation In only a week was mindblowing. "Where are the rest of the team? I would rather speak of the contract with everyone." Said him, regaining a professional attitude.

"Team? I work alone, though." Say Alex lost why the man would think he wasn't alone to build the outpost.

Again the group was shocked; such a large building constructed in seven days with a single man? That was completely out of proportion.

"My bad, I forget to tell you, Rob. It as Alexander say, only he was contracted. We would provide the concrete, and he would take care of the materials, tear the past building and re-construct." Saif Rehmer still overwhelmed by his prowess.

"Should I give you a tour?" Asked Alex. The two men nodded while the three others immediatly started to look around and start their evaluation.

~~~

The following hour sends the two from shock to awe and wonder. Rehmer expected it to be made of wood, knowing how hard it would be to carry a large amount of rock here, but Alex solution had utterly blown his mind. The kid just cut straight into the wood until a large cluster of stones to use.

When they learned that he used the last outpost from goblins, they became even more joyful. With direct access, the goblins would be more inclined to use it, making the defence of the settlement easier. Easier because they would see them coming and could even monitor them before even that.

When they witness the living quarter, they were stumped by the luxury. If needed, the guild could easily double the number of guards. All they would need to do was change the single bed into bunk beds. Even the small bathrooms were unbelievable to them. While they would be a little cramped to eat, the outpost had turned into a veritable small fortified place.

With the meter high wall raised all around the building, the guards would have enough time to prepare for an assault. It wouldn't protect them from stronger monsters, but lesser? This post could be what would a day turn Tiris from a settlement to a small town.

If this were the case, this would spread the guild influence further in the wildland.

Rehmer and the rest of the employees could easily see this. Alex had delivered way more than an outpost; he gives the guild a possibility.

~~~

After their inspection, the team dressed their report for the guild while informing Rob of the result.

"This building would stand for years. If nothing happened and kept in good condition, I wouldn't be surprised to see it standing tall in a century. The walls are made with thick stones, protected by a generous layer of concrete. The installations are simple and would be easy to fix. The pieces of furniture are sturdy and would see the years pass without a problem."

"How much do you estimate the amount of the project?"

"For the building in itself? Two million per floors. The amenities another million and a half. The real kick its the heating system; this had never been seen before. While we had some similar one for the roman Familia, this one had been brought further. The air vents would distribute the heat on all the floor if needed and keep the interior cool during the summer. In good consciousness, we can't add less than two million just for it; the work needed was too large. The stable and furbished woods are another one and a half million. Had to that another million for the wall surrounding the building."

"So twelves million?" Frowned Rob.

"Seems right to us. Had it be in Orario, you would need easily another zero at the end, depending on the location."

"Yes, that seems correct. As the materials had been provided, I think we could found an accord on fifteen million per outpost?" Said him while turning to Alex, who nodded back." We would need to see for the larger, but I think we could easily start with the double." Mubble Rob to himself while pulling out the pre-made contract. Filling in the left blank, both he and Alex poured over before signing.

With this, Alex would receive thirty-five million five hundred thousand Valis first. At the end of the project, the second half of the payment would be pay and any additional need for the larger. If Alex were to complete the project before winter, the guild was willing to pay an extra 10% as a bonus.

~~~

After the group left to Tiris to send the completed outpost news for the guards to return to it, Alex led his cart to the next outpost.

During the following week, Alex would rapidly tear through the task. With the goblins post nearby, Alex wouldn't lack rocks to build the structure, possessing already enough wood. With a part of the materials already with him, he didn't need to waste three days entire days in prep work again.

Barely a month after starting, all three smaller outposts were running. Left with more than enough time, Alex began to work on the last outpost.

With a similar structure, Alex just needed to double the surface. The only change was a second stable, to the other side. The wood storage was put at the back of the house along another door leading directly to it.

Contrary to the other three, Alex needed ten full days to construct the building.

Like the first time, the team appears the following morning. Even by knowing Alex was a capable builder, they were still awed by the fact that he constructed the four outposts alone. With a little less than fifty days to spare, all outpost around Tiris had been re-made and upgraded beyond expectation.

With his work done, Alex received the fifteen million outposts, along with the forty million for the last building. Added to those eighty-five million, the guild deliver an eight million five hundred thousand Valis bonus as per the contract.

The price may seem high, but the guild dealt with larger exchange every day. Unlike the other outposts in other settlements, those would see decades before starting to rot away. The guild wasn't aware that Alex used enchantments to protect the wood of the structure. If nothing happens, those would still stand in a century and a half without a problem.

Compared to this, the building was cheaps.

~~~

Now free from any project, Alex raised a small hut at the large ironwood tree's feet. He had warned that the area was were the largest of the horde have been. Knowing this, Rehmer was grateful for Alex willingness to stay that close and kept an eye. Thus he obtains the green light without a problem, and if some ironwood were to be harvested, the guild would turn blind eyes as long as he kept it for himself.

As it would only be temporary, the hut had was barely six-metre square. Made on a 2*3 configuration, Alex had just a bed at the far end wall, a small space to walk and a small kitchen facing the bed. As the room was small, he would just need to light the kitchen fireplace to heat the place.

If the settlement people were to learn that he was living in such frugality, most would be shocked. After all, why live in a small room when he can construct a house in a few days?

But it didn't matter to Alex. Needing barely a few hours, he also raised a small smith on the side. Eruger had wanted to gift some coals to Alex when he heard his plan, by Alex refused and used the one present in the old nest. As Alex wouldn't stay here all his life, hoarding money had little value, so he would gather as much as possible before buying a bulk of materials once in the labyrinth city. He would also participate in the economy in returning the money.

Around a month before winter's estimate start, the temperature had already fallen under the two-digit on the positive scale.