Completed projects

After doing the planning, Artys visited the land near Runestone and convinced a clever farmer named Gunther to implement the four-field system and try to convince other acquaintances to do the same. Of course, at this point the shadow espionage and anti-espionage network was already in place to prevent the implemented changes from being disseminated to enemies.

A few days later Artys decided to leave the Castle and meet Gunther to see how he and the land he worked on was doing. Gunther was hard at work, not only tending the fields, but also spreading the idea of ​​the four-field system to the other farmers. It was only a few days, but he managed to convince three of his friends to implement this system in the fields they tended. It seems that Artys didn't have much to do with the spread of the system. Gunther was well connected with many of the peasants in House Royce's territory.

All Artys had to do was sit back and let his competent underlings spread the industrial and agricultural innovations he had already set in motion. For the remaining month, he would spend his time and energy showing off his 'training' and building relationships with the locals.

As the month wore on, Artys found himself spending most of his days 'exercising' and getting acquainted with his subjects. By this time, the common folk of Runestone were mostly aware of their humble and righteous nature. He found himself spending some of his free time helping the villagers. Every day for lunch, he ate among the common people at the local bakery. Under his direction, the local baker and butcher have teamed up to create a booming local diner in business.

Artys had to admit, inventing the sandwich was one of his best ideas. It was a cheap and healthy option for villagers to get together and eat when they had the opportunity. The more time passed, the more he added to the culinary culture of the Royce lands. Instructing chefs on how to make schnitzel, spaetzle and other common German foods that were iconic in their former life. It wasn't simply a matter of advancing technology; he would have to bring a new era of culture with him if he was to realize his goals for the land his family ruled over.

During this period, Artys gained the trust of the castle's servants and the common folk.

From time to time Artys checked the progress Gunther and Axel had made, and was pleased with the results. Progress on the Beehive furnaces, the blast furnace and the Bessemer converter was going well. By the end of the month, they would be complete. The same can be said about the four-field system; with Gunther's support and Artys' growing reputation, House Royce would have a harvest of four fields this year.

***

After finishing his morning shower, Artys entered the dining room to eat his morning meal with his beloved family. However, Andar was conspicuously absent from the occasion. He had ventured to Gulltown to visit his fiancée. This allowed Artys a break from the constant intrigue battles he secretly fought with his brother backstage. He was aware that Andar was preparing an assassination attempt and his visit to Gulltown involved that purpose. With Lord Grafton backing Andar's plan to eliminate him, he would soon make another attempt.

The conversation at the breakfast table was delicious now that he didn't have to deal with Andar trying to affect his family's opinion of him. His father was very proud of the results of his 'training'.

Artys went ahead with his plans for the day. Axel was supposed to have completed the designs by now, and as such, after finishing his meal and being dismissed, Artys went to town and visited the area where Axel had built the devices.

Looking at a series of beehive ovens that were already ablaze cooking coal mined from the mountains into coke, a wide smile spread across Artys' face. As he admired the small industrial sector that had rapidly sprung up the previous month, Axel slipped behind the young lord and patted him on the shoulder.

"Milord, as you can see, we have completed your projects and have already started the process of creating the first batch of steel!"

Artys looked at the small industrial sector built by the river and saw that the blast furnace, which was powered by a water wheel, was already producing pig iron. The beehive furnaces produced the coke, which was then used to fuel the blast furnace to create molten pig iron, which was sent to the Bessemer converter to create steel!

Everything was flowing like a well-oiled machine; it wouldn't be long before they produced their first batch of steel, which they could use for other projects.

Artys smiled as he clapped Axel on the back in a friendly gesture.

"Axel my friend, you really outdid yourself!"