The Ashenfell family was granted the title of Duke by King Arthur II—who also happened to be Arthur Jr.'s grandfather. Unlike the Dukedom of Luke, renowned for its knights, the Dukedom of Ashenfell specialized in magic. Their forces were primarily composed of mages, and they were considered a powerhouse in the production of magical artifacts and potions in Keldoria.

Upon hearing the revelation about the mastermind behind the assassination attempt, Richard was struck with disbelief. His voice faltered as he repeated the name, "Ashenfell?"

Arthur nodded, his expression calm but firm. "Yes, Richard. The Dukedom of Ashenfell."

Richard took a deep breath, struggling to make sense of Arthur's words. He finally spoke, his voice laced with caution. "Your Majesty, I would gladly assist you, but as you know, my soldiers have just returned from a grueling battle against Elysia. To mobilize them again and wage war against Ashenfell—"

Arthur raised a hand, cutting him off. His voice was calm but firm, carrying the weight of conviction. "Richard, I don't need your army for this. The reason I waited for you to finish your battle wasn't to enlist your troops to fight Ashenfell."

Still puzzled, Richard frowned. "Then, Your Highness, what do you need me for?"

Arthur leaned forward slightly, his gaze steady. "What I need is your support—your agreement to stand with me when I confront Duke David, the head of the Ashenfell family. I've already sent an invitation for him to meet me here. Based on the timing, I expect him to arrive tomorrow or the day after."

Richard's eyebrows rose in surprise. "If I may ask, Your Majesty, why not punish the Dukedom of Ashenfell outright? You have evidence of their treachery, and an attempt on the king's life is punishable by death for the entire family and their descendants."

Arthur tilted his head slightly, his expression thoughtful. "Yes, I could impose punishment on them, and I would be justified in doing so. But consider this—would such an action truly benefit Keldoria? Would it solve more problems than it creates? The answer, I believe, is no."

Arthur straightened, his tone measured but resolute. "If I were to punish the entire Dukedom, the people who would suffer most wouldn't be Ashenfell, but the ordinary citizens of Keldoria. You see, Richard, while we have many local businesses and alchemists producing potions and magical artifacts, the Dukedom of Ashenfell is responsible for more than 35% of our total production. Their network spans the kingdom, creating jobs, facilitating trade, and ensuring a steady supply of essential goods.

"Waging war against them would leave a massive void—one that would take years to fill. Hundreds or maybe thousands would lose their livelihoods, and the economy would falter in ways that would ripple across Keldoria. That is not a price I am willing to pay, not when there is another way."

Arthur's voice softened, but his resolve remained clear. "My goal isn't destruction, Richard. It's a reform. I will confront Duke David, not with the sword but with terms. He must acknowledge his actions, take responsibility, and reform the Dukedom's practices. Should he refuse, I will act decisively—but if he complies, we may yet turn a potential disaster into an opportunity for progress."

Richard's thoughts churned as Arthur's plan became clear. So Arthur doesn't need my army to battle Ashenfell, but my influence to pressure Duke David into agreeing to his terms. I wonder just how harsh those terms will be, given that they tried to assassinate him. Still, it's remarkable that Arthur is able to set aside personal pride for the greater good of Keldoria's citizens and their future. Truly, this is a king unlike any I've known.

He nodded thoughtfully and said, "Your Majesty, thank you for opening my mind to the bigger picture. I will support you fully in ensuring Ashenfell agrees to your terms."

Arthur inclined his head in appreciation. "Thank you, Richard. Your understanding and support mean a great deal. You've had a long journey—take some rest. We can continue our discussions later."

Richard acknowledged the king's words with a respectful bow before leaving the great hall.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Once Richard was gone, Arthur turned to Klein. "Now that we've dealt with the King's Council, it's time to take action against the other officials. We cannot allow any more rot within the kingdom's administration."

Klein bowed deeply, his expression resolute. "Consider it done, Your Majesty." Without another word, he left to carry out Arthur's orders.

Now alone in the vast, silent great hall, Arthur allowed his thoughts to wander. Richard properly understood what I needed from him—his influence, not his army. Now, I should check on how the Nitre Bed project is progressing.

With purpose in his stride, Arthur left the great hall and made his way to the horse farm, where he had assigned a team to develop the Nitre Bed project. This initiative, designed to collect nitrate-rich materials from animal waste for gunpowder production, was a cornerstone of Arthur's broader plans to strengthen Keldoria's self-reliance and defenses.

As Arthur approached the farm, Clint, one of the key members responsible for the Nitre Bed project, hurried over to greet him, bowing respectfully. "Your Majesty, what brings you here today?"

Arthur offered a faint smile. "It has been nearly three months since I assigned you and the others to work on the Nitre Bed project. I came to check on the progress."

Clint nodded, "We've been following your instructions closely, Your Majesty. We've been collecting urine from both animals and the palace residents, mixing it with manure and organic materials, and moisturizing the pits daily as you commanded."

Arthur's eyes sparkled with approval. "Good. Show me the progress—I want to see it firsthand."

Clint nodded and turned, leading Arthur toward the site. As they walked, Arthur's mind drifted back to his life on Earth, recalling the same method used to produce potassium nitrate in medieval time, an essential component of gunpowder. On Earth, this technique had been a practical solution when natural sources were rare or depleted. Here in Keldoria, finding potassium nitrate was even more challenging since no one knew or heard of it. Charcoal was readily available, and sulfur, while more difficult, could still be sourced with effort. Which was why Arthur had initiated this project to make potassium nitrate.

As they neared the pits, an unpleasant, pungent smell filled the air, making Arthur wrinkle his nose momentarily. But he had expected this. This stench is inevitable, he thought. After all, the main ingredients are animal manure, human urine, wood ash, and other organic matter.

Clint glanced at Arthur apologetically. "The smell can be overwhelming, Your Majesty."

Arthur waved him off. "It's a small price to pay for progress. Lead on."

Soon, they reached the heart of the operation—a series of large, stone-lined pits filled with layers of animal manure, wood ash, straw, and organic waste. Workers moved methodically, some turning the materials to ensure proper aeration while others prepared containers of urine to pour into the pits. Despite the stench, Arthur stepped closer, inspecting the setup with keen interest.

"Are you about to pour the urine into this pit now?" Arthur asked, pointing to a particularly large pile.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Clint replied. "This is the last pit for the day. We've already moistened the others."

Arthur nodded, watching as workers carefully poured the liquid over the mixture. "Good. Maintaining the right moisture level is crucial. Remember, the process relies on bacterial activity, which thrives in damp, aerated conditions."

Clint tilted his head curiously. "Your Majesty, if I may ask, how does this work exactly? I mean, how does pouring urine into poo make the thing you call potassium nitrate?"

Arthur smiled slightly, appreciating Clint's curiosity. "It's a natural chemical process. The bacteria in the organic materials break down nitrogen-rich compounds from the urine and manure, producing nitrates. These nitrates combine with potassium from the wood ash to form potassium nitrate. By keeping the mixture moist and turning it regularly, we ensure the reaction proceeds efficiently."

Arthur noticed Clint's furrowed brow and the subtle hint of confusion in his expression. Realizing that the concept of chemical compounds and processes is unfamiliar in this world, Arthur softened his approach.

"Well," Arthur said with a reassuring smile, "you don't need to worry about the intricate details of how it works. Just think of it as nature doing its job when we give it the right conditions. Your role is to ensure the pits stay moist, well-aerated, and properly maintained. If you follow the process, the results will come naturally."

Clint's face eased into a look of understanding and relief. "I see, Your Majesty. We'll make sure everything is done as you've instructed."

Arthur nodded, pleased with the response. "Good. Keep me informed of your progress. If you notice anything unusual, report it immediately. This project is critical for the kingdom's future."

As Arthur turned to leave, he paused, letting his gaze sweep over the organized chaos of workers tending to the pits, the scattered materials, and the diligent activity around him. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he thought to himself, The process is progressing well. If everything continues at this pace, in two to four weeks, we should be able to produce potassium nitrate crystals. With that, the foundation for creating gunpowder will be in place.

He folded his arms, his mind racing with plans. Next, I need to ensure the search teams intensify their efforts to locate sulfur deposits. If they can find yellow stones or any traces of sulfur, we'll be one step closer to achieving what I've envisioned. Gunpowder will change everything—our defenses, our offense, and even our trade capabilities.