Miguel looked closely at the potatoes on the table, pondering the next stage of the negotiations. He knew he needed to better understand what was being offered before making a definitive offer. With a sense of determination, he decided to risk a request.

"With all due respect," Miguel began, addressing the council, "before making a definite offer, I would like to see the 'soft stone' plantations. I want to better understand how you grow them and the quality of what we are trading. This will also help me evaluate how we can adapt such crops in our barony."

Miguel's request caused the council members to exchange glances with each other, clearly pondering the request. The fox, Lysandra, looked suspicious, her ears raising with cautious interest. The deer, with its calm and thoughtful gaze, remained silent but attentive. The lion, Ruidahr, stood impassive, watching every reaction.

The silence lasted for a few moments until Grimnir, the black bear, broke the tension. "I don't see a problem in showing him the crops," Grimnir said in his deep voice. "If he wants to better understand what we're offering, it's a reasonable request."

Brother Boromir, the priest, nodded in agreement. "I agree with Grimnir. Showcasing our plantations can help build trust and transparency in our dealings. We have nothing to hide."

Finally, all eyes turned to Ruidahr. The lion was silent for a few more seconds, reflecting on Miguel's request. "Very well," Ruidahr said at last. "We can allow you to see the plantations. Transparency is essential to establish mutual trust. We will lead them there."

Miguel felt relief mixed with a new wave of anxiety. He had gotten the permission he needed, but he knew there was still much to prove. He nodded gratefully. "Thank you very much. It means a lot to me and my people."

With that, everyone began to stand up. Miguel watched as the council members prepared to leave the hall, each with their own distinct characteristics and presences. Grimnir led the way, his heavy strides echoing across the stone floor. Ruidahr, with his majestic posture, followed closely. Lysandra, still suspicious, kept a little behind, while the deer moved with a natural elegance, observing everything around her.

Ricardo, the soldiers, and Lila followed Miguel, each of them showing a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. Ricardo gave a light touch on Miguel's shoulder, a gesture of silent support. "Let's see what they have to show us," he muttered.

Miguel nodded, leading his group behind the beastmen. He felt the importance of this moment, aware that every step they took was crucial to building the bridge of trust necessary to save his barony.

As they left the hall and made their way through the corridors of the walled city, Miguel could not help but feel a mixture of wonder and curiosity. The architecture, the people, and the way everything seemed organized was impressive. He knew there was much to learn from the beastmen, and this visit to the plantations would be just the beginning.

As he stepped out into the daylight, Miguel felt the warmth of the sun on his skin and took a deep breath. He was ready for whatever came next, determined to do everything in his power to ensure the survival of his people and maybe, just maybe, build a future where humans and beastmen could coexist in peace and prosperity.

***

Miguel and his entourage, accompanied by the members of the council of beastmen, arrived at the plantations. The field that stretched out ahead was vast and impressive. Rows and rows of vegetables grew in fertile, well-tended soil. Miguel recognized potatoes—or "soft stones," as the beastmen called them—growing in abundance. But it wasn't just potatoes. He also identified carrots, lettuce, and other familiar vegetables from his homeland.

The view was breathtaking. The field was a tapestry of color and life, with the vibrant green of the leaves contrasting with the dark, rich soil. Miguel had never seen a plantation so well organized and so vast. The care and technique involved in cultivation was evident, and he couldn't help but feel impressed.

Grimnir, the black bear, began to explain. "Here, we grow our vegetables using techniques that have been passed down to us for generations. Our fields are blessed with fertile soil and ideal climatic conditions. Due to the abundance of crops, we face a different kind of problem: food inflation. We have far more vegetables than we can consume, and so we have huge stocks."

Miguel listened attentively, absorbing every word. The idea of having a surplus of food was almost unimaginable to him, given the state of scarcity his barony was in. "How do you deal with this food inflation?" he asked, genuinely curious.

Grimnir nodded, continuing. "Luckily, these soft stones and other vegetables are very resistant to time and the environment. We can store them for long periods without them spoiling. But still, we face the challenge of finding ways to use or distribute that excess efficiently."

Miguel looked around, admiring the beauty and organization of the field. "This is incredible," he said, impressed. "In my barony, we are struggling to get enough food. To see something like this is... inspirational. There is so much we can learn from you."

Ricardo, who was next to Miguel, also seemed fascinated. "Maybe we can adapt some of these cultivation techniques in our own soil. That could make a huge difference."

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The soldiers accompanying Miguel were equally impressed. Some of them, who had experience with agriculture, observed the plantations with interest, probably thinking about the possibilities of implementing such practices on their own lands.

As they walked through the field, Grimnir pointed out different areas of cultivation and explained the particularities of each vegetable. Miguel asked questions, eager to learn more. Grimnir's every answer only increased his admiration for the efficiency and skill of beastmen in agriculture.

However, while observing the plantations, something on the horizon caught Miguel's attention. It was a distant construction, partially hidden by the relief of the terrain, but still visible. He couldn't discern exactly what it was, but the presence of that structure intrigued him.

"Grimnir," said Miguel, pointing to the construction on the horizon. "What's that?"

Grimnir followed Miguel's gaze and seemed to ponder for a moment before answering. "It is a project that we started, but unfortunately we are not able to finish. It's something that has proven to be complex, more difficult than we expected."

Miguel's curiosity was immediately aroused. He had experience as an engineer in his past life and was eager to see what could be causing so much trouble. "Can I go see?" he asked, trying to hide the excitement in his voice.

Grimnir looked at the other members of the council. Ruidahr, Lysandra, and Boromir exchanged glances, clearly pondering the request. Finally, Ruidahr nodded slowly. "Very well, we can let you see the project."

Miguel felt a mixture of relief and enthusiasm. "Thank you."

With that, everyone began to prepare to leave the field and head towards the mysterious construction.

***

Miguel and his entourage, accompanied by the representatives of the beastmen, walked towards the building that had captured Miguel's attention. As they approached, the structure began to take shape: it was an archaic attempt to build a windmill. The structure of wood and stone, with its immense blades that rose to the sky, had an air of majesty and at the same time of incompleteness.

"This is... a windmill?" murmured Miguel, more to himself than to the others, but loud enough to be heard.

Grimnir, the black bear, who was standing next to Miguel, frowned and asked, "What is a windmill?"

Miguel realized that the beastmen did not have a specific term for what they were trying to build. "A windmill is a structure that uses wind energy to grind grain or pump water. It's a very efficient way to accomplish these tasks without relying on intensive manual labor."

Grimnir's eyes widened with interest. "So, that's what we're trying to do. Finding more efficient ways to grind grain." He paused and pointed to the deer that was a little behind. "The idea was his, after a lot of trial and error."

Miguel turned to the deer, who stepped forward and looked at Miguel before starting to speak. "We have tried different methods to grind our beans more efficiently. This one looked the most promising."

The deer, noticing Miguel's curiosity and knowledge, introduced himself. "I'm Elnar, I'm sorry I didn't perform earlier. We had several ideas, but unfortunately, for some reason, this construction is not working as we hoped."

Miguel approached the structure, analyzing it with an experienced eye. He could see that the construction had potential, but there were minor inconsistencies and errors that could be preventing it from functioning. "Can I take a closer look? Maybe I can help identify the problem."

Elnar hesitated for a moment, but Miguel's sincere and curious look convinced him. "Of course, come with me," he said, leading the group toward the heart of the structure.

As they moved, Miguel observed the details of the mill. The structure was solid, but he noticed some points that could be adjusted to improve efficiency. When they reached the base of the mill, he saw the complexity of the internal mechanism: gears, shafts, and the huge blades that were supposed to catch the wind.

"You have done a great job here," said Miguel, admiring the efforts of the beastmen. "But I think I see some points where things can be adjusted. We can try a few simple fixes to get started."

Elnar looked relieved. "We thank you for your help. But do you have any experience with this type of construction?" Elnar asked when he saw the curiosity and experience in Miguel's speech.

Miguel smiled and looked directly at Elnar. "Well, let's just say I've read a lot about construction in my lifetime."

***

Miguel was concentrating on analyzing the structure of the archaic windmill. The construction was immense, measuring between 10 and 16 meters in length and with a diameter of about 7 meters. He walked around, observing every detail with a critical and knowledgeable eye.

Upon examining the gears, Miguel realized that they were well made, an impressive work of rudimentary engineering. However, one of the problems he quickly identified was in the material used to build the gears and the main structure. It was a dense and heavy wood, similar to oak. He knew that this would require significant wind power to make the mechanism rotate efficiently.

Another obvious problem was the lack of lubrication in the gears. Miguel could see where the friction was wearing down the material, creating resistance and preventing the smooth movement of the parts. He made some mental notes about possible solutions to this problem.

In addition, the mill blades, although light, were extremely fragile. He could see where they were starting to wear down and break under the constant pressure of the wind. They would need a more durable material that can withstand natural forces without deteriorating rapidly.

Miguel straightened up and looked at the representatives of the beastmen, who were anxiously waiting for his evaluation. "The structure is impressive," he began, with a tone of genuine admiration. "But I can see some problems that are preventing it from functioning."

The eyes of the beastmen were fixed on him, full of curiosity and hope. "The main problem is the material used in the gears and the main structure," explained Miguel. "The wood you are using is very heavy, which requires a very large wind force to turn the gears. In addition, the lack of lubricant is creating friction and wear, making movement even more difficult."

He paused, gesturing to the mill blades. "And the blades, although light, are very fragile. They wear out quickly and cannot withstand the constant pressure of the wind."

Miguel took a deep breath before continuing. "I believe I may have a solution to make this giant grinder work. We can use lighter and more durable materials for the gears and structure, as well as implement a proper lubrication system. And for the blades, we can use a stronger material that can withstand the forces of the wind without wearing out quickly."

The representatives of the beastmen looked at each other, processing the information and considering Miguel's suggestions. The silence was almost palpable as they pondered the proposal.