Miguel and his entourage returned safely to the barony after nearly a week of traveling to the volcano's slope. During the journey, Miguel reflected on the barony's infrastructure. He knew he was far from being able to build railways, but the vast, flat terrain was perfect for roads. For now, he decided to build roads connecting the nearby villages and even to the border with the land of the beastmen. However, the idea of constructing railways for resource transportation remained in his mind. For that, he would need something truly revolutionary in this world: a motor.

Back in his office, Miguel worked on the sketch of the plow he had promised to build. The irrigation system was still in planning, and he knew he would have to deal with the nearby river, which had many trees around it. He finished the plow sketch, satisfied with the progress. Now, he needed to talk to Arthur and Marcus. During the days he had been away, the two seemed to have finished the prototype of the automatic crossbow.

Miguel left his office, closely followed by Ricardo. They walked through the mansion's corridors, greeting the servants and guards along the way. As they passed by the storage room, Miguel paused for a moment to observe the hundreds of sacks of volcanic ash they had collected. The sight filled him with satisfaction and hope for the future of the barony.

"Let's go, Ricardo," said Miguel with determination. "We have a lot to do."

Ricardo nodded, accompanying the baron to the stable. They mounted their horses, ready to head to the town. The sound of hooves echoed through the courtyard as they advanced toward the main gates.

The road to the town was busier than usual, with residents and soldiers working on improvements and constructions. Miguel waved to some of them, receiving respectful greetings in return. The presence of the beastmen helped maintain order and security, and Miguel felt that his decision to form an alliance was starting to bear fruit.

As they rode, Miguel and Ricardo discussed the next steps. "We need to check on the preparations for building the wall next," said Miguel. "And also ensure that Arthur and Marcus have everything they need to finalize the crossbow prototype."

Ricardo agreed, his expression serious. "Yes, my lord. I will closely supervise to ensure everything is in order."

The town was in sight, with its simple but sturdy buildings, and the constant movement of people working and talking. Miguel knew that much work still needed to be done, but he felt optimistic about the progress. The collaboration between humans and beastmen was a sign that significant changes were on the way.

Upon arriving in the town, Miguel and Ricardo dismounted their horses and headed towards Arthur's blacksmith shop. They were eager to see the progress of the crossbow prototype and discuss the next projects. The feeling that they were building something important for the future of the barony gave them the energy needed to continue.

As they walked through the streets, Miguel felt a mix of pride and responsibility. He knew that his role as a leader was crucial for everyone's well-being and was determined to do his best. Ricardo, by his side, shared the same commitment and confidence in the future.

Arthur's blacksmith shop was just ahead, and Miguel knew that the hard work and dedication of the past days were about to show their results.

Miguel arrived at the blacksmith shop and found Arthur focused on his work, placing a sharp steel tip on one of the arrows Marcus had created for the crossbow. Noticing the baron's presence, Arthur and his son, Benjamin, stopped what they were doing to greet him.

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"Good morning, my lord," said Arthur, with a respectful nod. Benjamin smiled shyly beside his father.

"Good morning, Arthur, Benjamin," replied Miguel, returning the greeting with a warm smile. "Is everything ready?"

Arthur nodded, visibly proud. "Yes, sir. Marcus and I decided to place the crossbow near the west wall, outside. Some guards and beastmen are keeping an eye on it."

Miguel smiled, pleased with the news. "Then let's go see it, my friend."

The three began walking towards the location where the crossbow was installed. As they walked through the town's streets, Miguel observed his surroundings attentively. He noticed how all the roads and streets were dirt, easily turning into mud during rain. This was a significant problem that he needed to solve quickly, speeding up the construction of paved roads.

The simple houses of the residents were lined along the streets, with children playing outside and adults engaged in their daily activities. The presence of the beastmen working alongside the humans was an encouraging sign of the cooperation Miguel was promoting.

As they approached the west wall, Miguel could see the imposing figure of the crossbow installed on an elevated platform. Barony guards and beastmen were around, watching closely and discussing among themselves.

"We're almost there," said Arthur, pointing to the crossbow. "Marcus did an excellent job on the woodwork, and the arrows we created are quite efficient."

Miguel felt a wave of pride upon seeing the result of his team's joint efforts. He knew that this innovation would be a crucial step in strengthening the barony's defenses and ensuring everyone's safety.

The three men continued walking, with Miguel feeling a mix of excitement and anticipation for what he was about to see. The automatic crossbow was just the beginning of a series of innovations he planned to implement, and each step taken towards this future filled him with hope.

When they finally arrived at the site, Miguel could see up close the ingenuity and hard work that had been dedicated to the crossbow's construction. He paused for a moment, absorbing the sight of the machine that represented the future of his barony.

"Let's see what this marvel is capable of," said Miguel, with a determined smile.

Miguel inspected the crossbow, and it was magnificent, exactly as he had sketched it. The robust and well-finished structure reflected Arthur and Marcus's effort and skill. Beside him, Marcus was present, with a satisfied smile, while Arthur watched with pride.

"Both of you did a great job," said Miguel sincerely. "Arthur, you made some parts with metal, and Marcus, the body of the crossbow is perfect."

The crossbow was mounted on a wooden stand with wooden wheels, an improvised solution by Marcus to facilitate transport. Miguel ran his hand over the structure, feeling the texture and solidity of the material. He was impressed with the functionality of the design.

"I made this stand and the wheels to make the crossbow easier to transport," explained Marcus, pointing to the ingenious movement system.

Miguel nodded, admiring. "It's a brilliant idea."

Marcus then showed the compartment where the arrows would be placed. After each shot, the next arrow would roll down by gravity. Next to the crossbow, a lever allowed the string to be cocked for the next shot, making the process efficient and quick. He also showed that the crossbow has an aiming system that allows it to turn in any direction quickly while on the stand.

"Let's test it," said Miguel, eager to see the crossbow in action.

They positioned six wooden targets 200 meters away. Miguel volunteered to take the first shot. He prepared himself, leaned on the structure, and aimed carefully. The lever was relatively light due to the oil lubrication, making the movement easy.

When he pulled the trigger, the arrow shot out at high speed, emitting a whistle that quickly faded away. After a few seconds, it hit the target accurately.

"That was fast," said Miguel, surprised by the speed.

"I used a lighter wood for the arrows and lubricated the firing barrel with oil," explained Marcus. "That helped increase the firing speed."

Miguel pulled the lever again, cocking the crossbow for the next shot. He repeated the process, hitting the second wooden target with the same accuracy. With each reload, the lever slid smoothly, allowing a quick reload of four seconds between each shot.

He continued until he hit all the remaining targets, each one struck with impressive precision. The soldiers and beastmen watching the demonstration were visibly impressed, murmuring among themselves about the effectiveness of the new weapon.

Miguel stepped away from the crossbow and turned to Arthur and Marcus, a satisfied smile on his face. "You have exceeded my expectations. This will revolutionize our defenses."

Arthur and Marcus exchanged proud looks. "We are ready to start producing other units, my lord, but we can only produce one or two per week due to the low workforce," said Marcus.

"Perfect," replied Miguel. "We will ensure that each wall and strategic point has one of these. And Marcus, the stand with wheels is an excellent addition. We need more of these to facilitate transport."

Marcus nodded. "We can start working on that immediately."

Miguel felt full of hope and determination. With the automatic crossbow, the barony would be more protected and prepared for any threat. He knew there was still much to do, but this was a crucial step toward a safer and more prosperous future.

"Let's return to the city and organize everything," said Miguel, looking at Ricardo. "There is still much work to be done."