Miguel set aside a room in the mansion for his sister, while the soldiers who accompanied her were reassigned to the city guard. Now, sitting in his office, he was ready to go check on the progress of the factory construction. He decided to call the young João and Lila to accompany him. Lila didn't like to leave the mansion much, so he invited her, hopeful that a bit of fresh air might do her good.

"João, go to Lila's quarters and tell her I want her to accompany us. We need more company today," Miguel said.

Shortly after, João returned with Lila. She seemed hesitant, but Miguel encouraged her with a smile. "Come on, Lila. It will be good for you."

Together, they set off, accompanied by some guards, all on horseback. The trip to the construction site took an hour. Miguel used this time to chat casually with João and Lila, trying to ease the tension.

As they approached the site, Miguel was impressed to see that several walls had already been erected. The construction was progressing rapidly, much beyond what he had expected. He saw Elnar, some beastmen, and humans working side by side. The sight of these two races collaborating always impressed him.

Elnar noticed Miguel's presence and walked over, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his shirt sleeve. The servant was clearly tired, but there was a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. The construction was progressing well, and Elnar was proud of the work done so far.

Miguel dismounted his horse, observing the tall walls and the bustling activity around him. Men and women carried bricks, mixed mortar, and carefully aligned the newly erected walls. Every detail seemed to be in its proper place, and the harmony between humans and beastmen brought a sense of hope to Miguel.

Lila, at his side, looked around curiously. The vastness of the project seemed to capture her attention, and Miguel hoped it would distract her from her worries.

"Let's take a closer look," said Miguel, motioning for João and Lila to follow him as they approached Elnar. He was eager to hear about the progress and share his ideas for the next steps in the factory's construction.

Elnar greeted Miguel, young João, and the little mage Lila with a tired but satisfied smile. "Good to see you here," he said with a slight bow.

"How's the construction going?" Miguel asked, looking around with interest.

Elnar began to explain, gesturing to the various sections of the site. "In these three days, we focused on erecting the internal walls first. This helps provide more structure and stability to the building while we work on the external parts. We also managed to raise some support columns to ensure the walls stay firm. Just yesterday, we received a reinforcement of beastmen workers, which sped up the process quite a bit. We've already completed about 10% of the work."

He pointed to different parts of the site, where beastmen and humans were working together. "The internal walls are essential to maintain the building's integrity. We started with a base layer of concrete, then added layers of carefully aligned bricks. Each brick is placed with precision, and the support columns are positioned to ensure nothing collapses during construction, just as you instructed. We're progressing well, but there's still much work to be done."

Miguel observed the details, impressed by the progress. "You've done an excellent job, Elnar. The factory is taking shape faster than I expected."

Elnar smiled, but Miguel noticed the fatigue in his eyes. "Just remember not to push yourself too hard. It's important to rest when necessary. We don't want anyone getting hurt or sick from overworking."

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Elnar nodded, grateful for the advice. "Don't worry, Miguel. We'll maintain a healthy pace. Everyone here is committed to the project, but we also know the importance of keeping our health in check."

"Great," Miguel replied, satisfied. "I'm looking forward to seeing the progress continue. Keep up the excellent work."

Elnar smiled again and turned back to the workers, ready to resume his tasks. Miguel, João, and Lila continued to observe the site for a few more moments, appreciating the collective effort that was turning their visions into reality.

***

The next day, Miguel was in his office, surrounded by papers and sketches. He was reviewing the construction plans when he heard a knock on the door. "Come in," he said, not lifting his eyes from the documents.

The door opened and Benjamin, the young blacksmith, entered carrying a set of iron cylinders. "Good morning, sir," Benjamin greeted, placing the cylinders on Miguel's desk.

"Good morning, Benjamin. Let's see what you brought," Miguel replied with a smile.

Benjamin began to briefly explain how he had made the iron tubes. "I used a sand mold to form the cylinders. I melted the iron and added a bit of carbon to strengthen the alloy, as you suggested. Then, I poured the molten metal into the mold and let it cool. Once it solidified, I removed the cylinders and finished them to ensure they were smooth and free of imperfections."

Miguel picked up one of the cylinders and inspected it closely, impressed with the quality of the work. "Excellent work, Benjamin. These cylinders are exactly what we need for the new furnace."

Benjamin smiled, visibly pleased with the compliment. "I'm glad you like them, sir."

Miguel then began to talk about the need to expand the mining and production of metals. "We have many projects underway and we need more resources. We need to increase our mining capacity."

He took out a map and showed it to Benjamin. "Two days' ride from here, there used to be an iron mine. Do you know why it was closed?"

Benjamin looked at the map and then replied, "Yes, sir. It was simply because there weren't enough workers anymore. This happened two years ago, around the same time the old baron disappeared. Without leadership and with the difficulties the region was facing, the mine was abandoned."

Miguel reflected on the information and made a plan in his mind. "We need to reopen that mine and bring in more workers. With the iron we can extract from there, we will be able to supply our needs and even expand our operations. Additionally, reopening the mine can provide jobs and revitalize the local economy."

Benjamin agreed. "Certainly, sir. We can start organizing an expedition to assess the state of the mine and see what's needed to get it running again."

Miguel nodded. "Perfect. Let's do that. Also, find the former mine workers and tell them to come here tomorrow. And thank you again for the cylinders, Benjamin. Your work is essential to our success."

Benjamin thanked him and left, leaving Miguel to plan the next steps for reopening the mine and ensuring the iron supply for all his future projects.

---

A week later, Miguel headed to the furnace hall to speak with Bartolomeu, the one responsible for charcoal production and now for the new furnace. He was eager to check the first prototype created based on the specifications he had provided.

Upon arrival, Bartolomeu was waiting for him next to the new furnace. "Good morning, sir," greeted Bartolomeu with a proud smile. "The prototype is ready."

"Good morning, Bartolomeu. I'm eager to see how it turned out," replied Miguel, approaching the structure.

Bartolomeu began to explain how he had built the furnace. "I followed your specifications precisely. The main structure is made of refractory bricks, which can withstand high temperatures without deteriorating. I used lime mortar to bind the bricks, ensuring the joints are durable and heat-resistant."

He pointed to the furnace's details. "Inside, I built a combustion chamber lined with an additional layer of clay to increase thermal resistance. For the air intake, I used iron tubes, as you suggested. They are positioned in a way that the air can be directed to increase combustion efficiency."

Miguel observed each detail as Bartolomeu continued. "I added a cast iron grate at the base of the combustion chamber to allow ashes to fall into a removable tray below. This will make cleaning and maintaining the furnace easier."

He ran his hand over the furnace's body, highlighting the materials used. "I also used a combination of stone and clay to insulate the outer part of the furnace, ensuring the heat stays inside and the external surface doesn't get too hot. This improves safety for the workers who will be operating the furnace."

Miguel was impressed with the attention to detail and the quality of the work. "You've done an excellent job, Bartolomeu. It looks like this furnace will be extremely efficient."

Bartolomeu smiled, satisfied with the praise. "I'm glad you're pleased, sir. We tested the furnace yesterday and it reached the expected temperatures quickly, maintaining stable combustion. I'm confident this furnace will be very useful for our projects."

Miguel nodded, still examining the structure. "I'm eager to see how it performs in continuous operation. Let's start using it for brick production and see how it goes. If it works as well as it looks, we can build more of these furnaces to increase our production."

Bartolomeu agreed. "Certainly, sir. I'm ready to start production as soon as you give the order."

Miguel took a step back and looked at the furnace with satisfaction. "Then let's begin. Thank you for your hard work, Bartolomeu. This is just the beginning of many great things we'll accomplish together. Call one of the brickmakers so he can guide you in production."

Bartolomeu thanked him and began preparing the furnace for production, while Miguel walked away, confident that he was on the right track to strengthen his realm and face future challenges.