The conditions at Birch Fortress were very basic, but both the host and guests were in high spirits.

Derrick chose the unique northern noble tradition of a bonfire party.

Sir Cecil quietly approached, somewhat embarrassed, and asked, "Lord Derrick, I have a son who is about to start knight training. I hope you could take him under your wing."

In such a short time, their status gap had widened. Although Cecil had many opportunities at the Earl’s side, he could never leap across class boundaries. He accepted the reality and didn’t expect their past friendship to disregard the current differences in status.

On the other hand, Derrick, although aspiring to rise to higher positions, wasn’t motivated by base displays of vanity. He knew how to adjust his attitude depending on who he was interacting with. For instance, Cecil was a close aide of the old earl and had helped Derrick before. In front of him, showing off might seem impressive, but it would tarnish his reputation. Conversely, disregarding the noble class distinctions would bring dissatisfaction from others.

So, Derrick drained his mug of ale, showing a slight bit of drunkenness, and then reached out to grasp Cecil’s arm. "Cecil, my friend, this is a small matter. Send your son to me, and I’ll turn him into a fine young knight."

He ignored their social standings, focusing only on their friendship. This was much like the current bonfire gathering—unsophisticated but effective at drawing people closer. This kind of atmosphere was not something you could feel in a more refined banquet hall.

Even though Derrick’s actions might seem intentional, Cecil couldn’t help but feel moved. A small act of kindness from someone in a higher position had a stronger emotional impact.

With Derrick’s status, still maintaining his original intentions, Cecil felt it was worth it. The two drank heartily, as if things hadn’t changed.

Derrick, with bleary eyes, smiled and toasted with another noble. Was it possible that next time they faced something difficult, Cecil would lean toward Derrick? All it took was a little bit of goodwill.

As the bonfire party came to a close, Earl Pereira left hurriedly. The Saint Miler Province was in disarray, and everyone had their own problems, making it impossible for him to stay. Derrick, too, sent off wave after wave of nobles. Although the war was over, they had come with the intention of providing support, and this bond needed to be remembered. Afterward, it was time to get to work.

Under the threat of war, many things had to be handled roughly, without much thought. Now that there was a brief period of peace, it was time to handle things properly.

The next day, a heavy snowstorm hit.

On the 20th day after the winter solstice, the first snow arrived.

Derrick, accompanied by cavalry, made sure to patrol the border posts first, ensuring there were no oversights before leaving Birch Fortress and returning to his territory.

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Thanks to the "goodwill" of the barbarians, the population of the Augusta territory had exploded. Fortunately, even during the war, construction had not stopped, preventing people from freezing to death in the heavy snow.

The entire barony was essentially a patchwork of several former direct territories of the Holy Cross Kingdom. The original intention had been to position Derrick at the front lines, which is why the nobles of the royal capital had generously combined various areas to create a considerable barony for him.

Initially, the land consisted of a town and four villages, but after the population multiplied by tenfold, it had transformed into a new structure: a city with eight towns and several villages.

A large population brought with it problems—chiefly, a shortage of arable land and limited resources.

Luckily, Derrick had made moves early, securing a considerable portion of resources from the Saint Miler Province. For the time being, he had no problems in that regard.

Derrick arrived at the city currently under construction in the center of his territory. A large number of people had gathered here, forming a relatively complete settlement. The new city was being built around the original town, which now made up about a fifth of the new urban area.

Though the city had been planned in advance, it was still chaotic and dirty.

Adrian had been waiting for him. During Derrick’s time at Birch Fortress, Adrian had been managing things behind the scenes. Seeing Derrick arrive, Adrian quickly walked out from a small pavilion by the road, taking hold of the warhorse’s reins. Derrick dismounted, and Adrian brushed the snow off his cloak.

"Lord Derrick, according to your plan, we managed to settle everyone before the snow fell. Next, we’ll begin building the inner city in the center, constructing it to the specifications of a castle. Then, we’ll gradually complete the rest of the city, creating a new urban center for Augusta."

Building a city from scratch, especially one that would become the new center of the Saint Miler Province, was a monumental task. If successful, the Augusta family would leave a permanent mark in the province.

Derrick removed his gloves, casually handed them to a servant, and walked into the small pavilion. The four sides were already covered with burlap, and a fire crackled in the center.

"Come closer, the weather is too cold."

He gestured for everyone to form a circle.

These were all familiar faces—his old companions from the Northern Province.

There was no need for formalities. They naturally sat down.

"This winter is crucial. We need to accomplish two things. First, we must create a unique identity for the new city. This will extend Augusta’s will and represent our authority in Saint Miler. Second, we must reorganize the military. I need a knight order, even if it’s a small one, and we’ll also take in some of the younger noble sons."

The wind and snow suddenly intensified outside.

Now that they had secured their footing, Derrick had to consider many more things.

"Our forging techniques are unmatched in the North. We can bring over Master Tru and his men. With affordable but high-quality weapons and armor, we can attract many merchant caravans," Adrian had clearly thought about this as well.

"Weaponry and armor can be a pillar industry, but that’s not enough. We’ll need to recruit artisans. Augusta has limited resources per capita, so we’ll need to take another route."

Derrick then listed several industries, all high-value-added sectors. To develop quickly, plunder was the only option. But unlike military plunder, the kind driven by technological progress was more subtle.

"Also, we must strictly control our stables. I want to create an absolutely dominant cavalry force. Don’t overlook the young knights and squires sent by various families. They’ll all serve as military officers and local officials in both the Northern and Saint Miler provinces. This is an excellent opportunity to exert influence."

Derrick knew that some of his subordinates might not realize this. After all, their backgrounds limited their perspective. Even though he had the memory of his past life, he hadn’t initially understood the importance of these things. It was only after observing Earl Pereira that he had come to realize this.