They all looked at the bundle curiously. Even Ferlin who carried the bundle did not know what was inside except that it was heavy and hard.

"This is... a Rock?" Said Cat. "No... It's two rocks stuck together?"

"Exactly." Said Chris and right then he threw the block as hard as he could on the ground. The two rocks didn't separate, and only a bit of the light grey substance binding them broke off.

Mia exclaimed: "Incredible... This... This is a mortar stronger than clay!"

[Hehe, showmanship always pays off!] Chris enjoyed their expression before continuing: "The second thing you need are strong fortifications! Currently, your available choices are too weak! Wood and mud will not stop Kunalls! Pilling up huge stone blocks would work but it would take too long, you do not need a wall that will be ready in ten years, you need one now! With this you do not need to prepare the stone! Given enough people you'll have a wall that can even stop Kunalls in a week!"

Chris took a dramatic 'cool' pause and then went on "Those are the things you are missing. As for us... The first thing I need is people. I need people for everything. I need more of people to work the fields, to mine, to build... And I am also missing someone who can read and write and is talented in logistics and understand governmental affairs." As he said that he looked at Mia.

"Very well. We'll do it." Mia's voice was clear and held no hesitation."But if it turns out you are a tyrant, I'll send Cat after you!"

Chris was extatic "Don't worry! Don't worry! I have no intention to treat my dear people badly or to cheat on you!"

"What was that last part?" Asked Mia but before she could finish she was cut off by Chris.

"Did you hear that Bergy!"

"Yes my Lord, congratulations!" Said Berg sincerely.

Titus and Ferlin followed up "Congratulations Sun King!"

"..." Mia sighed. "Nevermind, please tell me more about this bonding agent."

Chris was in an excellent mood, so he eagerly described the process of making this mortar.

"Bergy, remember what I was doing for the last three days before leaving Five Cave Village?"

"Yes my Lord, you prepared the Red Hornet traps which you called "Shameless Sucker Traps", then you bothered the leatherworkers and tailors for three days straight for a new pillow... Then... You tried to teach our women the skin benefits of naked mud baths, then..." Berg started recalling the last few days.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

"I-I am not talking about that! I mean the cave exploring part!" Quickly corrected Chris.

"Oh right, you took a few people to explore all the five caves and came back with strange rocks." Said Berg.

"That's right! And in the deepest one I found those porous rocks, they are called limestones and they are the main ingredient for this mortar. Cid is leading people into the cave to mine those rocks as we speak. They are very easy to mine, the stone is very weak by itself, we should have enough of it in a few days!"

Mia was stunned "Incredible..."

"Right? Right?" Chris was delighted. [This is just lime based mortar, unfortunately this is all we can make right now. But once we have the tools. I'll show you something much more marvelous!]

"For now let's get our spoils of wars." He continued.

"That's right." Said Berg excitedly. "Let's loot the weapons!"

The weapons used by Kunalls were huge and very heavy. They complemented their strengths and could cut people in two in one swing. Which was why they were made of iron, as wood and rock would crumble in one hit.

Those axes were so heavy that they needed two or three people to move each of them. Just one axe, once reforged, would make many tools.

This delighted Chris as it would save them a lot of time, this was, almost, free raw materials! Sure, there was an abandoned mining town north east of here, but they didn't have the man power or the time for it yet, looting the Kunalls was the best deal yet!

Once the weapons were stored in the village, they salvaged all the arrows and arrowheads. At last it was time to move the Kunall's bodies into the nearby forest, they didn't need to dig graves. The beasts would eat the bodies and leave nothing but bones.

That night, Mia took advantage of the camp's excitement to share the big news. Their refugee camp had a new King. The news was very well received, they trusted Mia deeply and Chris' troops had just saved them. That was all they needed.

Chris now had two thousand people under him!

A little later in Mia's tent, Chris and his subordinates were planning their next moves.

Mia gave Chris a list of their current resources and tools. This time, everything was properly organised on leather scrolls.

"Did you write this Mia?" Asked Chris "The writing is so beautiful and cute."

"Please stay on topic my Lord." Answered coldly Mia.

"R-right. I see the camp has many tools, carts and horses. This will help us a lot." Continued Chris.

He was impressed, he finally understood how they managed to move all the books, tools, and non essential luxuries.

"Lord. I recommend sending back one hundred hunters to Five Cave Village Lord. Their rations won't hold forever," said Ferlin.

"Very well, let's send them back tomorrow morning. Mia are the carts and horses in use at the moment?" Asked Chris

"No my Lord, so far we only need them when moving from place to place" She answered.

"Then let's give the hunters half the horses, carts and pick axes in the camp. Send a message for Cid as well, we need to increase the limestone output."

"I will take care of it." Said Ferlin.

"Is there any place nearby where we can find sand?" Chris needed a lot of sand for the mortar.

After a while Berg answered. "Hmm, there is a river reach south of here, there should be plenty of sand there."

"Perfect! Mia, please send people with a few carts to collect as much sand as possible. We need sand for the mortar, a lot of it. If they can find clay at the same time, it's even better."

"Very well." She took note of the task on a little journal she always kept with her.

The meeting went on until very late. There were many things to prepare, and Mia was very thorough. There was troop assignment to be done, food distribution, distribution of raw materials for each trade skills...

It was only at midnight that Mia was satisfied and closed her little book.

Chris finally breathed and said "Alright, let's go to bed everyone. Tomorrow is a very important day. Prepare your traveling bags!"

Mia was surprised, this was not discussed previously: "We are leaving?"

Chris smiled: "Of course! Tomorrow we are finding the perfect spot for our first city!"