A FRUITFUL DAY

Chu spent the remainder of the evening visiting each small lodge while answering questions or explaining certain designs. The representatives had all received their inventions or crude drawings. They did not rush to leave for the Capital but instead decided to gain as much information about their invention.

Young Master Wu left the very evening, however, after receiving and signing his contract. He had gained and lost during this trip and wanted to begin implementation of the new equipment as early as possible. The House stamp on the contracts stipulated his Clan would pay the deposit to Griz on his arrival in the Capital.

"When you enter the Capital, this older brother will take you around. This older brother looks forward to your new inventions."

Young Master Wu said. Chu nodded and waved him goodbye, as the carriage rolled out. Before Chu could rest, the others literally grabbed him, sharing him among themselves.

"Explain this thing about using straw and mud to keep the ice blocks from melting. I want to construct a test building at home since I will return to the Capital in winter. And what is this about building it near a river or in a shaded location? Will a basement also suffice?"

"Can I use thinner iron for this plough blade? You just said something about a plan using two horses to increase the speed, as well as adding additional blades? Brat, how much more money do you want to bleed my Clan?"

"Young Master Chu, you are a genius who knows no limits. I believe you will soar to the Heavens one day. A deity like you will have no need for gold and worldly metals, could I possibly have a discount?"

Tomorrow they would receive their contracts and then leave. They planned on using the return trip to finalize the agreement for handling the windmill and wagon. This joint agreement had the effect of negating any major schemes between the Houses.

Chu did not care for the bickering or underhanded plans the Houses might conduct in secret. The Emperor would not be shortsighted, so as to allow one House to emerge as a rival. It would not affect Chu, especially since he had the protection of the Tower and Church.

Mage Disparte and Priest Lowe fawned over him in the evening, practicing the winding up of the clock. Chu did not know whether to feel satisfied or ashamed of witnessing the old men. Since the lunch meal, they received the clock and had constantly been comparing the sundial and the clock, every hour.

Chu shamelessly held his head up with the pride of a man engaging in blatant plagiarism.

This is the feeling of an inventor! On earth it belonged to others, here it belonged to him. Don't hate me, true inventors, I am simply spreading your great work in another world.

He left the lodge after dark, leaving Mage Disparte burning a precious hour-marked candle.

Chu smirked on entering the farm gate. He had two goals to cross out from his bucket list; creating something that would change this world for the better, and helping to achieve stability in the ruling power.

He sighed in contentment as he entered the workshop.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't our young master returning late, from socializing with the upper class. Seems that this Big Sister needs to administer a beating since you're stepping onto a wayward road."

Amanda said while moving from the table towards him. She held him in a chokehold, strangling him by the neck. The swelling on her hands and face had subsided somewhat, but the blotches of yellow discoloration remained for the time until she took a bath.

"Do you know how hard it is to copy these drafts into four contracts? I have no idea why you want so many copies of the same thing. Don't you know you only need two? One for you and the other for them?"

Chu patted the hands of the young woman, hoping for release while gasping for breath.

"Big Sis, two contracts might work for little deals between merchants, but this agreement is like placing our head inside a Jaga's mouth. One wrong move and the jaws would clamp shut. The two extra copies will fall into the hands of the Emperor's vault, via the Grand Vizier and also into the hands of our vanguard heading into the Capital."

He explained.

"I see, good idea little brother, planning this now, makes the moving and settling by Master Griz to become easy. With this, we won't have to wait until we move to the Capital to handle all this."

Amanda nodded. This boy always kept thinking one step ahead. Even the journey from here to the Capital would take four months. Having Master Griz pave the way, and making it easier for him, ensuring a solid start for the Bai Company.

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"Wait, but who can we trust to deliver the contract to the Emperor? Master Griz will have to wait months to schedule a meeting with the Emperor, even if he is recommended by the Tower."

A knock sounded from the door, as Doug entered

"Boss, Young Master Tian is here to see you."

Chu sat beside the hooded Amanda next to the table scattered with parchments and documents. In the lamplight, Fatty Tian twisted his fingers nervously, with a large man sitting beside him. If Chu considered Akey a hill, this person represented a mountain.

Behind the two, Fatty Tian's Sersen bodyguard stood straight as a file, not daring to move in the least.

"My apologies for the late visit at night, Lady Amanda, but my Sersen only returned as few breaths ago. This is a potion that might ease your pain. I had this small vial flowed over by falcon, with an order placed for more at the Trading Post."

Fatty Tian mumbled. He used his stubby fingers to push a small bottle across towards the surprised young woman.

"Ahem, barring the collaboration between the Houses, I believe young master Chu had something worthy of discussion with us."

The deep voice matched the frame perfectly, as the muscular man sitting at the side interjected. Gray hair and age did little to diminish his natural overbearing presence.

"That is correct. I request Sir to remain when the others depart tomorrow. Then I will have the Artisans demonstrate it, and answer any pertinent questions."

"I do have one question, how did you know who I am? I don't believe little Tian would have told you. He might look like a simple fatty, but his mind and mouth operate far shrewdly than others expect."

Chu raised his eyebrows in surprise at the question. A voice coming from outside, however, spared him from answering.

"Greetings, I see General Kettle and pay respects. It was this lowly one who revealed your name."

Jill walked to the side of Chu and bowed. She remained standing on the side as the old man scanned her over.

"So, it's a young pup from the Thief's Guild. Old man Saul mentioned he sent you guys out."

General Kettle nodded, his narrow eyes taking their time in scanning the shivering Jill and the calm, poker-faced Chu. He then continued

"Seems like I still underestimated you, Young Master. I look forward to your demonstration tomorrow."

As a bulwark of the Empire, the old man really knew how to apply pressure with his words. Chu thought it familiar to the pressure a Department head placed on their subordinates to meet a looming deadline.

Of course, in this world, the punishment might have to be paid in actual blood.

"You should take your time, in stepping into the Capital. Noble families tend to take the death of their Sersens seriously."

"I will bear that in mind, Sir."

The gray-haired man rose and left, with Tian following and casting backward glances.

Chu sighed. The aura during the meeting could be cut with a knife. Nothing less from the Sersen General of the Capital army.

He had nearly pissed his pants when a frightened Jill revealed this secret when he had arrived. Chu had no idea how the Grand Vizier managed to send such a powerful escort for fatty, but the visit exceeded his imagination.

"How come this Fatty could command such a person to run errands?"

He asked.

"Pshhh… Errands? The General only accompanied Young Master Tian because he came here for his own purpose. Obviously, he wanted to see what invention the creator of the portcullis had in store for the Military, and also to visit the neighboring village. The Sersen standing behind Young Master Tian is the one who went for the potion."

Jill smirked as if revealing a big secret while continuing

"You might not know this, but about two years ago, a wolf demon appeared near this village. All the commanders and the garrison captains involved in that incident had to make their report in person, in the Capital. The General wanted to have a first-hand view of the place in question."

She continued

"Don't believe the guards that followed him and just returned are merely guards. I can bet you all the gold in the world, they are all Sersens."

Jill reveled on the shocked face of the young Boss. This was the second time she actually made him look like a child who pissed his pants. The effect was the same, but the cause had been something entirely different.

'Holy crap, this damn incident has still not settled? I need to tell Lucy not to make a move and to avoid this old geezer until he leaves.'

Chu cast a glance at Amanda, who picked up on his thoughts.

"We need to stay on guard until everyone leaves. I'll mention it to the others. Hey Chu, does my face seem like it's in pain?"

Amanda asked as she felt her face.

I really have to carry these isolated women out into the city for some experience. One of these days someone is going to fool them with a jar of honey.

Chu coughed, clearing his thoughts.

"Most importantly, Amanda gather the Elder and the usual council. In the meantime, Jill will tell me some more about young master Wu. Someone who can leave here after all that, with a smile on his face, certainly means trouble."

Chu said.

The response from the Capital, and the interactions between the powerhouses that could crush him with just their pinky toe went according to expectations. The information he gleaned from Jill proved to be the most valuable.

Never in his life did he realize the true power that the Churches of old wielded in their respective nations. Through that grace alone, did he know, Young Master Wu could not retaliate on the loss of his Sersen.

History and the knowledge imparted by the experience of those countless ancestors of humans throughout the ages had infinite worth.

Chu could only shake his head. Maybe if he had read about the exploits of the hero Gilgamesh, rather than know the name through playing games on Nin**e*do, it might have helped him more at the moment.

Life in this era progressed differently, therefore he had to make his own compensation.

As for Young Master Wu and his ruthless plot to gain control, Chu planned to milk him until he shriveled like an old prune. After the bandit incident, anyone who threatened him deserved retribution.

Even a young master...