Levi stared at the small metal shard in his hand. Iron—not steel. The cheat engine flickered silently in his mind.
Steel: 1 → Iron: 5
A quiet nod.
"It's not perfect," he muttered. "But it'll do."
Levi stood still, watching the steady thud of hammers and scraping of chisels echo across the muddy village.
The fog of morning was lifting, revealing half-raised walls and scattered materials. But there was no clear plan in sight—just scattered effort.
He made his way toward a man standing at the center of the organized mess. Grey in the beard, broad in the shoulders, and sharper in the eye than most.
The man that spoke for all. He was the lead that remained when the others left. His name had been mentioned before Ulrich, if Levi remembered right.
Ulrich turned before Levi could speak, arms crossed. "I was just about to look for you," he said. "We've started building, aye, but no one's laid out a proper plan. Judging by how they're working, I reckon it's your doing."
"I gave direction," Levi admitted.
Ulrich let out a breath, half a chuckle. "With what you're pushing for, this village'll hold five hundred people soon enough maybe even more so."
Levi nodded. "I agree. But it'll grow more than that."
Ulrich's eyes narrowed. "That isn't a village, lad. That's a town. You're already laying paved streets and raising stone walls and now you want more than just that?"
"People gather where there is hope," Levi said, holding Ulrich's gaze. "And this place has food, shelter and work it is hope."
Ulrich waited, silent.
"I'll need additions," Levi continued. "Three stables enough to fill in a hundred horses. Two forges enough for 10 men to work easily in. Three taverns enough beds to make 50 people so eat and sleep in. Watchtowers six of them. Two in front, two in the middle, two in the rear. The walls curve, so corners are no good. Only entrances should be forward and back. And a gate I need proper gates built."
Ulrich let out a long whistle. "That's a grand ambition. But not what you paid everyone for. And sure as winter, it won't be done in two months."
"Money's no problem," Levi said. "When each part is finished—walls, housing, watchtowers—I'll pay a thousand silver stags per completed project."
Ulrich's brows lifted. "You have the coin... and those hundred workers you called for—they're already on their way. But listen well, boy. Last time you built up too fast, raiders came. You do this, it won't just be raiders watching."
Levi pointed his finger. showing the scar across his face. "House Reed already knows we exist. This proves it. As for raiders when those walls are built and men will be trained in the future they wont dare to do anything."
A tense pause. Then Ulrich nodded slowly. "Alright. Do we have an agreement?"
"We do," Levi said. "But one thing first start with the refugee houses. Only ones that need it, unless more come in need. If there's no one else, go straight to the wall. Then the roads and its sewage. After that, all house projects."
Ulrich held out a hand. "You've got what you want. Let's see if the gods smile on it."
Levi shook his hand firmly. "They don't need to. I'll build without them."