I Build a Modern Shelter in Fantasy World

***

The next day.

To prepare a fresh supply of food, Gideon would need at least two to three days until everything was ready. Viviene had actually considered purchasing provisions from the nearby city, but Gideon refused her suggestion.

If they bought everything from the city, then it would do nothing to help the economy of the village. It would only send money outward instead of circulating it locally.

For Gideon, it was better to wait a few days until the bread and basic goods in the village's own shops were ready for purchase.

That way, the money would keep moving within Rockvalley, and the ones who truly benefited would be the villagers themselves.

Viviene listened carefully to what Gideon explained. She agreed with his reasoning and promised to prepare the necessary money in advance so that once the supplies were ready, the payment could be settled immediately and the goods distributed without delay.

After leaving the Baron's residence, Gideon stepped out into the village. His destination was the cluster of homes where the well-digging project was taking place under the supervision of Luke and Lyra.

From a distance, he could already see a crowd of people gathered.

Many villagers were working together to dig and move soil, while Luke and Lyra stood a little apart, overseeing the work instead of joining in with their own hands.

It was clear they had chosen to lead and organize, ensuring everything went smoothly, rather than tire themselves out with manual labor.

When Luke noticed Gideon approaching, he turned with a smile and walked forward to meet him. He seemed genuinely glad that Gideon had come to check on the progress of the wells.

"This one will be finished quickly. After this, we'll move on to the final well," Luke reported with a firm tone.

"Good. That's a relief," Gideon replied.

"Come with me to another well. I'd like you to check the water yourself," Gideon added after a moment.

"Of course. Follow me, Captain."

Luke led Gideon away from the main worksite and toward one of the nearby houses.

The family who lived there had already been making use of the well that had been completed just a few days earlier.

The mother of the household greeted them warmly as they approached, bowing her head slightly with respect.

"My Lord," the woman said politely. Gideon returned her greeting with a friendly smile.

"This is the third well, finished just recently," Luke explained. "Take a look for yourself."

Gideon stepped closer, crouched down beside the stone edge, and scooped a small amount of water into his clean palm.

He studied it carefully. The water was clear, with no sign of dust, mud, or any floating impurities. It was perfectly suitable for drinking, washing, or bathing.

He was impressed. If the water here was this clean, then it was highly likely that the other wells in the area would also produce the same quality.

"This is very good. It will serve them well," Gideon said with satisfaction.

"Yes, and they are grateful to have clean water through this project. These wells are probably the most strategic project we've undertaken so far. They have an immediate, visible impact on the people," Luke replied.

"Once phase one of the well project is complete, I might shift our focus to building septic tanks and a proper waste disposal system," Luke added thoughtfully.

Gideon gave a firm nod, placing a reassuring hand on Luke's shoulder. He wanted Luke to know that he trusted his judgment. But he also knew it would be better not to rush the next step.

For now, his priority was to finish the wells. After that, Gideon intended for his team to travel to Dergon to tackle the more serious issues plaguing that village.

Yet he also realized that undertaking such a mission would require extra resources, manpower, and careful preparation.

Luke led Gideon further down the path toward the site of another well still under construction. This was the fifth one, expected to be finished within the next two or three days.

It had been planned to serve two families whose houses stood close to each other. Both families had agreed to share it willingly.

There, Gideon observed the workers toiling with shovels and picks, digging steadily downward. The goal was to reach a depth where the underground water could be tapped.

If they encountered water seeping into the soil a few meters down, then they would stop digging at that point and secure the structure.

"How are they doing with food and other needs?" Gideon asked quietly.

"Lyra has already made the calculations," Luke replied. "She based them on how long it usually takes to dig one well, and how many workers are needed each day."

"That's good to hear," Gideon answered.

The project was progressing more smoothly than Gideon had initially expected. Most of the health concerns among the villagers had already been addressed.

Lena was scheduled to carry out health inspections house by house according to the plan they had set. Meanwhile, sanitation and waste disposal had been improved by enforcing strict new rules.

Soldiers patrolled the most common places where people were likely to throw garbage carelessly, such as riversides, forest edges, or open fields.

Slowly but surely, Rockvalley was beginning to rise out of its long decline. The villagers now had hope, a new sense of security, and optimism brought by Gideon and his team.

They were visibly happier, more relaxed, and far less burdened than in the days when Nozel still held power over them.

After finishing his inspection at the well site, Gideon gave his farewells. He reminded Luke to always pay attention to the safety and wellbeing of the workers.

They must not go hungry, suffer injuries, or—above all—lose their lives in the course of the work. Luke understood fully. He had adopted safety procedures as a priority.

Gideon then made his way back to the Baron's residence to continue planning their next steps. Nothing seemed too urgent at the moment, except the unresolved problems in Dergon.

As he approached the Baron's front courtyard, Viviene appeared carrying several documents. She met Gideon outside, choosing not to step indoors, and began speaking with him there.

"The branch tax offices have been completed in two villages for now," she reported. "I am waiting for your orders on whether to establish offices in Dergon and Algus as well."

"Leave those two for the moment," Gideon instructed. "Focus on Rockvalley and Nemora first."

"Send some of the maids who have been working with you. Place them there to begin collecting taxes and explaining the system to the villagers."

"I understand," Viviene replied.

Just as Gideon was about to leave, Viviene called his name again. She pulled a small rolled piece of parchment from her sleeve and held it out to him.

"A raven arrived from Mischo," she explained. "It seems to be a message from Viscount Duncan."

A raven? They actually sent messages by raven? Impressive.

This was the first time Gideon had seen and received a message delivered by an animal.

Since the day he had arrived in this fantasy world, he had assumed couriers or messengers were still the only means of communication.

But now, after being granted the rank of Baron, this was his first experience receiving such a letter. Naturally, he was curious to see what it contained.

The message was written in the native script of this world. Surprisingly, the sender was not Viscount Duncan but Earl Ashfield himself.

In the letter, Liam informed Gideon about the King's latest decision. However, the Earl could not write down the details openly.

Instead, he asked Gideon and his team to come to Mischo so they could discuss the matter directly at Viscount Duncan's estate.

Liam wrote that he would remain there until next week, giving Gideon enough time to make the journey.

What exactly was the King's decision, if Liam insisted I meet him face to face in Mischo?

There was no use speculating too much. Gideon hardly knew King Moko personally. He had only met the King's wife once, in passing.

As for Queen Anastasya, his knowledge of her was limited to that brief encounter.

The best course of action was clear: travel to Mischo and hear directly what Liam had to say.

"Thank you," Gideon told Viviene as he folded the parchment.

"Of course, Lord Gideon," she answered.

He went inside and sat in the lounge, reviewing the other documents Viviene had given him about the new branch tax offices.

She had worked diligently under his instructions, assigning skilled and trustworthy maids to manage the shops that served as collection points.

Whether those individuals proved fully reliable or not would remain to be seen. Ultimately, however, responsibility for taxation and budgeting lay with Viviene.

That was her domain, and Gideon trusted her to handle it.

Not long after, Lena arrived. She wore her white doctor's coat and carried her medical kit.

Beside her walked one of the maids, who had recently taken on the role of assisting Lena as a nurse. The two of them already looked comfortable working together, chatting as they entered.

"Lena," Gideon greeted warmly.

"Gideon? You're back already?" Lena asked, and he nodded.

The maid excused herself, leaving Lena to step into the lounge. She noticed Gideon buried in paperwork and chuckled.

"You, of all people, are stuck with administrative duties. The man who hates red tape is now neck-deep in it," she teased with a laugh.

"I don't know. Just looking at this is giving me a headache," Gideon admitted with a faint smile.

Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out the small rolled letter. Handing it to her, he motioned for her to read.

Puzzled, Lena unrolled it. As her eyes scanned the words, her expression shifted to surprise. The letter clearly stated that Liam requested Gideon and his team to come meet him at Viscount Duncan's residence in Mischo.

"Do we have to go there?" she asked.

"It seems that way. What do you think?" Gideon replied.

"I don't know. We should talk this over with Luke and Lyra, then make sure their schedules allow for it," she suggested.

Gideon nodded. He had no desire to rush off without telling them. No matter what, they were family now. They needed to support each other.

"Alright then."

"We'll wait until evening, after they finish their work," Lena concluded.