I Build a Modern Shelter in Fantasy World

No one chased them all the way to Rockvalley Village. For the time being, Gideon and his team were completely safe from Viscount Duncan's threat.

Even so, Queen Anastasya had seen firsthand the power of the ghost team's weapons. Gideon guessed that Queen Anastasya already had many plans to get those weapons.

"Listen. The situation might turn unfavorable for us," said Gideon.

"You all help me move our gear into Nozel's money vault. No one will be able to steal our weapons," Gideon continued.

"Woah, you're afraid one of the maids might betray us and steal the weapons. Am I right?" asked Luke. Gideon nodded.

He did not fully trust the maids yet, even though many of them devoted themselves to the Baron wholeheartedly. But humans were creatures easily tempted by certain things, especially desire and greed.

With the power that Queen Anastasya held, she could offer anything to the maids, even something Gideon himself could not give. Dealing directly with members of the royal family was troublesome enough.

"Milord, Rockvalley is up ahead," said the coachman of the carriage.

"Gather after we arrive. Don't say anything. Go straight to work."

"Understood, Capt."

Baron Gideon's carriage entered the village through the northern path. They looked to the right and left, seeing many people step outside wearing thick clothes, playing with their small families.

The first snowfall was the sweetest memory for anyone, the moment when snowflakes fell onto their bodies. Girls and boys ran happily once winter had arrived.

The carriage slowed to a stop in the back yard of the Baron's residence. Gideon opened the door and stepped outside. More and more snowflakes fell uncontrollably.

But their focus stayed on one thing, moving the gear crates and storing them inside the secure vault. That way, no one would dare steal the weapons of Gideon's team.

They entered the Baron's residence, walking firmly without speaking or answering the maids' questions. Climbing the stairs to the second floor, they all went into Gideon's room.

One by one, they carried the gear crates they could take into Nozel's storage room. The place had one empty room and one secret room made of iron, nearly impossible to break with the technology of this era.

Gideon opened it and showed Luke and the others a room full of gold. He had spoken of Nozel's wealth before, but they had only heard about it, not seen it directly.

"All this belongs to Nozel?" Luke asked, crouching down to take a handful of gold coins in his palm.

Not only gold, but armor, swords, diamonds, jewelry, and gemstones were stored there.

Gideon had not counted Nozel's wealth exactly, but at the very least, the man's fortune could be used for the welfare of the villagers.

"We're really rich," Luke joked.

"That's for the people."

"Just give us a little. We need to buy new things too," Luke said, turning with hope.

"I'll give it through proper budgeting. You can't just take the gold whenever you want," Gideon explained.

Lyra stepped up to Luke and smacked his head until he winced in pain. Gideon's orders were absolute, not to be disobeyed by anyone.

"Come on! Move those crates again," Lyra snapped, pulling Luke by the ear out of the iron vault.

Gideon chuckled. As he was about to step out, Lena walked out of the vault with a confused look. She did not know what Gideon planned to do with such a vast amount of money.

"What will you use the gold for?" Lena asked.

"Now it's winter, food stocks in the shops are decreasing because the crop is frozen," Gideon answered.

"I might consider giving food subsidies to all the shops in four villages," Gideon replied.

"They are already used to this winter. They must have plans to handle their own problems," Gideon added.

"Is that so? I'll be glad if that's really what you're planning to do with the gold."

The two of them went back into Gideon's room and carried out more crates.

They continued the work for two hours until all the crates were stored inside the iron vault. Gideon was satisfied, at least their weapons and gear were safe.

He took four magazines and tossed one to each of his members to reload their SIG M17s. It was a basic military procedure for personal security, keeping the pistols loaded in case anything unwanted happened.

Luke and Lyra excused themselves. They explained that they needed to check the well that was being dug.

Digging a well in the winter season was a bad idea, and Luke had to pay attention to when to pause the digging for a while.

Lena went off for her medical rounds again. Bad weather, freezing temperatures biting the skin and bones, she had to educate the villagers on the proper way to keep themselves warm.

Gideon knocked on the door to Viviene's office. The door opened after she allowed him in.

When she saw Gideon come in, Viviene quickly stood up, causing her stack of tax administration papers to scatter.

Gideon rushed forward to help Viviene, gathering the papers and noticing that some of them were permit letters.

"Permit letters?" Gideon asked.

"Some villagers want to start businesses. They're submitting their businesses and the locations," Viviene answered.

"Not just one, but three people want to start new businesses in Rockvalley," Viviene explained, stepping closer to Gideon.

She came so close that Gideon accidentally inhaled the scent of her clothes and body. But he could not lose focus, even with beauty standing beside him.

Because of that moment, Gideon almost missed her explanation.

"So what do you think?" Viviene asked.

"Y-Yes… that's good. New businesses will open new jobs."

"Were you listening to me?"

"What?"

"One of the three wants to build a brothel."

"W-What? That's unexpected," Gideon stammered.

A brothel, a house of forbidden pleasure, always dimly lit and filled with the fragrance of flowers, its women always beautiful, slim, and fair. For some men, maybe a brothel was a good thing. But not for women.

Such a place could trigger affairs, chaos, and endless conflict. Gideon had to see this from both sides.

He went silent, reading the permit carefully, weighing the pros and cons. He lifted his head and stared firmly at Viviene.

"What do you think?" Gideon asked.

"I don't think it's good, unless there are clear rules about how those prostitutes will work," Viviene replied.

"This is a sensitive matter. It's better to postpone the permit for now," Gideon said. Viviene smiled and agreed.

Gideon also told Viviene to help him right away. He needed a lot of food supplies that could be bought from the city, just bread and milk. That was to prevent anything bad from happening during the winter.

"I'll calculate how much bread and milk we need," Viviene answered.

"Do it while buying the food in stages. We must use Nozel's money to help many people," Gideon said firmly.

"I understand, my Lord."