Tale of Conquerors

Day 15

The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled light over the camp. The faint sound of hammering echoed through the clearing as Alexander worked alongside Markus and Victor to assemble the waterwheel's frame.

The materials they had gathered from the village were sturdy but limited, forcing them to improvise with what they had.

"Hand me the iron fittings," Alexander said, glancing toward Victor.

Victor passed them over, his broad hands smudged with dirt and grease. "You really think this thing's going to work?"

"It'll work," Alexander replied, securing the fittings with practiced efficiency. "The only question is how well."

Elias appeared from the farm plot, wiping sweat from his brow. "You know, this whole wheel thing still feels over the top. I mean, water just flows on its own, doesn't it?"

Alexander smirked faintly, his dark eyes glinting with amusement. "If you'd rather haul water by hand, be my guest."

Elias groaned, throwing his hands up in mock defeat. "Alright, you win. Build your fancy wheel."

Teamwork in Action

The day passed in a steady rhythm of labor. Markus and Victor focused on cutting and shaping the wooden beams, while Alexander worked on aligning the wheel's gears. Elias and Oliver carried supplies from the storage shelter, their banter breaking up the monotony.

"I'm just saying," Elias said, balancing a bundle of wood on his shoulder. "If we ever get rich, I'm buying a proper bed. None of this sleeping-on-the-ground nonsense."

Oliver snorted. "Rich? In this world? You'd be lucky to afford a pillow."

Elias smirked. "Dream big, Oliver. That's what the boss says, right?"

Alexander glanced over, his tone dry. "I don't remember saying that."

Markus chuckled, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder. "Careful, Elias. The boss might start charging you for those dreams."

A Test of Ingenuity

By late afternoon, the waterwheel was finally assembled. The structure stood tall near the stream, its wooden frame reinforced with iron fittings. Alexander stepped back, examining their work with a critical eye.

"Moment of truth," Alexander said, gesturing for Markus to turn the wheel.

Markus gripped the edge of the wheel and gave it a firm push. The wooden paddles dipped into the stream, the flow of water catching and turning the wheel smoothly.

"It's working," Victor said, his voice tinged with surprise.

The system chimed softly, confirming the achievement.

[Objective Complete: Establish a Water Management System]

Reward: Unlock Second Idea for Path of Agriculture.

[Path of Agriculture: Second Idea - Efficient Irrigation]

Personal Buff: Alexander's designs for irrigation systems improve crop yield by 20%.

Territory Buff: Farms within Alexander's territory gain +25% efficiency in water usage.

Elias let out a low whistle, watching the wheel spin steadily. "I've got to admit, that's impressive."

Alexander smirked faintly. "Told you it would work."

Markus clapped Alexander on the back, his grin wide. "You're full of surprises, boss."

A Moment of Lightness

That evening, the group gathered around the fire, their spirits high after the day's success. The waterwheel had already begun channeling water to the trenches, and the steady trickle was a soothing backdrop to their conversation.

Elias leaned back, stretching his legs toward the fire. "So, Alexander, you've got all these big ideas. You ever think about just... relaxing for a day?"

Alexander raised an eyebrow, his tone playful. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know, take a break," Elias said, grinning. "Kick your feet up, enjoy the view, maybe even crack a smile."

Alexander smirked, leaning forward to poke at the fire with a stick. "I smile."

"Barely," Elias shot back.

Victor chuckled, his deep voice carrying over the crackling flames. "Careful, Elias. He might smile while making you dig another trench."

The group burst into laughter, and even Alexander allowed himself a genuine smile.

A Visitor's Warning

As the laughter faded, the sound of footsteps approached from the shadows. The group tensed, hands instinctively reaching for their weapons.

A figure emerged into the firelight—a lean, middle-aged man with a weathered face and cautious eyes.

"Evening," the man said, raising his hands to show he meant no harm.

Alexander rose to his feet, his dark eyes narrowing. "Who are you?"

"Name's Garret," the man said, lowering his hands. "I'm a trader passing through. Word about your little operation here is starting to spread."

Alexander folded his arms, his tone measured. "And?"

Garret hesitated, glancing toward the others before stepping closer. "And you'd better tread carefully. The baron doesn't like people setting up shop without paying their dues. If you're not careful, he'll come knocking—and he won't be asking politely."

Alexander's jaw tightened, but his expression remained calm. "Thanks for the warning."

Garret nodded, his gaze lingering on the camp. "You've got a good thing here. Just make sure you can defend it."

Without waiting for a reply, the trader disappeared into the night, his footsteps fading into the forest.

Reflection and Resolve

As the group sat back down, the mood had shifted. The firelight danced across their faces, casting long shadows as they exchanged uneasy glances.

Markus broke the silence, his voice low. "So, what do we do about the baron?"

"We prepare," Alexander said simply.

Elias frowned. "Prepare how? If he's got soldiers, we don't stand a chance."

Alexander's dark eyes glinted with determination. "We don't need to beat him. We just need to make it clear that coming here isn't worth the trouble."

Victor nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "You think we can pull that off?"

"We don't have a choice," Alexander replied. "This is our territory, and we're not giving it up."

The group fell into silence, the crackling fire the only sound. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for tonight, they rested.