Akira had successfully built the bridge. Walking on it, he found it sturdy and able to withstand any test given by nature. Satisfied with his creation, Akira turned his thoughts to building a fortress. However, there was a significant issue: fortresses require people to operate them, and Akira was extremely short on staff due to his decision to eliminate any soldier or guard in the town. Therefore, he decided to build a small fortress on the Duatt Kingdom side, which he could run with minimal people. A larger fortress would have required more personnel to manage.
Determined, Akira began constructing the small fortress. It wasn't very tall—some might just call it a wall with a door. He added steps so that guards could go up and get a good view of the other side. The only thing remaining was the door. As Akira considered how the door should be designed, he saw a merchant approaching with a donkey carrying his stuff. Curious, Akira stopped to observe the merchant's reaction to the new bridge.
As the merchant, who turned out to be a dwarf, got closer, his eyes widened in surprise and amazement at the sight of the bridge. Being a dwarf, he couldn't help but feel the construction rather than just crossing it. He started admiring the bridge's build quality. Finally, he asked, "Am I on the right path to Concordia?"
Akira replied, "Yes, this path leads to a town and then to Concordia."
The dwarf nodded, "Yes, yes, I had to confirm because last time I was here, there was no good bridge. And this bridge is a masterpiece in itself. It's strong and built as if carved from a single massive stone. I can see that it's made with magic, but it's still very strong. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of people could cross it at once."
Akira then asked, "So, what do you think? Will it help you and other merchants?"
The dwarf replied, "Yes, it definitely will. I'm just a normal merchant dealing in raw materials and weapons. As they are heavy, the old bridge couldn't hold much weight, so I was limited to one donkey."
Akira then asked, "Are you going to the Ferrumhold Kingdom?"
The dwarf answered, "Yes, I am."
Akira said, "Why go through Concordia and not directly to Ferrumhold Kingdom through Duatt Kingdom?"
The dwarf replied, "Because of the dense forest between these two kingdoms. It's better to take the long, safer route than the short, dangerous one, especially for a single merchant with no escort."
Akira nodded, "You're right, that makes sense."
The merchant then said, "I will take my leave now, if you don't mind."
Akira replied, "Yes, sure. Be my guest." The merchant left with his donkey.
Akira thought to himself, "Just because he isn't disturbed by monsters or bandits doesn't mean no one else is. These bridges will bring a lot of attention to the town, I'm sure of it." Returning to the construction of the gate, Akira considered building a portcullis but decided not to do it now, as it required someone to operate it. He didn't want someone passing through and closing the gate behind them, blocking access. He decided to make one when he had someone to operate the place.
Akira then walked to the bridge connecting Concordia and Ferrumhold. In town, people were gathering outside the mansion because Jarvis had summoned carpenters and maids. The townspeople had new trust in the new leadership, expecting fair pay, unlike the previous lord who had made them work for free. This newfound trust was fueled by Archie and his friends, who constantly talked about how well they were treated and paid.
Jarvis saw people outside the mansion and invited them in one by one, explaining the work they had to do and the compensation they would receive. The work for men involved carpentry and guard duties, while women were hired as maids. If Jarvis found someone who could read or write, he would immediately hire them as his scribe. Their main job was to record essential information, such as the names of carpenters and guards, their pay, and their start dates. So far, Jarvis had found two literate individuals—one was assigned to make posters, and the other to record terms and conditions decided by Jarvis. The workload was significant. As Jarvis hired new people, Archie guided them on their tasks. People moved in and out of the mansion, which was currently guarded by ogres and goblins. The townspeople had become accustomed to them, though the children were still afraid.
Back in Concordia, Oliver went straight to Lord Leonard and informed him about the vanishing of Fate's base. He requested an order to close the city gates and prepare the troops for any situation. After listening, Lord Leonard ordered the gates to be closed and the troops to be ready at all times. Oliver mentioned that the Duatt soldiers might be responsible for the disappearance of Fate's base, or Fate might have joined them. He advised readiness for anything. When Oliver asked the guards about the army's location, they reported that the scouts had seen the army near Lord Henry's domain but now couldn't find them. Leonard then ordered more scouts to determine the army's whereabouts. He then turned to Oliver and said, "I told you we couldn't trust this Fate adventurer. This all seemed too easy to be true. Now, look what has happened. He might have joined the enemy. If that's the case, say goodbye to your head." Oliver, visibly nervous, pondered his next steps. Leonard ordered Oliver to leave and not return until he had good news. Oliver went to his room to gather his thoughts.
Back in the town, Akira successfully built another bridge connecting Babylon to the Ferrumhold Kingdom. As the sun set, Akira decided to call it a day and teleported to the mansion. Upon arrival, he saw everyone working hard and chose not to disturb them. He quietly observed the ogres guarding the place and figured they must be hungry due to their large appetites. With the little money he had, Akira asked the ogres to join him and went to the tavern.