Recaps

After defeating the Blazing Fire Tribe, Victor assessed Two Rivers Territory’s losses and spoils, then discovered an Eagle Tamer and a giant war eagle among the captives. He offered Morey a path to freedom in exchange for serving the territory, leaving Victor poised to develop eagle-based reconnaissance.

• Victor’s forces burned the fallen Blazing Fire soldiers, treated their own dead, shackled more than 1,700 prisoners, and recorded 187 deaths and 112 wounded.
• Victor claimed the Blazing Fire Tribe’s spoils, including more than 60,000 sheep, over 13,000 horses, and valuables taken from the Iron Palm Tribe.
• An Intelligence Department interrogation revealed that Morey and another captive were beast tamers sent by the Iron Bone Tribe, and that Morey had a trained Desert God Eagle named Gale.
• Victor learned that Morey’s expertise centered on techniques for luring and breeding Desert God Eagles, which could scout forces and carry messages.
• Victor offered Morey a detachment captain’s treatment, freedom after ten years of service, and 50 gold coins, while allowing him to keep five female slaves as wives and concubines.

Victor learned that Luoza’s rare horse-training expertise could improve the Two Rivers Territory’s horses and appointed him deputy director of its horse ranches. After resting and reorganizing at Green Lake Plain, Victor divided the troops into four forces to attack the remaining small tribes while he stayed behind to assess his officers.

• Victor questioned Luoza, learned how he could train horses to improve their abilities, and appointed him deputy director of the Two Rivers Territory horse ranches.
• Victor returned with the troops and spoils to Green Lake Plain, where the units rested and reorganized.
• After transport capacity became available, Victor divided the troops into four forces to target the remaining Number One, Number Three, Number Four, and Number Five tribes.
• Victor remained at Green Lake Plain with the Garrison Army’s First Detachment, the logistics detachment, and the Horseshoe Tribe’s Cavalry to provide support.
• Around July 12, the four forces set out, accompanied by Intelligence Department personnel who would report on their commanders’ performances.

Victor’s forces returned from clearing the Blazing Fire Tribe’s vassal tribes with large hauls of slaves, livestock, and gold, while Victor learned more about Luoza’s value as a horse expert. James’s pursuit of Tribe Four led him to a nearby allied tribe, and he sought Victor’s permission before attacking it.

• Victor took charge of feeding Gale, and Gale began asking him for food; Victor also valued Luoza’s expertise in horse training, breeding, and medicinal plants.
• Santos returned after defeating Tribe One, bringing more than eight hundred slaves, over eight thousand sheep, and sixteen hundred horses.
• Knight Jack’s and Ron’s detachments returned with thousands of slaves, sheep, horses, and gold, while no cattle were found among the tribes.
• When James’s detachment failed to return by July 20, Victor prepared to send support, but learned that Tribe Four had fled after hearing the Blazing Fire Tribe was destroyed.
• James pursued Tribe Four, defeated it, and regretted slaughtering nearly all its able-bodied young men, which violated Victor’s orders and reduced the value of the captives.
• James learned that Tribe Four had been heading to a nearby friendly tribe and notified Victor before deciding whether to attack it.

Victor joined James, punished him for disobeying orders, and learned that the nearby Moss Stone Tribe was a vassal of the powerful Horned Wolf Tribe. He ordered the army to return to Green Lake Plain and left future scouting of the Horned Wolf Tribe to the Horseshoe Tribe’s caravans.

• Victor reached James after three days of forced marching and relieved him as acting Regimental Commander, appointing Ron in his place.
• James told Victor that the Moss Stone Tribe was a vassal of the Horned Wolf Tribe, which could mobilize over ten thousand cavalrymen and had ties to the Iron Bone Tribe.
• James admitted he had retreated rather than attack the Moss Stone Tribe after learning about the Horned Wolf Tribe’s strength.
• Victor ordered James to erase the camp and lead the troops back to Green Lake Plain, saying the Horseshoe Tribe’s caravans would scout the route.
• The troops returned to Green Lake Plain, leaving no trace; years later, the Moss Stone Tribe’s people realized what had happened after they had become herding slaves of the Two Rivers Territory.

Victor returned to Wood Fort Town, reviewed the territory’s administration, and inspected the newly operating water-powered rolling mill as production and construction continued. A fleet from Iron Birch Territory arrived with an expected important guest, and Victor went to the docks to welcome them.

• Victor returned to Wood Fort Town after withdrawing the troops from Green Lake Plain and handed postwar matters to the General Staff.
• Victor reviewed the territory’s documents, while Number One identified minor problems and Victor ordered internal reviews.
• The Steelworks began rolling iron sheets with its new water-powered mill, and Victor planned to start laying track from the Steelworks in August.
• Victor learned that a fleet from Iron Birch Territory had docked at Wood Fort Town and went to the harbor to greet its visitor.

Victor met Alex at the docks, where Alex brought supplies, profits, armor, and warhorses from Iron Birch Territory. Victor recognized Veronica beneath a helmet and welcomed her to Two Rivers Territory.

• Victor greeted Alex at the docks and learned that Alex had brought flax, cotton, and copper ingots for Two Rivers Territory.
• Alex reported the flour business’s profits and agreed to reinvest them in fifty stone-mill flour machines from Victor’s Machine Factory.
• Alex presented fifty sets of Iron Knight armor and two hundred specially bred warhorses to Victor.
• Victor recognized the helmeted rider on a white warhorse as Veronica, leaped onto the horse, and steadied it.
• Veronica asked how Victor had recognized her, and Victor welcomed her to Two Rivers Territory.

Victor brought Veronica to his residence in Wood Fort Town, where she admired the town's orderly streets and tried his homemade ice cream. Alex explained that he would return to Iron Mountain Fortress the next day, and his marriage to Count Lloyd Ironvine's daughter revealed that Count Colt's alliance with the southern nobles was growing, though Alex warned that Silver Maple loyalists remained powerful.

• Victor stopped Veronica from removing her helmet in public, switched from the white horse to Grape, and led Veronica and Alex toward his residence.
• Veronica admired Wood Fort Town's clean, carefully planned streets as Victor promised to show her Sea Song Town.
• Victor served Veronica and Alex cold desserts, introduced them to ice cream, and explained how it was made.
• Alex said he planned to return to Iron Mountain Fortress the next day and had taken on more administrative duties after John left to inherit a viscount title in Hampshire.
• Alex told Victor he would marry Count Lloyd Ironvine's daughter from Cornwall County, then warned that many southern nobles remained loyal to the Silver Maple Family.

Alex explained the political conflict in Cornwall County and Count Lloyd’s weakened position to Victor. Victor asked Alex to search for natural rubber, then showed Veronica Wood Fort Town before returning with her after sunset.

• Alex told Victor that Count Lloyd’s faction had lost strength after supporting Mora in the civil war, while the loyalist nobles had gained influence by staying out of it.
• Alex said his father had begun cooperating with Count Lloyd but could not tell how sincere the count was, despite Alex’s upcoming marriage to the count’s third daughter.
• Victor asked Alex to have the second merchant fleet search for natural rubber, and Alex left the reception room, claiming he needed rest.
• Victor arranged for Veronica’s maids and clothes to be brought to the residence, and Veronica changed into a dress.
• Victor took Veronica on a carriage tour of Wood Fort Town’s completed districts, and they returned after sunset.

Alex departed for Sea Song Town after discussing the booming White Sugar trade and Iron Birch Territory’s plans with Victor and Veronica. In Two Rivers Territory, Veronica joined Victor at work and proved to be a remarkably capable administrative assistant, whom Number One identified as a genius.

• Victor teased Veronica and Victor about their marriage before discussing White Sugar profits, which Alex said could help Iron Birch Territory raise a new legion.
• Alex explained the planned White Sugar quotas and said Iron Birch Territory could meet its own arms needs; Veronica called Victor and Alex into the cabin as the wind picked up.
• The fleet dropped Victor and Veronica at Sea Song Town and continued south, while Veronica admired the town and said she wanted a residence closer to Victor.
• Veronica asked to watch Victor work instead of touring the territory, then began helping him organize documents and handle administrative affairs.
• Veronica quickly adapted to Victor and Number One’s KPI system, and Number One concluded that her exceptional intellect made her a true genius.

Veronica mastered Victor’s Basic Education 3.0 textbooks in ten days and became the Two Rivers Territory’s leading scientific talent. Victor appointed her scientific advisor and tasked her with organizing a low-speed diesel engine project, while they planned an early wedding despite Viscount Benjamin’s demands that she return home.

• Veronica rapidly mastered the textbooks and applied advanced mathematical ideas to practical problems, astonishing Victor and Number One.
• Victor taught Veronica for more than a month, recognized her value to the territory’s scientific development, and appointed her scientific advisor with an annual budget and authority to recruit experts.
• Veronica proposed a centralized research room in Wood Fort Town, where she led a team tasked with designing a low-speed diesel engine for ships and railways.
• Veronica rejected Viscount Benjamin’s repeated demands to return home, and Victor stopped her from falsely claiming she was pregnant.
• Victor asked Viscount Benjamin to approve an early wedding and informed his father, Wembley, while sending a fleet of supplies to demonstrate his sincerity.

Victor organized Two Rivers Territory’s factories, labor, farmland, livestock, and expanding borders as its population and resources grew. He planned to finish military awards and hold a collective wedding and Harvest Festival at the end of the year.

• Veronica took charge of factory production while Victor was freed from daily travel between Riverside Village and Wood Fort Town.
• James brought 12,000 slaves to Green Valley Territory, increasing mining output and helping the Steelworks raise its monthly iron production to 150 tons.
• Two Rivers Territory’s population surpassed 100,000, its winter wheat harvest replenished grain reserves, and nearly ten thousand slaves began work on irrigation for newly cleared farmland.
• Victor expanded the territory north along the Great Fish River, allocating land for farmland, grazing, and winter livestock pens.
• Victor divided the horse ranch into warhorse and ordinary ranches, placing them under Luoza and Adelaide respectively.
• Victor planned to complete military merit awards before holding a collective wedding and the territory’s first Harvest Festival at the end of October.

Victor planned how to settle new Freemen, relocate military families, and limit future slave purchases as Two Rivers Territory approached its population capacity. He approved a campaign merit and reward plan that granted land, money, supplies, and freedom to soldiers’ families, leaving the territory with fewer reserves but ample funds.

• Victor planned to distribute newly freed indentured workers among three villages and move more than three thousand military family members from Golden Sunflower Territory to Pasture Village.
• Victor sent half the campaign’s seized gold and silver to Former Baron Wembley to help replenish Golden Sunflower Territory’s population.
• Victor reduced next year’s slave purchases to around ten thousand and prioritized integrating existing slaves into the territory.
• On September 4, the General Staff and Civil Administration submitted their merit and reward plan, and Victor and Number One reviewed and revised it.
• Victor approved rewards for the campaign’s combat and logistics troops, including land, money, goods, and the release of more than four thousand soldiers’ family members from serfdom.
• Victor funded land and tools for the new Freemen, pensions for fallen and wounded soldiers, and a military cemetery, while retaining enough working capital to cover the costs.

Victor assessed how land rewards and the territory’s food and livestock needs required Two Rivers Territory to expand. He chose to develop about 800 square kilometers south of the Great Fish River and left plans for surveying and settlement construction underway.

• Victor calculated that future Freeman leases and crop rotation would require far more land, so Two Rivers Territory needed at least 500 square kilometers suitable for development.
• Victor ruled out further expansion north of the Great Fish River and chose the area south of it, avoiding the unsuitable Red Soil Wasteland and conflict with James’s Green Valley Territory.
• Victor planned to develop 500 square kilometers along the eastern coast and 300 inland to the west, using Riverside Village and Green Field Village as starting points for new settlements.
• Victor ordered scouting units to survey both sides of the great forest before winter and instructed Number One to prepare development plans with the Calculation Module.
• Victor sent trophies and chieftains’ heads from the Blazing Fire Tribe campaign to Iron Birch Territory, hoping Count Colt could exchange them for war merit and additional development rights.

Victor convened officials to review Two Rivers Territory’s finances, trade, agriculture, livestock, and industrial needs as thousands of people prepared to become freemen. The meeting ended with plans to expand sugar production and address shortages of silage and cement in next year’s budget.

• Victor introduced Veronica Golden Pear as his fiancée and said she would become mistress of the Golden Sunflower Family next spring.
• Powell reported on the territory’s population and explained that single slaves had been registered as separate households.
• Rabik reported 8,400 gold coins in total trade income, while Tony reported record sugar beet yields and 134 tons of White Sugar in storage.
• Victor ordered a one-fifth increase in sugar beet acreage and 10 tons of new sugar for the victory celebration.
• Luoza reported on plans to grow the warhorse ranch’s stock, and Adelaide requested more funding to expand silage storage.
• Levant warned that cement shortages could hinder livestock and dock construction, so Victor asked Jimmy about expanding cement production; Jimmy said the plant needed more workers.

Victor reviewed factory wages, production, and railway progress at a development conference, approving factory relocations and plans to sell surplus armor. The meeting ended with preparations to complete the wooden railway and begin testing iron rails.

• Victor questioned the low wages at the brickworks and cement plant, but Jimmy argued that workers' combined farm and factory income was already high and advised against raises.
• Jimmy proposed moving the brickworks and cement plant to the north bank of the Great Fish River, and Victor approved the relocation and left site selection to him.
• Bob reported increased armor and farm-tool production, and Victor asked Tony's Commerce Department to prepare a plan to sell weapons externally.
• Rafam reported that the wooden railway was eighty percent complete and that trial operations had increased transport efficiency fourfold.
• Victor ordered Rafam to compile railway and railcar data, directed the Steelworks to begin trial production of iron rails, and told Bob to cooperate with Rafam.

Victor reviewed Two Rivers Territory’s agricultural, medical, irrigation, tax, and financial progress at a development conference. After agreeing to revise next year’s budget, he began hearing reports from the towns and villages, with Powell starting for Wood Fort Town.

• Victor asked Sam about winter wheat preparations, and Sam reported that the farmland, labor, tools, and livestock were ready for November planting.
• Isaac reported on medicinal plant cultivation and hospital services, including progress toward growing northern sage and other useful herbs locally.
• Zarack reported that irrigation construction was progressing steadily but remained constrained by cement production, so Victor ordered Jimmy to expand cement output.
• Buffon reported that the territory had collected 3,100 gold in taxes so far and expected further agricultural taxes and loan repayments by year’s end.
• Weber reported that this year’s spending had exceeded its budget and recommended revising next year’s plan, which Victor agreed to do.
• Powell began the settlement reports by offering to report on Wood Fort Town.

Victor reviewed the territory’s settlements, agriculture, and industrial plans, then asked Veronica to report on a secret research project. Veronica revealed that her team had completed a small prototype of a machine that could power vehicles without people or animals.

• Powell reported Wood Fort Town’s population and development, and Victor thanked him for his work.
• Vincent reported Sea Song Town’s population and plans for its harbor, shipyard, and trade fleet.
• Mala and Rafam discussed Red Soil Village’s Iron Bean harvest, while Adelaide and Fam reported on Pasture Village and Green Field Village.
• Victor ended the meeting and asked Powell, Orlando, Veronica, Weber, Bob, and Rafam to remain.
• Bob and Rafam praised Veronica’s work resolving factory problems, and Veronica described the prototype’s potential to power carriages and ships.
• Victor asked Veronica to take the group to the research lab to see the completed prototype.

Victor visited the research facility and saw Internal Combustion Engine Number One, a diesel-powered rail machine capable of hauling heavy loads. The group learned it could greatly increase ore transport, though its weight and maintenance needs limited its usefulness on the current tracks.

• Victor asked Number One how to keep money circulating within Two Rivers Territory, and Number One proposed supply-and-marketing cooperatives and state-run stores.
• Victor and the others arrived at the research facility, where Veronica showed them the completed engine prototype.
• Veronica explained that the eight-ton engine ran on Sunflower Oil and could haul three carriages loaded with twenty tons each at five to six kilometers per hour.
• Powell realized the engine could transport cargo for over a hundred kilometers without stopping, and Veronica clarified that it could haul sixty tons in total.
• Weber calculated that the engine could deliver up to nine hundred tons of ore monthly, but Veronica estimated seven to eight hundred tons after accounting for maintenance and track damage.

Victor demonstrated Internal Combustion Engine Number One to Powell, Weber, and Orlando, explaining that it could power ships as well as rail vehicles. He then gave Orlando new security instructions and ordered an Intelligence Department team to monitor Silver Maple City.

• Veronica started Internal Combustion Engine Number One, and the machine roared to the excitement of Powell, Weber, and Orlando.
• Victor asked the others to keep the demonstration secret and told Veronica to go home after finishing her work.
• Victor ordered Orlando to strengthen laboratory security and said the garrison regiment should help protect the machine during its steelworks trial.
• Orlando reported that the duchy-wide survey was progressing, that Bria County had been mapped, and that Dane was being trained before returning to the Blood Scorpion Tribe.
• Victor directed Orlando to send an Intelligence Department action team with the Gorn Trading Company to Silver Maple City to report any changes there.

Victor worried that Two Rivers Territory’s expansion would strain administration and communication, then decided to pursue telegraph technology using a generator powered by the low-speed diesel engine. He gave Veronica the plans and told her they would sail to Iron Mountain Fortress the next day, without explaining why.

• Victor worried that distant settlements and the Intelligence Department’s work would suffer from slow, unreliable message delivery.
• Victor and Number One discussed the costs of territorial expansion, and Number One pointed out that the newly completed low-speed diesel engine could power a generator for telegraphs and telephones.
• Victor authorized the Combat Assistance Module and began drawing generator plans.
• Victor gave Veronica the blueprints and documents, and she marveled at the prospect of communicating across hundreds of miles.
• Victor told Veronica they would leave by ship for Iron Mountain Fortress the next day, but kept their purpose for the visit secret.

Victor took Veronica by ship toward Northwind City on their way to Iron Mountain Fortress, persuading her that the trip would not disrupt her engine research. After receiving and approving a military-rank proposal, he had a sudden idea after Veronica said she wished she could fly, and began sketching a hot-air balloon.

• Victor brought Veronica aboard Rogier’s reinforced fleet and promised they would return to Two Rivers Territory before September 15.
• Little Paru delivered a General Staff message by Gale, and Victor approved the revised military-rank proposal before sending his reply back.
• Gale flew off with the message as the sailors admired its flight, and Veronica said she wished she could fly too.
• Victor abruptly led Veronica into the cabin, where she found him drawing a design for a hot-air balloon.

Victor explained hot air balloons to Veronica, who quickly developed a burner design and proposed a linen-and-silk envelope. She wanted to return to Two Rivers Territory to build a prototype, but Victor insisted on continuing to Iron Mountain Fortress, where he had important business to handle; the fleet was nearing Northwind City.

• Victor explained how heated air provided lift and described the hot air balloon's envelope, burner, and basket to Veronica.
• Veronica assessed Victor's burner blueprint and proposed using a linen envelope reinforced with silk near the burner and at the joints.
• Veronica urged Victor to turn the ship around and return to Two Rivers Territory so she could build a hot air balloon, but he refused because he needed to visit Iron Mountain Fortress.
• Victor and his companions continued sailing for two days, while Gale carried messages between the fleet and Two Rivers Territory.
• On the third morning, Victor told Little Paru and Gale to rest because the fleet would reach Northwind City in three hours, after which the group would go to Iron Mountain Fortress.

Victor traveled with Veronica from Northwind City toward Iron Mountain Fortress, where he unexpectedly encountered her father, Viscount Benjamin. Benjamin challenged Victor to teach him a lesson for keeping Veronica away, but Veronica said Benjamin was no match for him.

• Port supervisor Letho welcomed Victor and arranged for workers to unload the fleet's cargo while Rogier coordinated the delivery.
• Rogier told Letho that Veronica was Benjamin's daughter and Victor's fiancée, then learned Benjamin had been staying at Iron Mountain Fortress for a week.
• Victor and Veronica rode toward the fortress and sent a messenger ahead to announce their arrival.
• A cavalry troop bearing the Golden Pear Territory crest charged at Victor, who blocked the lead knight's sword strike.
• Victor stopped his guards from retaliating and identified the knight as Viscount Benjamin.
• Benjamin declared that he would teach Victor a lesson for keeping Veronica from returning home, while Veronica warned him that Victor was too strong for him.

Victor reunited with Viscount Benjamin’s officers while Benjamin and Veronica argued over her stay in Two Rivers Territory. As Victor tried to calm the dispute, Benjamin turned away from him, leaving the others to wonder whether Victor could win him over.

• Viscount Benjamin accused Victor of keeping Veronica from home, but Veronica defended Victor and said she had chosen to stay longer.
• Victor greeted Baron Raymond Majulan and offered him a loan and discounted supplies, but Raymond declined, explaining that his territory was already deeply in debt and he was satisfied with its progress.
• Victor reflected on James’s dependence on Two Rivers Territory and on how his own resources and military spoils had helped make his territory powerful.
• Pim urged Victor to speak with Benjamin before the party departed for Iron Mountain Fortress, and the officers began betting on whether he would succeed.
• Victor took Veronica’s hand, asked her to get some water, and approached Benjamin, who turned away rather than speak with him.

Victor and Viscount Benjamin joined Count Colt and Alex at Iron Mountain Fortress, where they learned that Raine Kingdom factions planned to expose Iron Birch Territory’s secret treaty with the Raine Kingdom military to Grand Duke Mora. Count Colt feared that the revelation would convince Northern Frontier nobles to abandon the Iron Birch Family.

• Victor whispered to Viscount Benjamin, who changed his attitude and returned to the group with him, while Pim made a small profit.
• Victor and Viscount Benjamin arrived at Iron Mountain Fortress and met Count Colt and Alex for a private discussion.
• Alex explained that Western Nobles in the Raine Kingdom planned to alert Grand Duke Mora to Iron Birch Territory’s cooperation with the Raine Kingdom military so Mora would move against the Iron Birch Family.
• Alex revealed that the Western Nobles had obtained the secret treaty, aided by conflicts between reformist and conservative factions within the Raine Kingdom military.
• Count Colt said the revelation could make Northern Frontier nobles doubt their Raine Kingdom backing and betray the Iron Birch Family.