Carpenter William

Steward Chahar chose the northeast corner of the Outer Castle as the location for the squat toilets.

It was far from the gates of Mountain Forest Castle, separated from the Inner Castle by walls, and quite a distance from the main building where Luo Ning lived. There was no need to worry about any foul smells drifting over.

After spending these days together, Chahar had come to understand his lord's obsession with cleanliness. For example, he took a bath every day and changed into freshly washed clothes daily. He was even cleaner than some noble ladies.

But Chahar did not find it strange.

Every noble had their own peculiar habits. A quiet preference like Luo Ning's was already quite easy to accommodate.

They dug a pit, placed a ceramic vat inside, and laid Wooden Boards over it. The simple squat toilet was complete.

However, there was not enough time to build a shelter today, so it could only remain an open-air squat toilet.

Luo Ning took a brief look and nodded in approval.

There was nothing technically demanding about such a primitive squat toilet. With the detailed blueprints he had drawn, anyone could build it accurately.

"This is basically it, though the vat is a little too small."

He gave Chahar some suggestions for improvement. "There are more than twenty servants in the castle. You need to ask Callus to make several larger vats. Or see whether there are any masons who can dig a large, leakproof pit in the ground to replace the Ceramic Vats. As long as the waste water does not seep away, that will meet the requirements."

There was no cement here, and Luo Ning did not know whether there were materials that could replace cement and provide a proper seal. That was why he had chosen vats from the beginning.

"Yes, my lord!"

Chahar memorized the suggestion. "I already went to the blacksmith shop this afternoon to ask. Callus promised he could make larger Ceramic Vats, but he needs time."

Making Ceramic Vats was not particularly difficult. Even ordinary commoners could make small clay jars themselves.

Luo Ning nodded. "Whichever method you use is fine, and using both together is fine too. In any case, the castle cannot possibly have only one or two toilets."

"Also, tell Callus that the castle will not seize the results of his labor. I hope he can make the Ceramic Vats without worry, but the quality must be guaranteed!"

It was only a small matter. After giving his instructions, Luo Ning left the site, leaving Chahar behind to ponder what method would best satisfy his lord.

Still, no matter how he thought about it, he could not imagine using diluted waste water as fertilizer. Could vegetables grown that way really be eaten?

Besides, his lord was obsessed with cleanliness on one hand, yet fascinated by building toilets on the other. They were truly two extremes.

But doubts were doubts. Chahar still carried out everything Luo Ning instructed with meticulous care. The two did not conflict.

"Come on, let's go ask the town's masons," he said to the two servants beside him.

Meanwhile, the male servant Gallon brought several guards to Uncle Carpenter William's home.

The old man was currently instructing his son on how to make a cabinet.

The moment he saw Gallon and the guards arrive, his expression changed dramatically.

News of Prinster's betrayal of the lord had long since spread. Even those bedridden in town knew a little about it, and William was no exception.

Because of it, he had barely eaten or slept these past few days, constantly restless and uneasy.

He feared that because Prinster had hired him to build the castle's Wooden Houses, the lord would hold him accountable and accuse him of being an accomplice to the traitor.

He had even considered leaving Mountain Forest Town with his wife and son, but ultimately gave up on the idea.

Although William's family were free citizens, it was difficult to suddenly leave the place where they had lived their entire lives and try to survive in another unfamiliar city.

Fortunately, after waiting two days, he realized that the lord had no intention of punishing him. The lord had even sent the mysterious Light Attribute Magic caster, Lord Elrond, around to treat the Injured Persons.

He came to realize that the one at Mountain Forest Castle might truly be a kind lord.

But he had not expected that what he feared would still come. The castle guards had arrived at his home after all.

The moment William saw them, his heart seemed to plunge into a basin of icy water, chilling him to the bone.

"My lord, what is this about?" he asked uneasily.

Gallon was momentarily dazed. He had never imagined that someone would one day call him "my lord." The feeling was... quite strange.

Sure enough, entering the castle to serve the lord had been the right choice.

Though the other man treated him respectfully, Gallon did not forget Luo Ning's instructions. He maintained a very polite attitude and even performed the etiquette he had learned from Chahar.

"Uncle William, my name is Gallon. I am a servant of Baron Luo Ning of Mountain Forest Castle. I came today to invite you to the castle. The lord seems to have something he wishes to entrust to you."

Hearing this, William's tense heart eased slightly. Still somewhat nervous, he asked, "May I ask what the lord wants me for?"

Gallon shook his head.

He did not know Luo Ning's purpose. But remembering how the lord had spent the entire afternoon experimenting with that piece of wood, and was now looking for a carpenter, it was probably related to that Black Ironwood.

Still, having learned from past experience, he would not make wild guesses about things he did not know for certain.

"I'm not too sure. You'll find out once you come to the castle with me."

Gallon said, "The lord is waiting for you over there. Don't keep him waiting too long."

"Yes, yes, yes, my lord. Please wait a moment. I'll come to the castle with you right away." William hurriedly turned back to gather his tools.

Before long, Gallon brought the carpenter to the outside of the Inner Castle's main building.

Once William was sure that the lord did not intend to punish him, his mood improved. Looking at the main building before him, which he had overseen the construction of, he felt a surge of accomplishment.

For a carpenter, nothing was more gratifying than seeing his own masterpiece.

After waiting for a moment, a figure emerged from the main building.

William immediately straightened up and maintained a respectful posture.

Compared with the last time, when he had only glimpsed the lord's face from afar on the pasture, he could now see him much more clearly.

The lord truly was worthy of being the son of a great noble family. He looked so noble and handsome, carried himself with such calm elegance, and inspired a sense of awe and admiration at first sight.

"Your subject, William, is honored to meet you, esteemed Lord!" William greeted him with a solemn bow.

"I'm glad to meet you too, Uncle William!" Luo Ning replied in a very easygoing manner.

That form of address left the old carpenter feeling flattered and overwhelmed for a moment, unsure how to respond.

"I called you here today mainly because there is something I want you to take a look at." As he spoke, Luo Ning led William to the section of Black Ironwood lying nearby.

"This is wood from the Black Forest?" Carpenter William recognized the source of the log section at a glance.

Luo Ning raised an eyebrow. "You know about it?"

The question touched upon William's proudest field. He could not help laughing. "My lord, I'm not bragging, but I've been through every forest around Mountain Forest Town. There isn't a type of timber I don't know!"

Luo Ning smiled and listened.

Whether William was bragging or not, the fact that he had recognized the log section as coming from the Black Forest at a glance made Luo Ning think more highly of him.

"The trees in the Black Forest are extremely hard. Prinster once wanted to use them to build this house, but they were too troublesome to fell, so nothing came of it."

"They cannot be used as building materials, and woodcutters do not want to waste the effort cutting them down and hauling them home for firewood. Over time, no one paid much attention to the Black Forest anymore."

This surprised Luo Ning somewhat. He had not expected Prinster to have discovered the Black Forest long ago, much less that the man had failed to understand the value of Black Ironwood even after finding it.

He had truly picked up a bargain.

"Uncle William, the castle servants all say you are highly skilled. I would like to see it for myself."

Luo Ning pointed at the log section on the ground. "Black Ironwood is hard enough to make breastplates, shields, and offensive spears. I would like you to make a set for me."

Carpenter William froze upon hearing that.

All this time, he had believed wood was used for building houses and making furniture. He had never considered that it could be developed into armor and weapons.

Luo Ning's words immediately opened up his mind, and he could not help exclaiming, "My lord, you truly are a genius!"

Looking at the log section on the ground, images of armor and spears had already appeared in his mind. He also believed that, given the hardness of the Black Iron Tree, the things made from it would certainly prove useful.

William suppressed his eager urge to try and began seriously considering how to make them.

"My lord, making the things you mentioned should not be a problem. But you know how hard Black Ironwood is. It would be rather difficult for my son and me to fell it and transport it home in large quantities!"

Black Ironwood was not only hard, but also heavy.

Even this log section, just over a meter long, would take some effort for an ordinary adult man to lift.

Not to mention relying only on William and his son to carry it all the way back from the west.

"Don't worry about that. I will arrange manpower for you. You and your son should devote your strength to making them. Do not waste it on transporting and felling trees."

"Also, you must keep what you make for me confidential, and I will pay you additional compensation."

When William heard that the lord not only would not force him to work for free, but was even willing to pay him, he was immediately overwhelmed with gratitude and joy.

"Praise the lord! You truly are a kind and enlightened lord!"

As he spoke, he humbly bent at the waist to a full ninety degrees. "William is honored to serve you!"

"Very good. I will draw up a reasonable wage and production plan for you."

Luo Ning nodded and smiled. "Before that, you can take these log sections back and study them carefully. The sooner you can show me the Finished Products, the better!"

Thank you, Lord Youye Hongyu, for the reward, and thank you all for your votes~