Louis draped a coat over his shoulders and stepped out through the castle's main entrance.
Beneath his feet was a packed dirt road that branched out from the central square in every direction.
Houses clustered tightly together, bonfires and cooking smoke swaying in the cold wind, painting a scene brimming with life.
This was no longer just that crude little camp.
Centered on the castle, the Red Tide Fief's residential district spread outward like ripples, with streets, markets, warehouses, workshops...
Everything was growing rapidly.
He could clearly sense that the beginnings of a town were already taking shape here.
Perhaps with another year of development, it could be called Red Tide City.
And as the population grew, the fief's prosperity would also draw covetous eyes.
Perhaps it was time to start building a simple perimeter wall.
He quietly made a mental note of the plan.
Even from a distance, Louis spotted a company of knights approaching through a cloud of dust.
At their head was a plump youth riding a black-maned horse.
"Boss!!" Joern waved excitedly, nearly tumbling off his horse.
The knights escorted several heavily laden wagons, piled with sacks and wooden crates so heavy they looked ready to snap the axles.
Louis hurried over to greet him. "What brings you here?"
Joern leaped off his horse, grinning like a child, and patted the grain wagon beside him. "My old man was worried I'd starve to death this winter, so he had a whole load of grain sent over!"
He puffed out his chest proudly, his eyes shining with the peculiar innocence of a rich man's son.
"Especially since I earned a second-class commendation at the front this time. The old man was thrilled and showered me with supplies. Nine-tenths of the credit goes to you. I was passing