New Beginnings for the city

Ryan started building a kiln on the outskirts of the city of Bathsheba. He chose a location far from the city to ensure that the emissions from the kiln—smoke, dust, and potentially harmful gases—wouldn't affect the residents.

When Ryan, accompanied by Gilbert and Nalia, arrived at the construction site, the workers greeted them warmly, smiles lighting up their faces.

"Good morning, Lord Ryan!" the workers constructing the kiln called out, their voices mingling with the sounds of construction.

Ryan simply nodded back in acknowledgment.

At that moment, two kilns were under construction. Ryan believed that this number would suffice for the time being, considering the benefits were not immediately apparent and the current demand was low.

Even Gilbert, standing by Ryan's side, looked over the construction site and questioned, "Your Highness, forgive me, but is it truly worth investing so much wealth in building such an unusual facility?"

Ryan understood that Gilbert was unaware of the kilns' potential, referring to them as an unusual facility. So, Ryan merely responded with a smile, leaving Gilbert and Nalia in suspense, as they were genuinely curious about what Ryan intended to create.

Their curiosity was justified; after all, Ryan had allocated the wealth they had acquired from the former city officials and elders, as well as materials like metals and bricks from those officials' residences, to dismantle and repurpose for his "Kiln" project.

Additionally, Ryan halted the other ongoing construction projects in the city to cut costs, making the kiln the only active construction site. As a result, many workers lost their jobs. Initially, they had been fond of Ryan because he had settled the debts left by the previous lord, but their view of him soured when they found themselves unemployed due to his decision to stop the other projects.

However, Ryan anticipated this backlash and had a plan to mitigate it. Instead of leaving the laborers unemployed, he offered them new positions—not as construction workers, but as soldiers in his service.

Indeed, dozens of former laborers were offered employment by Ryan, this time to be trained as soldiers. This strategy aimed to alleviate their unemployment and maintain their support, turning a potential negative situation into an opportunity for both Ryan and the laborers.

---

[City of Bathsheba]

-A few days later-

It's been several days since the corrupt city officials and elders were confined to the dungeon in the lord's castle. During this time, under Ryan's leadership, significant changes have been made throughout the city.

One noticeable improvement is the cleanliness of the streets, which previously were marred by animal and human waste. They are now considerably cleaner.

Ryan has organized teams for regular cleaning and has also urged the citizens to collect and dispose of waste, particularly the notably foul-smelling refuse accumulated at their homes. Furthermore, Ryan has applied his modern understanding to share basic agricultural knowledge with the local farmers, introducing the concept of using human waste as fertilizer.

Despite their initial revulsion, the farmers complied with Ryan's directives, recognizing his authority as the lord of the city.

In addition to these changes, Ryan is actively training his soldiers. He leads them in jogging exercises around the city to enhance their fitness and instill discipline.

Those who initially doubted Ryan, viewing him as nothing more than a weak, illegitimate prince, are now forced to acknowledge his surprising strength and capability.

In the meantime, Ryan is eagerly anticipating the return of merchants for trade, which is crucial for the city's economy.

He understands the importance of generating revenue not only to continue the kiln project but also to fund other infrastructure developments like bathhouses, washrooms, and a sewage system.

For the time being, given the city's limited budget, Ryan has applied his contemporary knowledge to devise a cost-effective sewage solution suitable for the situation. He has constructed a simple yet effective drainage system that collects animal and human waste.

This not only addresses sanitation issues but also allows for the collected waste to be repurposed as fertilizer, turning a problem into a valuable resource for agriculture.

---

On the roads of Thornvale that lead to the city of Bathsheba, a caravan of merchants travels, their wagons loaded with goods.

Accompanying them are adventurers, serving as guards to protect the convoy from any dangers that might lurk along the path.

In one of the carriages, Merchant Henrik turns to his son, who has been eagerly peering out the window.

"We're getting close, aren't we?" his son asks, his eyes full of anticipation.

Henrik nods, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"We should be," he says, his voice filled with a mix of exhaustion and excitement. "Why don't you ask Martin? He's been this way more times than I can count."

The young boy leans out of the carriage, catching the attention of one of the coachmen, Martin.

"Are we near Bathsheba yet?" he asks, his voice tinged with hope.

Martin, gripping the reins firmly, glances back over his shoulder and offers a reassuring grin. "Aye, not much longer now. You'll be seeing the city gates before you know it."

The young boy's name is Tomas, and his excitement stems from this being his first journey outside the Mayan City, a notable city within the Valthorn Kingdom, nestled close to the Thornvale region.

This trip is particularly special for him, as he has the chance to accompany his father, Henrik, on one of his trading expeditions to the city of Bathsheba.

Henrik watched Tomas with a mix of affection and sorrow. He understood all too well the harsh realities awaiting them. Although Tomas was brimming with anticipation, dreaming of the wonders and riches of new places, Bathsheba was far from the bustling, prosperous city the boy imagined.

It was, in fact, struggling and impoverished. Henrik knew this first-hand from his regular trading trips, but he had not had the heart to temper his son's enthusiasm with the grim truths of their destination.

What Merchant Henrik and his companions were unaware of was the transformation the city had undergone under Lucas's rule.

Previously, Bathsheba had been mired in corruption, neglecting even the basic sanitation needs of its people.

Although the changes under Lucas might not seem monumental to an outsider, they represented a significant improvement from the days when corrupt officials and elders ran the city.

The strides made were already substantial, marking a new beginning for Bathsheba.