A week quickly passed. In one week Will had helped begin the revitalization process.

The first and second days were mostly spent visiting farmland. He visited each farm and cast [fertile soil] and [nature's blessing]. After decades of decline, only about 60% of the farmlands were operational. Will visited these farms first, and then slowly worked his way down the list. As these farmlands were massive, he was happy to have finished them in two days.

On the third day of the week, Baron James vont Ballard publicly bestowed his Will to four barren farms for his effort revitalizing the existing farms. Will and his father had earlier agreed on this plan. This was the second step to revitalize the barony. After the announcement, Will went to the merchant guildhall to purchase soy seeds.

Outside the capital and Guidon, guild halls existed. Guild Halls were small two-story buildings where dukes, marquis, counts, viscounts, barons, and the fortunate baronets negotiated prices and fees with local merchants, crafters, etc. However, guild halls were merely representatives of their larger brethren, and who acted as intermediaries. Guild Halls were similar to bank branches. The guildhalls used pigeons to relay information quickly to the closest main brank in either the capital or Guidon.

On the third day, Will visited the quaint little Merchant Hall. Karl was inside sitting behind a desk.

"Greetings Karl, it has been a while," said Will smiling. When he first traveled to the Guidon he rode with Karl. Although, he spent more time reading than speaking.

"You and I both have managed to come up, we certainly have," He said shaking Will's hand.

"Come up? Did you get a promotion?" Will asked curiously.

"I certainly did! Now, I am the Hall Master!" He said proudly.

"Congratulations, I can think of no one better," Will said coyly.

"Well, thank you young master William. But truth be told, it's been rather boring here. I miss the excitement of the road, it's a little stuffy in here," he said.

"Let me see if I can liven this up for you then. I need to purchase all the soy seeds on the market. I also need experts in cultivating soy seeds, and experts in making soy foods, soups, and oil," Will said.

"Oh, that certainly will liven things up in here. I will send a pigeon right away to inquire. It usually takes three days to get a message back," he said.

Will missed the internet, transactions moved slowly out here in the barony. Will left the Merchant Hall and walked to the Crafters Hall.

"Good day…young master Will!" said the clerk a rough bearded man with rippling muscles. He was reading a report not looking up, and when he looked up and noticed Will, he said the last bit in excitement.

"Greetings to you as well. I'd like to build six large warehouses, two barns, and four farmhouses near the farmland my father gave me,"

"Six!," shouted the man standing up, apparently the number sound outrageous.

"Yes, six. How much will that cost?" Will asked surprised at how animated this person acted.

"Please forgive me for not introducing myself, my name is Rowan. I am the Crafts Hall Master, it is an honor to make your acquaintance," he said, not used to etiquette, he bowed so fast and low he accidentally banged his head on his workbench.

"It is a privilege to meet you, I am William vont Ballard, third son of the baron," Will formally greeted the man.

"To answer your question sir, that would be a big project for this barony. It would use all of our labor. I'd say we could build everything for around…5,000 gold," he said nervously. Will could tell that amount sounded astronomical to him, but to Will, 5,000 gold sounded low. Will examined the man, he could see him sweating, he guessed he low-balled the number because of baron's son.

"If wanted the crafters to do a good job, not a rush job what would the about actually be?" he said, glaring at the Hall Master.

"If you want a thorough job, 10,000 is the amount. I know it sounds high but,…." he quickly offered up an explanation, but Will cut him off.

"That's fine. Here take 11,000 in case you are still low-balling the actual number," Will said before reaching into his pockets to hand over the coin. He chuckled, it cost the same to build six larger warehouses, two barns, and four farmhouses in the barony, as it did to purchase a burnt building in Guidon. Before Will left he reminded the crafter to make sure and pay 10 coppers a day on time. He did not want people saying he didn't pay people.

On the fourth day, Will visited the Town Mayor to purchase a contract with four farm families to cultivate his soybean crops. He wanted the families to move into the farmhouses. The town hall was a two-story wooden house. Will realized the merchant, crafter, and townhalls were all two stories. The other townhouse was all single-story deteriorating houses. Several houses looked dilapidated.

"Greetings Mayor," Will said slightly bowing his head.

"Please to meet you, Sir. William vont Ballard," said the Mayor, bowing his head low respectfully. "You have been very busy in one week. This town hasn't moved this much in decades."

"You honor me mayor, but I wish to see you about a separate matter," Will said returning the respectful tone.

"Oh really? If this old man can be of some assistance please ask?" he said chuckling.

"Honorable mayor, I am a merchant who wishes to contract with four families to work my farms. Their payment will be deducted from their wages, but they'll need to stay in the farmhouse adjacent to my farms," Will informed him of his request.

"Young master Will, we've never written a contract for such endeavors. The townsfolk can't even read, how can they sign a contract?" He said.

"If you can read, you may represent their interest. As a merchant, I only do business with people I trust. I trust people who sign contracts. Although, I'm willing to pay a finder's fee," Will said coyly offering to bride the mayor to bring forth talented farmers and farmhands.

"You are very wise, for someone so young. It would be a great service to identify some families for you. I imagine there will be great interest," he said pocketing the finder's fee.

Will continue to roam the barony, casting [rock wall] to improve some of the townhouses; especially his family's manor.

The last night Will stayed in the barony, he received a message from Karl. The soy seeds cost 23 silver a gram, an outrageous price but there were many. The good news, the Merchant Guild sent the seeds with the notice. Will had good credit with the guild. The Merchant Guild in the capital had three contracts with people who could produce soy goods. However, the soy experts had to come from a distant eastern empire, and their contracts were for 80 silver a month, this was a robbery. Of course, the Merchant Guild wanted three months' payment upfront. Will visited Karl and handed over the money and purchased a trade route from the barony to Guidon to deliver the finished products.

Then he visited Rowan at the crafters' hall and explain he wanted the guild to build whatever the experts asked and gave him more than 1,000 more gold to cover the fees. The remainder should go to the farmers who agreed to contract with him to plant the soy.

This was still the first week, of the first summer month. Although it was late in the season to plant soybeans, Will was not looking for a large yield. He simply wanted to test the soy experts and see what their capabilities were.

Also on the last night, the baron decreed the town would hold a festival in Will's honor. Lanterns were hung from townhouses to townhouses, a large board was spun over a fire, a giant bonfire blazed in the town's square. The townsfolk celebrated in one week, crafters, farmers, and merchants were busy working. Will expenditure of coin flood the little barony's market. People who were impoverished a week ago now had money to pay their taxes and effort let over. Seeing the barony's coffers finally filling, the baron announced a tax cut, which thrilled the townsfolk.

Of course, there are two sides to every coin, the massive injection of coin into the market also increase inflation. The cost of bread rose since demand rose. The coin was not an effort to destabilize the market, but an effort where it would the market two months to find an equilibrium.

Will, Marcus, and their parents walked along the town's streets. People were smiling, drinking, eating, singing, kissing, everyone was in great spirits. They laughed as they watched people playing reversi inside the tavern. People in the tavern cheered as the vont Ballards entered. Marcus began telling the crowd about his adventures, captivating the crowd. Whenever he finished one story, he begin another. Eventually, James, Helen, and Will left Marcus in the tavern to settle by the bonfire. Children and young maidens dance around the bonfire holding hands spinning in a circle. Since James had dismissed the staff for the evening, April was dancing with the townsfolk.

The moonlit glow and the flames whipping of April's large chest again piqued Will's interest. As she danced, April looked at Will smiling. She always smiled around Will. April was around 20 years old, six years older than Will. Still, in Will's heart, he was an old, reincarnated man and lust was for pubescent teenagers. Disregarding that he was a pubescent teenager, women, in particular, did not interest him. He was interested in growing his economic empire, and women served as a distraction.

Shaking his head, Will left the festival, hugging his mother good night. He knew tomorrow was going to be a long journey. It was 30 kilometers to the beast capital after crossing the bridge.

Will laid in his bed, the candle by his washbowl flickered. He rested his head on the pillow when a hand caressed his back. April slowly lowered herself into Will's sheets before blowing out the candle.