Chapter 4 - Crafting up Plans

William sat in the meditation room, thinking about the last days' ongoings. His stern face had calmed down and his eyes were clear of any obstructions.

He centered his mind, breathing in and out slowly. His chest raised and fell in a rhythmic pattern. Mana flowed into his body through his pores.

There it was absorbed into his core, becoming part of him.

It had been a long time since he last was in a cultivation chamber. First, it was at his parents' manor, it was only a small chamber.

Though later at the royal academy he first saw what a real cultivation chamber looked like.

It was a small room, sigils adorning the walls and drawing in pure mana. The density was so high that even insects could become great monsters, in a matter of hours.

He only got access for a short time each week. But combined with his cultivation at home and instructions from his teachers he was able to form a core early on.

This was a privilege only a few were able to get. Most peasants didn’t even know of these chambers.

The only way they were able to get to become a cultivator was through slaying monsters and absorbing their mana.

For most of the nobles though luxurious and risk-free cultivation was something completely normal. Even though not every noble cultivation was able to form a core early on, if even at all.

Cultivation was a dream of every boy and girl from early on. The tales of warriors in golden armor and archers with holy bows inspired many.

But to start the journey was already difficult, not to talk about reaching the end.

William himself would probably never reach the end of the journey. Not having the needed talent and abysmal ability in fighting would never get him anywhere.

Though what he had was his mind. Which he was now working furiously. Crafting plans, calculation possibilities, and weighing opportunities. This was the realm of William, the brain.

He first had a look at the different important personalities he met. The elders, the guild mistress, and the masters of different professions.

While most of them did their job quite well, some were more lacking. Especially Banelias. In personality, he was similar to quilm, heartily enjoying life in every way possible.

But what set Quilm apart from the fat man was that he was talented and ambitious in his work. The lanky elder surely had problems he brought with him but was still an enrichment to the society of Tron.

This was the first thing William had to do, somehow get rid, or reposition Banelias. He could of course just order the man to leave his position. But this would make him enemies upon the various benefactors and lackeys of the fat man

The next business was the downtrodden state of the village's buildings. Those responsible for the job could not be the cause of this. Having seen Tom‘s and Tim's enthusiasm with their job something else had to be at play.

Though the biggest problem of them all was the happiness of his people. While William surely is a very practical person it doesn't mean he is blind to the higher efficiency of motivated people.

To solve this problem he would increase the amount of entertainment his followers got in this left-alone corner of the kingdom.

Funding this entertainment would be an idea Quilm planted in his mind. Quilm’s shady business with the slaves didn’t go unnoticed by him. And he assumed that the elder had some kind of deal with the church.

Thusly enabling him to get his hands on this many beast slaves. He wasn’t against grabbing an opportunity, even if it was drowned in blood. Society and how it's run isn’t always as happy as the mothers tell the young boys and girls. And things have to be done that seem bad, seen from the position of a peasant.

But William too planned to get most of his money from more legal means. Mainly trade and taxes. There were a lot of possibilities there but the lacking talent of Banelias surely halted some of the possible advancements.

Furthermore, the idea of coffee, ideal to plant in this humid and high land. Intrigued the talented lord, it would open up many possibilities. Especially other nobles seeking the luxurious good and those who trade with it.

The problems standing in William's way though were numerous. The bad state of the village, Banelias the unfitting elder, and the curious rising levels of mana.

Though this increase of mana could also open up endless possibilities for the village. More adventures would seek better levels for cultivation. Or Monster slayers searching for the abundant Monsters.

Plant-live would flourish with the life-giving energy and the garrison would find stronger men.

Sadly, great opportunities always came with a dark shadow. Monsters would feast on the cattle or even the village kids. Bandits would search out the riches of the farmers.

And other lords would “nicely” ask for the mana-rich building grounds, or even the village itself.

With a heavy head, William stood up from his crouched position. His shoulders lay low and his arms were interlocked before his chest.

He walked out of the chamber and took a deep breath of the fresh air, from his private garden. A smile now adorned his face, his head was held high and his eyes were giving off a dangerous glimmer.

This was where he always wanted to be, his fated position.

His true place in the world!!!