As early spring arrives, with a lingering chill in the air, Henwell prepares to head to the managed territory.

  Before his departure, Jansen advises him, "Once you arrive, the administrator Chloe will be your point of contact. Spend your time practicing the Silver Wolf Sword Style I taught you—it's a family tradition. Try to stay indoors as much as possible, and be cautious with visitors; they might be testing you. For any meetings or outings you must attend, take Knight Mark with you."

  With these instructions, Henwell sets off with a group of several dozen people, traveling by carriage to a pce formerly known as Blood Hill, now renamed Peace Haven.

  The next day, Henwell arrives at Peace Haven. The heart of the territory is a rge town, cking city walls and defended only by watchtowers.

  In Peace Town, 220 soldiers, all private troops of Baron Jansen, are stationed. The territory is managed by a team centered around three key officials: the administrator, the tax officer, and the defense officer. They oversee agriculture and construction, trade and taxation, and defense and w enforcement, respectively.

  The tax officer, Herbert, is an official from the royal capital, dispatched by the Grand Duke to monitor financial affairs. Henwell, feigning interest, meets with the three officials and pretends to review the accounts and reports.

  While everyone assumes he's merely going through the motions, Henwell actually gains a decent understanding of the territory's situation through these documents.

  Peace Haven spans over 2,000 square kilometers, with a reported popution of around 200,000 free citizens across 40,000 households.

  However, this count excludes serfs, who aren't considered people in the census. Rough estimates suggest the serf popution is 1.5 times that of the free citizens. Including non-permanent residents, the total popution of the territory is approximately 550,000.

  These inhabitants are spread across various small towns and vilges. As the territory's core, Peace Town is home to around 50,000 people, making it a small city in its own right, despite the ck of city walls.

  Henwell carries 2,000 gold coins, provided by Baron Jansen to maintain appearances.

  In the days following his arrival, Henwell stays within the manor, gathering the information he wants. Afterward, he hosts a banquet, inviting many of the local affluent and influential figures. The arrival of the young master from the baron's family spurs many to seek his favor.

  Henwell is charming and courteous, handling each greeting with grace. Of course, visiting the young master means guests don’t come empty-handed just to enjoy the food and drink. Henwell ends up collecting an additional three to four thousand gold coins, not to mention the more substantial gifts.

  After the banquet, Henwell, accompanied by his guards, disregards the objections of the defense officer and Knight Mark, and starts exploring the territory. Over the course of three months, he travels throughout the entire region before finally retreating back to the manor.

  Everyone assumes Henwell has tired of his adventures, but a few days ter, he surprises them by presenting an exceptionally detailed map of Peace Haven. Every area is meticulously marked, impressing those around him with the young noble's capabilities.

  What they don't know is that Henwell has also created an even more detailed map, capturing the forests, rivers, and even the topography of hills within the territory.

  This map is of a precise military-grade quality. Henwell's motivation for such an undertaking is simple: to ensure he has a clear escape route should any unforeseen circumstances arise.

  In addition, Henwell invests two thousand gold coins to establish a warehouse at a crossroads of trade routes. Caravans from three different directions can rest here for free, with several dozen soldiers stationed to ensure their safety. The convenience offered by this facility earns Henwell high praise from the merchants.

  Soon, several shops spring up around the warehouse, aiming to provide better services to the resting caravans. The administrator Chloe and tax officer Herbert are baffled by Henwell's decision. They see no value in spending money on a warehouse located several miles from Peace Town.

  Henwell doesn't bme them for their short-sightedness. Although Peace Town is rge, its yout is chaotic and not designed for commerce. Caravans face numerous inconveniences, having to park their goods outside the town. The ck of convenient transportation hinders the distribution of goods.

  Henwell pns to develop a new commercial town that caters to the needs of caravans, offering everything from leisure and rest to easy distribution of goods. However, this pn is not without drawbacks.

  The warehouse is near a region pgued by bandits. Located at the intersection of three countries, the territory promises substantial trade profits, but security remains a significant concern.

  After the war, many deserters turned into marauding bandits, rampant in this area. None of the three nations can dispatch troops across borders to chase them down. Once the bandits strike, they swiftly cross into another country, leaving pursuers helpless. Moreover, many of these bandits once fought in The War of the Six Kings, possessing some military skills.

  Local conscripted soldiers struggle to contend with them, and caravans must be cautious, avoiding outdoor stays whenever possible. With the establishment of the new warehouse, it has already caught the attention of bandits. As more caravans stop there, the bandits prepare for a big heist.

  Henwell is waiting for this opportunity, which is precisely why he built the warehouse.

  On this particur day, Henwell heads to the warehouse for an inspection and notices several suspicious figures lurking about. As expected, in the afternoon, the warning horn suddenly bres. A caravan is under attack, signaling both an alert and a call for help.

  Without waiting for others to react, Henwell swiftly mounts his horse and rushes toward the source of the horn. Knight Mark immediately rallies the guards, charging out of the warehouse in pursuit of Henwell.

  A few miles away, a caravan with several rge wagons is surrounded by forty to fifty bandits. All the bandits are on horseback, intimidating the caravan's circur defense formation. They howl and shout, trying to break the spirits of the caravan members and force them out of their protective circle.

  Judging by their riding skills and coordination, it's clear this is a seasoned group of bandits with a military-like discipline—likely deserters.

  As the bandits fire arrows to suppress the caravan's counterattack, the leader suddenly falls from his horse. The bandits look down to find their leader's neck pierced through, the arrowhead protruding from the back.

  Another piercing whistle cuts through the air, and the second-in-command, who was just about to organize a counterattack, also falls with an arrow through his neck. Only then do they notice a lone rider charging toward them, wielding a rge bow.

  Henwell releases another arrow before hanging the bow on his saddle. He then lowers his body, gripping his nce tightly, preparing for a charge. As the bandits scramble to organize a defense, Henwell pushes his horse to full speed.

  Like a cannonball, he crashes into the bandits, expertly maneuvering his nce to slice through the necks of those in his path. The broad bde, empowered by the horse's momentum, easily cleaves through the bandits' throats.

  The young knight tears through the bandits, leaving a trail of crimson in his wake, as six bandits slump lifelessly, their heads hanging against their chests.