As Henwell vigorously promotes the new measurement system in Peace Haven, the Midsummer Festival approaches.

  A month before the festival, Henwell delivers several massive metal clocks from the smelting district. One is installed at Blood Hill Manor, while others are pced in the new city district, the warehouse area, and Peace Town. Despite the popution drain to the new city, Peace Town still houses tens of thousands, now resembling a small city.

  Additionally, the new military camp and the academy district center each receive one of these rge clocks. Henwell also pces a handcrafted pedestal clock in each location and establishes a timekeeping office.

  Observing the pedestal clock, the rge clocks are struck every hour. At 6 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m., the chimes are accompanied by the sound of horns. For each additional hour within these periods, the clock is struck an additional time. After 9 p.m., the rge clocks are silenced to avoid disturbing the residents' rest.

  Henwell instructs Overseer Marnes to construct tall clock towers in these areas to house the rge clocks.

  Is it really necessary to go to such lengths just for timekeeping?

  Hell yes, it is! The old way of working from sunrise to sunset is a terribly outdated method of time management. Precisely dividing each day enhances productivity across the entire territory.

  Moreover, Henwell pns to introduce the concept of clocks. He tasks Apani, the head of the secret workshop district, with assembling personnel from various departments to establish a clockmaking workshop.

  While miniaturization isn't feasible yet, they aim to produce rge pedestal clocks for use in departments, factories, the military, schools, and densely poputed areas like towns and vilges. As craftsmanship improves, they will eventually pn for smaller, portable versions.

  To demonstrate his commitment to time, Henwell dives into the workshop and crafts dozens of rge pocket watches, each with a five-centimeter diameter. The back is engraved with intricate designs, and the front bears Henwell's initials.

  These are distributed to senior military officers and heads of various departments. Upon hearing about these watches, Count Jansen requests one. Henwell, of course, doesn't send just one—he sends six or seven over.

  After this, Henwell finds himself too busy to continue crafting; he has a wedding gift to prepare for Arius. The gift? A whopping five thousand sets of weapons and armor. While gifting arms for a wedding might seem inauspicious, it's exactly what Arius needs most.

  Additionally, the gift includes a vast array of goods from Peace Haven and Henwell's handcrafted "Grand Henwell" brand pocket watches. This massive convoy of hundreds of wagons is unmatched anywhere else in the duchy.

  Henwell personally escorts these supplies to the duchy's capital, Silver Peak City. You might wonder how Henwell dares to venture into the capital.

  Why not?

  Assassinations don't faze Henwell!

  A direct attack on him would require agreement from all parties involved. The neutral faction and the noble alliance have no desire to see this troublemaker disappear. Ever since Henwell started challenging the royal faction, they've noticed a pleasant decrease on themselves in royal scrutiny. Furthermore, brothers Fabio and Arius wouldn't allow the royal faction to cause trouble so easily.

  And let's not forget, Henwell isn't traveling alone. With hundreds of wagons come two thousand guards, and Henwell also brings along his own Lord Iron Guards. He's invested heavily in these knights and squires.

  Their horses are top-notch, and their weapons and armor are crafted entirely from Greensteel. Even the duchy's elite Blood Lion Knights, despite their vish funding, aren't equipped with such luxury.

  As Henwell travels through the duchy, no faction dares to underestimate this knightly lord. Passing through Iris City, Henwell makes a point to thank Viscount Holdsworth for his efforts in lobbying among the neutral nobles.

  After a grueling twenty-day journey, Henwell arrives in Silver Peak City three days before the wedding. He pauses to admire the still-majestic city. Six years ago, he came here as a stand-in, paving his path with blood to become a knightly lord.

  Now, returning as himself, he continues to forge his way with blood. As a knightly lord commanding tens of thousands of elite soldiers, no one dares underestimate him anymore.

  The duchy sends an official to welcome Henwell into the city—an honor typically reserved for counts. Besides Fabio, the Iron Wall Lord of the Western Territories, Henwell, the lord of Blood Hill from the southern region, is now accorded such a welcome.

  The official sent by the duchy is an old acquaintance of Henwell's, Cronin, who was part of the initial marriage envoy. During escape, Henwell had helped this fifty-something baron return to the duchy. Despite the rough journey nearly ciming Cronin’s life, he survived and earned great merit.

  Though often stubborn and argumentative during their escape, Cronin proved to be a decent man. When the duchy’s upper echelon mocked Henwell for requesting the bodies of his fallen subordinates, only Cronin stood firm, persuading Grand Duke Amir to retrieve the bodies of those who had served with distinction.

  This led to a heated argument between Cronin, who possessed some royal blood and was slightly senior to Amir, and the Grand Duke. Frustrated but left with no choice, Amir eventually sent Cronin back to his estate to recuperate.

  Now, with Henwell's arrival in the capital, no one dares provoke this formidable figure. Cronin steps forward, volunteering to host Henwell.

  Upon seeing Cronin, Henwell greets him with a smile, "Old Baron, still holding up well? Did those supplements I sent help? If they did, I’ll send more your way!"

  Cronin gives Henwell a stern look and retorts, "You rascal, making such a show! Why bring so many people to the capital?"

  Henwell shrugs, "Afraid of getting killed, of course! You know well enough that plenty of people, high and low, wouldn't mind seeing me dead."

  Cronin wants to scold him, but they're standing at the city gate. Although Henwell has stationed his convoy in the makeshift town at the warehouse district outside, the Lord Iron Guards remain by his side. Over a hundred knights, bearing fgs and exuding an impressive aura, have already drawn considerable attention at the gate.

  Debating with Henwell here is hardly appropriate, so Cronin waves a hand, "Come on, let's get you into the city! Tell your men to behave and not provoke anyone. You've got enough trouble as it is; no need to make unnecessary enemies. Plus, there are envoys from various nations here, so don't stir up any trouble at this critical time."

  Walking alongside Cronin, Henwell replies, "Old Baron, you know if it weren't for Arius's wedding, I wouldn't dare come to the capital! I certainly don’t want any trouble. I'd be grateful if others don’t come looking for trouble with me."

  Understanding the underlying message, Cronin reassures him, "Don't worry! No one’s going to start anything right now."