While Henwell and Jansen are fiercely developing and enhancing their strength, the war in the Kingdom of Billie finally reaches its conclusion, effectively coming to a halt. Both sides have now formally sat down at the negotiating table, initially quibbling over right and wrong.

  Only when they realize there's no resolution in sight will they patiently discuss the real issues. Henwell estimates that any results will likely emerge after the new year, once spring arrives.

  Despite Peace Haven's territory expanding several times over and its popution surging, Henwell's agricultural reforms have paid off. This winter, not only did very few people die from cold or hunger, but grain prices remained stable.

  In fact, they were able to export a fair amount of grain, fetching a good price. Overall, the residents of Peace Haven have experienced a retively peaceful year.

  With the first snowfall, Henwell begins touring the various regions of his territory.

  As the year draws to a close, he feels it's time to conduct an annual review of the domain.

  Victor has been by Henwell's side, learning various methods of accounting and data management. He's mastering the creation of reports and organizing complex data.

  Now, Victor is accompanied by a dozen or so young individuals, handpicked to form his administrative team. These youths have no connections or dependencies. Being smart, eager to learn, and hardworking are the key criteria.

  Soon, Victor is set to become the governor of Peace Haven. He needs to be well-versed in the area's industries and data.

  However, there are certain things Henwell still keeps from Victor—not out of distrust, but because the matters reted to the secret workshop are too critical. If rival kingdoms were to learn and replicate these innovations, it could severely undermine Henwell's advantage. Thus, Henwell personally handles those statistics.

  Currently, the most crucial assets for Henwell are the smelting and cement factories. These have the potential to directly transform the world and, frankly, they don't have significant technical barriers if one is determined to pursue them.

  Aside from these two industries, Henwell has granted Victor ample authority and trust. He has shared knowledge about the munitions factory, the forge, the gold, silver, coal, and iron mines, as well as real estate.

  Watching Victor, with a serious expression, carrying several boxes of reports into the manor's secretariat, Henwell feels a rare sense of relief. Finally, someone else is handling this workload.

  Otherwise, the year-end accounting would have taken Henwell over half a month. That was under previous conditions; now, with Peace Haven's increasing revenues and expenditures, the thought alone is overwhelming for Henwell.

  Henwell personally visits the secret workshop district to inspect various operations. After several improvements, the district now focuses on seven key projects: two smelting pnt areas, two cement pnt areas, a materials research and documentation area, a potion analysis and experimentation area, and a weapons and equipment development area.

  By the year's end, total production has exceeded three thousand tons, thanks to upgrades in the smelting facilities and the establishment of a new pnt in the tter half of the year. With renovations of the old pnt and the addition of the new one, next year's output is expected to double.

  As for the new smelting pnt on the Ouse River, it will likely focus more on experimental improvements next year, making stable production challenging for the time being. However, it is destined to become Henwell's core industrial area in the future. Next year, steel production should reach five thousand tons.

  While this sounds substantial, it's merely half of the daily output from a modern high-tech steel pnt with a single bst furnace! (PS: Modern steel pnts can produce steel at an impressive rate when operating at full capacity!)

  Even though Henwell's traditional steelmaking methods have seen significant improvements, with increasing yield and quality, they still fall short compared to the crude steel produced by modern bst furnaces. Nevertheless, five thousand tons of steel here is enough to bolster Henwell's position significantly.

  Now, with access to rge rivers, and a year of experimental improvements ahead, once the smelting pnt is up and running smoothly, Henwell will soon be on the brink of achieving an annual production of ten thousand tons of steel.

  The river provides ample and consistent power, allowing many processes to be standardized compared to relying on manpower. Consequently, the quality of steel will further improve.

  Aside from smelting, Henwell pces great importance on the materials research and documentation department. Simply copying the industrial experience from his past life is clearly not feasible. While he's not entirely sure, Henwell suspects that certain unique materials differ between his previous world and this one.

  Take oil, for instance. Despite extensive inquiries and research, he hasn't found any records of oil in this world. Without oil—the lifeblood of industry—it's nearly impossible to replicate industrial processes exactly. The absence of a robust chemical industry alone could cripple any pns for industrial duplication.

  Thus, Henwell has proactively prepared for the study and documentation of materials unique to this world. He begins with analyses of various types of steel and then moves on to those special alloys.

  Thanks to his rge trade deal with Catherine, Henwell has amassed enough materials to produce Mountainsteel and Greensteel. However, he hasn't turned all of it into weapons and equipment; instead, he allows his researchers to experiment freely.

  Now, they've started to make some headway. Through various trials and observations, they've developed an alloy with properties somewhat simir to Mountainsteel, although it falls short in several aspects.

  Henwell isn't concerned; the mere fact that they've managed to create something simir means they're on the right track. With continued effort, they are bound to develop a unique alloy for Peace Haven.

  The potion analysis and research department focuses on dissecting the components of various potions. The extraordinary body-strengthening potion is a key project, but it's no surprise that this creation of magical practitioners presents formidable technical challenges.

  After more than two years of analysis, the team still hasn't made significant progress. Despite this, Henwell remains undeterred, continuing to supply a few vials of the body-strengthening potion each month for the researchers to use.

  Apart from the extraordinary potions, the researchers have successfully decoded many so-called secret healing remedies. This has brought significant benefits to Henwell's potion manufacturing business.

  Now, Henwell is the sole supplier of potions within several hundred kilometers of Peace Haven. With rge-scale production, affordable substitute ingredients, and notable efficacy, the potions are of high quality and low cost. Even when sold wholesale to merchant caravans, they yield profits tenfold or even several dozen times the cost. It's almost like printing money, to the point where Henwell feels uneasy about the sheer volume of profit.

  This is the power of technology and knowledge. Continuous research and development have made the potion manufacturing industry the most lucrative part of Henwell's business empire. Selling arms is already highly profitable, but even that pales in comparison to the pharmaceutical industry, which commands immense respect and recognition.