Watching Henwell’s group fade into the distance, Doyle lingers on horseback, lost in thought.

  He still remembers five years ago, when Henwell was preparing to join the marriage envoy to the Billie Kingdom.

  Henwell met him once then and id out a detailed study pn.

  He also opened up business cooperation, letting Doyle represent the Gilbert family in negotiations.

  At the time, Henwell told him that if he followed the pn, one day he’d have a chance to soar.

  Doyle never imagined that in just five years, Henwell would make good on that promise.

  He feels grateful to Lord Keynes but hasn’t pledged loyalty to him.

  Keynes found him and gave him entry into noble life.

  Henwell, however, gave him guidance.

  Back when it was still the Path of Honor, before leaving, Henwell sat down with Doyle for a serious talk.

  He revealed several truths.

  First, Henwell told him he wasn’t the grandson of Evans’s first love.

  He warned Doyle not to reveal this secret. In fact, he was still Evans’s grandson, just not from the first love’s line.

  Second, Henwell pointed out the challenges ahead: the cold stares from Gilbert family members, the whispered criticisms behind his back.

  Evans’s favor would fade over time.

  So Henwell advised him to work even harder—master noble etiquette and knowledge, learn to fight and lead.

  No one in the Gilbert family was willing to teach him sincerely.

  His only option was to seek out Lord Keynes.

  As Amir’s trusted ally, Keynes wouldn’t let go of a chance to pnt a stake inside the Gilbert family.

  He would carefully mentor Doyle, helping him secure a higher position within the family.

  This would give Doyle a good teacher and build his image as a diligent learner.

  At the same time, it would make Evans see this once-ostracized grandson in a new light, possibly entrusting him with responsibilities.

  Back then, to Henwell, Doyle was just a pawn.

  Later, when Henwell became the Lord of Blood Hill and opened trade routes to Cloud Tree City, he remembered Doyle and started investing in him.

  After Doyle took over the family’s trade with Peace Haven, Henwell threw even more support his way—funding, personnel, and extraordinary resources.

  Over five years, Henwell poured tens of thousands of gold coins into Doyle, bit by bit.

  Doyle himself worked hard. When Ogiro invaded the southern kingdom, he fought alongside the Gilbert family’s private army.

  In the subsequent defense and counterattack against the Ika Kingdom, Doyle again supported the Vorska frontline with the Gilberts.

  Though he didn’t earn any major honors in these two wars, his performance was respectable.

  No one even realized Doyle had already became a Knight.

  The battles forged him into a capable leader with a personal guard of five hundred, handpicked from serf soldiers.

  This guard usually operated under the guise of a trade escort team.

  Doyle also gathered trusted aides, who he strategically pced in Peace Haven for various roles—some learning governance, others military affairs, and some handling commerce.

  Everyone in the Gilbert family still thinks he’s just a puppet.

  But Doyle is pying the obedient son for now.

  Once his loyalists and elite guard finish training in Peace Haven, things will be very different.

  Right now, he quietly observes.

  Who in the family can be swayed? Who can be promoted?

  More importantly, who must be eliminated?

  When his thousand-strong elite guard returns from Peace Haven, that will mark the start of his power consolidation.

  Just as Henwell said, he doesn’t need Doyle’s loyalty and won’t interfere with Gilbert family affairs.

  Since Doyle has made it this far, he clearly knows how to make the right choices.

  After Henwell finishes setting up his pns here, it won’t be long before the southwestern area of Cloud Tree City and the kingdom’s pledged territories—fall under Peace Haven’s significant influence.

  Gradually, this influence will spread across the entire southwest region of the kingdom.

  A few days ter, after a swift journey, Henwell returns to Peace Haven.

  He immediately calls a meeting, with all department heads present.

  It’s been over a year since the st one, and the administrative teams are slowly taking shape.

  Now, the department heads don’t come alone—they bring along two or three assistants each.

  Henwell starts by having everyone report their progress.

  In healthcare and education, steady funding has begun to show results.

  Last year, the infant mortality rate in Peace Haven dropped below 20%.

  A surge in newborns creates a big gap in medical resources.

  Henwell directly raises next year’s maternity subsidy budget to 100,000 gold coins.

  Agriculture remains stable; smart crop choices and pnting methods keep Peace Haven’s food supply self-sufficient.

  On the industrial front, with pns to develop several peripheral primary processing zones, some adaptive adjustments are needed.

  Factories must continue expanding, recruiting and training more workers.

  Henwell returns carrying a hefty stack of commercial orders.

  During the recent war, the Iron Wall Legion recognized the tactical backpack’s critical role and pced tens of thousands of orders.

  Thanks to the mixed First Legion, members of the Phoenix family also realize how effective these packs are, pcing rge procurement orders themselves.

  Increasing tactical backpack production is a done deal.

  Besides these two, the kingdom itself pns to purchase 30,000 tactical backpacks.

  Both Arius and Duke Marcus have pced sizable orders as well.

  So, the tactical backpack factory must double its capacity.

  No need to worry about military saturation, this gear will only become more widespread, and short-term sales are guaranteed.

  Even if military orders slow down, Henwell can roll out civilian versions.

  Already, many trade caravans are cmoring for the civilian models. Even at prices several times higher than the military ones, demand far outstrips supply.

  Besides the tactical backpack factory, the watch factory also needs rapid expansion.

  Henwell initially thought civilian markets would be the key to boosting this industry.

  But to his surprise, nobles have a strong fondness for these expensive, intricate items.

  Though the watch factory seems unreted to military production, its craftsmen require top-notch machining skills.

  Working on these precision instruments helps Henwell cultivate a pool of highly skilled artisans.

  If they can craft delicate pocket watches, they can build other complex devices—like steam-powered machine tools!

  Henwell now has coal mines, iron ore, rivers, and a rge workforce of artisans and researchers.

  So—

  It’s time to boil water!