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The members of the Botana tribe could not hide their admiration as they surveyed the land they had come to inhabit. The same was true for the former residents of the domain who had relocated to this territory.

Having acquired homes that were significantly larger and cleaner than their previous dwellings, they were greatly satisfied. What particularly delighted them were the glass windows. In the past, only the wealthiest of the domain's residents could afford glass windows, but now, every house was equipped with them.

The improvements did not stop there. The roads were neatly arranged, and each district had pumps installed to provide warm water. In front of these pumps, there were designated areas for laundry and separate bathhouses for men and women. Soldiers patrolled the vicinity of the pumps and bathhouses to ensure security.

"Now we can bathe as much as we like." "It'll be much easier to do the laundry too."

Inspired by the concept of Roman bathhouses and laundries, Damian had initiated their construction with the goal of improving hygiene. While the aristocrats fared relatively well in terms of cleanliness, the general populace of the domain often struggled with poor hygiene, leading to frequent outbreaks of disease.

Fortunately, unlike in the medieval periods of Damian's previous world, there were no negative perceptions surrounding bathing. The problem was simply the difficulty of the process. For the common people, taking a bath required fetching a significant amount of water, heating it, and then disposing of the used water afterward—an arduous task.

"Mother, come here! The floor is warm!"

Hearing her daughter's call, a woman approached and gasped in astonishment. The floor was indeed warm.

In the northern regions, the winter winds were piercingly cold, and even in summer, the temperature rarely exceeded 25 degrees Celsius. Taking these natural conditions into account, Damian had designed a system where underground water heated the floors of every house.

This achievement was made possible by the efforts and sacrifices of the Lava and Metallurgy schools. While Damian would have liked to install individual pumps in every household, there were limitations.

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He divided the settlements into ten districts, with approximately 3,000 people per village, totaling around 15,000 residents. This number included serfs, freemen, and the newly arrived members of the Botana tribe. However, it was still far from sufficient. The land was now nearly five times larger than before, yet the population was nowhere near enough to fully utilize it. This was an issue that only time could resolve.

Fortunately, the Crassus family's reputation was decent, making it possible to bring over all the former residents of the territory. Of course, promises of larger farmlands and new homes played a role in persuading them.

Thanks to Damian's various revenue sources, he did not need to impose additional investments on the freemen. Moreover, those who relocated to the new domain were exempted from taxes for a year. This incentive played a major role in ensuring that all the freemen decided to follow.

Additionally, the sight of Damian traveling with a dragon and a sphinx helped convince the people. A powerful domain was beneficial to its inhabitants.

Although the new lord, who had inherited an empty domain, might see it as a misfortune, there was nothing to be done. As Damian observed the newly settled residents with satisfaction, he made his way toward the castle. It was time to summon Philip, who had taken over the previous domain. The tax revenue lost due to the relocation of residents needed to be compensated, and Philip would have to bear that burden.

Philip, feeling dejected, returned to his tent without having seen a single trace of the Botana tribe. He had climbed the mountains, investing valuable time in search of them, only to achieve nothing.

Just then, a gargoyle descended before him, carrying a message from the Crassus family.

"The Crassus family invites Baron Philip. This meeting is to discuss the rights associated with the former territories of the Crassus family. We ask that you do not decline, and we wish you blessings on your journey to the domain."

The messenger read the letter in a clear, authoritative voice. Philip's expression twisted with irritation as he looked at the gargoyle, its wings folded neatly as it stood before him. He had heard rumors that Damian had contracted a dragon and a sphinx, but now there was even a gargoyle?

Suddenly, the fact that he had to rely on horseback for travel, without a single magical beast of his own, made him feel pitiful.

Turning to his retainer, he asked, "Do I really have to stop by this new domain? Couldn't they just come to my castle later and sell the rights?"

The retainer, after a brief hesitation, answered, "Wouldn't it be better to secure the rights before arriving at your domain? This way, you can avoid any unnecessary disputes later. Besides, it is along the way."

Realizing he had no choice, Philip took the letter from the messenger and said, "Inform them that I will visit soon."

As soon as he spoke, the messenger immediately soared into the sky, an action that only deepened Philip's irritation.

The journey with the 800 soldiers his father had assigned him, along with their families, was grueling. To avoid potential attacks from magical beasts, they had to take a detour around the mountains, which consumed both time and supplies.

While traveling within the Northwestern Province was relatively manageable, the journey became more difficult as they entered the Northeastern Province. Tensions rose, and food supplies, which they had expected to replenish along the way, turned out to be exorbitantly priced. The noble lords of the Northeastern Province demanded extortionate rates, seemingly unwilling to make any compromises.

It became clear that Philip's acquisition of the Crassus domain had displeased the established noble families. Yet, there was no other option. No matter how expensive, he could not allow his soldiers and their families to starve.

The hardships of this journey made him nostalgic for the past. Even though he was born a bastard, he had at least enjoyed his father's support before.