The construction of the vault continued to advance at a steady, almost predictable pace, but what really began to catch my attention wasn't just the work itself.
It was what I was accumulating.
Money.
That morning, I left the mansion in Vailor with the group. The objective was clear: return to the village under my responsibility and check how the lands were developing. It had already been some time since my last visit, and I needed to see it with my own eyes.
Lyannis walked beside me. "Are you thinking about the lands or the vault?"
"Both."
Rai'kanna crossed her arms. "Makes sense."
Scarlett commented: "Simultaneous management."
Elara added: "Multiple responsibilities."
Vespera said: "Distributed control."
Liriel looked at me. "You're different."
"How?"
"More… focused."
I didn't answer immediately.
But she was right.
The carriage followed the familiar road, and as we got closer to the village, the landscape began to change. Unlike the first time we had been here, now there was life.
The plantations were visible in the distance.
Green.
Organized.
Productive.
Lyannis looked out the window. "It's changed a lot."
"Yes."
Rai'kanna said: "This doesn't look like a poor village anymore."
"It isn't anymore."
When we got down, some of the villagers already recognized us. The atmosphere was different now. That initial heaviness was gone.
There was respect.
And expectation.
The minister came to meet us shortly after. He kept his usual calm posture, but there was a new detail.
Satisfaction.
"Welcome back."
"How are the lands?"
He made a slight gesture toward the fields. "Better than expected."
Lyannis smiled faintly. "I told you."
Rai'kanna commented: "Fast results."
Scarlett analyzed the environment. "High productivity."
Elara stated: "Consistent growth."
Vespera added: "Stability maintained."
Liriel looked around, impressed. "It's really beautiful…"
We walked through the village while the minister explained the details. The plantations were yielding well, the farmers had regained their rhythm, and production was already being distributed.
"The initial problems have been completely resolved," he said. "The land responded well after the purification."
I looked at Liriel.
She averted her gaze, a little embarrassed. "I just did what was needed…"
"It worked."
We continued walking until we reached a higher point, where we could see most of the village.
"And what about the profit?"
The minister didn't hesitate to answer.
"We're already generating returns."
He signaled, and one of the assistants brought a bag of coins.
"This is your share."
I took the bag.
The weight was clear.
"How much?"
"About 10,000 gold coins."
I stayed silent for a moment.
Lyannis whistled softly. "That increased fast."
Rai'kanna said: "More than before."
Scarlett commented: "Exponential growth."
Elara stated: "Efficient production."
Vespera added: "High return."
Liriel looked at the bag in my hands. "That's… a lot."
"Yes."
I looked at the minister again. "And the taxes?"
"They've already been separated. Around 8,000 coins were sent to the kingdom."
I nodded.
Everything was working as it should.
"I didn't expect it to be this fast."
The minister replied calmly. "The conditions were favorable. And the initial intervention was decisive."
Lyannis smiled faintly. "He's saying you did the right thing."
"I know."
Rai'kanna crossed her arms. "So this place can already sustain itself."
"Yes."
Scarlett stated: "Self-sufficiency achieved."
Elara added: "Consolidated base."
Vespera said: "Stable operation."
Liriel smiled slightly. "That's good."
I stayed silent for a moment, looking at the village.
That… was a result.
Not of a battle.
But of decisions.
I took a deep breath.
"Keep it up."
The minister nodded. "I will do my best."
"I trust you."
He gave a slight bow. "Thank you."
---
We didn't stay much longer after that. What was necessary had already been done. The village was stable, the system was functioning, and my presence there was no longer essential.
Before leaving, I handed a small bag to the minister.
"For expenses."
He looked surprised. "It's not necessary."
"Consider it a margin."
He hesitated for a second, but ended up accepting it.
"Understood."
Lyannis commented as we returned to the carriage. "You're starting to think like a real leader."
"I'm trying."
Rai'kanna said: "It's working."
Scarlett stated: "Efficient management."
Elara added: "Strategic decisions."
Vespera said: "Control maintained."
Liriel walked beside me. "You're happy."
"Yes."
She smiled.
The return trip was calm. The weight of the money was with me, but this time it wasn't just a resource.
It was confirmation.
What I was building… was working.
When we arrived at the mansion, it was already late afternoon. The construction activity was still ongoing. The vault was almost finished.
I got down from the carriage and walked to the entrance.
Lyannis looked at me. "More money."
"Yes."
Rai'kanna commented: "It's accumulating fast."
"More than I expected."
Scarlett stated: "Accelerated growth."
Elara added: "Continuous expansion."
Vespera said: "High capacity."
Liriel looked at the mansion. "You're really going to need the space…"
I held the bag of coins for a moment.
Then I looked at the room where the vault was being built.
"That's why it exists."
I walked toward the entrance, feeling the weight not just in my hands… but in my decisions.
And I thought clearly:
"This is just the beginning."