The rattling wreck that was mistakenly considered a car in this world stopped.
"Can't go any further, your nobility," the driver informed.
Strange that we made it here at all. Though here, we should thank the road maker—a massive machine standing at the village gates. It was the one that, mercilessly cutting trees and compacting snow, paved a twenty-kilometer-wide track here.
Behind the road maker stood an armored truck with the New York Empire's coat of arms on its side, and next to its massive wheels, four fighters armed with swords and automatic weapons were smoking. The rest, presumably, were waiting for us inside.
I opened the door and jumped out.
"And happy subjects already greet their new master!" declared Svylthor, the burly man who immediately appeared beside me, pointing to two locals standing at the open gates.
My red-haired assistant's face looked cheerful as always, and he was probably the only one experiencing joy from everything happening, just like me.
"Especially that one with the big axe," noted Kalthyra, pulling up the hood of her warm cloak over her white hair.
I barely knew the girl and had only managed to notice that she wasn't one of those who constantly complain about fate. Even on the way here, when quite large beasts flickered between the trees, she reacted absolutely calmly.
As for the two gloomy locals, they harmonized perfectly with the forest village, which, as promised, looked battle-ready. Around it rose a fortified three-meter fence, and each house hid behind a substantial barrier.
While we examined my future holdings, two more cars caught up with us. The second imperial truck with my belongings and my personal armored vehicle.
Well, armored vehicle... The person who called this mix of bus and tractor by that name certainly had a good sense of humor. Nevertheless, the name caught on among people, and given the widespread impassable roads, this practical thing was simply necessary. Paying half my available money for it, I didn't regret it at all.
Veldor jumped out of the mutant bus. The shortly cropped, russet-haired thirty-five-year-old man was the head of my personal security.
"Svylthor, oversee the unloading. Veldor, Kalthyra, follow me."
We passed by the relaxed imperial fighters discussing their evening bar visit and headed to the gates.
The village men wore identical leather pants and jackets, with high black boots on their feet. By the way, also indistinguishable from each other, which indicated that there was at least one decent leatherworker here.
"Beautiful place you have here," I smiled broadly.
"That's true..."
The men exchanged surprised glances, and one of them kicked aside a huge piece of dirt with his boot, while the other glanced at a rusty car door nailed to the wooden fence.
"How are the mushrooms in fall?" I continued establishing first contact. "Do mosquitoes bother you in summer?"
"Yeah, after mosquitoes stole a goat from Ironthorne, we burned their nest," answered the one who was bigger and stronger, holding an axe on his shoulder, scratching his head.
"And we chopped all the mushrooms too," added the shorter one.
"Well done! We'll work together!" I smiled broadly again. "Where are my chambers?"
"Chambers?" the short one raised an eyebrow. "Oh! Second street, third house after the crossroads on the right."
"Your nobility, do you really need this?" asked the tall one, lowering his eyes.
"You and I both do!" I patted his shoulder. "Get ready! Soon Dodge will become a district center."
Of course, I was counting on much more, but if I said that, the men might think I'm not just a fool, but a fool with dangerous maniacal ideas.
They'll find out about it soon enough anyway, but I need to give them some time to get used to me.
"Follow me." I nodded to my companions and was the first to enter the gates.
"I don't see any threat," Veldor caught up with me.
"Well, wait until the imperial soldiers leave, then you'll see."
"And you talk about it so calmly?" Kalthyra muttered, carefully choosing where to step in the mixture of snow and mud. Unlike me, she hadn't thought to wear rubber boots.
"Don't worry." I winked at the girl and, easily picking her up, carried her over a large puddle. "By tomorrow morning, we'll settle the main issues."
"Thank you, your nobility."
Kalthyra blushed slightly, and I caught myself realizing that only now, a month after arriving here, I stopped flinching at this address, even though in my native world, aristocracy had been eradicated many centuries ago.
"Greetings to the residents of Dodge!" I shouted, and the number of heads sticking out over the fence immediately reduced by half.
"Hello!" suddenly a thin child's voice rang out, and a girl about eight years old with two ponytails cheerfully waved to me. "Are you really a baron?"
"Really!" I waved back. "The kindest and most just of barons!"
"And really..."
The girl didn't finish, someone invisible to me yanked her off the fence.
I smirked—the wary reception didn't surprise or scare me, I knew what I was getting into choosing this district for my plans. The most important thing is that there are people here, and they, as known, are the most valuable resource if you know how to use them. In this, I'm a pro even without the crystal, and with it...
You couldn't mistake the house—imperial military stood in formation along its fence, and the gate was hospitably open.
In the yard, I was awaited by several more fighters and their captain, who was also a visiting notary. Next to him stood a man of medium height, lean, dark-haired, about forty, in the same leather clothing as the others. He had no weapons in his hands, but very close, against the wall of the two-story wooden house, a sword and bow were leaning.
"Baron Draconis Mylarthel?" the captain addressed me.
No longer for a month, but given that the body and memories of the deceased nineteen-year-old lad passed to me, this nuance can be overlooked.
"That's me!" I nodded, approaching closer.
"Meet!" the imperial pointed to the man. "Myrath Veltharin, elder of this village."
"Dodge!" the man grumbled gloomily.
"On the map of the New York Empire," the captain looked at him sternly, "the village has designation P-B-16. And will receive a final name when the baron approves it."
What the man grumbled in response I didn't hear, but certainly something from the series "if he lives long enough."
"I like the name Dodge." I winked at the elder and turned to the captain. "Do I need to sign something?"
"Yes, your nobility, here!" He opened a folder. "Transfer deed for the village and crystal."
I was about to reach out, but Kalthyra jumped forward and grabbed the papers.
"We already read them!" I grumbled and tried again to get the documents, but failed.
Kalthyra Barendeth was an attractive and petite blonde with big blue eyes, but represented the imperial service of assistance and accounting. That is, in theory, she should help me with legal and accounting matters, but in fact... In fact, let her work for now, and we'll see, the main thing is not to forget that she might inform the wrong people about what I plan to do here.
Though... Our previous conversations almost convinced me that we'll work well together. And finding a promising client is the dream of any recent graduate.
"The papers are the same as we saw yesterday," the girl confirmed after a few minutes, and I noted that she didn't try to inflate her importance by pretending to read for a whole hour.
"Excellent!"
I signed where needed, and the captain took the folder, but before putting it away, he took out the bottom sheet.
"Draconis Mylarthel," the imperial's voice sounded solemn. "I, as the legal representative of his imperial majesty, declare these lands yours! Own and manage them for the glory of the great New York Empire!"
"Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!" thundered from behind the fence.
However, it thundered rather thinly, then silence hung in the air. The look the elder gave me would have turned me to ash if it could.
But that doesn't get to me.
Finally! What I'd dreamed of all my past life, and what I'd been preparing for the entire month spent in this world, finally came true!
Rather, got the opportunity to come true, but from here on, everything depended only on me. And I was two hundred percent confident in myself.
"I won't detain you anymore, captain!" I smiled at the imperial, carefully tucking the paper into the inner pocket of my cloak.
"All the best!"
He was slightly surprised by my positive attitude but didn't linger. Briefly nodding to the elder, the warrior quickly left the gate.
"Veldor, bring our people here," I told the head of my security.
"It will be done, your nobility."
He ran off, and I turned to the elder. But I didn't get to open my mouth as Kalthyra wedged between us, while somehow a thick notebook appeared in her hands.
"Myrath Veltharin? I'm Kalthyra Barendeth," the girl began cheerfully. "I need accounting documents for the last three years and the beginning of this one, as well as complete lists..."
"Kalthyra..." I took the overly zealous employee by the arm. "This can all wait until tomorrow. Let Myrath Veltharin and I discuss more global issues first..."
"A... and... me?" the girl was confused.
"You? Go inspect the house. Check for dishes, bedding. Light the stove... Oh! Check the crystal, I signed for it but maybe it's not even there."
"Oh!" Kalthyra squeaked and ran into the house.
"Draconis Mylarthel!" I turned to the elder and extended my hand.
"Myrath Veltharin."
My gesture stupefied him, but he still shook my hand. However, when he tried to withdraw his palm, I didn't let him and for greater effect stepped closer to him.
"Myrath Veltharin, I know that you and the other village residents really don't like everything that's happening. And we'll discuss all this many more times. But I wanted to outline some points right away."
The elder tried again to pull his hand away and, even without realizing it, added a little magic to his physical strength, but all his efforts were in vain.
"First point," I continued, staring into his eyes. "I'm not your enemy, and from now on we have a common goal—the development of Dodge. Second point—I'm here for a long time. And third—if you value the lives of the village residents, try to ensure they don't do anything stupid. Is that clear?"
The elder looked at me with surprise. After about ten seconds, he, as if coming to his senses, tried again to pull his hand away, but expectedly failed.
"I didn't hear an answer," I reminded him.
"I heard you," he finally grumbled.
"Your..."
"Your nobility," the man reluctantly forced out.
"Good," I unclenched my palm. "In three hours, gather the village leadership here, three people will suffice. Those who can voice your needs and give an account of what's available... And don't make that face, I'm not talking about your personal property. But about the surrounding lands, resources on them, wild crystals, monsters, and so on."
"Fine." Throwing another surprised glance at me, the elder grabbed his weapons and quickly slipped through the gate.
I looked at the house and felt a huge desire to go in and finally see with my own eyes what my heart had long yearned for. Too soon! I suppressed my emotions and also went out to the street.
The armored vehicle was pulling a huge trailer and, roaring its engine, slowly approached the fence. By the way, the gasoline engine was working, which meant there were no large wild crystals nearby, otherwise the engine would temporarily switch to power from the energy pearl.
Damn, such a huge thing and nowhere to park it! Actually, there's space on the property, but due to locals' lack of transportation, gates in fences weren't provided for.
Will have to dismantle. Today, at that. After all, the words I said to the elder are only the first drop in establishing normal relations, and they won't affect anything yet. And it would suck to lose my expensive baby on the first day.
"Dismantle the fence, prepare parking space," Veldor ordered, and I couldn't hold back a smile that he gave the needed order before I voiced it.
And generally, I was lucky. Even though, not counting nine fighters, only two truly devoted people came with me, but what people! The father of the body's owner knew his stuff and how to work with personnel.
"Is everything here?" I asked, watching the military fussing around hastily unloaded suitcases, boxes, and bags.
"Even more, master!" Svylthor approached and leaned to my ear. "A couple of not ours got caught with our stuff during transfer to the trailer. Lucky!"
"Well done!" I showed the big guy a thumbs up. "Then look. Our plots are these three... Inspect the houses, distribute who will live where, and drag your stuff in. Mine goes to the first floor here."
Actually, according to the paper I just received, all land in this village now belonged to me. This was the first stumbling block in future relations with local residents. No matter how you spin it, they were the ones who built and defended this village, and then suddenly bam—in one day imperial troops arrive and present a fact. Now these lands belong to the baron, and these three houses especially need to be vacated within three days.
And why?
Because in one of their basements a crystal suddenly grew. And not wild, but neutral, that is, one that after initiation can become elemental. Actually, it would become elemental for anyone, but I don't intend to settle for such primitiveness.
"Have you seen this?"
Svylthor pried open the lid of a large crate and, scattering straw, demonstrated its contents to several heads sticking out over the nearest fence.
"Why wouldn't we see," nodded one of the men. "Many folks have such apparatus at home."
"Just like this?" the red-haired laughed. "Here, by the way, triple magical coating at once! All elements except earth are used! The product you get—you'll swallow your tongue, and by morning your head won't hurt at all!"
"Magical, you say."
Professional interest appeared on the man's face, though others continued to watch us as if saying: "You shouldn't unpack all your stuff, you'll have to pack it back up soon anyway."
I smirked at the unimpressive but effective provocation by my assistant and, once again making sure everyone was busy, pulled out a large backpack from the pile and headed to the house.
"Your nobility." Veldor appeared like a shadow in the doorway. "All clear, but there's something to discuss."
"Spit it out."
I entered the house, where cold hit me, but I didn't feel dampness, which was understandable—previous owners lived here just yesterday.
"Brief inspection of houses on three plots, as well as analysis of their positioning relative to neighboring buildings says it's more convenient to hold defense at night in this house and the one on the right. In the third, just create an illusion of presence and set traps."
"In this matter, I completely rely on you, Veldor." I patted the fighter on the shoulder. "Put the generator where you think best too. Just do everything with the calculation that the danger from locals won't be constant. That is, more emphasis on external defense."
"Draconis Mylarthel," the security chief spoke again, and by his tone and uncertain expression in his brown eyes, it was clear he was embarrassed.
"Just say it already," I encouraged.
"With all due respect, I wouldn't write off the wildness of the unassimilated. We're on their territory in every sense. They could easily attack us and leave with our stuff toward old Kansas."
Ah, that's the issue!
Even though in the last month he's noticed that I, that is, young baron Draconis, have changed significantly, he still doesn't fully believe in me.
"Veldor," I smirked. "You already agreed to come here with me. So let's have you trust your baron a bit more. I'll solve the problem with locals very soon."
The fighter hesitated for just a second, then bowed slightly.
"My apologies, your nobility. Permission to proceed?"
"Go ahead."
Veldor ran out of the house, and immediately a female figure appeared in the doorway.
"You're so confident! Does this confidence have grounds?"
Damn you! Can't breathe in or out without being overheard. Actually, my plan significantly depends on secrecy in the initial stages. And here we are like in communal apartments that existed at the dawn of the industrial era in my world.
"Kalthyra!" I smiled as peacefully as I could. "Soon you'll learn everything yourself, but for now, if you don't mind, could you leave me alone? I have a very important matter to attend to."
"Mm-m," the girl drawled and pouted her full lips. "And I wanted to watch the crystal subjugation procedure. You know, it's my first time."
She sighed languidly and unfastened her cloak.
Interesting, do they teach them in university that if you show a nineteen-year-old guy third-size breasts, he'll be ready for anything? Why does she wear a high-necked sweater then?
"Another time." I took her by the arm and showed her out.
Throwing an offended glance at me, the girl went down the porch steps unhappily, while I headed to the stairs leading to the basement.
Oh wow! And it's much better than I thought! Instead of a closet or damp storage room, in the uneven flame of three candles, I was presented with a room about five by five meters.
Log floor, walls, and ceiling without a trace of moisture, with workbenches and shelves along the walls. They were empty now, but clearly the previous owner had a workshop here. Perfect!
Making sure the place was good, I finally looked at HIM... Yes, my treasure. Daddy's here!
The neutral gray crystal of zero level resembled a glass cone about fifty centimeters high.
However, its fragility was illusory. Even archmages from my world couldn't move it. And if you dig a pit under it, it would just hang in air.
Yes! I did it!
Managing to be reborn in a new world and ending up in not the best conditions, in just a month I achieved becoming a crystal owner. And considering this world entered the magical era only a hundred years ago, while I came from where magic existed for over two thousand years...
Whoah! Fantasies about opening prospects overwhelmed me, and only with enormous willpower did I manage to push them into my subconscious. Not the time!
"Generator installed, your nobility!" reported one of the fighters, sticking his head through the hatch.
"Good," I nodded. "Then close the hatch and stand guard. No one should enter until I come out. And someone light the stove!"
"Yes sir!" The fighter disappeared from the basement, and I finally remained alone.
No, not so. I remained alone with the crystal and very soon would do something here that would completely overturn this world's knowledge of magic.
※※※
New York.
Very wealthy mansion.
"Did that fool Draconis actually leave for the border?" asked a sickly thin man about fifty, filling two shot glasses from a sweating transparent decanter.
"Yes, Genar, I'm shocked myself," the portly bald man sitting opposite speared a pickled cucumber with a fork and raised his glass. "Sold everything he had, bought various junk, an armored vehicle, and took off to Kansas. And to a practically uncleared area, to an unassimilated village."
"Interesting."
The men clinked glasses and drank, after which the richly furnished study with antique furniture plunged into minute-long silence.
"In fairness, it should be said," the thin man spoke again, "given his family's dire situation and his competitors in line for neutral crystals, he could have waited years for a normal place... And never get it."
"That's true," nodded the portly man and put a piece of fried trout in his mouth. "But he could have just studied and partied like most young orphaned nobles after the Great Rebellions do. Then serve in the army or somewhere else and get additional benefits. Really! Even doing nothing, in a year or two he could get not the best place maybe, but not in Kansas! That hole is only fourth in line for clearing and annexation. They'll only extend a proper road there in about five years, and there are masses of large wild crystals. All that's left is to take bets on what kills him: monster fangs or knife in the back from locals."
"Volodir, why are you so agitated, it's less trouble for you," the thin man smirked and, half-rising in his chair, refilled the glasses. "Or have you prepared another assassination attempt on him?"
The portly man's hand hung over the glass for several seconds, then he grabbed it and laughed.
"Yes, Genar! Prepared! And the pup ran off!"
"Well, kill someone else," the thin man laughed too and chased the whisky with a piece of fresh rabbit.
"No. Better freeze the project for now. Thank God he didn't take his sister yet. So maybe he'll see how it is in unannexed lands and leave quickly. And then oops—surprise. And in a week, of course, I'll send someone there to see how the young baron settled in."
"Reasonable. In any case, one less problem," the thin man nodded. "Alright, that's clear. Let's talk about more promising projects. How's your long-range magical weapon production?"
"In progress," the fat man immediately frowned and waved his hand. "So far, can only kill if shooting point-blank."
"Velmiras' already shoots ten meters."
"I know! I said it's in progress!"
The fat man grabbed the decanter and filled the glasses himself.