Next morning Damien waked up as usual he took his showers and put on his clothes then went to the dining room to take his breakfast 🍳 accompanied him was Crowley after all he disliked eating alone so it became habit that Crowley eat with him.
While eating he remembered that he asked Crowley about two stewards he asked Crowley to find him he already meet with cristoph the first of three the one he put incharge of agriculture of his domain so he asked:' Crowley did find the other candidate for stewards position I mentioned to you?'.
Crowley:' yes young master I was going to mention it later the first one is an old knight named Victor he used to serve a count in close by dukedom but they had a falling out from the information I gathered the count wanted his daughter to be his mistress but he refused so he branded him as traitor and he fled to the border territory to escape capture him and his family he would make a perfect captaine for you guards my lord he is also at mid level 1 knight and seconde is a female dark elve that goes by the name ayerendyle She a high level 1 priestesse of the church of the dark hand and also a low level 1 ranger I think she will be perfect to lead you hidden force'.
Hearing this Damien was delighted but still said:' they seem like they would the job I need them to do but also I want what kind of church this dark hand church I don't want to wake up some day to find myself surrounded by fanatics '.
Hearing this Crowley chuckled and said:' my lord the church of the dark hand is a well known church but it act more like a loose group of assassins than your usual church as their whole beliefs I based on that a the dark mother would tell a member of church who is called the listener about their target to kill it's more detailed than this but you get the gest of it young master '.
Hearing this a creepy smile was on Damien face didn't this sound like the dark brotherhood from elder scrolls univers it's probably work the same way and since he is a vampire he think he should join them it will probably a lot of forbidden ressources available to him like high level materiel to do experiment on necromancy and also they probably have some in-depth knowledge about dark and shadow element.
Then he said :' contact them both so that I can meet them also tell ayerendyle that she can set-up a hidden branch of their church in the outskirts of my town'.
Crowley:'yes my lord I will convey your intention to them'.
So after they finished their breakfast they went to study room where they will have a meeting.
Few minutes later everyone was present first to speak was obviously the baron so he started by saying:' first of all I want to congratulate everyone on our first victory as the barrony of Tuscany but I want to congratulate specially our chief of staff knigh Clark and his deputies one by one for their efforts in defeating the enemy as their tactics, prowess and leadership was essentially in winning this battle that's I want to award each on of them with a mansion this town and later when situation allowed it a heirydtery feif to be rule by them under the barrony as for other rewards will be calculated and delivered later to them and the soldier who proved themselves in the battle'.
They all applauded for the praise and the lavish rewards given by the lord as they were big rewards specially the promise of heirydtery land and title those for any one of them here were priceless as that will change their status from semi nobles to real nobles or more pricesely landed nobles that will give their first foundation upon which they can be build a hundred year old clan and if successful they can continue to climb the ladder until they become themselves a baron if the current baron become a viscount or higher.
Then Damien continued:' but even so this victory was big let's not forget it was against goblins even if they out numbers us three to one that's why beside the upcoming awards ceremony that I want to be held three days before our departure to Reclaim Manheim I want everyone to concentrate on doing job and I will not be stingy with rewards but first I think we should up our to three battalions even if that would squeeze our manpower a little but I think it necessary to avoid unwanted surprises second I want for the production of cannons and muskets to be increased as for funds Jean will allocate for this all what is necessary thirdly I hope that you will cooperate with the goblins without prejudice as they will protect our rear from any attack that comes from the forest so we can concentrate on our objective so if you have any questions or suggestions please you have the floor'.
First to speak was Heinkel :' first I would like to congratulate you and your knighs about the increase of production I think we could have every battalion equipped with the necessary cannons and muskets by two weeks as the méthode you give us my lord while the level of craftsman doesn't advance fast his production of the specialised part becomes better each time he made it but I want to suggest that we need to make something like a craftsman guild in order for the level of craftsman doesn't stagnate at the apprentice level as will become a hindrance later on'.
Hearing this Damien was delighted he already had the idea đź’ˇ to hire more craftsman but he didn't know how or where to find them so he could delegate this task to Heinkel and his brethrens as it's a well known knowledge from all the novels he read that's dwarves are the best craftsman and innovator race in the Universe rivaled only by few.
So he said :' I also agree with you on this so I want sir Heinkel to head this task and co-op with Jean for ressources si I hope to send invitations to every craftsman you kno to relocate here and also if you want you can also ask for your families to come here as for treatment will be left to you and I am also ready to gift to you a peak mountain for your clan to settle in it as your feif if enough merits is accumulated '.
Hearing this the dwarves were extatique about getting their own mountain 🏔️ peak as no matter what dwarves loved to live in mountains so they all agreed to do all they can to get their families here.
Then it was the turn of akanay he stood and said:' I too would like to congratulate you on your win but like Heinkel me too or even worse than them since I am the only master alchemist while Gregory is good he still a t peak apprentice alchemist level so if want him to became he need to concentrate on making potions so I suggest to invite a few of others masters alchemist in order to divide the work and also to guide the apprentice so my suggestion is the same to make an association for alchemist in order to nurture talent and also to meet the need of the barrony for mana potions,aura potions, healing potions and others like limit breaking potions and finally bringing in new alchemist will help diversifie the available potions and start multiple project at same time m'y lord'.
Like before Damian saw no reason to refuse so agreed on akanay request and put in charge for it with Jean only this time they will hold competitions to select them since the akanay wasn't like the dwarves didn't have a clan and didn't associate with other alchemist in the dukedom.
Finally it was Jean turn:' my lord I would like to congratulate you again if it feels redundant by now hhh '.
Then he continued:' in order in my humble opinion to tackle the manpower with could turn to buying slaves from the slave market in Manheim after you take back my lord or we could commission the Santini family but a doubt they will be able to provide a stable and big amount of people two we can make refuge friendly polices so that they will CĂ´me settle here but will not be controlled by us'.
Hearing this Damien taught for a while:' we will do both we will commission the Santini for now you can discuss the details of the deal with them then after taking back Manheim also comission the market as for refugees will leave to you and Crowley the best method to attract them to settle here so if there's nothing else I will like to talk about the recruitment plan and war plan with the traitor'.
Then Clark stood :' I would like to congratulate the baron on his victory and thank everyone for the recruitment plan my lord it can be done but the new battalion combat effectiveness will be low as they would have not even concluded half the time needed for the training this is why a suggest the following we will first conduct an Extermination of the bandits that are plaguing the surrounding of the town using two battalion the old one and a new one in order for it to gain experience also at same time extends at least the time for the training for three weeks then launch an attack one the town of Manheim this will also give us time to gather the necessary intelligence to attack effectively my lord'.
After hearing this Damien made look like he was thinking while taping on the table then said: 'we Will do as you say for now but I want to be ready at any moment to attack as for the training let's be four weeks instead of three ok'.
Right after he hear the response of the baron
The corner of his mouth rose and said:' yes my lord it will be done as you order'.
Damien stood :'with I announce that this meeting has ended so I want everyone to their job and Jean I want the ceremony for the battle victory to be great so don't be cheap and let's everyone in the town celebrate ok'.
They all stood:'yes lord'.
And with they left everyone to their jobs.
As for Damien he wanted to go to his room to finish refining the blood and also to do some training.