SMW C24 Ambitious plans

The following day, Alexander's messengers had successfully located both Ranulf and Osmund. It wasn't long before the two men entered Castle Eisenberg with hesitant steps and watchful eyes, clearly awed by their surroundings.

Upon seeing Baron Aldric seated at the head of the Great Hall, they immediately dropped to their knees in respectful terror.

"We are deeply honored to be summoned by the noble House of Eisenberg!" they declared in unison.

Aldric regarded them with mild disinterest, still puzzled by his son's choice of companions but willing to trust Alexander's judgment. "You are welcome here today. My son requires your particular skills for some project. Serve him to the best of your abilities."

"I pledge to assist the young lord with everything I possess!" Ranulf declared with solemn fervor.

"Me—me too, my lord!" Osmund managed to stutter, overwhelmed by the formal setting.

Aldric nodded dismissively and signaled for Steward Konrad to escort them to Alexander's chambers.

---

Within Alexander's quarters, the atmosphere immediately became more relaxed as the two craftsmen found themselves in more familiar territory.

"So you both made it," Alexander said with an approving nod.

"Young lord," Osmund replied, visibly more comfortable in the intimate setting. His military bearing reasserted itself away from the intimidating presence of the baron.

Ranulf, however, remained nervous despite the more casual environment. "Yo-young lord! I'm truly honored to meet with you again!"

Alexander smiled warmly at their obvious anxiety. Both men were clearly trying too hard to impress him.

Inwardly, Ranulf's thoughts raced with excitement: I'm actually in the presence of God's chosen one! I must do everything possible to serve him well and prove myself worthy of this honor.

Alexander observed their tense postures for a moment before speaking gently. "Please, both of you, relax. I don't bite, and we're all here to work together on something important."

"Ha, yes, of course, young lord," Ranulf nodded eagerly, though his shoulders remained rigid.

Osmund managed a genuine smile when he spotted his wooden knight figure displayed prominently on Alexander's desk. "Young lord, what assistance might we provide? Your messenger mentioned you have need of our particular skills?"

Alexander nodded and reached for the carefully prepared parchment. "Indeed. I have something here that requires both of your expertise to create." He unrolled the detailed blueprint with deliberate ceremony. "This device is called a 'Mandoline Slicer'—an advanced piece of equipment I need for producing a revolutionary new potato-based food."

The moment Alexander mentioned potatoes, Ranulf's eyes blazed with intense interest. As someone completely converted to the potato cause, anything related to the blessed roots commanded his absolute attention.

"A new potato-based food?!" he exclaimed, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically for the formal setting.

Alexander nodded with obvious satisfaction at the blacksmith's reaction. "Exactly. Though it would be more accurate to call it a 'snack' rather than a traditional dish."

"Snack?" Osmund raised an eyebrow at the completely unfamiliar term. "I'm not sure I understand that word, young lord."

Alexander simply smiled mysteriously and spread the blueprint across his desk where both men could examine it clearly. He began explaining how the project would require close collaboration between blacksmith and carpenter to achieve the precise results he envisioned.

Ranulf studied the intricate drawing with growing fascination and concern. "This is unlike anything I've ever seen—so precise and complex." He traced the iron framework components with his finger. "From the level of detail required, I'd estimate this will take several weeks to complete properly."

Osmund nodded thoughtfully as he examined the wooden components and ergonomic features. "I agree completely. The precision carpentry alone will be quite challenging, and coordinating it with the metalwork..." He looked up at Alexander with new respect. "This is truly an ambitious design, young lord."

Alexander understood perfectly why such a seemingly simple device would require weeks to complete. The technological limitations of this medieval world made even basic precision instruments remarkably challenging to produce.

Honestly, completing it within weeks would be quite impressive given their available tools and techniques.

"Very well, I'm entrusting this entire project to both of you," Alexander said with quiet authority. "And don't worry—I'll ensure you're both rewarded handsomely for your excellent work."

Osmund immediately waved his hands in protest. "Please don't trouble yourself over payment, young lord! Just serving you is reward enough!"

"Absolutely!" Ranulf agreed with genuine enthusiasm. "We're honored to help you, especially after you blessed us all by revealing the truth about potatoes!" His gratitude was completely authentic—as a common villager, he felt overwhelmed by Alexander's earlier kindness in transforming their understanding of cursed roots.

Alexander shook his head firmly. "No, I cannot and will not exploit my position as your lord. I refuse to treat good subjects poorly, regardless of their willingness to work without compensation."

He met both men's eyes seriously. "You will be paid fairly for this work. After all, if you successfully complete this Mandoline Slicer, it will genuinely benefit the entire Barony of Eisenfurt. I cannot allow the talented craftsmen who make such progress possible to go unrewarded."

Both men fell speechless at this unexpected generosity, their faces showing overwhelming gratitude mixed with genuine excitement.

"Thank you, young lord!" Ranulf bowed his head deeply, his voice thick with emotion.

"We'll give you our absolute best work!" Osmund promised fervently.

Alexander nodded with satisfaction, smiling inwardly at their response. Of course, having two skilled craftsmen work for free would be financially tempting in their current circumstances. But he had deliberately chosen a different path.

Proper payment would ensure both men remained motivated throughout the lengthy project. More importantly, fair treatment would cultivate genuine loyalty that would prove invaluable in the future. Alexander was thinking long-term—these weren't just temporary workers, but potential permanent assets to his eventual administration.

While he currently lacked the funds to pay them immediately—the potato chip venture hadn't generated revenue yet—he already had clear plans for compensation once his new products began selling. The investment in their loyalty would pay dividends far beyond the initial cost.

After discussing additional technical details and timeline expectations, Alexander dismissed both craftsmen to begin their collaborative work. With the Mandoline Slicer project now underway, he could turn his attention to his next innovation: soap production.

The dried herbs from Tannenfeld were waiting in his chambers, and he was eager to begin experimenting with different formulations that could revolutionize hygiene throughout the barony. If successful, soap could provide another revenue stream while dramatically improving his people's health and quality of life.

Soap. It was absolutely crucial for human health and dignity—essential for maintaining hygiene in a world that desperately lacked proper sanitation standards.

Alexander's thoughts turned to the Islamic world of his previous life. Unlike the Christian kingdoms of medieval Europe, Islamic civilizations had possessed remarkably advanced understanding of hygiene and cleanliness. From what he remembered, Islamic scholars and craftsmen had perfected soap-making techniques using olive oil, plant-based alkalis, and aromatic herbs like bay leaves and rose petals. Their cities featured public bathhouses, sophisticated drainage systems, and widespread use of quality soaps that made European equivalents seem primitive by comparison.

He wondered if this world's Islamic regions possessed similar knowledge and technological advancement. If so, they would represent a significant opportunity for trade and learning—assuming political relations permitted such exchanges.

Currently, from his observations throughout Eisenfurt and neighboring territories, proper soap remained virtually nonexistent. There was something called "washing paste"—an expensive mixture of animal fat, wood ash, and herbs—but it was crude, harsh on skin, and available only to wealthy nobles. Most common folk simply rinsed with water or used rough cloths, contributing to the overwhelming odors that plagued every settlement.

Gathering his carefully preserved herbs from Tannenfeld, Alexander made his way to the castle kitchen where Fritz awaited with his usual respectful attention.

"Is the laboratory I requested properly prepared?" Alexander inquired.

"Yes, young lord. We've cleared and equipped the old storage chamber in the tower's base level," Fritz replied efficiently. "It's well-ventilated, has stone work surfaces, and we've installed a small hearth for heating materials as you specified."

"Excellent. Let's proceed there immediately."

As they walked through the castle corridors toward the makeshift laboratory, Fritz's mind churned with curious speculation. *What exactly is our young lord planning this time?*

The potato revelation had already astounded everyone who witnessed it. Transforming devil's roots into blessed food? Even though the miracle remained confined to Eisenfurt's borders for now, the fact that such a young child had managed to convince an entire barony to embrace former taboos was nothing short of extraordinary.

And now he's conducting mysterious experiments with herbs and speaking of "laboratories" like some ancient alchemist, Fritz mused with growing fascination. Whatever he's developing next, I have the feeling it will be just as revolutionary as those blessed potatoes.

The head chef quickened his pace slightly, eager to witness whatever divine inspiration would emerge from Alexander's latest endeavor.