Chapter 51: Return to the Estate

“I need to return to the estate, sort out a few things, and then continue my travels,” Ace said to Athena.

“Are you leaving again?” Athena’s radiant face suddenly dropped, and her ruby eyes sparkled with a pitiful light.

“The New Medicine still needs refinement. I must travel across Salia, collecting more medicinal materials and prescriptions. I want to visit the Northern City-States to broaden my horizons, spread the New Medicine throughout all of Salia, and treat more patients!” Ace said with righteous conviction.

Athena looked at Ace and suddenly felt a sacred and warm radiance emanating from him.

“You are right. You have your dreams and your determination. Go and fulfill them. If you need any help, please be sure to come to me. Remember, you are my only good friend.”

Ace looked at Athena’s gentle smile and felt his heart was healed. He nodded solemnly. “If I truly have a need, I will definitely ask.”

The next day, Ace hosted a small gathering at his villa, inviting Teacher Peter, Morton, Carter, and Daina. They clinked mugs and chatted, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

“Let us raise our mugs together for the New Medicine! And thank Ace for his outstanding contribution!”

Teacher Peter, his face flushed with joy, raised a mug of beer and declared loudly.

After everyone raised their mugs, Romon tore off a large piece of roasted lamb leg and began to feast heartily.

His face was ruddy, his spirits high. His life had suddenly turned around in middle age. The entire family’s situation had improved drastically. His son had become a famous, genius scholar in the city-state, referred to as the “Favorite of the Goddess of Wisdom”. He was full of vitality and energy.

“Mr. Peter, I toast you with this mug! Thank you for guiding Ace so wonderfully!”

Romon set down the lamb leg, raised his ceramic mug of beer, and shouted.

“Captain Romon (Romon was a minor squad leader in the army when he was young), it is you who should be thanked for sending such an excellent Ace to me. Come, let us drain this mug!”

The revelry lasted until midnight. Ace raised his mug and toasted everyone, saying:

“Everyone, after I finish some matters at the estate, I will travel far. The people of Salia need me. I must spread the knowledge of the New Medicine throughout all of Salia! I will practice medicine and save lives according to my conscience and dignity. The health of my patients will be my foremost concern.”

“Well said, Ace! I am proud of you as my student!” Teacher Peter was profoundly moved, raising his mug and draining it in one gulp.

Late that night, everyone slept peacefully at Ace’s villa.

The next morning, Ace gently knocked on Daina’s door. After a long while, Daina, fully dressed, opened the door.

“Is it convenient for me to come in? I have something I want to discuss with you,” Ace said.

Daina unconsciously twisted her left and right thumbs together. “C-Certainly, Scholar Ace.”

“No need to be so formal. Just call me Ace. I’m coming in now.”

The two entered the room. Daina gently closed the door. She frowned, a little tense and uneasy.

“You are very studious. During this period, your understanding of Logic has greatly advanced. I would like to invite you to my estate. I have some knowledge about mathematics that I want to teach you. Are you interested?”

“Really? I would love that, I would love that. I especially love mathematics. Logic is also somewhat like mathematics—it is very simple and beautiful.”

Daina excitedly clasped her hands together. Her fluffy flaxen hair danced with her emotion, and her delicate face was flushed with excitement.

“Then it’s settled. I must leave now. Rest for a while, and we will leave together at noon.”

In the gaps between researching runes over the past two months, Ace had been answering Daina’s questions and observing her. Her attitude toward knowledge was pure, her personality was persistent and determined, and her social interactions were simple. Her family background was clean. She was an excellent candidate for an assistant or apprentice.

Ace planned to further evaluate Daina. If she passed the evaluation and was willing to learn Magic, he would find a way to introduce her to the world of the supernatural and the gate of Magic.

The military diary Daina gave him led to his success. Now, he also wanted to help Daina succeed.

In the meantime, Ace transformed into his Iron Face Fire Fist persona and visited the camp outside the city to retrieve the magical materials (Monster organs) he had stored there.

In the evening, Ace, Daina, Romon, and Marina, along with the slaves, returned to the estate together. After arranging Daina’s accommodation, Ace immediately shut himself in his room. He hadn’t yet prepared the mathematics book.

He stayed up all night. The next day, Ace organized the primary school-level mathematics from his past life and compiled it into a book, Elementary Mathematics (Volume One), which he gave to Daina.

“Read through this book first. The knowledge progression in this book is similar to the mainstream mathematics level in the city-state. Review it first to build a solid foundation. I will gradually teach you more advanced mathematical knowledge.”

Ace spoke to Daina with a tired look.

Daina gently opened the parchment book. It carried a faint scent of ink and was written in beautiful Bird Script. She nodded heavily and left, clutching Elementary Mathematics (Volume One).

Ace summoned Carson and began to inspect his estate based on Carson’s introduction.

The land belonging to the estate was about 300 ka, equivalent to 200 square kilometers in his past life. A nameless river ran through the entire estate. A range of low hills on the west side of the river had grapes planted on the gentler slopes. Small iron and coal mines had been discovered in the hills, and small mining facilities had been built.

The eastern side of the river was a fertile plain, cultivated with large areas of wheat fields and vegetables. The area adjacent to the sea was planted with olive trees. North of the river was grassland, where herds of cattle, sheep, and horses grazed.

Further south was the estate’s small town, divided into two by the river, connected by several arched bridges, and surrounded by low, rammed-earth walls. The west side of the town had the industrial area, space reserved for the commercial area, the general residential area, the Estate Affairs Office building, and space reserved for public functional areas. The east side had the master’s residence, the high-end and luxury residential areas, and space reserved for the high-end commercial area.

Stone roads crisscrossed the small town like a chessboard. Roads extended out to the various functional areas outside the town mentioned above. One road extended directly south, connecting a fishing port.

It was more accurate to call it a fishing village than a port. There were about a hundred residents here, mostly impoverished fishermen who had become debt slaves. They built small fishing boats here and fished in the near-shore waters.

After the inspection tour, Ace had a more intuitive understanding of the entire estate. The estate currently had a population of over 2,000 people and had initially developed the potential for growth. In terms of armed force, there were nearly 50 hired veterans managed by Romon and Marun. Ace had mentally suggested certain actions to the veterans, basically ensuring safety.

“The reforms I mentioned in the plan I gave you can now begin, especially the glass workshop. It must start immediately,” Ace told Carson.

Carson was somewhat excited. The reforms involved a series of measures that would transform the people into de facto subjects without changing their slave status, and Ace would become the de facto lord.

The subjects would have the right to freely choose their profession within the territory. Subjects would be equal under the territory’s regulations. The territory would establish a library, school, hospital, prison, and a series of other public facilities for the convenience of the people.

A bank would be established, and all subjects would be paid a certain amount of coupons for their work. These coupons could be used within the territory to purchase approved items, ranging from buying or renting houses and purchasing land-use rights for no more than 50 years, to every aspect of food, clothing, housing, and transportation.

In short, the plan was to grant limited rights to release the vitality of the entire estate society, all without changing Ace’s fundamental position.