When I first received Viscount Visconti''s land grant, the village of Vio was nothing more than a backwater.

    Now, it''s so developed that I can hardly imagine its once barren and dilapidated state.

    There''s a harbor large enough for medium and large ships, inns for sailors, and rows of sturdy but humble houses.

    "It''s really come a long way."

    Though I''ve focused mainly on constructing the port, and the village lacks the sophistication of a true city,

    at this point, I can at least claim to be a lord of a port town with some confidence.

    ‘In this era, a settlement with just a thousand people counts as a city.’

    As I was inspecting the harbor and some of the ships, the village chief hurried over with the villagers following behind.

    "My lord! You’ve returned?"

    In most domains, when the lord visits, the expenses for entertainment fall heavily on the villagers, who secretly wish he’d leave.

    They may smile outwardly, but inside, they’re likely counting down the minutes until his departure.

    But the chief’s smile wasn’t feigned; it was entirely genuine.

    ‘He’s truly glad to see me.’@@@@

    "Yes, I’ve returned."

    "Was the trip to Guillaume City tiring? We’ve cleaned the manor thoroughly for you, my lord."

    Though he calls it a manor, it’s smaller than my home in Florence.

    Even though land is cheap here, I opted for a modest residence.

    I won’t be staying here long, and I didn’t want to burden the villagers with unnecessary work.

    ‘No need for a grand manor to assert my authority.’

    "I didn’t do any hard labor on the ship. The captain and crew took care of everything."

    "Even so, my lord, we’d love to treat you to some dishes we’ve prepared with great care."

    I eat meals prepared by chefs in Florence who could easily work in a five-star hotel, so what they’ve cooked is likely less impressive by comparison.

    But I can’t turn down their heartfelt gesture.

    ‘If the chief forced it from the villagers, that’d be one thing, but...’

    Seeing the villagers’ wide smiles, refusing would only disappoint them.

    "Alright, I’d be happy to try it. And today, to celebrate Vio Village''s development, I’ll hold a grand festival. We’ll roast cattle and pigs and prepare an abundance of dishes. I’ll cover all the costs."

    In a world with little entertainment and scarce resources, who doesn’t love a festival?

    The chief cheered when I mentioned I’d bear the expenses.

    "Thank you, my lord!"

    "Prepare everything generously. It would reflect poorly on my authority if you were stingy with the festivities."

    Hearing my jest, the chief turned to the villagers and spoke earnestly.

    Watching them rejoice, I started eating the dishes before me.

    Being in a port town, there were a lot of seafood dishes, which suited my tastes just fine.

    ‘It’s hard to find fresh seafood in Florence.’

    Among the various foods, one dish caught my eye in particular.

    "Is this abalone?"

    Abalone isn’t commonly eaten on this continent, so I didn’t expect to see it unless I specifically requested it.

    When I expressed curiosity, a villager nearby responded.

    "Sometimes we catch abalone while harvesting seaweed. Since we have enough food now, we usually don’t eat them. But Jack here said they’re a delicacy when grilled with butter, so we thought you might like to try it, my lord."

    "Well, I’ll give it a try."

    Grilled abalone with butter is the kind of dish even seafood skeptics can’t resist.

    It’s almost impossible for it to taste bad.

    "This is delicious."

    "We’re glad you enjoy it, my lord."

    "Are you considering farming it?"

    "Yes, the village chief suggested we try cultivating it like clams."

    Dried abalone makes an excellent broth.

    While Westerners might not be fond of abalone,

    if I popularize it and start a trend of using it in stews, it could become quite lucrative.

    "Increase the scale of the farming; I’ll provide unlimited funding. Give Jack two gold coins as a reward and five to the chief."

    That’s the equivalent of an annual salary for a corporate employee, but they’ve earned it.

    They’ve taken initiative and achieved results without being prompted.

    "In our domain, good work will always be rewarded. So keep up the effort."

    With that, I continued to enjoy the abalone steak.

    It’ll take a few years to establish proper farming techniques, but it’s a good start.

    I ate to my heart’s content, enjoying every dish prepared by the villagers.

    After the feast, I headed towards Bergello, a bit further from Vio Village.

    "My lord, this truly is an age of revolution!"

    Sebastian, who I’d stationed at Bergello to oversee the factory work, came running over with excitement.

    It’s rare to see Sebastian so animated.

    If he’s this excited, then the machines from the early industrial revolution must be making a significant impact.

    "What’s got you so worked up?"

    "In all my years, I’ve never seen wool or cotton fabric produced so quickly. It’s like magic!"

    The industrial revolution was indeed like magic in its transformative power.

    Historical records mention:

    ‘After the industrial revolution, humanity felt economic growth firsthand for the first time.’

    "Let’s go take a look."