Lawrence built an entire section for the training and accommodation of soldiers, where large fields were singled out and obstacles built to train horsemen, large ranges built to train men in archery and large fields with training weapons to practice fighting.

Mock houses were built for men to practice fighting indoors within close quarters, while the men shared a large bunk, forging a camaraderie.

The pay of the soldiers also affirmed their loyalty, being three times the rates of a professional soldier.

Lawrence was able to erect the buildings without the others witnessing it but the walls were going to be a problem.

If a wall was built overnight, you will have to be crazy not to question it.

With that, Lawrence had no choice but to finally leave the bustling city of Tears and head for Ludium, where Craig accompanied him along with Quenya.

As Lawrence neared the city of Ludium, he observed that the walls were of moderate height compared to the ones he read about in books of history. However, spikes adorned the top of the walls, which would have prevented any siege ladders from crashing against it.

At the gates, there was a checkpoint manned by a lazy guard that couldn’t have seen an army a mile away. He did not even look up to look at their faces when he issued them a 3-day pass.

“Welcome to Ludium, Lawrence, this is Lord Black’s most proud work. His father and his grandfather have focused their lives on the development of Ludium and so has he.” Craig said, and the first thought that came to Lawrence was how the area reminded him of the cobbled streets of Netherlands along the older areas.

Along the streets, stalls selling all forms of bubbles gathered, even street food that ranged from slices of delectable smoked duck all the way to honeyed bat wings.

The buildings were decorated with many signs and symbols, with many of them being textile shops, general shops or even weapon shops

“The finest herbs that you will ever see!” One herbalist shouts, “The finest sword and shield you will ever lay eyes upon! It is dangerous to go alone, buy a dagger!” A weaponsmith yells to the passing crowds.

Though Tears was starting to bustle with life, there were still not many shops around and most people haven't saved enough money to buy things aside from essentials though there was a sign of gradual change.

A labourer may buy a small pot of tea to supplement his breakfast, or a mother may have been more willing to buy a croissant for her child and a young lass has become more willing to buy an earring made by the new jeweller in town.

However, it will still be months before any real change is enacted. There is only so much you can do by throwing in huge amounts of money. You can buy the nicest armour, keenest blade but still be unskilled in its use.

Ludium on the other hand, may not look as pretty but it definitely has more money running around in the pockets of the people.

As Lawrence followed Craig and Quenya, he noticed what seemed like guards patrolling the city, clad in leather armour, with what seemed like the squad leader in iron armour. Their weapons were slightly rusted. The helmet the squad leader was wearing even had a slight dent in it.

However, from this Lawrence could interfere that the guards in the city were not untested.

Soon, the aroma of bread wafted into Lawrence’s nose. In the open city square, he could see a large wagon with workers in a—

“The uniforms were my daughter’s ideas, I hope you do not blame her,” Craig said as Lawrence’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the girls busy serving the bread and buns to the crowd of customers.

The girls had a blue headscarf, with white polka dots, a long blue dress and a white apron, with the words, ‘The Guardian’s Bakery’ embroidered on them.

The girls were extremely pretty as well.

The male servers who were bringing dishes around, on the other hand, were dressed like butlers, their appearance dashing and handsome.

Quenya stammered, “I just thought it would have been a good idea…”

Lawrence roared with laughter, slapping both Quenya and Craig on the shoulder repeatedly.

“This is an amazing idea! Every one of our workers should get a uniform like this! Maybe we can even have posters of our workers drawn like this!” Lawrence said eagerly, multiple marketing angles spinning in his head.

Uniforms are sometimes important to a brand’s corporate identity. For example, most of us would be able to spot a Starbucks barista a mile away from the attire he is dressed in. Next, they enforce a form of camaraderie between the employees, which helps them to work better, or at least that is the idea behind it.

Lawrence was so pleased with what he saw that he arranged for Quenya to be awarded a pearl necklace from his inventory, which Quenya the Merchantress would be known for wearing especially even in the paintings of history that hung in the courts.

“Lawrence, the person who helped you finalize your design for the wagons is from this shop,” Craig said, the trio stopping in front of a rather pleasant shop exterior that had a see-through display filled with figurines of buildings that reminded Lawrence of the modular terrains he saw in Dungeons & Dragons.

On the glass door, the word, Evergarden Designs.