Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World

Chapter 2: Beginning of a Life in Another World

Sitting in the lord's seat, Paul felt incredibly nervous. In his past life, he had only attended meetings to take notes in a corner, never having experienced being the center of attention. Additionally, the sight of a room full of people in medieval attire added an air of unreality.

"Ahem..." Paul cleared his throat awkwardly.

Butler Philip, standing by his side, spoke up, "Young Master Paul is still recovering from a serious illness, and his health isn't in the best condition. Now that everyone is here, let's discuss how to deal with the current situation."

The crowd began to discuss in small groups.

"I'll start. Now is the time to regroup and teach those pirates a lesson. Their raids on the coast have already aroused great public anger. If we let them continue unabated, we'll have no face to meet our people."

A broad-shouldered, square-faced man stood up, voicing his opinion loudly.

"Agreed!"

"I second that."

His words garnered considerable support.

"This pirate invasion is unusual. They've never ventured this deep inland before. Since the Count's passing, our troops' morale is low. We shouldn't act rashly but should seek assistance from neighboring lords."

Voices of dissent were also heard.

"But even if the nearest lord agrees to send help, it won't arrive for at least half a month, right?"

The room soon became divided between these two views. Paul wanted to interject but was unsure what to say. He picked up a cup of water from the table to mask his discomfort.

"Enough, everyone," the square-faced man suddenly called for silence. "We should listen to the young master's opinion and let him make the final decision."

"But he's just a boy. What does he know?" a somewhat sinister-looking man muttered.

"Watch your tone. Paul Grayman is the only legitimate heir of this land and our future lord."

The square-faced man stood up fiercely, confronting the naysayer. His surrounding knights also glared at the man, some even resting hands on their swords.

Intimidated, the sinister man shrank back, lowering his head.

Philip, the butler, quickly intervened, "Let's not fight among ourselves. We face a common enemy. Young Master, please say something."

Realizing silence was no longer an option, Paul spoke confidently, "Yes, we must remain calm and united to overcome this crisis."

Addressing the square-faced man, he asked, "And you are?"

"Bryce. Bryce Ald, your military commander."

Philip had already informed everyone of the young master's memory loss, so Bryce introduced himself without expecting Paul to recognize him.

"How many soldiers can we muster?"

"We have 263 soldiers ready for battle, including 15 knights and 20 attendants. There are also about 300 militiamen from various villages, though their quality is mixed and they lack formal training."

"Are our soldiers a standing army? I mean, do they train daily throughout the year?"

"How is that possible? These men are essential labor in their homes, usually gathered for training once a month or quarter. They're assembled in Lakeheart Town now due to the pirate invasion."

"How many pirates are there?"

"About 500, based on estimates during the ambush. Such a large-scale incursion is unprecedented. We're at a disadvantage, but they don't all raid together. We could ambush them in return."

Bryce reiterated his proactive stance.

"What about logistics... how long can our supplies last?"

"No worries there. Soldiers brought some rations, and the town's stores can feed a few hundred easily. We're not besieged."

...

Paul's questions earned him some respect, dispelling any lingering doubts about his competence. He seemed more responsible than his previous frivolous image suggested, aware of the responsibility he now shouldered.

"We could expand our military to match the pirates, then train for a month before seeking an opportunity to annihilate them. Meanwhile, we can send envoys for reinforcements."

"I think that's a good idea!" Paul agreed, striking a balance between showing courage and avoiding recklessness.

With his agreement, no one opposed. They discussed details of recruitment and, finally, Paul's formal inheritance of the title and land. As the rightful heir, there was little debate, and it was swiftly agreed that the chief steward would report to the royal court for official recognition and seek assistance against the pirates.

Feeling more comfortable in his new role, Paul remembered his 'grand plans' from the night before. Faced with a troubled land and leaderless people, he saw an opportunity to shine the light of industrial civilization on this wild land. His determination surged.

Philip whispered, "If there's nothing else, young master, we should conclude the meeting. The knights need to inspect the defenses."

"Yes, defending against the pirates is the priority," Paul announced the meeting's end, and everyone began to leave.

"Hold on, everyone!" Paul called out as they were exiting. "Considering the current unrest, I've decided to review our troops in the square to boost morale."

He wanted to see for himself what his army looked like.