Chapter 94: Incoming Guests
"Instead of hauling buckets from wells, or relying on water mages," Jack explained, his hand resting on the control lever like a conductor preparing to launch a HSR system train. "The river feeds directly into our pump system. All you do is turn this lever, and water flows straight from the pipes and rains down from above."
He demonstrated with a smooth motion that had become as natural as breathing.
Clean water immediately began pouring from the spout overhead, creating the effect of gentle, warm rainfall within the marble chamber.
The water fell in steady, controlled streams, heated by its journey through sun-warmed pipes and regulated by a system of valves that prevented either scalding or cold shocks.
The reactions hit like lightning strikes.
Octavia laughed with pure, unbridled delight, stepping directly under one of the streams and letting the water cascade through her elaborately arranged hair.
"This is civilization!" she declared, spinning with her arms outstretched as water droplets caught the light filtering through high windows like tiny diamonds.
"Who needs court entertainments when you can have this? It’s like bathing in a controlled rainstorm!"
Celeste’s eyes lit up with mischievous look as she examined the bronze fixtures and intricate tilework with the focus of a master appraiser.
"Think of how many gambling debts I could wash away in here," she joked, though Jack noticed her evaluating every valuable component in sight. When she thought no one was looking, she ran her fingers along a golden towel rack with obvious appreciation for its craftsmanship.
But it was Annabelle’s reaction that stopped everyone dead in their tracks.
His youngest sister stepped under the falling water and immediately burst into tears.
Not of sadness, but of overwhelming emotional joy to the beauty and luxury she had never imagined possible.
"It feels like the world itself forgives you," she whispered, her voice thick with wonder as clean water ran down her face, mingling with tears of joy.
"Like every mistake, every regret, every moment of feeling dirty or unworthy just... washes away. How did you know we needed this?"
Jack’s chest swelled with pride as he watched his sister experience something he’d taken for granted in his previous life.
Even Duke Alaric stood speechless for a long moment, his usual composed authority cracked by the sheer audacity of what his son had accomplished.
"Even the greatest water mage would have a hard tome matchching this consistency," he finally said, shaking his head in disbelief. "No mana requirements, no fatigue, no limit to duration. This operates independent of any individual’s magical ability."
Jack felt a surge of pride, but also the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders like a mantle.
"And this same system will serve every citizen of Sorne," he said firmly. "The bathhouse uses identical infrastructure. Clean water isn’t a privilege to be earned. It’s a basic right of civilized society."
The statement drew approving nods from his family, though Jack caught his father’s slight frown.
The duke understood the political windfall that would come from it. Other noble houses might view Jack’s egalitarian approach as a dangerous precedent that threatened the established order.
Seraphina, who had been quietly observing from the side like a shadow, raised her hand hesitantly. "My lord, how does the water actually reach the estate from the river? The distance alone seems impossible to manage without magic."
"Let me walk you through exactly how it works."
Jack’s voice took on the tone of a master craftsman explaining his life’s work.
"Step one," Jack began, gesturing as if the river itself were before them, "we have a carefully engineered intake from the river. Copper grates enchanted against rust and corrosion filter out large debris, dead fish, and floating waste before the water even enters our system."
"Step two: the water flows into large underground settling basins where mud, silt, and heavier particles naturally sink to the bottom over time. I’ve employed workers to clean these out on a rotating schedule, so the system never becomes clogged with accumulated sediment."
"Step three is where the real magic happens," Jack continued, his enthusiasm building. "The water passes first through charcoal to absorb impurities and remove odors, then through increasingly fine sand layers to trap microscopic particles, and finally through gravel beds for drainage and aeration."
Octavia leaned forward, genuinely intrigued. "The precision required for this layering... how did you calculate the optimal ratios?"
"Trial and error, combined with some theoretical knowledge," Jack replied diplomatically, unable to explain that in his previous life he’d seen detailed explanations on television and engineering documentaries.
"The key insight was that different materials filter different types of contamination, so layering them creates cumulative purification effects."
"And the magical components?" Octavia pressed curiously.
"Father Caelen has been invaluable," Jack said, nodding toward the priest who stood quietly in the corner, still somewhat overwhelmed by the grandeur surrounding him.
"He inscribed purification runes throughout the system and feeds divine energy into them monthly. The magical purification eliminates biological contamination that physical filtering might miss."
Caelen stepped forward, his weathered face glowing with pride. "It has been an honor to contribute to such righteous work. The Light of Caelora blesses water that serves all people equally, regardless of birth or wealth."
"We also add crushed silver filings at several points in the process," Jack continued, warming to his subject. "Silver has natural properties that complement the magical purification beautifully."
"Finally," Jack said with a smile that could have lit the room, "the clean water gathers in sealed reservoirs built throughout the city. Underground waterwheels powered by the river’s current create pressure that pumps the water wherever we need it. The bathhouse, the public fountains, private homes, and yes, the estate itself."
While his family marveled at the engineering marvel Jack had created, his father pulled him aside. The duke’s expression was grave enough to kill the celebration instantly.
"Tomorrow, important guests will arrive in Sorne," Alaric said, his voice so hard it made Jack’s stomach clench with dread. "Some have decided to come specifically for you."
Jack felt his comfortable satisfaction evaporate like morning mist. "What kind of guests?"
"Merchants who see profit in your innovations," Alaric continued grimly, each word dropping like a stone into still water.
"They’ll want to purchase your engineering knowledge, license your construction techniques, maybe even hire your workers away from you. Some will offer partnership deals that sound generous but would ultimately give them control over your inventions."
The duke’s expression grew even darker, if that were possible. "Noble representatives from other duchies who want to understand how you’ve achieved such rapid urban development. They’ll study your methods, copy what they can, and then potentially use their resources to implement similar projects that could undermine Sorne’s competitive advantages."
"And?" Jack prompted, sensing there was worse news lurking like a predator in tall grass.
"And some have decided to come with offers of marriage for your sisters," Alaric finished heavily, the words landing like hammer blows.
"Your success has elevated our family’s profile considerably. Octavia, Celeste, and Annabelle are now seen as highly desirable matches. Not just for their own qualities, but for the political and economic connections to your innovations."
Jack’s gaze snapped back toward his sisters, who were still enjoying the novelty of the shower system.
Octavia stood calm and poised, already aware of her value as a marriageable noble daughter and probably calculating the advantages different alliances might offer.
Celeste was attempting to pocket a decorative soap dish when she thought no one was looking, her opportunistic nature shining through even in moments of wonder.
’I feel bad for who ever tries to court Celeste, she’ll out drink them, and than spend all their money gambling.’
Annabelle continued dabbing at her eyes, still emotionally overwhelmed by the simple miracle of unlimited clean water and the human dignity it represented.
The sight of his sisters were brilliant, capable women who deserved to choose their own futures. Being treated as political commodities made Jack’s jaw clench with barely suppressed rage.
’The Territorial Investigation quest is still sitting there,’ Jack thought, his mind drifting back to the System notification that had appeared after the jackal hunt like an ominous shadow.
’It’s got to be at least Nightmare Rank. At least with monsters, you know where you stand,’ Jack mused grimly, his hands clenching into fists. ’They want to kill you, they try to kill you, and you either win or lose. Nobles want to control you, and they smile while they do it.’
"Tomorrow’s going to be a bloodbath," he said aloud, already dreading the complications that political attention would bring to his carefully planned city improvements and the family life he was only just beginning to understand and cherish.