[Trantor – Helga]
[Proofreader – Lucky]
Chapter 35
‘The reason the ck Viper appeared in Dyer wasn’t just to take Mikhail. The Lieutenant of the Dark Sentinels moved personally to swallow the ck Crow exchange whole.’
While the ck Crow exchange is known to dominate the underworld of Phec, in reality, their range of activities was surprisingly vast.
The entire Fresia Empire.
Though not exceptionally strong in terms of force, their informationwork was superior to that of any noble.
‘At first, they’ll invite him to join under Hatzfeld, but eventually, it’s a proposal that’s no different from a threat.’
Gillip will rack his brains to the maximum in order to survive.
‘In the end, he’ll probably choose me as ast resort. Using this as leverage, I’ll receive unlimited information.’
It’s like swallowing an information organization without spending a dime.
There was no greater benefit than this.
‘I’ll make good use of the information you bring this time too, Gillip. Heh.’
Kaneughed evilly to himself.
The information from the ck Crow exchange was meant to re-confirm the future he knew.
Where the artifacts are located.
Where the characters he needed to recruit were hiding.
He nned to quickly verify this through the ck Crow exchange.
His goal was to conquer the story ahead of Ray Hatzfeld.
‘The n isplete, and once I return to the territory, it’ll be time to spend diligently.’
It was always the most exciting when it was time to use the money he had on hand.
* * *
Two days after leaving Phec.
The Blue merchant group arrived safely in Rehinar.
Ding-!
Simultaneously, an alert sounded loudly in Kane’s ears.
[The cksmith has beenpleted.]
[Commerce has increased by +10.]
[You can now use the cksmith.]
[The general store has beenpleted.]
[Commerce has increased by +10.]
[You can now use the general store.]
[The weapon shop has beenpleted.]
[Commerce has increased by +10.]
[You can now use the weapon shop.]
It was a message indicating that the buildings he had pre-constructed before leaving Phec had beenpleted.
[The remodeling of the Blue merchant group has beenpleted.]
[The base of the Blue Adventure Guild has been moved.]
“Perfect timing forpletion.”
Kane was pleased as he read the message.
This was just the beginning.
A tremendous amount of spending still remained.
“Then, shall we start by paying off some debts? Daniel, old man.”
He called for Daniel, but there was no response from him.
The western territory he once knew waspletely different from whaty before his eyes now.
“What happened while I was in Phec?”
Daniel murmured to himself in disbelief.
The old members of the Blue merchant group reacted the same way.
“Where did the slums go?”
“Who could have done this?”
“It’s all cleared out, just an empty in…”
They were surprised, but in a good way.
“Daniel, old man, didn’t you hear me?”
“Yes? Did you call for me?”
“Use this money to pay off the family’s debts.”
He retrieved money from the spatial storage.
Not just tens or thousands of coins, butrge gold bars, dozens of them.
“Gasp!”
“H-how much is that?”
“Where did such a huge amounte from…”
The old members of the merchant guild were astonished.
Daniel wore the same expression.
“Wh-What is this?”
“Isn’t it obvious? It’s money.”
“I mean, where did all this moneye from?”
“That’s personal. Don’t pry.”
“Money without a known source is dangerous.”
Typical of someone who followed the rules.
Daniel expressed concern, fearing it might be dirty money.
“Even if it isn’t clean, paying off the family’s debtes first. We can’t afford to be picky when bankruptcy is looming.”
Kane harshly criticized the current situation in Rehinar.
It was a situation where they had to use even dirty money to pay off their debts.
That was Rehinar’s current state.
“Don’t worry, it’s not money taken by killing or stealing.”
“…Understood. Then I’ll use this money to pay off the debt we owe to Dyer.”
Daniel began counting therge gold bars.
A total of 45 bars.
Each bar worth 100 million, totaling 4.5 billion.
“And inform the nobles in Rehinar that I intend to buy theirnd.”
“You’re nning to purchasend from thendlords?”
“Yes.”
“They’ll try to sell at high prices.”
“It won’t go as they expect.”
“Could you exin why this time?”
“I’m going to make thend prices plummet.”
“How do you n to do that?”
“The dark mana in the atmosphere is unusual. Mikhail must have sensed it too.”
Kane looked at Mikhail.
Mikhail, who seemed to have been deep in thought during the journey to Rehinar, responded promptly.
“I did feel a subtle tremor in the flow of dark curropted mana.”
“When the dark magic’s waves move significantly up and down, that’s when mutant monsters will start to appear.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Mikhail nodded.
Daniel, eyes wide, spoke up.
“If mutant monsters set their sights on Rehinar, it would be disastrous. We should prepare the territory’s defenses in advance.”
“I have no intention of protecting everyone.”
Daniel shouted angrily.
“Your Highness!”
“Calm the fuck down.”
“Your stance is against the spirit of Rehinar. The Duke will be furious if he finds out,” Daniel argued passionately.
Duke Carl cared more about the people of the territory than the family’s wealth. He even sold off the family’s assets to support them, which led to Rehinar’s downfall. Kane knew this all too well.
“And what happened to Rehinar because of that?” Kane’s eyes pierced through Daniel.
“That’s…”
“Was there any honor left? Despite bankrupting the family to help the people, all we got in return was their betrayal and the family’s ruin. And let’s not forget, Sara almost got sold off to that fucking scoundrel Rivan. What were the people doing during all that?”
“……”
Daniel couldn’t respond. He couldn’t refute Kane’s words because they were true. The people’s neglect had indeed yed a part in Rehinar’s downfall. No, neglect would have been a kindness. Many openly sided with external forces like Dyer.
“No matter how much you protect them, they won’t appreciate it. I n to get rid of all those traitors.”
“There will be a lot of bloodshed.”
“That’s not my concern.”
“Rehinar’s reputation will suffer.”
“Good. It’ll keep the worthless pests away.”
Kane dismissed Daniel’s concerns.
“Daniel.”
“Yes… My lord.”
“Rehinar is full of traitors. Without purging them, we can’t restore the old glory.”
“There must be other ways—”
Daniel began, but Kane raised his hand to stop him.
“Look at those who remained loyal to Rehinar. They all died in the slums of the western territory. And what happened to those who betrayed Rehinar? They’re livingfortably in the safest southern and northern territories. I despise that.”
As long as those traitors existed, Hatzfeld would never give up on Rehinar.
“I will create a territory where those loyal to Rehinar can live well. So don’t hinder my actions any further.”
Kane’s voice was firm. Daniel nodded, acknowledging his resolve.
“I will follow all of your decisions, my lord.”
Daniel decided to put his trust in the changed Kane.
* * *
Daniel stepped into the newly constructed building.
“When did you move our headquarters?” he asked.
The new building was spotless, a stark contrast to the old one, which had been infested with mold and cobwebs.
“I told you I had things to do.”
“But a building doesn’t just spring up overnight.”
Daniel looked at Kane, expecting an exnation. For once, Kane was forting with an answer.
“If you’re curious,e outside.”
Although he had only called Daniel, Cami and Mikhail were curious too and followed.
Kane stepped outside and activated the estate system.
-Rehinar Territory-
Administrator: Acting Head Kane Rehinar
Residents: 1,089,000↓
Capital: -5 billion gold (4.5 billion gold repayment pending)
*Time until bankruptcy: 3 months
Personal Assets: 60 million gold
[Agriculture (Lv.1) – 22/100]
[Commerce (Lv.1) – 45/100]
[Barracks (Lv.1) – 7/100]
[Security (Lv.1) – 38(+50)/100]
[City Gate (Lv.1) – 40/100]
[Guild (Lv.1) – 20/100]
‘Themerce level is about to upgrade to level 2.’
When he tapped onmerce, a list appeared below it.
-[Commerce (Lv.1) – 45/100]
1★ Blue merchant group (Lv.1)
1★ ? cksmith (Lv.1) [Inactive]
1★ ? General Store (Lv.1) [Inactive]
1★ ? Weapon Shop (Lv.1) [Inactive]
Since the buildings had just beenpleted, they were still inactive. Activating them required an additional step.
‘You either assign a suitable character,plete a sub-quest, or let a random charactere in.’
One of three options.
The cksmith already had an assigned owner.
‘There’s no time for sub-quests, and no good characters have been unlocked yet, so I’ll leave them for now.’
He closed themerce list.
‘Security is fine for now thanks to the Guardian Knights, but the city gate and barracks are issues.’
The presence of the Guardian Knights boosted the security score by 50 points.
The problem with security was theck of soldiers. Constructing buildings rted to the barracks could sufficiently resolve this issue.
[Soldier Training Grounds (★☆☆☆☆) – 10 million gold]
[Magic Tower (★☆☆☆☆) – 10 million gold]
[Belmore Military Academy (★☆☆☆☆) [Locked] – 100 million gold]
Kane tapped on the barracks item, revealing only three options.
‘I’ll build the Belmore Military Academy after the mutant monsters start appearing. For now, I’ll construct the other two.’
He reached out into the air and selected the Soldier Training Grounds. A magical circle, the size of a fist, appeared before his hand. Just like before, he needed to designate a location.
‘I’ll ce it near the western city gate.’
[10 million gold has been used.]
[A Soldier Training Grounds will be established in the western territory. (Construction time: 15 days)]
Simultaneously, nks of wood and stones appeared next to the western city wall.
“Magic construction!?” Mikhail eximed.
Only wizards skilled in construction magic could do such a thing. He thought Kane was performing the magic himself.
“How much has he been hiding?” Mikhail wondered aloud as he watched Kane manipte the magical circle.
[10 million gold has been used.]
[A Magic Tower will be established in the western territory. (Construction time: 15 days)]
While the materials floated and began forming the structures, a new message appeared.
[Would you like toplete the Soldier Training Grounds immediately? (Y/N)]
[Immediatepletion cost: 5 million gold]
[Would you like toplete the Magic Tower immediately? (Y/N)]
[Immediatepletion cost: 5 million gold]
Kane moved his hand to select immediatepletion.
Instantly, a giant magic circle appeared over the construction sites, emitting a blinding light.
“Ugh!”
Everyone present closed their eyes, except for Kane.
[The Soldier Training Grounds have beenpleted.]
[Barracks +10 has increased.]
[You can now use the Soldier Training Grounds.]
[The Magic Tower has beenpleted.]
[Barracks +10 has increased.]
[You can now use the Magic Tower.]
Kane smirked as he observed the two newlypleted buildings. He had spent 30 million gold and still had half of his funds left.
“Next is the fences?” Kane muttered to himself as Mikhail opened his eyes.
“Instant construction magic! To use such high-level magic, you’d need Bond (3 Runes),” Mikhail said, unable to hide his astonishment.
3 Runes, known as Bond, was a power typically attainable by a mid-tier 5th-ss mage. Yet Kane, a mere 3rd ss knight, had effortlessly used instant construction magic.
“Such incredible talent….”
[Mikhail Pervatz’s favorability has increased +1.]
[Mikhail Pervatz’s favorability has increased +1.]
[Mikhail Pervatz’s favorability has increased +1.]
……
……
……
The more time he spent with Kane, the more questions arose. Kane had be almost mystical. Despite Mikhail’s amazement, Kane shrugged it off nonchntly.
“Why are you so surprised? This is just the beginning.”
Each time Kane moved his hand in the air, apanied by magical circles, new buildings appeared.
[10,000 gold has been used.]
[Wooden Fence has been constructed.]
……
……
……
He densely lined the area in front of the western city gate with wooden fences. In total, he ced 600 fences, spending 6 million gold.
[The territory is developing rapidly.]
[New entries have been added to the territory system.]
[Reputation: 9,800]
[Trantor – Helga]
[Proofreader – Lucky]