City of Desire [Kingdom Building]

Proofread by Thomas F

“I wish you could let me host you, one more day, Miss Tylcharis,” I said to the woman sitting in front of me.

“I already stayed a day more than I had planned to, Lord Silver,” she replied, and there was a smile on her face.

When she came, the woman was quite tense, her face filled with worry, but now she looked much more relieved, and her face was glowing.

Aside from the spell, she had gone to the spa treatment, shopped around in the stores, and even went to the casino. I am glad the legacy was able to help her.

“Then I will not insist, but I do hope you will visit again,” I said, and she smiled. “I will definitely; this place made…it’s been a long time since I felt this peaceful,” she replied, and was unwilling to leave.

Though a moment later, her expression became serious, and she looked at the child in her arms with love, kissing him gently before turning to me.

“Thank you for helping me and my child, Lord Silver. I know, it is not without cost.” She thanked. “You and your child deserve it. Miss Tylcharis,” I replied.

She was imprinted with the spell two days ago; it was a powerful witch spell that cost a lot of resources, which they had provided themselves.

It is a very risky spell for her.

It encompasses mother and child, powered by love. It offers protection and redirection.

It will defend against any witchcraft until a certain level of power is reached, but if the enemy’s spell surpasses that power, it will redirect the spell to the mother, keeping the child unharmed.

There are a couple more options for her, but she asked for the strongest, and this was the strongest.

She needed the strongest. Caena had looked at her and the child. They were getting attacked and not just with the witchcraft; her enemies really want to harm her.

There was a silence when she took out a large case from her storage.

“Lord Caelus had sent this for you,” she said, and I looked at her, but she only smiled. Seeing that I opened it and looked, there is an armour.

“It shouldn’t be ready this quickly,” I said, but I stopped as I realised something.

A few weeks ago, I had given the order for an enchanted armor. They are expensive as hell, but I wanted one of a specific type.

Technically, the word armor is not the right word for it. It is far more complex than the usual enchanted armor.

They are hard to make, but House Verulas has the blueprints; one of the best on the continent.

“This is an old one,” I said, and she smiled. “It once belonged to Kaelan the Limitless,” she said, and shock couldn’t help but spread through my heart.

Kaelan Verulus, also known as Kaelan the Limitless, was one of the heroes of the last incursion and the most illustrious ancestor of the House Verulus.

He has reached the same height as Seraphina the Valiant, but his achievements are even more special, given his condition.

“This holds immense sentimental value to House Verulus,” I said, looking at her.

It is expensive. Enchanted armor is expensive, especially this kind, made of the material it is. Still, it holds even greater value to the House of Verulus, as it belonged to their greatest and most respected ancestor.

“It’s why, Lord Verulus hopes, whoever you had asked it for is worthy of it,” she replied.

“He is,” I replied after a moment of silence.

A few minutes later, she left, while I turned to the armor. “It’s hard to believe the things the man who once wore this armor had achieved despite his condition,” said Argir, with a voice full of awe.

I couldn’t help but nod at it before closing it and sending it to the vault.

“Any update from Robin?” I asked Zela. “No,” she replied. I nodded and went back to work.

It had been a few days since Robin had gone to Namdar for negotiations, and he had made some progress.

We have agreed on territory, army, patrols, and other matters, but we have yet to decide on taxes, debt, and a few other important issues.

The taxes I am referring to are the taxes we collect from merchants traveling to and from baronies. The debt relates to the money they owe to the merchants.

Grimvale wants 50% of the taxes collected through merchants. They are joking if they think I am going to give them that much.

They may control 65% of the barony, but I control the borders and Lauryl. Most importantly, I have to be responsible for the safety of the trade, from the monsters, especially.

A vast army was required just for that.

The trade route may pass through his territory to Mirador Hold, but I could take a longer route.

The merchants had told me in no uncertain terms that they preferred the current way. I as well. If the merchant travels through the north, they will have to circumvent the forest, making it even more dangerous and longer.

The trade route should be direct, without any circumventions that raise the cost. It is the only reason why I am even negotiating with him on this subject.

“Give me the file on the newest recruits,” I said, and Argis put a file in front of me.

After conquering baronies and Mirador Hold, I had gotten ninety-seven thousand men. A truly massive number, which took my army to two hundred and fifty thousand.

It immediately increases the expense massively. I didn’t hesitate to use the money from Baronies and Mirador Hold, but even then, I would need more.

At least for a short while, before trade returns as before, and I begin to earn money through the taxes.

Despite gaining such a considerable increase in the army, I am recruiting more because I need it.

I need fifty thousand in each for three of the cities I control and the fortress. That alone is two hundred thousand men; then came baronies.

I need sixty thousand on the border of my side of the baronies to guard against Grimvale and another fifty thousand against the monsters.

Which thankfully fund themselves. The monsters’ bodies, meat, and other stuff sell for a reasonable price.

They have developed an industry that makes every part of it efficient. Here I am lucky because almost every part is in the north or Lauryl city.

The few parts that depend on southern baronies could be managed without a problem.

To combine all, I need at least an army of three hundred and twenty thousand. On the scale of the Earth, it is a massive number, and it is big here as well.

Though nothing compared to imperial armies, they are the beasts.

“General Cardin had finished choosing the men. They will leave tonight,” informed Zela. “Including the cavalry?” I asked.

“Yes,” she replied.

I am shuffling the forces to gain better control over them. I am relocating thousands from Mirador Hold to the Baronies and cities of the Dominion.

Doing the same with armies in the Baronies.

This way, the armies would only be loyal to me. However, I am not shuffling the whole army. Especially in the barony, my forces lack the same level of experience in fighting monsters as the locals.

Currently, I am only shuffling 30%, but I plan to increase it to 60% and then 80% by the end of the year.

This will significantly reduce the risk of betrayal. Keeping the forces loyal only to me and also providing comprehensive experience to my forces.

This is essential, as there are different enemies at each front.

Undead, people, and monsters. Every soldier in my forces needs to be capable of fighting against all three.

Soon, it is evening. I had just returned from the conference room after an important meeting with the members of the merchant guild.

They will be going on a visit to the baronies.

I want the economies to combine as soon as possible. So, the trade would flow smoothly. The baronies are a growing economy with massive potential.

Their farms produce a wide range of agricultural products; there is also a thriving business in stone quarries, metal mines, and other industries.

It is a place filled with opportunities. Even if I only have a third of it. It could benefit the entire dominion if planned correctly.

‘Lord Silver, Lt. Colonel Gest is here,’ informed Jill.’ ‘Send him in,’ I replied, and a moment later, he walked inside the office.

He matured a lot in a few years; many of the scars he bore in his heart seemed to have healed. He is even in a relationship, which is a good thing.

“Lord Silver,” he greeted. “Take a seat, Eli,” I replied. Usually, I address them by their rank, but I knew Eli even before I became lord, and I only address him by his rank in public.

“Have you read the proposal, my lord?” he asked. “Yes, it’s very good,” I replied.

I had asked him to create a proposal for an Avian Training Academy. We already do it, but I want to scale it up. The current scale we have is not enough.

He is the best person for the job; he is experienced, despite his age, and also has the right pedigree.

His family was in this business and had an ancestor with an LV50+, whose knowledge had been passed down through the line.

“You have clearly put a lot of thought into it,” I said. “Thank you for the praise, my lord,” he replied with a faint bow.

“I will allocate the budget for you, but the place of it would be changed. It will not be in Greltheaven, but in the baronies,” I said, and I could see the surprise.

Though a moment later, a smile appeared on his face. “I think it will be more suitable,” he replied.

The barony is the perfect place. It is large and filled with greenery, making it a pleasant place. It will be a place where not only will they train monsters, but also people.

It will be a place where we will train the monster scouts.

“I will release the first tranche of funds tomorrow. So, you can start working on it immediately,” I said. I have cut and delayed many projects, but this one, I couldn’t afford to delay.

“I will,” he replied, containing the smile that is threatening to burst out.

I need eyes on every piece of my territory. There should be nothing that remains hidden in my territory, and monster scouts will help me with that.

Too excited to wait? Jump 50+ chapters ahead on Patreon and read what others haven’t even reached!