Chapter 178. Permanent Lord Subordination

By morning, Carlos had looked at the territory preview enough times to know which side he wanted to use.

He was still turning it above the table when Mira called him outside. The third renewed food order was ready, and she had kept its containers separate from the breakfast being handed out.

Carlos inspected the twelve meals, completed the transfer and watched the payment arrive. Iron x720 and Copper Coins x1,440. All three renewed deliveries were done now.

The buyer asked whether they could continue. Carlos replied that he would confirm after speaking to his cook, then put the message away. He already had a territory waiting to be moved today.

Ada was arranging clean cloth beside her table. Brann sat nearby with his hammer lying where she could see it. Carlos stopped there before finding Kaia.

“How is he?”

“The wound is closing properly. He should still avoid pulling it open,” Ada said. “I will check him again before my last work period ends.”

Carlos remembered the contract at once. Three working days. He had been thinking about the bridge and nearly let the final day begin without asking for more time.

He messaged Nathan while standing beside the table. The reply came before Kaia reached him.

—

[Nathan Reed]- One additional working day is available. Iron x80 and Copper Coins x200. It begins when the present delegation ends. Same work area and food terms. Confirm before the final work period if you want it.

[Carlos Goldwin]- I accept. Keep her at Ironroot for that extra day. Thank you.

—

The recorded extension opened and Carlos completed its payment. He showed Ada the new end time so she could arrange the rest of her supplies.

“There is another day,” he said. “Tell me if you are running short of anything included in the service.”

She nodded and went back to checking Brann. His side would get the time it needed, and Carlos could stop wondering whether she would disappear while he was busy somewhere else.

“I am curious though,” he muttered, getting Ada’s attention again. “How long do injuries take to heal with your care?” he asked.

Ada looked at him with her calm demeanor and stayed silent for a few seconds before she spoke. “Depending on the severity of the wound, it takes hours to days, my lord. Brann here has internal injuries that can go away with high-ranking potions in mere hours, but if I were to heal him completely by myself, it will take more than 2 days but less than 3. There is also the fact that Brann has previous injuries too that have not fully healed, so when he gets up from here, he will be rejuvenated as new,” she spoke.

Carlos nodded. With Brann’s injuries and how he was, it made sense that it would take time.

Kaia waited until he finished. He showed her the preview and explained what Cosmic had requested the previous evening.

She looked surprised, then glanced toward the place where Cosmic had entered yesterday.

“He wants to stay with us?”

“His whole territory. He will still manage it and now, I want you to help choose the connection.”

They went toward the eastern boundary with Rowan. The Dryad had been checking the pepper seedling when Carlos called him. A little red showed along its stem now, but Rowan left Sela watching it before coming with them.

The eastern wall stood inside the territory edge, leaving a strip of ground beyond it. There were no buildings on the strip Carlos selected.

Kaia walked its length, checking where the bridge would meet Ironroot and where a controlled crossing could be made through the wall.

“Here,” she said at last. “We can lift this section and put a temporary barrier across the opening. The guards can keep it shut while the land moves.”

Rowan examined the nearest water path. It turned toward the cultivated rows before reaching the selected strip.

“Leave this bend as it is,” he said. “The bridge approach can use the other side.”

Carlos moved the preview until both were satisfied. The small image showed Cosmic’s buildings beyond Ironroot’s eastern edge, with the bridge between them. He tried expanding the main land in that direction.

The preview refused.

—

[Preserved Extension attachment: Eastern side]

[Outward expansion through this side will be unavailable while the attachment remains]

[Other expansion locations remain available]

—

Carlos tried the southern addition instead. The preview opened normally.

“That is fine,” he said. “We can grow the other ways.”

Kaia looked across the ground he was giving up for future expansion, then toward Ironroot’s remaining edges.

“We will need to keep the approach clear. Bigger troops should be able to reach it without going through the crops.”

“Mark it. Cosmic’s people need a proper way in too.”

Carlos sent his friend the selected preview. Cosmic answered from his own territory, where he had returned after their talk.

—

[Cosmic Merchant]- That position works. My people are gathered and I told them what is happening. Both pending orders are still packed. I am ready when you are.

[Carlos Goldwin]- We are setting the crossing. Then I will open the final confirmation.

—

The Militia lifted the chosen wall section with Garr helping at its heavier end. They placed it beside the opening rather than breaking it, leaving it available for the new approach. Kaia put guards on either side, and Carlos waited until the workers moved back.

He looked at the option list once more.

If he selected Full Assimilation, the buildings, troops and stored resources would come under his ownership.

He had already told Cosmic he would return the belongings afterward if they chose it. But seeing the little buildings on the preview made him glad they had found another way.

His friend had worked for those things too. They could stay his.

Carlos selected Preserved Extension.

—

[Permanent Lord Subordination]

[Main Lord: Carlos Goldwin]

[Subordinate Lord: Cosmic Merchant]

[Integration: Preserved Extension]

[Main land: Ironroot — 3,300 square meters]

[Preserved extension: 900 square meters]

[Extension assets remain owned by Cosmic Merchant]

[Subordinate Lord trade and messaging functions retained]

[Final territorial authority: Carlos Goldwin]

[Confirm permanent subordination and territory attachment?]

—

Carlos read it and accepted. Cosmic’s confirmation appeared beside his a few moments later.

The air beyond the eastern boundary shifted. Carlos could still see the ground ahead, but another stretch of land was coming into view over it. A low wall appeared first, then a roof with spears stacked beneath its shelter.

The land settled farther out. A narrow gap remained between the two registered edges, and pale stone grew across it from both ends.

Carlos watched the bridge meet in the middle. Its surface widened until a loaded cart could pass, and low sides rose along it. The far end stopped at the approach to Cosmic’s territory, where six Lizardmen stood near their Lord.

Cosmic had one hand against his own building. He waited while the last light travelled out of its frame, then turned toward Carlos.

—

[Permanent subordination complete]

[Preserved Extension attached]

[Connection bridge established]

—

Carlos could feel everyone behind him looking at the second piece of land. He had expanded before, but that had given him grass and empty ground. This time there were buildings, people and somebody he knew waiting on the other side.

Cosmic walked onto the bridge. The Lizardmen remained near the far end, watching him until he reached the middle.

“It kept everything,” he called.

Carlos went toward him with Kaia a few steps behind. He stopped where their shadows met on the stone and looked past his friend at the territory.

“You will have to show me around now,” he said.

Cosmic looked back toward his waiting troops, then smiled at Carlos.

“It’s already mad enough that you haven’t seen my territory this whole time. Come.”

Power Ranking Weekly #1

Oct 16, 20:30 – Oct 31, 18:30

Mass release 20 chapters