City of Desire [Kingdom Building]

Chapter 95: Vision

Sorry for the absence. Has been busy with something personal.

“The undead incident left us no choice but to do it,” said Count Darrow with a sigh.
 
“But they are undead. Anathema to all good and holy. The emperor would never agree to it,” said Priest Harold in outrage and mirth appeared in the eyes of Count Darrow.
 
“The emperor had given the permission,” said Count Darrow, and everyone was shocked.
 
It had been two weeks since the incident. Eight days ago, we have made the first official contact with Navr. 
 
The response from them is favorable. Like they were waiting for it and attacked us for the same purpose.
 
Count Darrow did not inform this advisory council. He did not need to. He is the lord of the city, and his decisions were paramount. Everyone understood that, as after a few minutes of outrage, they calmed down.
 
Only the priest is a little angry, but he knows his position and talked little after the initial outrage.
 
“Will we be following all the diplomatic norms of establishing contacts with another Sovereign state?” asked Trad Wells, chief editor of the Greltheaven Times.
 
“Yes,” replied the Count. It is what worries me the most.
 
We have made the first official contact and now discussing the further steps. With the end result being a trip to Navr.
 
Count Darrow wants it to happen as soon as possible. It turns out, the fourth prince had been asking him to do it for months, but he was dragging his feet, but the attack had forced him.
 
There is no other choice.
 
The trip will be beneficial as when Navr is not launching the body-snatching wars; it is a quite good neighbor and dominant trading partner.
 
It is an undead kingdom and like a most undead kingdoms. It is filthy rich. It had the most productive industries because of the undead labor. 
 
Even merchant cities, which are one of the biggest targets of the Navr wars, trade with it heavily.
 
Navr had what they needed, and cheaper than anywhere.
 
“Lord Count, I did not want to bring this to you, but the problem had become too big. It is disrupting the trade heavily,” said Damon Hardt, and Count Darrow’s eyes became serious.
 
“Bandits, isn’t it?” he asked, and Damon Hardt nodded.
 
As the baronies settled, the trade with them is increasing, but so is the menace of bandits. Every day, they would loot and raid, forget merchants, even nobles, weren’t safe.
 
Those bastards, especially that one group, had become brave enough that they begin to rob the keep, while the forces from Mirador Hold watch helplessly.
 
“I have given the mirador hold a week a more. If they didn’t control the menace; then I will increase the bounty and allow foreign mercenaries to participate in the hunting,” said the Count, and a smile on Damon Hardt’s lit up.
 
The nobles and merchants have been asking for this, but until now, the Count had resisted. Letting only mercenaries affiliated with the empire participate. 
 
Now it will change.
 
Soon, the meeting is over. Only advisers and protectors have remained in the room.
 
“We will need to move fast. The prince wants us to go to Navr as soon as possible,” said Count Darrow.
 
“I am working on it,” said Robin. He was a diplomat before he became an adviser to Count Darrow. 
 
He will definitely be part of the group that will go to Navr. He is not feeling great about it, but he does not have a choice. I just hope I did not get roped into it, I don’t want to go to the Navr.
 
The count had been quite secretive about the progress, but I know it is going smoothly after the first contact. I am more than fine, being not in the loop; I hope things will stay that way.
 
Two hours later, I am finished my work and sat in the carriage. Five minutes later, the carriage stopped in front of a small three-story building, which had been furnished just yesterday.
 
It is white, with large glass windows, giving out a modern earth-like feel.
 
The windows were quite smaller, but I wanted a huge glass window. I had always been jealous of my uncle’s office and the view he gets. Now, I too have an office with a great view.
 
I am only using the top floor, while the other two floors are empty. I got inquiries about them, but I declined every offer. 
 
I have no desire to rent them.
 
I walked inside before stepping into the elevator. It did not have the elevator guarded by two guards.
 
The building did not have an elevator before I added it. It cost me a lot, but it is worth it.
 
Ting!
 
Soon, I reached the third floor and stepped out. Immediately, Clair put the book she was reading and stood up.  
 
“Master Silver,” she greeted. She is a young girl of seventeen with dark blue hair and blue eyes.
 
She used to work at a spa before Carla recommended her to me.
 
“Any new messages, Clair?” I asked. “Yes, a few. I have placed them inside your office,” she said. I nodded and walked toward my office, while Jill sat on the desk opposite Clair.
 
Clair is a receptionist, while Jill is an assistant. 
 
Soon, I enter my office, which is big, bigger than even my office in the establishment. Giving me a clear view of the central square, palace, and city hall.
 
This small three-story building is one of the properties that Carla brought. She had got it at a great price. 
 
I look at the view for a couple of seconds before sitting at my desk and taking the letter from the drawing. They were general, from invitations to parties to the correspondence from the family.
 
Till now, all the letters arrived from the family. Not a single one had mentioned anything about my post as adviser to Lancel.
 
I heard grandfather had censored it. Which is a wise move. My new position is quite sensitive since they have not chosen the side and will probably not do it.
 
Neutrality had served the house of Silver best in the past. While it offers fewer benefits than choosing the side, it is also much safer.
 
‘Master Silver. Vice-Guildmaster Locke had come to meet you,’ informed Clair through the magical intercom. 
 
He had come at the right time.
 
Click!
 
“Send him in,” I said and a few seconds later, the door opened, and Locke walked inside. “Adviser Silver,” he said in an overly formal tone.
 
“Stop it,” I said with a smile before I became serious. “Why do you want to meet so urgently?” I asked. 
 
He had asked for a meeting in the morning. I barely had any time in the morning. I had to cut short my training session by an hour to attend the meeting with the Count.
 
“I hope you will help me with this,” He said and placed the file in front of me.
 
I took the file wordlessly and begin to read it. At first, everything was normal, before things begin to change. 
 
It took a few minutes to read through the file before I turned to Locke.
 
“You have gotten yourself into quite a complicated situation,” I said to him with a smile and she smiled back, but his smile did not have any mirth in it. 
 
“Don’t laugh. I was thrown into it by that bastard.” He said worriedly. 
 
I did not ask who it was; it is obvious.
 
“So, what do you want me to do?” I asked. “Just help me get out of it, with a minimum damage,” he said pleadingly. 
 
I did not speak for a minute. Thought about it, before turning to Locke.
 
“It is a complicated situation, but getting out of it with minimum damage wouldn’t be a problem,” I said. 
 
It is a trade dispute with the Deerpond, a big one, but not big enough to warrant Count's attention directly.
 
“Thank you,” he said with relief flooding across his body. “Don’t thank me yet,” I said, and he became serious as he saw the look on my face.
 
“You are thinking something risky,” he said, becoming alert. He knows me well.
 
“The easy will let you get out of it, with some scratches. There is another way, but far riskier. It might make you even lose your position, but if you succeeded. You will make a mark and might even have a earn a level,” I said.
 
It did not make him excited, but more cautious, and a struggle appeared on his face.
 
“What is it?” he asked finally, after a few seconds of silence. “It is li….” I explained.
 
Soon, I finished, and the struggle on his face became even more intense, before suddenly, a grin appeared on his face.
 
“You are right. It is extremely dangerous, and failure will make me lose my job and reputation, but if I succeed, I will gain more,” he said, and I smiled.
 
“I hope you will be careful,” I warned him. “I will. Thank you, Remus, you are a good friend,” he said and a few minutes later, walked out of my office.
 
I stayed in the office for an hour and a half more before walking out. I have an important meeting with Valentina. 
 
For the past two weeks, I have been having meetings with her every other day. The project was too complex to decide on in a single meeting. Thankfully we are finished, today, I will see the result.
 
Since I had brought the plot, there is no need for me to stop. 
 
I will not stop.
 
If the incident happened two weeks ago had taught me anything. Then it is that you should be prepared. I need to be prepared for the eventual fall of the city, but before that happens, I need to earn as much as I could from it.
 
Soon, I am in the carriage, moving toward the establishment.
 
Fifteen minutes later, the gates of the establishment opened, and the carriage walked went inside.
 
As the carriage stopped, the stone opened the door, and I stepped out of it.
 
“Master Silver. Mage Valentina is waiting for you,” said Ina, and we walked toward the empty plot.
 
The plot is big as mine and completely empty. Though currently there is a small tent in the center.
 
Soon, we reached the tent and walked inside. Where six people were already present. Aside from Valentina and chief architect Davidson, there are Carla, Margaux, Maeve, and old woman Elme.
 
“When did you arrive?” I asked Valentina. “Just ten minutes ago,” she replied. I sat on an empty chair in front of her and look at the large leather parchment, which is nearly covering the whole table.
 
“Is it ready?” I asked, with excitement beating up in my heart. “Yes. Chief architect Davidson and our architects have worked hard on creating it,” said Valentina, looking at the old man beside her.
 
“Show me,” I said impatiently. 
 
She smiled and touched the parchment. Immediately, the runes on it lit up. 
 
A few seconds later an emblem of Nielson guild appeared, it stayed there for a second, before something grand appeared in its place, covering the whole parchment.
 
Gasp!
 
A couple of gasps of shock rang out. Even though I might have gasped, I am not in the mood to think about it.
 
I am too busy staring at marvel.
 
In front of me, projection of a circular building, which is five stories tall and open in the center. 
 
In the center of the building is a huge garden, filled with beautiful plants and exotic trees, and ponds. In the center of the garden itself is another building, which seemed to be made of glass and feels inseparable from the garden.
 
“At its current size, it will house five hundred girls. Fifty learning rooms, enchanted with to enhance the learning experience.” “It will have a library, physical studio, game rooms, and many other things.”
 
“In the middle is a garden, and in its center is a spa, made with all inputs we have gotten from Miss Maeve,” said Valentina, giving me the general view.
 
This circular building will new home for girls, fitted with all modern amenities. They will live and learn there while working in the establishment.
 
With its completion, I will be able to use the establishment at its fullest capacity. Make it a place that never closes. One could come at any time, be it at dawn or midnight, and will have the greatest time of their life.
 
In the next hour, Valentina told me about everything.
 
This is made from my vision; I wanted a circular building. Even though the classic square would have helped me house more room. The big indoor garden is also my idea.
 
The spa center of it came from Maeve.
 
She wanted the spa to feel like it was in the middle of the forest; one with nature. It looked just like. 
 
I heard from everyone, from teachers to girls, and also consulted with professionals. I wanted everything to be perfect, and it looked perfect.
 
“It feels like mini heaven,” said Ina, with tears streaming down from her face and she is not the only one who is crying.
 
“How much it will cost me?” I asked. “Around two million imperials,” she replied. Two hundred million crowns; it did not surprise me. 
 
Still, it is huge money.
 
“Here is the first payment,” I said to her and placed the check for twenty million crowns in front of her.
 
Fifteen minutes later, Valentina left while I remained in the tent. From tomorrow, the work will begin, and it will be finished in six months. 
 
I would have liked it if it could finish sooner, but I don’t have the money. I already have a loan of two hundred and twenty million crowns to pay and now, with this project, I will be squeezed dry.
 
It is a good thing my earning had increased.
 
The establishment now earns around four million crowns a day. Most of the credit goes to Drev and his amazing cooking.
 
He had overhauled the menu completely. Taking the experience of the food to the next level. That some people come to the establishment just to eat.
 
Unofficially, the establishment had become one of the best places to eat in Greltheaven.
 
Which itself has become a big factor in attracting patrons.
 
While some people may have to begin to come just for the food. They stay for the girls, who have become even more amazing.
 
The establishment now has thirty girls that are Level 20 and above, and many of them are very close to reaching that level.
 
It won’t be long before half of the working girls in the establishment will be at Level 20.

Thank you for reading.