City of Desire [Kingdom Building]

Proofread by Thomas F

“It is good progress. We need to incorporate at least ten thousand by the end of the month,” I said.

I am sitting in a conference room with the top brass of the army and the intelligence agency, discussing the potential integration of Daphus forces.

We cannot simply do that.

We must investigate, as we will encounter spies of the undead, individuals who committed the crimes, and addicts; we will need to sift through them all.

“I have sent my people, and they are doing the job to the best of their speed,” said Shaun.

The intelligence department is aiding the army. Rayna had gone there with the people from intelligence.

“That shouldn’t be a problem. I think we might even be able to manage fifteen thousand,” replied Cardin. It is going to increase the expenses, but we do not have any choice.

I need to have at least fifty thousand men in each city. To deal with the threats.

It won’t be without cost; just thinking about it makes my head hurt, but as my general said I didn’t have a choice. I can’t compromise on security when threats surround us.

“Good, focus on officers. Especially those who rebelled, we need people like them,” I ordered. “We are doing it, and things would go smoothly if the police didn’t interfere with it,” replied Hiren.

I ignored that. I didn’t interfere in the matters between the police and the army.

There is a rivalry there, and it is good. It keeps them both motivated.

I have to give it to Julian; he didn’t waste any time at all. He had sent his people to recruit as soon as possible. He is trying to make the police a self-sufficient force.

In which I fully support him.

A few minutes later, the meeting ended, and I walked out of it.

I reached the office and looked at the clock; there were fewer than ten minutes to twelve. I am meeting Rails Thorn, Lord of Inam, which is a very important meeting.

If it succeeds, it will change the fate of Inam and Greltheaven.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Soon, I felt myself calm.

‘Lord Silver, Lord of Inam, had arrived,’ Jill’s voice rang out in my head. A second later, Carla walked inside, bringing the Lord of Inam with her.

“Lord Thorn,” I greeted the man. I didn’t get up, which displeased him a little, but he hid it well.

“Lord Silver, I am glad to see you well,” he replied. I smiled at that.

“How was your journey, Lord Thorn?” I asked. “Good,” he replied, and I smiled.

“Congratulations on your victory against the undead. I have to say, it was magnificent. You had killed the lich and nearly wiped away the great horde,” he said.

“Thank you, my lord. It wouldn’t have been possible, if not for the help friends like you have provided,” I replied, and it is true.

Be it Inam, Ownspring, or Amberhold. Their help had been invaluable.

There was a moment of silence before the man gathered his expression.

“Since you called me a friend, Lord Silver. I hope you will fulfil my request and make Vanis Tavern, a subject of the Velvet Garden,” he said, coming to the point directly.

I didn’t reply immediately. Instead, I slowly tapped on the desk with my fingers before turning to the man.

“That would not be a problem as long as you agree to the conditions we have,” I replied, and it surprised the man.

He likely thought that he would have to make his offer before I could even give a positive response. Carla didn’t help either earlier; she didn’t hide her opposition to it.

Though the man quickly controlled his expression and even became alert, seeing the smile on my face.

“What conditions?” he asked cautiously. I didn’t reply. Instead, Lola placed a small file in front of him.

I have refined my proposal. Adjusted a few things, but the main conditions remained the same—especially the most important one.

He opened the file and began to read it. Soon, his expression began to change.

He is very good at controlling his expression, but those conditions made him lessen his control.

It took him a while to read through it all, and he turned to me. I could see the anger in his eyes, which is understandable, but I will not back down.

“Nobody will agree to it,” he said. “That’s true,” I replied, looking directly into his eyes.

I didn’t deny it, which made his expression even uglier. I am sure he had heard what others are offering me and understood what type of legacy Vanis’s Tavern is.

He might not like it, but it is very beneficial for him, and also for Vanis. It will also provide massive direct and indirect benefits to his city.

“Remove the last condition and I will agree,” he said, and I shook my head.

“I could show some flexibility with other conditions, but that is a dealbreaker for me,” I replied, with a firm voice. Conveying, I will not bend down on it.

“Though you can rest assured, Lord Thorn. Most of the agreement will remain secret; nobody will know about it,” I promised, but that didn’t change his expression.

It is a question of honour; it is why there is so much anger and resistance.

I am demanding the legacy.

Though once a subject, I could control it, but I was asking for more than that.

Seconds passed, and he didn’t speak. He just kept looking; a minute passed before his eyes became normal. All the anger there had disappeared; only calm remained in them.

“Give me some time to think about it,” he said finally. “Of course,” I replied.

He nodded and got up before walking out of the office.

“Do you think he will accept?” asked Carla. “I don’t know, I hope he does,” I replied, while she is hoping he doesn’t. So, we could look for a better legacy.

For the dominion, it is important that he accepts.

As for his sour mood, I didn’t worry about it much. Once he sees the benefits, he will be more than happy.

…

Ralis Thorn

I felt the eyes on me the moment I walked into the parlour of the mansion.

My son is here, and also my adviser. Lindgren and Baelir are present in the city, too, but they are not here.

They didn’t matter. Whatever my decision, they will accept.

“Have you got the positive response, Father?” he asked. He had come with me to my meeting with Carla Salt. She was polite and courteous, but her response wasn’t positive.

“He accepted,” I replied, and his eyes lit up in joy. “That’s amazing, Father!” he said, bursting out with happiness.

Seeing that, I couldn’t help but sigh.

He is not suited for politics. It is one of the biggest regrets of my life that I couldn’t forge him into a warrior or even a Lord.

“I am sensing a ‘but’, Ralis,” said Lawrence, my adviser and my oldest friend, also my brother-in-law.

“With conditions,” I spat and threw the file on the desk. The sour taste still lingers in my mouth. I wanted to fling it in Silver’s face, but I controlled myself.

My son took the file and began to read it, with Lawrence reading from over his shoulder.

I could see expressions changing on my son’s face, while Lawrence remains impassive as always.

“This bastard. He wants to own the legacy!” my son cursed. Yes, that is what he wants. He wants complete dominion over it. If I agree, I will have no say in it.

I could not post a single guard there, much less a guardian. The contract says as much; the land of legacy would be considered the territory of Greltheaven.

The legacy is the pride of every lord, and he wants to take it away from me.

Wants me to take the essence and shut up.

“Have you talked to him about it?” asked Lawrence, and I nodded. “It is a dealbreaker,” I replied, and he sighed.

“He asks for too much, after all the help we have provided him,” my son said, and I wanted to sigh again. The help wasn’t free; Silver paid us well in both money and essence.

He has also agreed to pay us generously for the help we have provided against the undead.

“You know, it’s a very generous proposal, if we could look past the last condition,” Lawrence said.

I turned to him and my son, who was smiling.

“He is giving us two and a half times the essence the tavern had produced in any month of the past year, reserved seatings, and many other things.”

“On top of it, he had agreed to increase the quota of essence up to four times, if the size of the legacy increases after the bond, the same for the seating, and many other things.”

“It is the most generous legacy-subject agreement I have seen,” said Lawrence.

His words seemed to clear the fog of anger that had been clouding my mind. I thought about it, and I understood he is absolutely right.

Even with a share going to Halih, I will have more essence than I ever would before.

“Not to mention, many direct and indirect benefits we and the city will get. Especially if the size of the legacy increases, which it should, seeing Silver’s legacy expansion skill,” he added.

My wife and her brother are the wisest people I know. If they had been nobles, they would have been very powerful.

“How can you say that, Uncle. People will laugh at us,” said my son.

Lawrence shook his head, hearing that, before turning to me. “I believe most of the terms will remain secret?” he asked, and I nodded.

“What should we do?” I asked, and he smiled. “You already had an answer before we stepped on the ship to Greltheaven,” he replied.

“We never had any choice. We knew that Silver was our only hope to save the legacy, and he understood that as well,” I said, laughing mirthlessly.

The agreement is generous, but I couldn’t make myself feel happy about it. I will have to accept it; there is no other choice.

“Lawrence, negotiate the agreement and get us as many benefits as you can,” I ordered. “Don’t worry, I will get us the best deal.” Replied the man.

We didn’t have much time.

Vanis had said that there are two to three weeks before the waning begins, but I would rather not take any risks. I want negotiations to be finished as quickly as possible.

Two to three days at most, before we bond the legacies.

It isn’t just waning; I don’t want others to interfere. Many legacies are interested in bonding with Velvet Garden, and some are offering real artifacts among other items.

They might end up enticing Silver. I can’t take that risk.

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