Chapter 376 - Foundation Stone (2)
"Shinseong... a powerhouse from the Eastern Continent. I didn't expect the figure of rumor to appear in the Ownerless Land without a sound."
Seated upon an imposing throne, one of the Central Continent's Four Powers, the 'Sovereign', muttered with his chin rested on his hand.
A subdued voice that made one shrink back without realizing it upon hearing. The women serving at his side trembled finely.
The Sovereign spoke.
"So, what is he said to be doing?"
"After seizing the city, Dallehin, he accepted a meal at the request of the lords of Harsbeg, Frol, and Delgar."
"Went first to bend the knee, did they. As expected of those curs. The contents of the meeting?"
"The three lords wished to sign a peace treaty in exchange for tribute, but Shinseong sneered and rejected it with a single stroke. Liam Arein sided with him as well."
The loyal subordinate displayed the letter he had received from Lord Harsbeg.
It was intelligence given to the Sovereign on the grounds of the failed negotiations with Shinseong. Typical conduct for those who maintained their seats by paying tribute to nearby strongmen.
The Sovereign laughed low.
"Ha ha, Asher... fitting for one who carries the epithet tyrant of the underworld. To him, it's enough to seize and be done with. On that point, I do agree. Especially here in the Ownerless Land. Friction seems inevitable."
"Shall we act?"
The subordinate's eyes gleamed with killing intent.
With the power the Sovereign had accumulated thus far, he could well turn the Ownerless Land into a hellscape.
"The opponent is a Magus of the elemental line. And among the Reachers of Mado, he is assessed to be positioned in the upper 6th tier. Should the army be mishandled, annihilation will be unavoidable."
The Sovereign set both arms upon the throne's armrests and leaned back.
"Besides, it is still too early for a decisive battle. He is a newcomer who holds at best a city or two. I cannot wage an all-out war with such a one. Beyond that, the circumstances do not yet align. For now, testing him comes first."
"To test him, you mean...."
"Leave the city Shinseong has taken, and lightly prod Arein instead."
The Sovereign's lips twisted.
"Rouse the nearby lords to march their armies upon Arein. And if possible, bring Liam Arein back alive."
"Yes, Sovereign."
***
The autonomous territory of Midros, the place where Verden first confronted Adrian.
There, they had encountered Ethan and Rebecca of the Society, a faction opposing the magic tower. It wasn't even that long ago, hardly worth recalling.
"Indeed, as they oppose the tower system, if we can draw upon their strength it would be ideal. Provided, of course, that my lord can control the Society."
As Adrian feared, the Society was an independent and ideological group.
No matter how strong Verden was, it was impossible to subjugate and bend them purely with force.
Verden answered.
"Therefore, I must grasp what the Society desires from me, and make use of it. I have thought upon that matter. Whether negotiations will succeed, we'll only know if we try."
Whether the Society's might could be made into the foundation stone of the force Verden was building...
That depended entirely on Verden's ability.
Suddenly, Verden thought.
'Come to think of it, who exactly is the one Rayshen is pursuing?'
It had been some time since Rayshen began moving covertly across the Central Continent.
Had the quarry been caught by now? Since Bohemirn Magic Tower, and Balrog himself at that, had taken interest enough to send his second disciple, perhaps the quarry still eluded capture.
An enemy of Bohemirn Magic Tower unknown to Verden.
Better if alive, but for now there was nothing Verden and Adrian could do.
To find that mysterious figure, they would first need to locate Rayshen.
That time was not far off.
Shaking off the thought, Verden spoke.
"As Ethan mentioned before, if the Society is secretly active not only on the Eastern Continent but on all continents, then they will already have caught wind of events in the Ownerless Land. By now, they will have sent people into the city I have seized."
He snapped his fingers lightly, manifesting the Society's sigil in the air.
"In Dallehin, I intend to use this sigil to establish contact with the Society."
"What shall I do in the meantime?"
"Adrian, there is a task I would entrust to you in particular."
Verden pointed to a map depicting part of the Ownerless Land's cities.
The regions dominated by the Central Continent's magic towers were marked there.
"Presently, we have drawn considerable attention. Those unwilling to merely watch may attempt to strike or to test our strength. The towers are no exception... but for now, we need not concern ourselves with them. The matter of the Bone-Relic Dragon will have them preoccupied."
Licentia was headed to Gargant.
The rumor spread through Keirel would become a great current.
Especially for any faction with both vast wealth and great power to seize a dragon's bones, their eyes would be alight.
Thus, inevitably, the disputes of the Ownerless Land would be set aside.
"In the meantime, tidy up the surroundings. Though we ourselves have traveled by sky and not crossed paths, I hear that near Arein, bandit gangs roam constantly."
"I see. Then shall I slaughter them all?"
"Yes. But do not handle it alone. You must also safeguard Arein's defenses against unforeseen circumstances. Through Liam, post a proclamation, recruit mercenaries, and attempt a simultaneous large-scale subjugation."
Simple mercenary craft.
For Adrian, who preferred solitary action, it was unfamiliar ground.
Yet still, he did not refuse.
If it became part of his experience, he would willingly face and accept it.
The resolve of Adrian, Verden's right arm, who would become the second-in-command of the force Verden intended to found.
"I shall obey. Until my lord arrives, I will cleanse the area completely, and allow none to cross Arein's walls. Not even should a Transcendent come."
The humiliation of being sealed by Ignacia with a sudden strike.
Though he had resisted desperately with iron will, it was an unforeseen circumstance and his response fell short.
Save for training with his master, this had been Adrian's third defeat...
Whatever the case, having been subdued left no room for excuses. Was he truly only at this level? It was not merely hollow, but utterly shameful.
Through meditation since, Adrian had steeped in reflection upon that lapse, and honed his resolve sharper than before.
So sharp that even Keirel, passing by, had let out a bizarre shriek like "Nyaak!"
Verden nodded.
"I leave it to you."
***
Verden, having entrusted Arein to Adrian, headed straight for the city, Dallehin.
All three halos of [Ainber] overlapped upon his body, his flight speed reaching its utmost peak.
With Adrian being the only reliable powerhouse under his command, it was difficult to act together.
Moreover, he still could not unfold long-distance spatial teleportation at will...
From the start, regardless of strength, the range that a small number could cover was limited.
That was why he was not recklessly expanding practical influence according to the rules of the Ownerless Land.
Until he had formed at least a minimal force, he had to take defensive measures.
Dominion beyond his immediate capacity would only end in catastrophe.
Building the foundation stone strong from the beginning was Verden's priority.
Before long, Verden arrived at Dallehin. Being the lord himself, he needed no formalities to enter.
He went directly into the lord's castle, through a wide-open window.
There, by chance, he encountered a maid cleaning the corridor.
'This child is....'
The face was familiar.
Now that he saw, it was the girl whom Verden had saved from crisis upon first entering Dallehin.
Startled, her mouth gaped silently as he asked.
"Has your father recovered?"
"Ah, yes... thanks to you, he's well...."
"I see."
Leaving only those few words, Verden passed the maid by and headed immediately for the office.
Before calling the Society, he intended to first receive a report from Dumal on the city's situation.
Soon, Verden's figure disappeared down the far end of the corridor.
The girl, who had been dazed until that moment, now a volunteer maid of the castle, suddenly started and shouted.
"M-my lord, has returned!!"
***
"The city's atmosphere has changed greatly since last I saw, Dumal. In the once bleak castle and streets, now I see vitality. Even the flow of people has increased."
"In domain management, is money not the most important thing? As long as funds are sufficient, and no one skims off taxes in the middle, developing the city is no difficulty. Furthermore, my lord commanded directly not to levy excessive tax."
The former lord of Dallehin had imposed a tax rate of a staggering 70%, without distinction of income. On top of that, he seized much else under various pretexts.
Leaving the people unable even to properly sate their hunger, stripping them of strength and will to resist.
It had been part of breaking the citizens to heel.
Now, by Verden's order, taxation was carried out at the same level as the Eastern Continent's nation, the Kingdom of Estiria.
Not because Verden was an honorary count of the kingdom, but simply because no other country came to mind as a model.
In any case, compared to the grotesque rate of 70%, the citizens now paid incomparably less. It was natural they welcomed it.
Verden said.
"Indeed, with you alone effectively managing the city, there is no needless noise."
"Ha ha, it is thanks to the bats I have trained. Of course, if it were a city or domain larger than Dallehin, I could not handle it alone."
[Screee!]
The bat perched on Dumal's shoulder spread the wings attached to its arms wide.
Verden studied Dumal's complexion.
This Vampire spent most of his days managing the city, yet showed no sign of fatigue.
Was it thanks to the fresh, premium meat dripping with rich blood provided unstintingly for his welfare?
'Overwhelming cost-effectiveness as a domain manager.'
If he wished, he could write a thesis on the usefulness of abnormal species.
Dumal, calling it excessive praise, repeatedly bowed his head.
"Good. Continue just as you are."
"Of course, my lord. Ah, but what brings you to Dallehin? Is there something you require aid with?"
"A personal matter. I will depart again soon. Pay me no mind, and proceed as usual."
Having surveyed the city's condition as lord, the time had come to summon the Society.
He ascended to the castle's highest point, from which the city spread clearly below.
Looking down on a street busier than Arein's, he held a coin-sized token in hand.
An inverted magical triangle symbolizing instability, that is, development. Pressing the circle within it, a special device activated.
───!
From the magic stone embedded in the token, magic power was released. Immediately, it transformed into an unfamiliar mana wavelength, spreading broadly in all directions.
The radius was considerable.
And though Verden felt it distinctly, to an ordinary mage the faint current would be difficult to perceive.
Soon the token, its role complete, crumbled into powder and vanished without a trace.
'How many days will it take?'
Ethan had said that if he activated it within a city, the Society would soon attempt contact.
Surely they would not fail to come.
Verden judged that at the latest, a reply would come within five days, and so he remained in Dallehin.
And as expected, a guest arrived. In fact, their response was even faster than he had thought.
Not even a full day had passed since he activated the token.
A wanderer in plain clothes bowed deeply before Verden.
"I have come to escort you, Excellency."
The Society had answered the call.
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