City of Desire [Kingdom Building] - Chapter 851: Pieces Moving II

Proofread by Thomas F

Caena Aris

The swirl of mist in front of me dissolved, and I took a long breath of relief before wiping the sweat off my brow.

I looked at the charm in front of me.

A very complicated and expensive one, which I had just finished. A few months ago, it used to take me nine hours to finish, but now I can do it in four.

I am getting good, thanks to the practice.

Every day, I am becoming more and more a witch of my bloodline. It is an incredibly powerful bloodline, but just as tragic.

I pushed those thoughts away and put the charm back into the wooden box.

It is for a noble in the empire; he had paid a massive amount of money for it. Since they know about the witch in Greltheaven, I might get the complete use out of it.

It is making me very rich while giving the dominion significant influence.

The greatest benefit of it is that I am practicing the high-witchcraft. Every spell and charm makes me better, gives me a deeper understanding of witchcraft.

That is very much what I needed, because it is the only thing that could protect me against the madness that the tome brings.

I need to understand what to use the knowledge from that book for. If I try with half knowledge, I will descend into madness as many of my ancestors did.

Still, it is hard to resist the temptation not to dive headlong into the deep sea of knowledge the tome has.

Even after months, I still have someone beside me whenever I open the tome. Like before, they do not need to call me out, but their presence gives support.

It is also the correct way; the use of a pillar is necessary for those who gain the tome.

I cleaned my table and put stuff away in the vault. It is my section of the vault. Aside from Remus and Carla, no one else could access it.

That done, I activated Resplendent Madam, and light radiated from me.

When it disappeared, all the creases and dirt on my dress disappeared. Crinkles and lines fixed themselves, and so has my hair and makeup.

I looked like I had just come out of make-up.

The only thing that could tell my state is my eyes. If one looked at them, they would see the tiredness, but a moment later, it disappeared as well.

I am still tired, but I am hiding it. People didn’t need to know the state I am in.

I stepped out and began to walk through the top floor. Talking to the staff and the guests.

“How is it going?” I asked when Stavad came to a sitting party of twelve. He is the head of Velvet Blue; he doesn’t usually do that unless the person is important.

“They made a reservation for eight and brought twelve,” he replied.

I looked at the people and recognised one man among them. He is the head of the merchant guild of Teveb.

If it had been someone else, they wouldn’t have been allowed to do this, but we make adjustments for some important people. The man is on the list of people; we need to adjust a certain limit.

Especially when he is in the city for official business, his guild is signing several important agreements with our merchant guild.

We always welcome such people and are helpful to them.

“Any problems?” I asked. To that, he shook his head. There are hardly any problems, especially those caused by the guests.

They know how to behave. If they didn’t, they would be thrown out and banned for months or even forever.

I talked to him for a minute before walking away.

I was taking a few steps when the teen redheaded girl walked past, bowing her head faintly as she did.

Her name is Velzan, and she is one of the girls who has what it takes to become a witch.

Right now, I am pulling the strings from the background. Nudging them toward things that will help them, if they choose the path of the witch.

Soon, I will appear in front of them and give them a choice to become an actual witch.

Greltheaven needs a coven, and it will have it.

I went down to the floors of the Velvet Red, which was filled with laughter and smiles. Where every movement of the girls is seductive, every curve of the lips is intentional.

They have become really good.

“I have to say, I have never seen whores as good as them. Even my best is average compared to them,” said the woman as she appeared beside me.

“It’s all due to our efforts, including yours, Miss Dawnstar,” I replied. She smiled at that.

The woman had brought the transformational change to the Velvet Garden. Before she came, we had focused on every aspect of experience, but carnal.

We thought we were focusing on that, but not in the way we should have.

The woman started and taught the course. Changing the Velvet Garden for the better.

The carnal experience is so great that people are returning for it. Yes, people come to the brothel for sex, but in Velvet Garden, it’s conversation and companionship.

More than half of the people didn’t even use to have sex. They just spend time with girls and leave.

That was our specialty. Now, no girl remains unoccupied for more than a minute.

The money is good, but better than that is the essence. We are getting more emotion essence from the rooms now than we used.

“It’s such a regret that this is all going to close in a month,” she said with a voice full of disappointment.

“When it opens, it will be far better,” I replied, and the woman smiled.

“Besides, you won’t have time to muse about it, with us recruiting all the girls and teaching them,” I added, to which her expression turned serious.

She will be part of the recruiting process, as she was when we recruited teachers.

“As I had said before, we have made a mistake in not recruiting in the past few months. It would have given us more time to train the girls,” she said, and I smiled.

“We are moving as planned,” I replied.

She looked at me, but didn’t get more than a smile. The decision to pause recruitment of the girls was intentional, and there were several reasons behind it.

First, we needed to get our house in order by making some changes.

There is also the thing about teachers. We had trained the teachers meticulously, and most of them left us. We recruited more now, but they are not perfect.

We have removed more than 40% of them within three months because they didn’t feel suitable for Velvet Garden.

The main reason we have waited for recruitment is that we want to do it in peace. Take the time to select each and every girl.

We will have that time after the legacy closes.

“Then, I wouldn’t say anythi,” she was speaking when she suddenly stopped, seeing the sudden change appearing on my face.

The thing I had sense is big enough that I couldn’t control my expressions.

I just sensed a Lv. 40 powerhouse entering the inner domain of the city.

In this new upgrade, I had put a spell on the outer planets or domain planets, as I call them. The spells that sent an alert whenever Lv. 40 appear in the city.

It isn’t just the people, but also the artifacts.

I had sensed both the moment they entered the inner domain. I should have sensed it the moment they entered the outer domain, as I did with all Lv. 40 and above powerhouses.

This one I did not, and I realised why, as I focused on the person.

A rogue.

No, magic is perfect, not even mine. It can be evaded with the right tools, but it’s very hard; even this powerful rogue couldn’t.

“Madam Caena?” asked the woman worriedly. “Excuse me, Dawnstar,” I said, and I walked away from her.

“Have you sensed it?” I asked. ‘Yes, I had already contacted General Stone, Chief of Police, Chief Valentina, Chief Robin, and Knight Schengen,‘ replied Carla, hearing that I feel relieved.

She is an heir; she has the authority and all the access. If I sensed it, it means she had sensed it as well.

“Whoever it is, they do not have good intentions,” I said as I looked at the woman who effortlessly landed on the ground after jumping from the wall.

‘They do not,‘ she agreed.

…

Thaddeous Stone

‘She is moving toward the city hall fast,‘ informed Miss Carla. I could feel the worry in her voice.

I had doubts, but now I am sure. It’s undead, and its target is Miss Elar. It might even be Mr. Robin and other important members of the city.

I have seen it too many times on the island and knew it would happen here as well.

I had expected it within a month of the attack, but it still hadn’t happened even after months had passed. Now it is happening, and this time, they are not underestimating us.

They have sent an LV. 40.

If they are coming to one city, then there is a good chance. They are coming for the others as well.

‘Hiren, inform the Generals of all three cities, but ask them to move quietly. We don’t want the enemies to know, we had sensed them if this domain-wide attack,’ I ordered as I wore the shirt.

‘I am going to the city hall,’ informed Chief Julian. We have prepared for this. The army has a plan to deal with, and so does the police.

We might not know when the enemies would attack, but we know they would eventually and plan for it. Their first target would be the heads of cities and other important people.

It creates chaos and weakens the enemy so they can strike.

“Let me,” said Margaux, and began to help fasten the buttons of my shirt.

‘I am coming as well,’ informed Hiren. ‘City is our jurisdiction,’ reminded Chief Julian immediately. ‘The foreign enemies are our business,’ countered Hiren.

Hearing them bicker, I wanted to sigh.

The way they come at each other in times like this makes it hard to believe that they are actually good friends.

‘General, let the Chief handle it,’ a woman’s voice rang out. Miss Elar is the head of the city in the absence of Lord Silver.

“Chief might not be enough to deal with the threat,” I advised.

I do not doubt Julian’s ability; he is powerful. Especially in the city and in situations involving law and order, but the enemy could be beyond what he could handle.

‘He will not be alone,’ she replied, and I didn’t have to ask about it further. I know what she means. It relieved me.

‘The army will provide help, if you need it,’ I offered. ‘I won’t hesitate to ask if I need it,’ replied Chief Julian.

“It’s done,” said Margaux, before giving me her hand. I took it and felt the spell connect.

“General, your status?” I asked.

‘I am moving toward the city hall; the commissioner as well,’ replied Azalia.

“Keep your movements quiet. We don’t want to alert the enemies of our movement before you reach them,” I ordered. ‘Affirmed.’ She replied.

I cut the call, and Margaux connected me to Trask. Things aren’t good there.

‘I am moving as fast as I can toward the city, but it will take me time,’ he reported.

“Try to be fast, but ask your men to be quiet,” I ordered. It is crucial that we reach the Governors without the enemy knowing.

I can’t stress how many times it happened: the undead assassins discovered they’d been found out and started a killing spree.

Their purpose is not to kill, but to create chaos, and killing the heads of cities and the army is the best way, but isn’t the only way.

So, it is a race against time.

I cut the call a few seconds later and called Baroness Silver, who is responsible for Lauryl’s security, before walking out of the room.

More like running with stealth and speed spells covering me. Tonight is going to be long.

…

Knight Liorian

“It’s time,” I said as I looked at the clock.

“In a few minutes, we will start receiving the profitable news,” said Lomos, with a big smile. Seeing that, I wanted to shake my head.

I don’t know how he could be happy before the result. The man had participated in nearly every battle against Silver; he should be more cautious before getting the result.

Though I can’t blame him, we have made meticulous preparations and didn’t underestimate the enemies.

I would be lying if I were not pleased with the preparations, but I kept my emotions in check. I would not celebrate before I see the results.

“Boltas is a crazy bitch, while the blades of Night Manor are the best.”

“We will succeed, without a doubt, and then we will release our horde on Silver’s cities before marching them to Greltheaven,” said Elmid, looking outside the window.

Everything looks the same as it did before, but far from it. We have made preparations and are ready to march with our hordes.

“You are absolutely right, Major General,” replied Lomos.

Elmid planned it all; he is from the Department of Secret Operations.

I didn’t say anything, just nodded and prayed we would succeed. Once we do, we will wake up the hordes and march them to Silver’s territory.

We have suffered enough humiliation at his hands. It’s time, he tastes that.

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