City of Desire [Kingdom Building] - Chapter 907: Plan

Proofread by Thomas F

The guards bowed and opened the gate of the large greenhouse.

There I saw rows and rows of tiny plants; there are thousands of them, and the thing is, they’re all mist plants. They are a little over palm size with purple leaves.

Surrounded by a very faint colourful mist, it is the case for all the plants.

We are not in the legacy, but it’s still happening. This is going to bring tremendous change into the legacy and whole of Greltheaven, and I am not just talking about the plants.

“This new skill of yours is incredible. It had reduced waste of essence to almost nothing,” said Miss Ulaxasys as she walked toward me with Mage Irgal.

“This type of skill is rare even among the Grade VI establishments,” added Mage Irgal.

“Usually, only Grade VI has them, with one Grade V being an exception, but now it seems like Velvet Garden has taken his place as the notable exception,”

I smiled because it’s not the skill that they assume it is to be. I used a different skill, along with Velvet Garden’s non-skill ability, to create the effect they are talking about.

“Grade V?” I asked.

According to my knowledge, only Grade VI legacies had that skill. I researched extensively and spoke with many contacts, including the master of the Orion Library.

“Few people know this, but Menagerie had gained the ability when it had advanced to Grade V,” he replied, and I have to say, I am surprised.

Menagerie is one of the spirits, and one I have been trying to make a deal with, but they are not even willing to listen. So, I am turning to other legacies, but nothing can compare to them in what I want.

I pushed those thoughts away.

“They are growing well, fast, and vibrant,” I said, looking at the plants. I am not an expert, but they are in the domain and consuming the essence of my legacy.

So, I could tell a few things.

“It’s because of the efficient distribution of essence and the new people; their skills are very helpful,” replied Miss Ulaxasys.

I looked at the plants and talked with them. Soon, Miss Ulaxasys left, leaving me with Mage Irgal. “The second consignment is arriving tomorrow,” he said, and I nodded without looking away from the plants.

This place contains seven plant species.

Not all of them require the same amount of essence; it was hard to do that when we used the vine. It limited our choice of plants we could grow.

Now, there are no such restrictions, and that’s going to benefit us tremendously.

“Are you prepared to receive them?” I asked. Those are not normal plants; they are full-grown and very expensive; damage to even a single one would be a tremendous loss.

We successfully planted the last batch, but we continue to monitor them.

This is a different environment. Even with all the skills and enchantments, including the climate control, things could still go wrong.

“Yes, we have made all the preparations. We will plant them within a day of their arrival,” he replied.

I stayed around for an hour, checked the other greenhouses, and then walked out. A few minutes later, I was in the elevator going toward my office on the top floor of the legacy.

Only three days remain before the inauguration, and then the legacy would close.

If I could, I would have kept it open longer, but most of the work had stopped due to it. The sooner I closed it, the sooner they could begin.

Amellus keeps bugging me about it, constantly. He has only a year, which isn’t much.

I wish I could give him more time, but a year is already the most I could stretch. It is a legacy; I could not keep it close longer; no legacy had done it in this era.

Soon, I reached the top floor and was walking toward my office when I saw Eva.

She is talking with Andrea.

Seeing me, she smiled and said something to Andrea before appearing beside me. She said nothing and walked with me before stepping into my office.

I sat down in my chair, and she sat on my lap with her hands twined around my neck.

I could smell her perfume and see her beautiful eyes, filled with questions.

“How do you do it? Namdar is very protective of the high-level artisans, but now they have just informed all my designers and artisans, along with their tools, that they could leave Namdar with no restrictions,” she asked, and I smiled.

I made the deal months ago, but I kept it a secret.

Eva is right; Namdar is protective of high-level people —be they powerhouses, artists, or craftsmen—especially those it has fostered or its citizens.

It was a fair deal; I had offered them something that they wanted. I haven’t given it to them yet. Well, I would need these people for that.

“You will know in a week or two,” I replied, and she glared before curling her lips seductively. “If you tell me, I will reward you,” she said with her voice turning husky.

“It’s tempting, but I don’t want to reveal it until it’s time,” I replied with a smile.

“Are you sure?” she asked, with the strap of her dress falling off her shoulder. I wanted to ‘no’ so badly, but I nodded.

“The only thing I would say is that it’s something good and you are going to love it,” I replied, and the smile on her face became bigger.

“You have also been asking other stores to hire and train as many craftsmen as they can,” she said, and this time I smiled.

“It’s clear that you want to produce more goods in larger quantities, but where will you put them with Velvet Garden under reconstruction?” she asked.

It’s easy for her to guess. I am not only asking her to bring her people into the city, but everyone else, too.

“Are you planning to use the raw essence?” She asked another question before shaking her head.

“No, that will require too much raw essence and will be wildly inefficient, and you don’t do that.” She replied to her own question.

She knows me very well. If she had been in the greenhouses with me, she would have realized the answer.

Well, those greenhouses are restricted.

Only Grade II and above can visit, and they will reveal nothing about it, not even to their friends and lovers, unless I give the order.

I did not reply and just kept looking at her.

“So, what is your plan?” she asked. “I told you, you will know soon,” I replied.

“Fine, don’t tell me. I just hope that you will give me the most benefit of what you are planning,” she said, and I looked at her.

 “I think you could already guess that you will receive the greatest benefits of them all,” I replied, and a smile appeared on her face.

A moment later, the other strap of her dress fell down her shoulder.

‘Cancel all my meetings until five,’ I ordered Jill, before turning my full attention on the goddess in front of me.

I watched her leave through my office, her clothes immaculate. There is not a single sign of what we did.

I shook my head with a smile before activating Get Ready.

An hour soon passed as I focused on the work. I read the file in front of me; it’s a final document prepared by Andrea. It’s related to what Eva had asked.

Stores are a big part of the Velvet Garden. They not only generate a lot of essence but also generate a lot of money.

Now, I am focusing on the money and influence aspects in the coming year. We need to build influence to address the challenges we will be facing.

The initial part of the plan will begin on the day of the inauguration.

When everyone returns to the city after the inauguration, I will reveal the core part of the plan. We have completed nearly all the preparations; the only thing we need is to start.

I was reading through the file when I sensed the noble class.

I looked with the Eyes of the Domain before activating the Mirror of True Want on those two people.

‘Lord Silver, Baron Nightingale, and his cousin are here for you,’ informed Jill. “Send them in at six,” I replied; there are only five minutes until six.

Soon, five minutes passed, and the door opened. Two people walked in: one in his late fifties, the other in his early sixties.

Both of them shared quite a lot of similarities, especially that angular nose.

“Lord Silver,” they greeted. “Baron Nightingale, Mr. Revin,” replied. A moment later, they sat in front of me.

“I hope the journey went well?” I asked them. “It was my lord,” replied Baron Nightingale. “Much safer than the last time I had been here,” added the other man.

“I am glad to hear that,” I replied, with a smile.

I had worked hard on that, with guards and regular patrols of the routes.

“Is it true that you are closing the legacy for a year, Lord Silver?” asked the man. “Yes, I need to build it to its true size,” I replied.

“Will there be more stores?” he asked. “A lot more,” I replied, and his eyes lit up.

“Our house would be grateful if you could provide us with space for a store,” he requested. “We will be more than willing to pay more than others,” added Baron Nightingale.

“I will open the applications soon; you can apply, Mr. Nightingale. If your proposal matches my vision, I will be more than willing to offer you a store,” I replied.

I am glad; the legacy depends on vision, because I use it as an excuse to reject things I didn’t like.

Though my words about liking their proposal are true as well.

“Our house will send you our best proposal,” stated the man. To that, we shared a smile.

The silence descended until now it was polite talk. They have not come here to talk about the legacy and stores. No, they are here for something more.

“My lord, I want to make my nephew, Arthur Nightingale, my heir.” Said Baron Nightingale.

“You know the process, Baron Nightingale. Submit it formally, and I will look at it before inviting your proposed heir for the personal meeting,” I replied.

I have personally rewritten the laws of succession.

The heir is the eldest child, unless I have an objection to it. If Baron wants others, they will have to go through the process. Many barons resisted it as it gave me too much power over them, but now it had become helpful to this man.

He didn’t want his nephew to be his heir, but his daughter. He can’t reject his family’s wishes.

Especially now, when he needs money for his territory. So, he came up with a plan and asked me to stall it. It’s quite a lot to ask, but I will do it.

If it succeeded, they would be under my thumb. There are many changes I want to make in the barony, and he will be very helpful in regarding that.

“I was hoping you would do it sooner,” said Baron Nightingale.

“I can’t, Baron Nightingale. You understand how things are. I need to be completely sure of the person who is going to be an integral part of the dominion,” I replied.

I could see the other man becoming angry, despite having a smile on his face; it’s his son after all.

“Arthur will be your most loyal subject, Lord Silver,” said Revin Nightingale.

“I know, Mr. Nightingale, but I have to do due diligence because if I gave you special treatment, others will demand the same, which I can’t have,” I replied, shaking my head.

“Our house will be grateful if you do it quickly and will make a considerable investment in the dominion,” said the other man, making the same offer as the head of his house had made yesterday.

“I want to, but as I had said, I can’t give your house special treatment,” I replied, shaking my head.

Anger flashed in his eyes, while Baron Nightingale could barely stop himself from smiling. It’s an enormous risk the old man is taking; his house is not something he could easily play with.

Still, I have to give it to him for his guts.

If he succeeded, he would not only get the money for his territory but also be free of his family’s control.

“How long will it take?” asked the man. “Not much, just three to six months,” I replied. I wish I could give him more time, but I could not.

“We will send Arthur with Arim here after the family conclave,” he said, and I nodded.

A few minutes later, the two men walked out of my office, while I lay against the wall. Hoping the old man would succeed in his gamble.

The way he planned, he might, but even the best plans fail.

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