City of Desire [Kingdom Building] - Chapter 908: Overseer

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Tara Veyrault

“Don’t worry too much; I talked to Jenna not long ago. They will arrive tomorrow. If lucky, even by midnight.” I said to the teenage girl.

She is worried about her grandfather.

He was supposed to arrive by morning, but due to unforeseen circumstances, he will be late. He isn’t alone; Jenna is with him.

I had spoken to her earlier, and she said she would try to come sooner.

Pirates are unpredictable, but they wouldn’t dare to harm her, much less old Vanis. He is a master. If they did something to him. The wrath of the synod will descend upon them, and even pirates comprehend that.

“I hope you are right,” replied the teenage girl, with a small hopeful smile appearing on her face.

“Is Lord Silver really not coming?” she asked.

“No,” I replied. He had asked to keep the news about his attendance ambiguous until today. Officially, we will only confirm it tomorrow.

It’s going to disappoint many people who want to meet him, but he can’t come.

There are a lot of enemies that want to harm him. Summerfield, Grimvale, and not to mention the undead. It is why even the sea route from Gailhorn is dangerous.

The only place he could travel with relative safety was the northern kingdoms, like merchant states.

“I wished he had come,” said the young girl softly. “Don’t worry, he may not be here, but he will be with you,” I replied, and these aren’t just empty words.

Before leaving Velvet Garden, I had received the biggest shock of my life.

They have told me about some of the greatest secrets of Velvet Garden and gave me access to a few. Two of them will make me near invincible here.

At least in the legacy and part of the city where its domain covers.

Only a few know about it, and it was made clear to me in no uncertain terms that I could not mention it to others. Not to mention that contract; it was the strictest and most powerful I had ever signed.

I stayed with her for a few minutes more before walking out of her office.

The opening is tomorrow, and there are a lot of things for her to do, and for me as well.

‘Don’t forget, you have a meeting in fifteen minutes.’ Margaux’s voice rang out in my mind. I don’t like meetings, but I have to attend them.

In the morning, I found out. I have to attend more of them than I had planned.

Carla is going to be late; she will be in the city by midnight. She had postponed a few meetings she had, but more than half of them got divided between Margaux and me.

‘I know,’ I replied and walked out of Legacy, where a carriage was waiting for me.

There are other girls, but only Margaux and I could take those meetings. Margaux, because she is one of the triumvirate, with authority just below Carla and Master Silver.

As for me, it’s because of my new position as overseer of the tavern.

Well, not a tavern anymore.

It’s something far grander; everything is covered in mist. Tomorrow, people will be shocked out of their minds when they are finally able to see it.

I looked out of my window and saw that everything was misty. It had become denser since yesterday and will remain such until tomorrow.

Hun!

I thought that, when I felt another powerful attempt against the legacy to peer through the mist.

A moment later, it abruptly cut off as we attacked it. We do not take kindly to people snooping.

Margaux had just replied, and looking at the man, who was writhing in pain, he would consider it carefully before doing something like this.

It’s a good thing, it’s not Carla, or he would have been bleeding through his orifices.

It’s why people don’t do this with Velvet Garden; they know the response they will receive. Soon, my carriage moved through the gates of the legacy.

It would have been a perfect place for the meetings, and it will be from tomorrow on.

We are refraining from conducting any official business in it until the inauguration. Soon, the carriage reached the area of large mansions.

A minute later, my carriage turned and entered through the gates of a beautiful three-story mansion.

It’s my official residence as overseer.

My assistant appeared at the door as I reached it. “They are waiting for you in the parlour,” informed Solen. I nodded and walked with her.

Soon, I reached the parlour, and I activated my skills. First, I did the Drape of Seductress and Seductive Presence.

Then Seductive Smile and my secret weapon, Velvet Vulnerability. It’s my newest skill and the one I’ve come to like very much.

It plays on the stereotype of whores and women.

I use skills a lot, and I enjoy using them. Since one has them, why not use them?

I entered the beautifully decorated parlour; some of the pieces here are from my personal collection. Since I am going to live here, at least for a few years, I might as well personalise it.

I barely glanced at them before moving my gaze to the three people sitting there.

Two men and one woman: one man in his mid-thirties, the woman in her late twenties, and the third man in his late fifties, with a thick beard.

Immediately, I could see the lust in their eyes and even felt it. Faithwrought is an amazing skill.

It’s a powerful legacy skill of Lord Silver. It worked in legacy, but it also worked outside.

It enhances physical and mental capabilities and the power of skill, and also provides abilities such as sensing lust and other things.

These abilities depend on one’s class and on whether that class aligns with legacy.

They all got up as I entered.

“Alchemist Kadrick, Guildmaster Faldin, Lady Dorell. I hope you were not waiting too long,” I asked as I stopped in front of them.

“We just arrived a few minutes ago. Thank you for meeting us early.” Replied the man in his early thirties.

He is Guildmaster Faldin of the Merchant Guild of Brightford, an important territory in our people-moving network. They had come to the city for the inauguration and other things.

“It’s my pleasure, Guildmaster,” I replied and shook his hand.

He is the only man who does not feel much lust toward me, aside from what is normal. That means there is someone in his life whom he loves dearly.

I extend my hand to the alchemist, activating seductive touch.

I have good control over my skills, not as good as Margaux, but good enough. One thing makes it better: we are in the domain of legacy.

Meaning, my skill hides better.

I could feel the lust in his eyes intensifying from my touch. When I let go, there was a small resistance from him as I pulled back my hand.

I acted as if I hadn’t noticed.

I turned to the woman; her name was Laila Dorell; she is the cousin of the Viscount Dorrel, Lord of Brightford.

I didn’t shake her hand. No, I went for the kiss. There was a surprise on her face, but there was no resistance. Her hands caress across mine, and she is a little unwilling to let go.

Pleasantries done, we sat down.

“It’s such a regret that Lady Carla couldn’t attend the meeting,” said Faldin.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Faldin; I am authorised to make the deal on behalf of the Velvet Garden,” I replied with a smile, but showing only a faint hint of nervousness for a fraction of a second, which they caught.

“We have no doubt, overseer,” said the man, using his skills to reinforce the point.

“Our Lord and territory had been helpful to you and your Lord. We have helped many needy people reach Greltheaven safely, along with helping you get all sorts of rare and precious materials.” Stated Lady Dossel.

“And we have paid for that help in kind,” I replied.

Their help wasn’t a help but a service, and we have paid them well for that.

She smiled, and I felt her skill; it’s quite powerful, which is not surprising since it’s a ruling class skill. I did not fear them; my class is as powerful as her class.

Even more, I am in the legacy’s domain.

“I hope you consider that and sell us the things we require,” she said, and she forwarded the list to me.

They have made some changes.

There are more things now than the list they sent us before. I wish I could say I am surprised, but it’s quite common.

“The requirements are more than initially conveyed,” I stated, turning to her and once more, showing a bit of nervousness for a fraction of a second.

“As you know, the enemy is moving closer and launching many covert attacks.”

“We need those things to be prepared,” replied Faldin.

I looked at the list for a few more seconds before turning to them.

“We can give most goods, but not in those amounts. Also, we can give you any ceramics and parchments for at least three months,” I said.

“As for the essence, you know, the Velvet Garden has put a ban on selling raw essence,”

“We can provide you with the emotion essence potions. 20% Grade I, 15% of Grade II, and 5% of Grade III. We cannot give you any Grade IV essences.”

“In mist plants, you are in luck, alchemist. We can provide you with one and a half kilos of ceric grass, but not any other plants.”

I moved on to one thing after another, and they did not hide their displeased expressions. Seeing that I showed more nervousness, but continued.

“…last is mist-infused soil, we could only provide five-sixths of what you want,” I finished and turned to them.

“This is far less than we have been expecting,” said Faldin flatly. “It’s far more than we are giving it to others,” I replied, and it’s the truth.

Well, nearly a truth.

“We have helped you so much. We hoped you had kept that in mind,” said the woman, pushing her skill on me, while not even hiding her displeasure.

“It’s because of it you are getting this much; others are not even getting a tenth,” I replied, keeping a pleasant smile on my face.

Thousands of people ask us for things every month, but only a few can get them. With Velvet Garden closing tomorrow, even fewer people will be able to get these things in the coming year.

“Viscount wouldn’t like it; he might even rethink this deal,” said the woman, and I smiled internally.

Bingo!

The show of nervousness had paid off; people always reveal their true colours when they think they can get you. Lord Silver had asked me to look for those things.

We need trusted partners who will work with us even in bad times.

Such people are rare, but there are a few, and we are fostering our relationship with them.

As for people like Viscount Dorrel. Well, we will also work with them, but with the understanding in mind that the relationship is transactional.

“That is the Viscount’s prerogative. As it will be our prerogative to focus more on partners like Valtown,” I replied, and the expressions of the three of them changed immediately.

If it had been a year earlier, the threat would have worked, but this year, we have expanded the network.

Added more territories.

Now, even if they didn’t work with us, there are others who would. Still, we wouldn’t want to lose them, if possible. The more options we have, the greater the freedom it gives us.

So, if any of them threatened us like this, we can tell them we have options.

“My apologies, Madam Veyrault, we did not mean it that way. It’s just that the war is taking a lot from us, and more of these things would be beneficial for us,” said Faldin, easing the tension with his words and skills.

“I understand the stress, but you have to understand our condition as well.”

“Velvet Garden is closing tomorrow; we will have to manage a year with what we have in reserves,” I replied with a tired smile.

The year would be tricky to manage.

“We know, it is why we are asking for less than we need and hope you will at least double the things,” said the woman, to which I shook my head.

“My apologies, Lady Dorell, but this is all we could give,” I replied.

They aren’t the only ones; there are a lot more, and we will have to manage them throughout the year. The legacy here could help, but it could not replace Velvet Garden.

It took another fifteen minutes before we finished the negotiations. I changed nothing, but they kept asking, and then they complained about the delivery.

They will not get these immediately. They will get them in stages within three months.

If we give them things too quickly, they will demand more in a few months.

We don’t want that.

“Your next meeting has arrived,” informed Solen. I sighed before opening my eyes; this is going to last the whole day until I have to leave for the party Lord Thorn is throwing.

Many important people had come to the city. This is his only chance before the legacy opens.

Once that happens, all the big parties are going to be there.

…

Remus Silver

“They got far enough,” informed Zela. The ship Vanis and Jenna were travelling on had been caught by pirates. We had to pay a ransom for their release.

“Good, post the bounty,” I ordered.

I paid the ransom, and they released my people. Even if I didn’t pay it, they wouldn’t have dared to kill them, but I wanted them safe and in Inam quickly.

Now that they have gone far enough from them. It’s time I paid back the pirates.

“It’s posted.” She replied.

I paid pirates quite a lot, but the bounty is four times more than that. The pirates, or anyone who dares to mess with my people, should know the cost of doing so.

It is necessary to do that, given how many trips I plan for my people to take and how many more I plan to send.

They will come across pirates. It is inevitable; I can’t stop that, but I could let those people know the cost.

That done, I looked to the port once more, watching the ships leave for Inam. Unfortunately, I will not be attending the inauguration; it’s too risky.

Even the sea route is risky with the undead.

They have captured and assassinated many people on the sea before, and I don’t want to be another example. It’s regrettable, but I have to do what is best for the dominion.

I am a pillar, holding it all together. If something happens to me, everything could collapse.

I will not have that.

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