[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-city-of-desire-kingdom-building":3,"chapter-city-of-desire-kingdom-building-city-of-desire-kingdom-building-chapter-647":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","City of Desire [Kingdom Building]",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1846767,2449,"Chapter 650: A Month","city-of-desire-kingdom-building-chapter-647",647,"\u003Cp>Proofread by Thomas F\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stepped out of the carriage and watched people carrying the large boxes out of the city hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They are shifting to another building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The city hall didn't have enough space to house its ever-increasing staff and departments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To solve this, we had two options: one was to expand the city hall, and the second was to shift the people and offices. I chose the second one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason is simple: money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We didn't have it, and right now, I am spending all the extra money I had on defense. I had even cut a few things I was planning to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a month remained before the protection of the Archmage City expired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that, it would be an open season for the undead. I am making as many preparations as possible, but I am dealing with the undead; anything could happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I am scared but will fight the bastards with everything I have. If they want to conquer the city, I will make them pay such a price that they will regret even thinking about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, I reached my office and stepped inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lola was already there; I nodded at her and sat down while she was silently putting files in front of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have confirmed your meeting with Baron Husk tomorrow,\" she informed. \"Good,\" I replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He is coming tomorrow to sign the agreements we had negotiated, but the main reason for his visit is the forces I had in the baronies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had steadily increased my forces there in the past few months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are now two brigades and a battalion of cavalry in there—a total of thirteen thousand soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is a considerable number that helped them tremendously against the monsters, but now I am bringing them back to the city—all of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had gone to help the baronies, but the real purpose was to train.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They have trained well, with many of them leveling up, but it's time for them to return home. In a month, the undead would attack, and I would need them to defend their homes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had already fixed the date of their return when I sent them, but the baronies have been requesting that I keep them there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the undead hadn't been coming, I would have kept them and even sent more to help, but unfortunately, I can't.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stayed in the office for an hour before attending the meeting in the conference room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was with Hardt and members of the merchant guild. I am planning to change some rules and would like to ask for their opinion on the matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The meeting got quite heated. Half of them supported it, while the other half were against it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I returned, I rested for a while before practicing the aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, it was evening. Usually, I leave at this time, but I have a meeting. I could have met them at the legacy, which would be the right place, but they aren't staying in the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The news from Tekhat is surprising; four people have awakened the auras at once, and it happened at the party,\" said Lola, making me stop what I was doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled upon hearing that. She had been talking about aura a lot in the past few days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Barb had awakened it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She is envious; she is not even trying to hide it. She wasn't jealous when Carla awakened it, but she was with Barb, likely because both hold the same position in Velvet Garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By levels, Lola is much higher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She is Lv. 38, while Barb was not even Lv. 30, when she had awakened the aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The fountain events are rare, but not that rare. The event in Tekhat was more complex than it looked,\" I replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It may have happened at the party, but it wasn't a normal party. It was a bloodbath; a quarter of the people who had attended had died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wonder if I ever will be able to awaken the aura,\" she said with hope-filled eyes. It was the first time she had said it out loud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone has potential,\" I replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don't know whether she will be able to awaken it or not. A strong will is necessary, and she has that, but the right conditions are also needed, as well as the right class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half of the people who awaken their aura are nobles, with over 80% of them awakening during the conflict.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the conflict, the conditions presented required one to push oneself beyond one's limit, thus awakening the aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lord Silver, they have arrived,\" informed Jill, breaking us out of our reflections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A second later, a man in his mid-thirties with sandy brown hair appeared. Beside him is a teen girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lord Silver,\" they greeted. \"Lord Thorn, Miss Lindgren, welcome to Greltheaven,\" I said, offering them a seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man bore a resemblance to his father, standing tall with a handsome face and a warrior's physique. It is said he is quite an artist, which his father did not like.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He is Valtir Thorn, Son of Ralis Thorn, Lord of Inam. The teen girl beside him is Alina Lindgren, Vanis's Granddaughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How was the trip?\" I asked. They had gone to Lomeir, to the throne. \"Disappointing, to say at least; they are not even willing to hear our offer,\" he replied, with a voice full of defeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I am not surprised, even a little bit. Their chances of success had been small from the beginning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is only the first throne; there are more of them,\" I stated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They are searching for the throne to make the Vanis Tavern a pawn. A monumental task, I would say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sovereigns decline such offers from the legacy of the different kingdoms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They only agree if there is a lot of pressure or the legacy is special.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, Vanis Tavern isn't special. It is the most common legacy. In terms of size, it is a Tavern Class, like the majority of legacies, and its emotion scale is average.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also, the legacy and Master didn't have any special skills that would entice the Master of a Throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are right, my lord, but still, we had some hope,\" he replied with a mirthless smile appearing on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They have been searching for the throne for years, but have intensified their efforts in the past few months. Likely, the waning of Vanis's Tavern is near.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried to find out, but I failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, it shouldn't have too much time left, or they wouldn't have intensified the efforts to such a degree. Not to mention that offer from the Lord of Inam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I could help him make a deal with the throne, he would pay me a tremendous amount of money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The amount is significant enough that I seriously considered it, but I didn't commit. There is no use because no throne is willing to accept them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would have helped if Vanis Tavern had been special in some way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shouldn't be saying it. Every being an legacy is special. If it weren't, it wouldn't have been a legacy, but Vanis Tavern is average among the legacies; that is the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have hope, Lord Thorn. Who knows, the Vanis Tavern might become a throne tomorrow,\" I said. The man and the teen girl shook their heads mirthlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The closer the legacy gets to the waning, the harder it is for them to advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Very few can advance at this stage of their life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes passed, and we discussed the things and thrones they should focus on before I turned to the teenage girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won't be able to attend your birthday, Miss Alina, but I have prepared a gift for you,\" I said, and turned to Lola, who waved her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next moment, a mannequin appeared in the office, and a beautiful red-green dress appeared on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is one of the most detailed works I have seen and was designed by Miss Cain. It is made with magical threads and crafted in the legacy using mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dress isn't the only thing. It features red shoes adorned with tiny rubies, as well as an emerald necklace and earrings crafted by Eva herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I hope you like it?\" I asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was expensive, but that old man had helped me a lot and continues to assist me with many things. I wanted to show my appreciation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since I am feeling guilty about not helping him much with this problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I could, I would have truly helped him find the throne. I am still asking around, despite knowing no throne will take the Vanis Tavern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I love it,\" said the teen girl with her eyes shining as she got up and walked toward the mannequin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's stunning; I hope you will be able to help get something like this for my wife. Her birthday is coming in a few months,\" said Valtir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course, Lord Thorn,\" I replied with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later, they left, and I walked out of the office soon after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stepped into the carriage, and it moved toward the legacy. As the carriage moved, I watched the city. A smile appeared on my face, but after a moment, I sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The city is currently experiencing rapid growth. The six months of peace had brought it rapid growth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People seemed to have forgotten the danger of the undead. This was great news for me as it helped the city grow; the hard work I had done to create that perception had paid off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would all change when the undead attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the city survives, I will have a massive task in front of me to bring it back to its current level of growth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lord Silver,\" said Zela, interrupting me out of my thoughts. I turned to her and found her expression serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Kingdom of Geim had attacked the empire from all three fronts,\" she informed. Hearing that, my expression turned serious before I sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew the lull was temporary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I said before, as long as the empire is this delicious pie. The enemies will not stop trying to take the bite out of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They had also discovered the movement from Tabes and Edruin,\" she added, and a smile appeared on my face despite there being no joy on my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I am feeling a little scared, actually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is a coordinated attack. I wouldn't be surprised if Yressor pressed on with the offensive as well,\" I replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap the Patreon link below to unlock 20+ advanced chapters, or join Free to enjoy character art, maps, and more exclusive content!\u003C\u002Fp>",1793,"2026-06-09T06:55:03.455Z",1,"novelbin.me","e3c4004ffc25c98c459fd609ee421503f8a5b05f64054515ad4f166403cfdb90","city-of-desire-kingdom-building-chapter-648","city-of-desire-kingdom-building-chapter-646",917,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcity-of-desire-kingdom-building-cover.jpg"]