[{"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-709":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},1846779,2449,"Chapter 712: Ungrateful","city-of-desire-kingdom-building-chapter-709",709,"\u003Cp>Proofread by Thomas F\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage moved through the forest on an empty road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from the patrol, there are no other carriages or people. They have stopped traffic for the day to hunt down the stray monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They have become quite adept at it, with a good number of trackers and hunters in their forces along with the mercenaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the end of the day. They would catch and deal with any monster that might have been slipped past. Making the area secure till the next tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the carriage crossed into the empire, where patrols were a little lighter, but still more than yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked around through the window, where one side is the territory of my sister, while on the other side is the territory of Baron Harrods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had an invitation from both, along with a few other nobles, to spend the night in the territories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I will likely not spend a night here, but if they give me what I want, I will. I need the reinforcement desperately, and I am offering them a lot of things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had already sent my offer to them, and half of the council members are in favor of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four of the seven, actually. I only need to convince two more. Jarvis may have a seat in the council, but he didn't have voting power on this matter, despite being head of Lauryl's forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had, then I would have five in my favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hours passed, and finally, the carriage walked into the large open clearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could see the stone wall, which is nearly finished. It will be fully finished by the end of the month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage didn't stop and moved through the gates. There is a traffic, with the carriages and people coming and going in and out of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is small, but quite beautiful,\" said Miss Well as the carriage entered the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I heard you established it?\" she asked, turning to me. To that, I shook my head. \"The first plan; it far outgrew that,\" I replied as I looked at the small city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It might have outgrown it, but I could see the signs of my planning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The city is smaller than Renin, a third of its size, with a capacity of three hundred people, while Renin could easily take a million.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, it doesn't need to be big as it is designed as a commercial and political centre for the baronies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is not designed as a common residential city. I wanted to, but there was too much opposition. Here, the baronies wanted most of the people for their own territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To work on a farm, to enlist in their armies, and for other things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This one is only for the trade and administration. This is why the city's population is only around a hundred thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I watched the city nestled in the centre of Nakar Forest. It is beautiful, and people here didn't look as worried as the people in Greltheaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the people of Greltheaven. Lauryl had never experienced the undead, despite being a neighbour of one of the most powerful undead kingdoms in the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the monster's threat is far away. Contained in the Bram Valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't help but feel envious of it. I wish my citizens were carefree like this, but it is not a luxury they have.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the carriage reached the castle, before entering inside and then stopping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Welcome to Lauryl, Lord Silver,\" said the middle-aged man with blond hair and deep green eyes. \"Thank you, Secretary Lloyd,\" I replied with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't let the irritation show. It should have been a Council Member receiving me, but they sent a secretary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A lot had changed since you had been here,\" he said with pride evident in his voice as he led me inside the castle. \"I can see that,\" I replied while my eyes looked at the changes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are a lot of them, from new construction to the number of people. Still, I could see the clear traces of changes I had made when I used to run this place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He led me while talking about all the changes they have made. I responded appropriately while taking in everything around me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A minute later, we had reached the top floor and stopped in front of big doors with zero-one written on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was to meet them individually before the meeting. They had agreed on this, but now they had changed things and brought me directly to the conference room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Things are not done this way, especially after we agreed on the things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is the place where the council holds meetings for important decisions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They are waiting for you,\" said the man, looking at me intently from the façade of a smile. I didn't show any emotions and kept a pleasant smile on my face as I walked inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conference room wasn't large, but it was well-decorated, featuring beautiful art pieces and imbued with powerful enchantments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are only four people inside. Baron Husk, Baron Rose, Baron Homer, and Baron Lockridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My sister and Baron Harrods are in their territories. Dealing with the monsters that might have entered in there, while Jarvis is at the Bram Valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Usually, he stays in the city, but they had sent him to Bram Valley in the morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lord Silver,\" greeted Baron Husk and tried to get up with Baron Homer, but stopped seeing Lockridge and Rose, not getting up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their title is higher than mine, but my territory is bigger, and I have two cities in my control, which are bigger than this. On top of that, I have a legacy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We are also loose allies. So, they should have gotten up, but they didn't.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Councilmen,\" I replied without change in my expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please take a seat, Lord Silver,\" said Baron Husk. \"Thank you, Council Lord,\" I replied and took a seat in front of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a silence, with their faces expressionless. Still, I could see that Husk and Homer want to speak, while Rose and Lockridge are watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could even be said that there is a faint smile behind their impassive expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seconds passed, and then another, but they didn't speak. 'It seemed like I had to speak,' I thought, and opened my mouth, keeping the emotions I was feeling deep in my heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As I had conveyed to you through our official conversation. I need the men.\" I said, but there was no response from them; they just kept looking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I do not want much, nor will it be for long. I only need ten thousand, and they will be in my city for a week or even less. In exchange, I will provide you with the things I had promised,\" I stated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once more, there was silence. I want to break it, smashing this apart. Instead, I remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had been disrespectful, even condescending. I will bear it; the help they could provide me is worth bearing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please accept our apologies, but we can't provide you with single men, much less ten thousand of them,\" said Baron Lockridge with his voice feeling like a thunderclap to my ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As you saw yesterday, the horde came so suddenly. We need our men to protect us from the monsters,\" he added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will even take five thousand and double the incentives,\" I said, lowering myself. I hate it, but I need to do this for my people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could see the surprise on their faces, but the next moment, Lockridge shook his head, with a small smile leaking out of his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am really sorry, Lord Silver, but we cannot help you,\" he replied, with a finality in his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I am angry, feeling the level of anger that I really felt. I had helped these people when they needed it, provided them with emotional essence potions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, when I need their help, they have rejected it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I know, they cannot send many people, but they could spare five thousand. I know their forces; it is within their reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made me mad, I want to rage. Instead, I smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you for your time, Councilmen,\" I said politely and walked out of the conference room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not wanting to talk any further with these ungrateful scoundrels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had a lunch planned and a few meetings, along with dinner at night, but now I don't want to stay here for even a minute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Conference Room, Lauryl\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We shouldn't have done that. We shouldn't have disrespected him in such a way,\" said Baron Husk, with his eyes focused on Lockridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We didn't disrespect him. We couldn't give him what he wants; we need our men to protect ourselves,\" replied Baron Rose, with a smile appearing on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We should have given him five thousand. We could spare that easily.\" Said Baron Homer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen his eyes when he left; they were still as water. There was not a hint of anger or frustration with them. His father told him to always remain careful of people like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That would have been sending them to their deaths,\" spoke Baron Lockridge finally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You all know that the undead are going to attack Silver, the moment the truce is over. It will be with force that will crush his forces without a chance of survival.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sending our men there would be sending them to their deaths, and I refuse to do that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is an excuse. Lockridge was always opposed to Silver, but that doesn't mean it isn't true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is the reason why they went along with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The undead are going to conquer Greltheaven; there is no question about it. They have to make sure that their territory remains safe from the undead, that they survive, if worse comes to worst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For it, they will need their army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is such a regret that we will not get a further supply of emotion essence potions. It had saved a lot of our people,\" said Baron Husk and sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap the Patreon link below to unlock50+ Advanced Chapters, or join Free to enjoy character art, maps, and more exclusive content!\u003C\u002Fp>",1707,"2026-06-09T06:55:05.413Z",1,"novelbin.me","81f183e6d08f5993637307da892145eeb1a6794eeb4dc8faa09229ed8edf5152","city-of-desire-kingdom-building-chapter-710","city-of-desire-kingdom-building-chapter-708",917,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcity-of-desire-kingdom-building-cover.jpg"]