[{"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-808":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},1846978,2449,"Chapter 812: Yaris","city-of-desire-kingdom-building-chapter-808",808,"\u003Cp>Proofread by Thomas F\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I walked out onto the deck and looked at the dawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's a beautiful and so different than the dawn we see in the wasteland. There, everything is barren, causing the light to reflect; in contrast, here, everything is absorbed by the greenery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the whole sky lit up, and I looked ahead. It is still green and will remain so for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yaris City is still about an hour away. I've heard a lot about the city, and I'm excited to see it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Duke of Tharvale had pushed Edruin's forces back,\" informed Zela. \"In victory or stalemate?\" I asked back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stalemate,\" she replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The temporary calm had started to disappear as the enemies began attacking again. Most of them are small battles, but they are building toward larger ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This one was one of the bigger ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Duke of Tharvale had fought in the battle himself. That was another surprise in this war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't much of a fighter or showed it openly, but now he is. That is the thing about powerful nobles; they are damn dangerous, especially when they level up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They possess those powerful ancestral skills, which make them very hard to deal with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many noble families have them. Darrow would have gotten it. If he had crossed Lv. 30; it might have even saved his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tabes hadn't made a move yet,\" I said to myself. They are also very close to him. If it hadn't ended with a stalemate, I have no doubt they would have swooped in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I am glad they are busy in the empire, and I want them there for a few more years, until I'm strong enough to resist them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Currently, the empire is juicier, but they might change focus once I reveal the actual size of the legacy and other expansions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I am not just talking only about Tabes here, but also the Imperials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is the reason why I had been conflicted about the expansion. I considered hiding the actual size of it, but after pondering, decided to go all out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hiding will not help me; I must utilize every advantage to strengthen myself, my dominion, and my army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because they will come for me eventually, and I will have to fight them to survive. If I do not, they will destroy everything I have built.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pushed those depressing thoughts away and looked ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the hour passed, and I could see Yaris and its riverport. It's large —not as extensive as Owlsprings, but larger than Greltheaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are fewer ships docked here than in Owlspring, but when looking at those ships, one would notice that all the ships are of good quality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I am not just talking about yachts, but also the cargo ships.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nova Alyra is the least populated region of the merchant state. It only has three cities, four if you count Kairos, the hidden city. Despite that, it's a magical center of the merchant states.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It has the top mage academies and produces complex magical goods and tools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is the most powerful region in the merchant state. Some even say it is the richest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is why the ships are also of good quality. They needed to be, to transport the goods produced here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the ship reached near the port, and I could see it. There are enchanted cranes and golems. Their number is not as significant as Archmage City's, but given the port's size, they seem proportional to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gaining them is one of my grand ambitions. To have those magical cranes and golems, and all the enchantments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's not easy; hell, it's very challenging and expensive as hell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It requires high magical expertise, not to mention a substantial amount of money. The golems are far from cheap to create, and so is their maintenance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that hadn't been the case, then wealthy cities like Owlspring would have been littered with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked up from the port to the skyline of Yaris, which is crowned with Mage Towers. Greltheaven is building one, but here there are tens of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some of them are old, over two thousand years old.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the ship docked, and the ramp lowered a moment later. I descended to the dock on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There is no one to welcome me; they usually don't welcome anyone unless it's official business. My business is not; it's a commercial one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage is already waiting for us, and we stepped inside. Soon, the carriage moved to the lightway. It begins to move fast through it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yaris has an extensive network of light ways. Bigger than even Oksall, the capital of the region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I watched the city, and it is massive and well-designed. Everywhere I look, I see fountains, statues, and beautiful buildings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is bigger than Owlspring in dimensions but has a smaller population, just around three million. This might seem like a lot when compared to Greltheaven, but it's relatively small compared to other cities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Greltheaven, including the outer city, is a quarter of its size. So, one could imagine how massive it is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can you feel it?\" asked Ulaxasys, and Zela nodded. \"High density of mana,\" she said. It is so dense that even I could feel it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All four cities are based on prominent mana veins, but even with that, they wouldn't have gotten that famed mana density that Nova Alyra is famed for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is it true that it runs on a lossless mana cycle?\" Zela asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana density is not a significant issue; it can be managed, but only over time. The mana vein gets drained, especially when it is used beyond its recovery rate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, Nova Alyra is one of three places in the whole continent that could do this at this scale without the aid of the artifacts,\" she replied\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, they don't use artifacts?\" asked Zela, and Miss Ulaxasys laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They do, a lot of them,\" she replied, and Zela laughed with her. Yes, they could do it without an artifact, but the artifact makes the process even more efficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't know if it is true, but here, it is said there are artifacts in the veins; that only maintains them, but also strengthens them.\" Miss Ulaxasys said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don't know if it is true, but if they could pull off something like this, it would be a huge deal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana veins are very important; even Greltheaven is on top of one. It is necessary for the Mage Towers because the bigger they are, the more power the tower can use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is also very important in research, learning, and most importantly, war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take Namdar; the whole city sits on one of the biggest mana veins in the entire empire. It could even be said to be one of the best on the continent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The storm tower is the greatest in the empire and is capable of pulling a large amount of mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is due to this that barely anyone dares to attack Namdar, because their powerful tower is capable of pulling large amounts of mana out of the vein and a powerful Grand Mage to morph it into destructive spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, we reached the hotel and walked to our suites. Half an hour later, we had lunch in the hotel's restaurant, before I retreated into my suite with Rip and the legal team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miss Ulaxasys is here; she will only provide expertise. My team will handle the negotiations after I finalize the main points with the other party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think we are ready for the negotiations,\" said Rip, after we finished with the preparation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't underestimate these people. Especially, those who do not use skills,\" I advised them. Their eyes turned serious, and they understood what I was talking about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An hour later, I am in the carriage, moving toward the Galegem tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Any advice?\" I asked Miss Ulaxasys. \"If anyone else asked me, I would have told them to be careful. I do not have to tell you that,\" she replied, and I smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I am not dealing with regular people, and I am not just talking about humans, elves, or any usual races.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I am talking about the elder race.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people are extremely powerful and long-lived, belonging to an elder race called Althari. People often refer to them as crystal, glass, or elementals, but these terms are incorrect and disrespectful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They are masters of magic; every member of their race has at least become a mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For those of High-Houses, a High-Mage is a minimum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one I will be meeting is very powerful and one of these; she is Irgal's master. A member of the high house. Technically, she is the leader of her house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I've heard a few things about that house, but I'm not sure if they're true or just rumors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost all news about them is suppressed. It is quite easy for them; they control the merchant states. Every major decision must pass through the hidden city before being made.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the carriage stopped in front of a massive grey tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its name is the Galegem Tower; it is around a hundred stories tall, and one could feel the deep power from it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tower isn't the tallest in the city, but it is the oldest and most important one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, we reached its large gate, where a man and a woman were waiting for us. I say, they are waiting for us, because they stepped forward and appeared in front of the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man is an elf, while the woman is a half-dwarf, with golden blond hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lord Silver,\" they greeted and led us inside into the massive lobby of the tower. I could see the people everywhere, and most of them are mages, with two leading us being High-Mages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The half-dwarf woman is of elder blood. Those brown alexandrite eyes are a clear sign of that. She isn't the only one; I had noticed two more walking around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only place I have seen so many mages in such a small area was Archmage City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I might have seen them in the City of Storms as well, but I was too weak to sense the class confluence when I went there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lord Silver, please follow me,\" said the half-dwarf woman. As she turned left, the man turned toward the right. \"Only, Lord Silver,\" she added, looking at my guards and Miss Ulaxasys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn't stop; there was not even a change in their faces. Only Miss Ulaxasys became a little hesitant,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't worry, nothing will happen,\" I said to them and turned to Miss Ulaxasys. \"I will see you soon,\" she nodded after some hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few seconds later, I was in an elevator with a half-dwarf woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where are we going?\" I asked. I am not scared; even they wouldn't dare to do anything to a Master. Also, it is not their style.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they wanted to finish me, they would have done that in my own city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman remained mum to my question, and I didn't ask further. Though it made me curious, and now I really want to know where she is taking me in this massive tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elevator moved up fast. If it were not for the number flashing in front of me, I wouldn't have been able to tell the floors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, it stopped near the top. At the 93rd floor, the woman walked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This floor is sparse; there are barely any people, and those I saw felt like High-Mages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made me want to sigh; in front of such power, I am nothing. Though it also motivated me to be something more. So that even powers like these could be disregarded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We reached the end of the hall, and there was a big door. The woman took a large iron key, twisted it, and then opened the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she opened the door, I saw there was a film covering it. I cannot see what is inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't have to wait for long as she took a step inside, and I followed her and saw what was inside. The moment I did, my eyes couldn't help but light up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There is a teleportation gate in front of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holiday Offer Activated!My Amazing Readers, dive deeper intoCity of Desire with 50% OFFyour first month or year on Patreon! Use codeHOHO50and gain early access to chapters, art, maps, chats, and behind-the-scenes story updates. The offer is only for a week.\u003C\u002Fp>",2087,"2026-06-09T06:55:06.748Z",1,"novelbin.me","ef9066aea85b9303b816f547620cfbc99bbba1c5993e20e375f1948135deec15","city-of-desire-kingdom-building-chapter-809","city-of-desire-kingdom-building-chapter-807",917,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcity-of-desire-kingdom-building-cover.jpg"]