Chapter 1023: Luo Holy Capital

"Consul, please forgive me for being unable to accept," Akeman immediately voiced his objection.

Meilandna's reaction grew even more intense.

Great dragons are naturally greedy, and the emerald dragon is no different; making her part with such a huge sum feels worse than killing her. She leapt from the sofa, shrill, and said, "Consul has seized Oukelan and now demands we fund the Magic Torch Tower—are you a Consul or a robber?"

"How daring!"

Borqi roared, a dragon's might erupted from his body, and the whole room trembled.

Asina also wore a look of displeasure.

Lei En calmly stared at Meilandna, unmoved by her accusations; the Radiant Queen felt a huge pressure, and her spirit trembled slightly.

"It was my slip of the tongue; please forgive me, Consul," Meilandna immediately apologized.

"No problem," Lei En waved his hand.

"Consul, you are the richest person in the world; splitting the cost of the Magic Torch Tower among three cities isn't a large sum for you, is it? Why make it hard on me and Lord Akeman…" Meilandna still refused to pay.

"That has nothing to do with whether I'm rich," Lei En shook his head. "The Magic Torch Tower is my exclusive method; even sharing the cost is a loss for me."

Akeman remained silent for a long while, then asked, "What is the exact price for building the tower?"

"Over sixty million Gold Shields," Lei En replied.

"That's so expensive…"

Meilandna felt her heart stop; this meant she would have to contribute thirty million Gold Shields, draining almost half of the treasure she had amassed over years.

Yet she also knew Lei En was not speaking recklessly.

The core of the Magic Torch Tower is the Iola Core, costing fifty million Gold Shields; with the tower and rune array, sixty million Gold Shields is relatively reasonable.

"Consul, may I withdraw?" Meilandna asked cautiously. As everyone knows, the Magic Torch's illumination reaches three hundred li; He Sai and Oukelan are adjacent, so once Oukelan builds the tower, He Sai will also benefit, and for free.

Lei En read the emerald dragon's thoughts in a glance and calmly replied, "You may."

Meilandna, overjoyed, said, "Really?"

Akeman was also surprised; she had considered this possibility—once the Magic Torch is built, the entire Albert Bay will fall within its illumination.

"I don't intend to build the Magic Torch Tower in Oukelan; I plan to erect it on the ruins of King's Fortress in Grey Valley," Lei En said seriously. "Since the two city lords won't fund it, I won't trouble you, so the tower's location must be shifted eastward."

The two's expressions changed.

They were very familiar with the surroundings of Albert Bay; King's Fortress in Grey Valley was built by a dwarf king during the Third Epoch, and for centuries it served as the dwarves' capital on the New Continent.

King's Fortress lies to the northeast of Albert Bay, about two hundred eighty li away.

Building the Magic Torch Tower here would encompass all of Albert Bay in its light, and could reclaim two‑thirds of the fertile Grey Valley; after a few years of cultivation, Grey Valley could once again become a great granary.

Reclaiming Grey Valley had eluded the three Albert Bay city lords for years; monsters proliferated like weeds, one batch after another.

Lei En solved this problem in one stroke.

However, moving the Magic Torch east by just a few dozen li would push Sheng Fang Jige and He Sai out of its range, while Oukelan would remain unaffected.

Too ruthless!

Akeman's eye corner twitched.

The Eternal Chosen obtained the Hylian Eye, its power soaring, and will surely retaliate against Albert Bay. Without the Magic Torch's protection, Sheng Fang Jige and He Sai would face the Eternal Chosen's wrath, never knowing peace, and people would soon all flee into Oukelan.

"Consul, you cannot be so heartless!"

Meilandna's chest rose and fell rapidly as she anxiously said, "Didn't you say that Albert Bay's people are also Empire's subjects? How can you abandon them?"

"They may voluntarily move to Oukelan; I welcome that," Lei En said with a smile.

"You…"

Meilandna was speechless, her voice trembling. She finally witnessed Lei En's formidable tactics and wished she could reveal her true dragon form and bite this human dead, but Lei En's overwhelming power that felled the Eternal Chosen was still evident, preventing her from acting rashly.

She could not argue, could not fight, and even dared not become angry.

The ancient emerald dragon had never in its life endured such suppression, cursing inwardly, yet keeping a polite face.

"I agree," Akeman suddenly said.

Meilandna exclaimed, "Lord Akeman, how can you agree…"

"Lord Akeman truly understands the bigger picture," Lei En laughed, turning to the emerald dragon, "Radiant Queen, my time is limited; you must answer me now. If you persist in refusing to fund, I will shift the Magic Torch northward."

He Sai is in the southern part of Albert Bay; moving the tower northward would leave only He Sai outside the illumination range.

Meilandna, frantic, pleaded, "I'm not as wealthy as Lord Akeman; Consul, could you grant some leniency?"

Lei En remained unmoved.

Though he knew the emerald dragon spoke truthfully, Sheng Fang Jige was the wealthiest of the three cities, holding the best ports and docks; Akeman also controlled vast seas, with passing ships paying tolls and the seabed rich in treasure.

Yet this emerald dragon was certainly not poor.

He Sai's trade was highly developed; the city housed many skilled alchemists and magic shops, and before Getan was founded, He Sai accounted for nearly half of the New Continent's magical goods trade.

"Splitting among three cities is twenty million; the two of you share thirty million—a difference of ten million Gold Shields."

"The Radiant Queen has been city lord for centuries; for He Sai's prosperity and citizens' safety, can she really refuse even ten million Gold Shields?" Lei En said slowly.

Akeman beside him nodded slightly, fully agreeing.

Under Lei En's and Akeman's dual pressure, Meilandna finally could not hold out and gritted her teeth, saying, "Fine, I'll contribute thirty million Gold Shields."

After speaking, the emerald dragon felt a pain like blood dripping inside, its complexion turning pale.

"Very well."

Lei En nodded with satisfaction and continued, "The construction of the Magic Torch Tower need not concern the two city lords; just provide the funds, and the tower will be completed within a month."

"During this period, I will have Reslin lead two companies of Extreme Warriors and the Duke's Guard Second Division to garrison Oukelan, ensuring Albert Bay's safety. If the Eternal Chosen attacks again, I'll ask Lord Akeman to hold him off while I arrive promptly."

"Lord Akeman, you have no objections, do you?" Lei En asked.

He asked in a commanding tone, not as a discussion, as if the other two Albert Bay city lords were his subordinates.

Akeman, having held high office for centuries, always gave his word without fail, and instantly felt displeased.

Yet faced with Lei En's presence, he could not utter a word of opposition.

Sure.

Akeman nodded slowly, his mood complicated.

Lei En could naturally sense the Sea King's thoughts; to be honest, he greatly admired Akeman's strength. A level‑31 Ocean Lord is unique on land, and Akeman controls the Sea people's contacts—if he could be won over to serve him, that would be ideal.

But subduing a peak‑strength warrior is far too difficult; the Sea King has his own pride and is almost impossible to make submit.

So he could only set it aside for now and look for a way later through more contact.

Next, Lei En discussed other matters with the two; Asina also joined in, covering topics such as rebuilding Oak Blue, calming the populace, food supply, how to guard against Demonkin raids, deployment of the Supernatural Legion, and so on. Most of these were led and decided by Lei En.

They didn't finish until evening.

Melandan suddenly asked, "Consul, after the Gray Valley is reclaimed, will this territory be shared by the three cities of Albert Bay?"

"What does the Radiant Queen think?"

Lei En retorted, a playful expression on his face.

Gray Valley is the most valuable land on the West Coast of the New Continent.

The valley stretches a thousand li, its widest point less than a hundred li; its shape is narrow and long, its area almost a hundred times that of Albert Bay. The narrow yet flat valley runs parallel to the coastline, its soil fertile and rain plentiful. During the Third Epoch it was the dwarves' largest grain‑producing region.

With the Empire's current mechanical farm tools and agricultural productivity, the entire Gray Valley could be developed to sustain at least fifty million people.

Such a premium territory must be firmly held in one's own hands, never allowing anyone else to lay claim.

Lei En's gaze made Melandan feel completely uneasy.

She quickly bowed her head and said, "I offended you; I shouldn't have asked recklessly." The land was simply too valuable, making her salivate, and even knowing it was impossible she couldn't help but test.

Heh…

Lei En chuckled, then said, "I might as well tell you both directly: a single Magic Torch Tower cannot illuminate the whole Gray Valley; the southern third lies outside its range, so I plan to build another tower."

Akeman and Melandan were both startled, and Asina heard Lei En mention this for the first time.

"The Consul is truly wealthy!" Jade Dragon envied him.

A Magic Torch Tower costs sixty‑million Gold Shields, and Lei En didn't even blink before deciding to erect a second one on the West Coast…

Akeman's expression shifted.

From Lei En's words, the second tower would certainly be placed in southern Gray Valley; to illuminate a larger area and reduce overlap, it would be pushed as far south as possible, even built at the valley's southern tip.

Thus, three hundred li south of Gray Valley would also fall within the Magic Torch's illumination.

That region is…

"Consul, are you preparing to reclaim San Fei Nando?" Akeman asked Lei En softly.

"Correct." Lei En smiled approvingly. "Lord Akeman actually guessed it; San Fei Nando is precisely the city I intend to rebuild next."

Melandan could no longer sit still and blurted, "San Fei Nando!"

Asina was also shocked.

Their intense reaction stemmed from San Fei Nando's significance.

Except for its first few hundred years, during most of the Third Epoch this city served as the dwarves' capital on the New Continent. At its peak it was the second‑largest city on the continent, second only to the Elven capital Aibolaken, and is today known as Gotham City.

San Fei Nando's area exceeds Gotham City's; the whole city is flat, with only a few localized hills.

The city's climate is superb—winters are mild, summers not too hot, generally dry with little rain yet water is abundant. Several large rivers flow down from the Chickros Mountains, supplying ample water and turning the surrounding lands into fertile fields.

Around San Fei Nando lie vast forests, and underground countless mines that dwarves have been extracting for over a dozen centuries without depletion.

Its western side meets the sea, boasting a natural deep‑water harbor and picturesque beaches.

In short, it is an extremely livable city; all conditions are perfect, and like Gotham City it has the potential to become a megacity of tens of millions.

However, San Fei Nando has one drawback.

The terrain is overly flat, offering no natural defenses.

The dwarven fortress sank underground during the Great Earthquake; thereafter San Fei Nando was overrun by countless demons—Demonkin, Evil Beastmen, Abyss Dwarves, Corrupted Elves—hundreds of thousands of monsters roamed the vast area, demon nests countless, turning it into an Evil Energy Wasteland, virtually part of the Abyss.

Since the New Era Calendar, the first humans to set foot on the New Continent coveted San Fei Nando, but after repeated bloody lessons they abandoned it.

San Fei Nando has no defensible ground; even a basic outpost cannot be erected.

Once an outpost is exposed, countless monsters swarm in, overwhelming human super‑beings by thousands‑to‑millions.

Akeman had tried several times before, suffering heavy casualties, so he retreated to Albert Bay, joined this long‑standing outpost, and proposed building a Great Wall. He gradually seized control of Albert Bay, which today has fallen into Lei En's hands.

Now Lei En is plotting San Fei Nando again…

Akeman felt uneasy; the dwarven capital he had long coveted, once out of reach, was now being taken by Lei En.

He had no doubt Lei En could reclaim San Fei Nando; success was inevitable.

Lei En has already seized most of the East Coast of the New Continent; with Gray Valley and San Fei Nando, half the West Coast also falls into his grasp. With such rapid momentum, having also defeated the Eternal Chosen, the entire New Continent will sooner or later become Lei En's domain!

Such a heroic figure is practically a legend!

Sigh…

Akeman sighed inwardly, feeling out of his time,

Clearly I was the first to arrive on the New Continent, the first to build its largest city, my strength second only to the Eternal Chosen, with Sea support—how did it come to this?

He suddenly regretted his past over‑cautiousness, wasting centuries defending Albert Bay, only for Lei En to seize the initiative.

"Consul, when do you plan to attack San Fei Nando?" Akeman asked gravely.

"Tomorrow."

Lei En stood, speaking solemnly: "The Extreme Legion and the Duke's Guard will conduct pre‑battle preparations tonight; at first light tomorrow we will begin clearing the monsters from San Fei Nando, and within a month erect a tower to reclaim this dwarven capital."

So fast!

Akeman and Melandan were amazed at Lei En's efficiency, yet guessed he intended to seize San Fei Nando before the Eternal Chosen could react.

"By the way."

Lei En's face showed a strange smile. "In dwarven, San Fei Nando means 'Holy Dwarven Capital.' Once I reclaim it, that name won't fit, since it will become a human city and needs a new name."

Asina asked, "Lei En, you must have decided—what will it be called?"

"Luoshengdu."

(End of chapter)