Chapter 84

Following the trouble at the Magic Academy, we spent three days sightseeing in Arbor City. The city was packed with various facilities, so it never got boring. Perhaps due to the influence of the Sage who ruled it, magic was integrated into almost everything. The selection of goods was particularly specialized in magic-related items. Alice seemed highly satisfied, as she managed to find quite a few rare bargains. She was in such a good mood that it showed clearly on her face.

According to her, there were certain materials that were simply impossible to acquire in the Fortress City. The Sage likely held exclusive trade routes. Seeing how happy it made her, I figured it might be worth coming back here for shopping trips.

To my surprise, Arbor City had no slums. Vagrants had their Status scrutinized, and those with talent were recruited regardless of their social standing. Apparently, some had even risen from nothing to become exceptional mages. Even those without outstanding talent were provided with some form of employment. Many were sent to the Magic Academy, with the Sage covering all the expenses. It turned out that the facility doubled as a social safety net. Basic tuition was almost entirely free, which earned him a favorable reputation among the residents.

Of course, if you asked whether this was purely a charitable endeavor, the answer was a definitive no. As a result of this steady groundwork, there were no criminal organizations in Arbor City either. Everything was under the Sage’s absolute control, and any impurities had been purged. The Sage had a bit of a perfectionist streak, but he faced the task of governing his city with total sincerity. His entire territory was likely similar to this place.

For someone like me, it was a difficult place to live. I felt much more at home in a location that allowed for a bit more of a mix of “purity and filth.” Still, I imagine it’s an easy place to live for the vast majority of people. It’s rare to find a place with such a well-established infrastructure and a ruler who is genuinely a good person.

To be honest, I didn’t really want to blow up Arbor City. It was too good a place to destroy. While a part of me wanted to see it go up in a spectacular explosion, I knew I should act based on a cost-benefit analysis. Even if I end up killing the Sage, I should leave the city intact.

After our tour of Arbor City, we returned directly to the Fortress City. I resumed the urban development immediately. It was a large-scale project involving the collection of massive amounts of materials.

First, using the layout of Arbor City as a reference, I paved the roads and separated the lanes for vehicles and pedestrians. This significantly improved the traffic situation. I had always found the constant congestion to be a nuisance. Improving traffic was also a frequent request from the city’s inhabitants, so this addressed their concerns directly.

However, as it stood, the roads were still narrow—barely enough for two lanes of traffic and sidewalks on either side. I wanted to implement further improvements eventually. I also wanted a subway system. I had seen trains and stations back in the Imperial Capital, so it was technically feasible. Even a simple loop around the city would be incredibly convenient.

I put the issue of the slums on hold for now. I wanted to find a way to utilize them, similar to how it was done in Arbor City. There were still many criminals there who weren’t under my control. I’d need to find a solution for that eventually. There was still plenty of room for urban development; I just had to take it one step at a time.

Eventually, both mine and Alice’s goals should be realized.

As for changes outside the Fortress City, the most significant was the site of the former Black Wall City. I had a specialized facility constructed there and began mining for ore. Using a portion of those resources, I also started working on the production of a budget version of a City Core.

The project was still in the design phase, but Alice and the mages I had hired were working together on the schematics.

Apparently, while the output would be lower than the original, they had finally developed a viable plan for the manufacturing process itself. By installing several of these, it would be possible to supply and control mana throughout the entire city. Although it would cost a fortune to set up, the benefits made it a bargain. It could even be adapted as a foundation for crafting powerful bombs, so I could only pray for its successful completion.

Meanwhile, weapon development was also progressing smoothly. I was soliciting bomb ideas from the research mages, which I would then put into practice. One can never have too many cards to play.

Among the recent results, I’ve taken a liking to a Spirit Bomb that fuses fire and lightning. It’s a piece of work that radiates red lightning to incinerate everything in the vicinity. It’s more powerful than simply using two different elemental Spirit Stones in tandem; it requires Alice’s help to achieve the fusion, but the result is an extremely practical explosive. Now that the technology for fusing Spirit Stones has been established, I expect our variety of armaments to increase even further. I was currently in the middle of rounding out the rest of the lineup.

There are quite a few items with mediocre performance, but I don’t really mind. Failure is an inherent part of the development process. In my case, thanks to the benefits of my skills, “fatal” failures don’t exist. Being able to manufacture bombs without worrying about the collateral damage is a huge advantage.

Depending on how things unfold, I might end up facing two Representatives and one summoned individual. The Sage doesn’t seem to want to fight me, but he doesn’t intend to hand her over either. He’s quite a greedy man. If I decide to go through with killing Mihana, a clash will likely be unavoidable. In a worst-case scenario, it could lead to an all-out war between cities. I should strengthen our military power while I have the chance.

That said, I first have to do something about the binding power of that contract. As things stand, I can’t kill Mihana. I can subject her to as much violence as I want, but I can’t deliver the finishing blow. If I strike without a plan, I will certainly lose. This period where they haven’t taken any action is my chance. I intend to consult with Alice and take every possible precaution.

A month passed while I spent my days like that.

Late one night, while relaxing in my private quarters, I sensed a strange presence behind me. It wasn’t Alice. She always knocks before entering the room. My other subordinates are the same.

Lying on the sofa, I turned around slowly.

A mass of black mist was standing quietly in the corner of the room. I couldn’t see any eyes, but I felt a gaze fixed on me. It was one of the Representatives of Eurea—the Assassin King. It felt as though they might vanish the moment I looked away, yet they were unmistakably there.

I stood up from the sofa and gave a troubled shrug.

“That’s strange. I don’t recall having any visitors scheduled.”

How did they even get in? There was heavy security leading all the way to this private room. I had it set up so even the slightest trace of mana could be detected. It should have been virtually impossible to infiltrate without triggering an alarm.

And yet, in reality, they were standing right in front of me. Their stealth capabilities were through the roof. It seemed the title of Assassin King wasn’t just for show.

“Sorry I don’t have anything prepared. Since you’re here, would you like to grab a bite to eat?”

I spoke while keeping my hand close to the weapon in my coat. I didn’t know their objective. It was certain they had some kind of business with me. Had they come to assassinate me to protect Mihana? She was their subordinate, after all. It was a plausible reason—far more rational than the Sage’s attempt to win me over.

There was an extreme lack of information regarding the Assassin King. No matter how much I investigated, I found nothing. Everything, including their combat style, was shrouded in mystery. At this point, I didn’t really want to fight them, but I wondered how they would move.

Ignoring my concerns, the Assassin King remained motionless. They were eerily silent. After about thirty seconds of silence, the Assassin King finally spoke in a solemn voice.

“…Do not be so guarded. I have no intention of quarreling tonight. I have come to present a request to thee.”