The wind rolled across the island’s grassy hills that now surrounded the newly risen city of Avalon. Inside the walls, children played in the parks and newly paved streets, their laughter echoing faintly through the avenues. 

The adults, though fewer in number, worked diligently to make the place feel like home. It was only the second day, and people have already started to get accustomed to the place.

The city was built to accommodate five thousand people. But right now, it is populated by barely two hundred people including the children.

Standing behind one of the glass curtain walls of the administrative tower, Arthur watched the city below, it was clean, vibrant, and full of promise, but empty.

He didn’t build this city to watch it sit here like a ghost town.

Kai who was standing beside him was also looking at the empty city, thinking of his past when he was just a commoner with a family, and doing everything to survive in the village. He thought if he ever got such an opportunity like these people, maybe his family would still be alive today.

“We need more people,” Arthur said. “But not just anyone, people who’ll actually want a second chance in their life. The city looks too empty right now.”

“And how do you plan on finding them?” Kai finally said, crossing his arms.

Arthur’s gaze dropped to the island’s coastline. “The best way to bring more people to the city… is to poach subjects from different kingdoms.”

Though another problem cropped up with that idea, most would not want to come with him and think of him as a human trafficker.

Kai turned towards him while raising an eyebrow, “You know that won’t be easy.”

Arthur clarified as he looked at Kai. “So I was thinking I will target the desperate people who are living in poverty, and I believe the kingdoms are filled with such people. People who’ve been ignored and stepped on.”

There were also slaves he could rescue, after the last encounter with Elaric, he felt there should be other nobles who were also involved in such disgusting business. 

Kai let out a low whistle. “That’s… doable. But do you have so much time to do that?”

“I know,” Arthur admitted. “But that’s why I’m not doing this alone.”

He tapped his wrist, opening a holographic screen as the Guardian AI’s cold, synthetic voice echoed in his ear.

[Awaiting your order, Commander.]

“I want you to begin mass-producing synthezoids,” Arthur ordered. “They’ll serve as field agents, each one needs to be able to blend in perfectly with society. Their mannerisms, speech, behavior should be indistinguishable from normal people.”

[Parameters confirmed. How many units should I make Commander?]

Arthur thought for a moment. “Start with two hundred first. I will ask you to make more if I need them.”

[Acknowledged.]

Since he can’t always go and pick up those people. These synthezoids would act as his representatives for now until there are people capable of taking over the job.

Kai raised an eyebrow at that, “I have been meaning to ask you, the things you possess and even the way you made the city appear out of nowhere in just a few hours. It all appears unbelievable to me. How are you able to do all these?”

Arthur sighed and said, “Guess it’s time for you to know the truth.”

Kai looked a bit confused at Arthur’s words, then Arthur dropped the bomb, “I am not from this world.” And waited to see Kai’s surprised face, but he was disappointed to see that he still had that stoic expression on his face.

“You are not surprised to hear that?” Arthur asked.

Kai chuckled and said, “Well this is not the first time I have heard of something like this. In our history there was a hero who was summoned to our world from some other dimension, so you can say this is the second time I heard of something similar.”

“Wait, you know about the forgotten hero.” Arthur asked, surprised.

“I am more than a thousand years old, lad. I know a lot of secrets of this world that normal people are not aware of. Though I am surprised that you, being an otherworlder know of the hero.” Kai said as he looked at Arthur.

Arthur scratched the back of his head as he said somewhat hesitatingly, “Well… I might have come across someone who told me the story.”

Kai nodded, “Hmm…there are still ancient tomes that describe his heroic tales. Anyway, so these things that you are using, those golem like things, are they all things from your world?”

Arthur replied, “Yes. They are called robots, they can think and act on their own, but still do not possess a consciousness like people. And the synthezoids are even capable of mimicking human behaviour and appearance as they are made using artificial organic materials, though they are not much more powerful than normal people.” 

Kai gave a small nod, impressed. “That solves the manpower issue then. But… these synthe-whatever. What happens when things get messy? Can they protect themselves?”

Arthur smiled, a grim kind of smile.

“That is why I will send squads of guard bots with them, that way they will be protected during their missions. The bots have been upgraded, they now have high-grade mana stones fused into their cores. That makes them five times stronger than the ones that were used in rescuing me. Each one can go toe-to-toe with a Peak Realm martial artist.”

The guardian had been in deep research in mana and had come up with a way to incorporate it into the guard bots, thus making them stronger.

Kai raised an eyebrow. “You can build an army using them.”

“Well… they will act as a shield for now,” Arthur replied.

The synthezoids would act as liaisons, human-like and easy to trust. And the guard bots would ensure the safety of the agents and those they escorted.

The guardian had also developed a healing serum using the fruits Arthur got while fighting the Cerberus in the tournament, which can heal someone with serious injury in the 6th circle and below in less than a minute. 

He decided to give some of them to his friends before entering the Ancient realm. The second fruit was even more miraculous, by consuming it someone can extend their life up to ten years, and now Arthur had two types of serum created from the extensive research the guardian conducted on this world’s power system and flora. 

There was also the last fruit, though the guardian found its purpose it was not able to replicate their effects till now, the fruit contains a huge amount of mana which can help in breakthrough. 

But the most important thing is the guardian was able to genetically engineer plants that will be able to bear these three types of fruits. These plants have a very low maturation time, they can produce a batch of these fruits within three months.

Though the cost of nurturing them would be very high, as they also need mana stone dust added to the soil to facilitate their fast growth. But they might be able to earn enough to cover the cost and also make profit.

This way the people of Avalon will be able to produce a product they can sell to the market by growing them, and create a flow of income for them. These plants can become the exclusive produce of Avalon and they can kick start import and export business using these fruits, with other kingdoms.

…

After wrapping up their plans in Avalon, Arthur and Kai departed the island, not in one of the VTOLs, but in a massive, grand ship. Arthur had chosen it intentionally, wanting to create awe among the minds of people. 

“Let’s make an entrance they’ll never forget,” Arthur had said with a small grin.

Kai raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue.

Half an hour later, they hovered high above a remote, poor village nestled between craggy hills and patchy farmlands. The fields below were dry, and cracked. Thin livestock wandered aimlessly, ribs showing through their hide. The poverty of the village was palpable even from this height.

Arthur removed the invisibility cloak, as a soft shimmer rippled through the air, and suddenly, the massive ship revealed itself to the villagers.

Down below, a young boy looked up and froze, his hoe slipping from his hands. He pointed up, mouth agape.

“R-Run! It’s a monster!” he screamed, voice cracking with panic.

The villagers erupted in panic, men and women screamed, and children clung to their parents as everyone scrambled toward the safety of their rickety homes.

Inside the ship, Kai watching the chaos unfold below, turned to Arthur and said with a mocking tone.

“So… your brilliant plan was to scare the absolute hell out of them and then kidnap them?”

Arthur sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “How the hell was I supposed to know they’d think the ship was some flying beast? It’s not even that scary.”

Kai smirked. “You took out a huge a*s ship and you expect people with no exposure to technology to not lose their minds?”

Arthur waved a hand dismissively. “Whatever. Let’s go calm them down.”

They both floated down from the underbelly of the ship, in a slow and deliberate way. They appeared like two figures descending from the heavens like angels, or demons, depending on who you asked.

The villagers peeked out from doorways and around corners, fear still etched into their faces. But curiosity began to win out, some of the courageous ones approached after seeing two people come out of the monster’s belly, trying to figure out what exactly they were seeing.

Arthur and Kai stopped a few feet above the ground, hovering just above the small village. A small crowd had started to gather below them.

Arthur cleared his throat and raised his voice. “Fear not, as we have come for your salvation. We are not here to harm you.”

Kai shot him a look, seeing his dramatic entrance.

Arthur ignored his look and continued, his tone turning solemn. “Last night, our god appeared to me in a dream. He was heartbroken… heartbroken to see his children living in such misery, exploited and left to rot by those who call themselves rulers.”

There was a murmur in the crowd, an old woman even dropped to her knees and began whispering prayers under her breath. Others looked to the sky, visibly shaken.

Arthur pressed on. “So, he gave me a mission. To give his children a life of dignity, of peace. I have built a haven for you, far from the reach of greedy lords and cruel taxes.”

A thin man in tattered clothes stepped forward, clutching a dull hoe like a lifeline. “You… you’re not from the barony?”

Arthur shook his head. “No. I owe no allegiance to any lord or noble. I answer only to the will of my people, and to the dream of a better world.”

Kai tilted his head, watching the villagers’ reactions. “You’re laying it on thick,” he muttered.

Arthur shot back, “Shush. It’s working.”

He turned back to the crowd. “You’ve been exploited long enough. You work the land, yet you don’t own it… that ends today.”

Arthur had researched about a few villages before coming, these villages were often exploited with heavy taxes and were poor for that reason. The people do not even own the land they stay in and farm, they all belong to the nearest barony of this kingdom, and were leased to them, they need to pay at the end of every month to continue to stay here. 

The villagers started to discuss among themselves, some were convinced while some appeared skeptical hearing Arthur’s claim. 

Arthur gestured to the ship behind him. “You don’t have to decide right away. We’ll wait here, if you choose to leave this life behind, pack what you need. We’ll be here for one hour.”

And with that, Arthur and Kai stepped back on the ship, letting the people talk amongst themselves.

***

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