Arthur stepped onto the raised platform in front of the central tower where hundreds of people had gathered, standing in loose rows. They were murmuring among themselves, discussing why they were gathered, while others simply stared up at him waiting for him to speak.

Arthur took a deep breath, letting his gaze sweep across the crowd before speaking. “Thank you all for coming on short notice,” he began. “Today marks a new step in our journey.”

The square quieted. Even the children who had been playing nearby stopped and turned their attention toward the platform.

“For this city to grow and thrive, our first priority must be food. Without a stable food source, everything else will fall apart. So tomorrow, we’ll sow the first seeds that will feed us for years to come.”

He paused for a moment and then raised his voice slightly. “So, I’d like anyone here with farming experience to step to the left side of the square.”

There was a beat of silence before people began to move. Some stepped forward confidently, others glanced around before joining. By the time the shifting stopped, nearly four hundred people had gathered on the left, a mix of men and women, young and old.

Arthur gave a small nod. “To those of you standing here, thank you. You’ll each be provided with a plot of land to cultivate. As you produce and sell your crops to the city, you’ll gradually be able to purchase and own that land.”

A stunned silence hung in the air for a second.

Then someone in the front called out, “My Lord. You mean… we can have our own land?”

Arthur nodded. “Yes, just as I have promised you before. This city doesn’t only belong to me, it belongs to all of us.”

Cheers erupted from the farming group. Some raised their hands, others clapped, a few even wiped tears from their eyes.

Arthur raised a hand to calm them, then turned to the rest of the crowd.

“As for those who aren’t farmers, don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten you.” He pointed toward the group that remained. “If you’ve operated a shop or business before, we’ll help you restart. You’ll be given space for a store and an initial fund to get you started.”

Arthur continued. “And for those without experience, we’ll be providing training. Some of you will learn administration work. Some will learn how to operate the cargo ship. Others will assist in logistics, construction, or education. There’s a place for all of you here.”

A murmur spread through the crowd as they excitedly discussed what kind of work they wanted to do.

He pointed at Hudson who was standing behind him and said. “Butler Hudson will provide further instructions for each group. We’ll begin assignments tomorrow onwards.”

With that, Arthur stepped down from the platform, the crowd broke into low conversation as he made his way back inside the central tower.

…

Back in his office, Arthur settled behind his desk and sent a message to Hudson.

A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door.

“Come in,” Arthur said.

Butler Hudson entered, guiding Sylas and Syara Everhart into the room. They seemed to be liking this place but there was still cautiousness in their expressions.

“Please, sit,” Arthur gestured toward the chairs in front of him. Hudson bowed and quietly exited the room, closing the door behind him.

The siblings sat down cautiously.

Arthur leaned forward slightly. “I’ve read your profiles. I know what you lost, and what you’re trying to do. I’m not here to pry, but I do have an offer for both of you.”

They remained silent, watching him closely.

“I want to give you a job, and if you agree to it.” Arthur continued. “In exchange, I’ll help you grow stronger. I will not meddle in your life, you can do whatever you want. You can seek your revenge or live here peacefully, it’s up to you.”

Sylas and Syara exchanged a glance. Neither of them said anything aloud, but after a second, they both nodded. 

Arthur smiled slightly. “Good. From now on, you’ll handle the administrative side of the city, everything from public coordination to overseeing trade with Navarre.”

Sylas opened his mouth to speak, but Arthur raised a hand. “Wait, I’m not finished.”

He reached into his dimensional storage and pulled out two small black cubes, placing them gently on the desk in front of them.

“I know you’re afraid that the Duke’s son may come looking for you. But he won’t find you, not if you use these.”

Sylas and Syara leaned forward, frowning at the cubes. But they seem to remember something. Syara muttered, “Is this the artifact you used to disguise yourself at the auction house.”

Arthur nodded. “Yes. Except… it’s not a magic artifact.”

Their confusion deepened, so Arthur picked up a cube and activated it. The nanobots emerged, and they wrapped around his form and morphed him into someone else entirely.

A second later, he returned to normal as the nanobots retracted.

“These devices use nanotechnology…” He paused, seeing their confused look, “Simply, it’s a device that doesn’t rely on mana, which makes them nearly undetectable. You can use the wristband interface to control your appearance.”

He slid the cubes across the table toward them.

The siblings stared at the devices, as if unsure whether to touch them. Eventually, Sylas picked his up and turned it in his palm.

“This… doesn’t use mana?” he asked quietly.

“Not a single drop,” Arthur replied.

Syara looked up. “How would you help us get stronger?”

Arthur nodded. “You’ll be provided with resources, access to training rooms, and…if you’re serious, I will also help you with your training.”

Both of them looked at each other again, this time with more certainty.

Arthur stood and offered them a small smile. “Butler Hudson will help you get started. You’ll have your own offices within a few days.”

The siblings stood and nodded in unison.

As they left the office, Arthur sat back down and glanced at the tablet on his desk again.

…

The next morning, Arthur stood on the deck of the cargo ship, adjusting the controls as he steadily guided the vessel toward Navarre.

This time, he wasn’t taking the ship to bring supplies but for some other purpose.

Today the guild masters of Merchant Guilds from nearby cities would gather in Navarre, they might want to see the vessel up close and want a demonstration.

He docked the ship just outside the main harbor and made his way toward the Merchant Guild, in his Theodore Belmont disguise.

The receptionist at the guild greeted him politely, recognizing his face from the previous visit.

“Sir Belmont, the Guildmaster is expecting you. Please follow me.”

She led him down a hallway until they reached a pair of ornate double doors, where she knocked gently.

A moment later, the door creaked open and Isolde appeared.

“Good timing,” she said with a smile as she looked at Arthur. “They’re all here.”

Arthur nodded, and she stepped aside to let him in.

Inside the spacious meeting hall, a long rectangular table sat in the center. Around it were ten people, some young, some middle-aged, and a few clearly seasoned veterans who appeared old.

The room quieted as Arthur entered.

Isolde gestured to a seat beside her. “Everyone, this is Theodore Belmont, the one I mentioned yesterday. He’s the mind behind the ship that we were just discussing.”

Arthur gave a slight bow and took his seat.

Introductions were brief, and the atmosphere was cordial but businesslike.

“So,” a man with neatly combed brown hair and a fine velvet coat leaned forward, “we’ve heard some… interesting things about the ship. Could you elaborate on its features? For instance, how much mana does it consume?”

Arthur nodded calmly. “A mid-grade mana stone can fuel the ship for approximately a thousand kilometers (621 miles) of travel.”

Murmurs broke out across the table.

“That’s further than most of our merchant routes,” someone whispered.

Another man, broad-shouldered and wearing a golden ring on each finger asked. “And what about its defenses? Can it handle pirates or thunderstorms?”

Arthur’s tone didn’t waver. “The hull is constructed with a specially made reinforced material. It can withstand a direct hit from a 4th Circle mage or a martial artist of equal strength.”

That caused a few to raise their eyebrows.

One man, who looked like he is in his early thirties, asked, “What’s the expected service life of the ship?”

Arthur didn’t miss a beat. “With proper maintenance, the ship can operate efficiently for up to a hundred years.”

A sharp exhale escaped from the older woman sitting two seats down. “That long?”

She adjusted her spectacles, narrowing her eyes slightly. “Will you be offering any help with maintenance?”

Arthur nodded. “The first service will be provided free of charge. After that, there will be a small fee for ongoing support.”

An elderly man at the far end stroked his beard. “We’d be willing to purchase several units if you agreed to take full responsibility for all maintenance.”

Arthur offered a polite smile, but he was inwardly cursing the old man for being too greedy. “With all due respect, sir, I’m already offering these vessels at an extremely low price.”

He reached into his dimensional storage and pulled out several sheets of paper, distributing each of them with one.

“There are more details about the ship there and the comparison between my ship and the ones that are used by the Merchant guild of this city. The current average cost for your standard wooden cargo ships are about 2000 gold coins each. And even then, most don’t last beyond ten years with upkeep.”

He tapped the sheet in front of him.

“I’m offering a ship that can last nearly ten times that lifespan, can hold over three times the cargo, has superior defenses, and runs more efficiently. And I’m selling them to you for just 25,000 gold coins.”

The room went quiet as they looked over the numbers.

Arthur leaned back in his chair and added, “I’m not interested in short-term gains, I want long-term partnerships. That means I want fair deals, not free handouts.”

Another merchant, this one sitting to his right, raised a hand. “Then… how about this? You handle the first three maintenance sessions. That should be reasonable, no?”

Arthur’s gaze flicked toward Isolde for a moment, then back to the group. 

He sighed and replied. “I can stretch it to two free sessions. Beyond that, the upkeep is on your end.”

There was another round of murmuring, and after a minute of debate, the group came to an agreement.

“We accept your deal,” said the middle aged woman with the spectacles.

Arthur nodded. “Then let’s proceed.”

Isolde then took out the prepared paperwork. One by one, each guildmaster signed and seals were stamped.

Altogether, they ordered thirty-two ships. Payment would be made in structured installments, with the first deposit delivered within the next three days.

Once the documents were sorted, the woman from earlier leaned in again.

“If it’s not too much trouble… would a demonstration be possible?”

Arthur smiled. “I anticipated that, I brought one along just for that purpose.”

Now they looked genuinely eager.

“Then let’s go,” The woman said, rising from her chair. “I’d like to see the ship’s performance.”

Arthur stood and gestured for them to follow.

Outside, the group made their way through the streets and toward the port. 

When they arrived at the docks, the sun was high in the sky, reflecting off the metallic hull of the cargo ship.

One man let out a low whistle. “It’s even more impressive up close.”

They walked up the gangplank and boarded the ship.

“Welcome aboard,” Arthur said.

They followed him inside the navigation bridge, with curiosity written all over their faces.

***

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