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Chapter 226 Chapter224-Development of the Territory

Searching was a prolonged process, necessitating not only a great expenditure of time but also a dose of good fortune, lest they wander aimlessly like headless flies.

Upon returning to Frosty City, Ethan and Sherry didn't linger for long before embarking on their journey to find the dwarf craftsman.

The topography of most of the Snowy Plains was strikingly similar, making the task of locating the Glacial Lair — situated deep within the plains — no simple feat, despite the guidance they received.

Furthermore, it had been ten years since Henry Powell was said to have been at the Glacial Lair, and this information came merely from local townfolk, making it somewhat unreliable.

Nonetheless, Ethan and Sherry set out once again on the trails of the Snowy Plains in search of people.

Meanwhile, a caravan of merchants arrived at the Abandoned Temple.

"Boss, are you sure this is the place?"

"This doesn't look like a good place at all. When I was observing from afar earlier, I saw many formidable monsters. Even one of them would be enough to kill us all," Colin cautioned Khosro carefully.

Colin was one of the most trusted members of Khosro's caravan.

When Khosro announced his plans to establish a commerce chamber within the Dark Lord's territory, many people in the caravan derided him as a daydreamer and chose to leave, while others sought to persuade him to abandon his unrealistic ambitions.

Only Colin and a few others continued to place their trust in Khosro.

However, hearing Colin's reminder rendered Khosro's face solemn.

In Frosty City, he had gifted Ethan with treasured possessions that he had held onto for years, hoping to forge a connection with him.

Upon returning home, Khosro had liquidated all his assets, and converting them into gold coins.

He then sought information on the location of the Abandoned Temple, eventually making the long journey there with the few remaining members of his caravan.

To back down now would mean paying too high a price.

"Colin, we should trust that nobleman!" Khosro affirmed, his gaze firming with resolve.

Clutching his teeth, he pulled out the letter Ethan had left him, and with a swaggering gait, he advanced towards the Abandoned Temple.

Soon, Khosro and his party were discovered by patrolling Holy Light Warriors.

Seeing that these monsters did not attack immediately but instead scrutinized them with discerning eyes, Khosro was instantly shocked.

These were sentient monsters!

Although not deeply familiar with the classifications of monsters, he understood what the presence of sentient beings implied: a symbol of power.

The very idea that such creatures were deployed merely for patrols filled Khosro with exhilaration.

He knew that the scales of fate had tipped in his favor this time.

As the monsters surrounded them, Khosro quickly raised the letter and exclaimed loudly, "My name is Khosro. I was referred by Lord Ethan to establish a caravan here. I hold a letter left by Lord Ethan."

The patrolling Holy Light Warriors did not recognize Khosro, but the mention of Ethan made them halt.

Shortly after, one of the warriors went to report the situation.

Before long, Mia, who had been training within the territory, emerged, eyeing Khosro skeptically.

"You said you have a letter from Ethan, where is it?" she queried.

"Here, here, here" Khosro hastily replied, adding, "When Lord Ethan gave me the letter, he instructed me to hand it over to Lord Victor within the territory."

"For Victor?" Mia took the letter without opening it.

By this time, most of her doubts had dissipated.

This person, who had entered so unguardedly, bearing Ethan's letter and even knowing the name of the steward Victor, surely couldn't be a spy from the Azure Empire.

With such thoughts, Mia led them into the core area of the territory.

Meanwhile, Khosro and his team curiously inspected various facilities within the domain.

With time, the appearance of the territory had undergone significant transformations.

Not only had the number of monsters increased, but they had also all been trained by Mia and Eluna before being assigned tasks, ranging from patrolling to mining, to crafting standardized equipment.

Moreover, many arrow towers and defensive fortifications had been erected.

The entire territory exhibited a vibrant and thriving state, pulsating with an unstoppable life force.

"Steward Victor, they are here to see you."

Mia led Khosro and his party to where Victor was handling a myriad of tasks in the office.

Despite his busy schedule, Victor appeared relaxed and showed no signs of fatigue.

Upon hearing Mia's words, he lifted his head, took the letter from her, and began reading it immediately.

The letter contained straightforward instructions regarding a few matters:

First, Khosro could be trusted.

Second, form a caravan to facilitate trade with other Dark Lords.

Third, accelerate the territorial development.

The details were left to Victor's discretion; the letter simply outlined the broad strokes of the plan.

Having read the letter, Victor turned his attention to Khosro and his companions.

"Khosro, welcome to our team," Victor greeted warmly, then directed his gaze at Mia, "Mia, please fetch Eluna as well."

Mia left to find Eluna, while Victor, with a welcoming smile, gestured for Khosro to sit.

Once Mia and Eluna arrived, a small meeting commenced.

"I have received a letter from Lord Ethan," Victor began, articulating each word clearly. "Lord Ethan instructed in his letter to establish our own trading company to engage in goods exchange with other Dark Lord territories. However, there is a significant problem with this."

Khosro felt a sudden surge of anxiety, fearing the potential rejection of the plan. As he had anticipated, Victor pinpointed the issue.

"The lands surrounding the territory are almost fully utilized, and many structures are under construction. Establishing a trading company and trading goods with other Dark Lords will consume a substantial amount of time and energy. Additionally, we will require warehouses for storing the goods and a considerable number of horses for transportation."

After laying out the challenges, Victor looked at everyone present.

Anxious and uneasy, Khosro blurted out, "Steward Victor, while setting up a trading company will indeed be costly, it promises enormous returns."

"True." Victor nodded with a smile, his eyes bearing a wise and discerning look.

He recognized Khosro's fervent attitude and saw the eager businessman in him, one who was consumed with the world of commerce.

"Mr. Khosro, let's not rush into this; I didn't say we wouldn't establish the trading company. However, given that it encompasses many aspects, why don't we take it a step further and build a city instead?" Victor suggested, startling both Mia and Eluna.

"To construct a city!"

The proposal seemed incredibly massive, especially when compared to the smaller territory overseen by the Dark Lord.

Moreover, a city is a human establishment, building one in the Dark Lord's domain would appear as a direct provocation, potentially inciting the wrath of the Azure Empire.

The notion carried an undercurrent of peril, a sentiment echoed by Eluna who said, "This is too risky."

Mia nodded in agreement, "Steward Victor, perhaps we should wait for Lord Ethan to return and discuss this. Constructing a city is a defiance towards the Azure Empire. If they send an army, we won't stand a chance."

"No!" Victor countered with a confident shake of his head, "Now is the perfect time to build a city. The Azure Empire, despite its grandeur, is not unified; many families are at loggerheads. Under the harsh rule of Lana Mokos, dissatisfaction grows among the empire's nobles. Building a city now would grant them a pretext to oppose Lana Mokos."

"Besides that fundamental reason, the territory is reaching the peak of its development. The surrounding lands are all occupied, but this has created a certain disorder with structures not being logically positioned. Furthermore, we need more hands on deck."

Victor's extensive rationale left Mia and Eluna pondering deeply.

Khosro, on the other hand, was utterly astounded.

To build a city!

It was an audacious and exhilarating plan.

Strangely, a surge of excitement bubbled within Khosro, fueling an impulsive desire to commence construction immediately.

Finally, Eluna conceded, "In that case, I agree."

Following suit, Mia nodded, "Building a city seems feasible. However, we might need to reach out to other Dark Lords; I believe they would back this initiative."

"Reaching out is essential. If the Azure Empire dares to cause trouble, I suspect those Dark Lords who have faced the empire's aggression would be eager for retaliation," Victor affirmed with a smile, revealing that the city's construction wasn't a spur-of-the-moment suggestion but a well-pondered plan.

After reading Ethan's letter, even without explicit directions, he discerned Ethan's intentions.

With a confirmed strategy, Victor acted swiftly, deploying a large number of territorial monsters to survey the surrounding landscapes and structures, from which a detailed topographic map was created.

Subsequently, he began delineating the plans on the map, immersing himself in the task for the entire day, to the point of nearly forgetting the presence of Khosro and his party.