Chương 651: Chapter 650: A Month

Step! I stepped out of the carriage and watched people carrying the large boxes out of the city hall. They are shifting to another building. The city hall didn't have enough space to house its ever-increasing staff and departments. To solve this, we had two options: one was to expand the city hall, and the second was to shift the people and offices. I chose the second one. The reason is simple: money. We didn't have it, and right now, I am spending all the extra money I had on defense.

I had even cut a few things I was planning to do. Only a month remained before the protection of the Archmage City expired. After that, it would be an open season for the undead. I am making as many preparations as possible, but I am dealing with the undead; anything could happen. I am scared but will fight the bastards with everything I have. If they want to conquer the city, I will make them pay such a price that they will regret even thinking about it. Click! Soon, I reached my office and stepped inside.

Lola was already there; I nodded at her and sat down while she was silently putting files in front of me.

"I have confirmed your meeting with Baron Husk tomorrow," she informed.

"Good," I replied. He is coming tomorrow to sign the agreements we had negotiated, but the main reason for his visit is the forces I had in the baronies. I had steadily increased my forces there in the past few months. There are now two brigades and a battalion of cavalry in there—a total of thirteen thousand soldiers. It is a considerable number that helped them tremendously against the monsters, but now I am bringing them back to the city—all of them.

They had gone to help the baronies, but the real purpose was to train. They have trained well, with many of them leveling up, but it's time for them to return home. In a month, the undead would attack, and I would need them to defend their homes. I had already fixed the date of their return when I sent them, but the baronies have been requesting that I keep them there. If the undead hadn't been coming, I would have kept them and even sent more to help, but unfortunately, I can't.

I stayed in the office for an hour before attending the meeting in the conference room. It was with Hardt and members of the merchant guild. I am planning to change some rules and would like to ask for their opinion on the matter. The meeting got quite heated. Half of them supported it, while the other half were against it. When I returned, I rested for a while before practicing the aura. Soon, it was evening. Usually, I leave at this time, but I have a meeting.

I could have met them at the legacy, which would be the right place, but they aren't staying in the city.

"The news from Tekhat is surprising; four people have awakened the auras at once, and it happened at the party," said Lola, making me stop what I was doing. I smiled upon hearing that. She had been talking about aura a lot in the past few days. Since Barb had awakened it. She is envious; she is not even trying to hide it. She wasn't jealous when Carla awakened it, but she was with Barb, likely because both hold the same position in Velvet Garden. Stolen story; please report. By levels, Lola is much higher.

She is Lv. 38, while Barb was not even Lv. 30, when she had awakened the aura.

"The fountain events are rare, but not that rare. The event in Tekhat was more complex than it looked," I replied. It may have happened at the party, but it wasn't a normal party. It was a bloodbath; a quarter of the people who had attended had died.

"I wonder if I ever will be able to awaken the aura," she said with hope-filled eyes. It was the first time she had said it out loud.

"Everyone has potential," I replied. I don't know whether she will be able to awaken it or not. A strong will is necessary, and she has that, but the right conditions are also needed, as well as the right class. Half of the people who awaken their aura are nobles, with over 80% of them awakening during the conflict. During the conflict, the conditions presented required one to push oneself beyond one's limit, thus awakening the aura.

"Lord Silver, they have arrived," informed Jill, breaking us out of our reflections. Click! A second later, a man in his mid-thirties with sandy brown hair appeared. Beside him is a teen girl.

"Lord Silver," they greeted.

"Lord Thorn, Miss Lindgren, welcome to Greltheaven," I said, offering them a seat. The man bore a resemblance to his father, standing tall with a handsome face and a warrior's physique. It is said he is quite an artist, which his father did not like. He is Valtir Thorn, Son of Ralis Thorn, Lord of Inam. The teen girl beside him is Alina Lindgren, Vanis's Granddaughter.

"How was the trip?" I asked. They had gone to Lomeir, to the throne.

"Disappointing, to say at least; they are not even willing to hear our offer," he replied, with a voice full of defeat. I am not surprised, even a little bit. Their chances of success had been small from the beginning.

"It is only the first throne; there are more of them," I stated. They are searching for the throne to make the Vanis Tavern a pawn. A monumental task, I would say. The sovereigns decline such offers from the legacy of the different kingdoms. They only agree if there is a lot of pressure or the legacy is special. Unfortunately, Vanis Tavern isn't special. It is the most common legacy. In terms of size, it is a Tavern Class, like the majority of legacies, and its emotion scale is average.

Also, the legacy and Master didn't have any special skills that would entice the Master of a Throne.

"You are right, my lord, but still, we had some hope," he replied with a mirthless smile appearing on his face. They have been searching for the throne for years, but have intensified their efforts in the past few months. Likely, the waning of Vanis's Tavern is near. I tried to find out, but I failed. However, it shouldn't have too much time left, or they wouldn't have intensified the efforts to such a degree. Not to mention that offer from the Lord of Inam.

If I could help him make a deal with the throne, he would pay me a tremendous amount of money. The amount is significant enough that I seriously considered it, but I didn't commit. There is no use because no throne is willing to accept them. It would have helped if Vanis Tavern had been special in some way. I shouldn't be saying it. Every being an legacy is special. If it weren't, it wouldn't have been a legacy, but Vanis Tavern is average among the legacies; that is the truth.

"Have hope, Lord Thorn. Who knows, the Vanis Tavern might become a throne tomorrow," I said. The man and the teen girl shook their heads mirthlessly. The closer the legacy gets to the waning, the harder it is for them to advance. Very few can advance at this stage of their life. A few minutes passed, and we discussed the things and thrones they should focus on before I turned to the teenage girl.

"I won't be able to attend your birthday, Miss Alina, but I have prepared a gift for you," I said, and turned to Lola, who waved her hand. The next moment, a mannequin appeared in the office, and a beautiful red-green dress appeared on it. It is one of the most detailed works I have seen and was designed by Miss Cain. It is made with magical threads and crafted in the legacy using mist. The dress isn't the only thing.

It features red shoes adorned with tiny rubies, as well as an emerald necklace and earrings crafted by Eva herself.

"I hope you like it?" I asked. It was expensive, but that old man had helped me a lot and continues to assist me with many things. I wanted to show my appreciation. Since I am feeling guilty about not helping him much with this problem. If I could, I would have truly helped him find the throne. I am still asking around, despite knowing no throne will take the Vanis Tavern.

"I love it," said the teen girl with her eyes shining as she got up and walked toward the mannequin.

"It's stunning; I hope you will be able to help get something like this for my wife. Her birthday is coming in a few months," said Valtir.

"Of course, Lord Thorn," I replied with a smile. A few minutes later, they left, and I walked out of the office soon after. I stepped into the carriage, and it moved toward the legacy. As the carriage moved, I watched the city. A smile appeared on my face, but after a moment, I sighed. The city is currently experiencing rapid growth. The six months of peace had brought it rapid growth. People seemed to have forgotten the danger of the undead.

This was great news for me as it helped the city grow; the hard work I had done to create that perception had paid off. It would all change when the undead attack. If the city survives, I will have a massive task in front of me to bring it back to its current level of growth.

"Lord Silver," said Zela, interrupting me out of my thoughts. I turned to her and found her expression serious.

"The Kingdom of Geim had attacked the empire from all three fronts," she informed. Hearing that, my expression turned serious before I sighed. I knew the lull was temporary. As I said before, as long as the empire is this delicious pie. The enemies will not stop trying to take the bite out of it.

"They had also discovered the movement from Tabes and Edruin," she added, and a smile appeared on my face despite there being no joy on my face. I am feeling a little scared, actually.

"It is a coordinated attack. I wouldn't be surprised if Yressor pressed on with the offensive as well," I replied.