Chương 237: Chapter 236

Kratos opened one eye.

"Can we talk about something else? I hated the ocean. The water was freezing, and the bugs tried to eat my fur. I want to forget about it." Dante chuckled and scratched behind the lion's ears.

"You were very brave, little one."

"I am not little," Kratos grumbled, closing his eyes again. Winfred hesitated for a second. He lowered his voice and stepped closer to Rudra.

"My Lord, I must ask you something else," Winfred whispered.

"I can feel a dark presence on you. It is clashing directly with your divine aura. It feels like... Demonic Power." Dante stopped scratching the lion. The old knight's face turned pale.

"Demonic Power? My Lord, anyone who holds that energy is branded a traitor to humanity. The churches will send armies to hunt you down if you made a pact with the demons." Rudra let out a light laugh. He waved a hand casually.

"Relax. I didn't sign a contract with any demons." Winfred frowned.

"Then how do you possess their power?"

"I just found a Great Demon and beat him up until I stole it from him," Rudra said. Winfred and Dante froze. They stared at the young Duke in absolute silence.

"You... stole power from a Great Demon?" Winfred mumbled.

"Yep. It's perfectly safe," Rudra smiled. Before the knights could even process that, Silas walked back over. He held a fresh piece of parchment in his hand. He looked incredibly satisfied"The rough draft of the alliance is complete, My Lord," Silas reported.

"Chief Thalassa is currently inspecting our wheat silos. High Priestess Neria is very pleased with the terms."

"Good work, Silas," Rudra said.

"While you were busy signing the earlier documents, I compiled the latest census and development report," Silas said. He held the parchment out.

"Please review our current standing. The city has grown significantly since you left." Rudra took the paper. And then directly opened the system interface which showed the all the details in a concise way that Rudra could understand. Name: Stormbreak Size: Large City Ruler: Rudra (Duke of the Murray Kingdom) Administrator: Silas (SS-grade administrative ability) - The higher the administrative ability of the administrator, the higher the overall development of the estate.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Affiliation: The Murray Kingdom Population: NPCs - 38, 450. Players - 0. Troops: Knights Division- 3 (Sword Knights Division, Sage Knight Division, Alchemy Knights Division). Soldiers - 4, 500. Security: 92/100 - The state of security is excellent. The citizens feel completely safe. Bandits and monsters are actively deterred from approaching the borders.

- Security will increase hourly in proportion to the number of soldiers and the strength of the commanding Knights. Internal Affairs: 3, 850/4, 500 - Increasing the number of public, cultural and economic facilities and buildings will increase the internal affairs number. - Has an partnership with the Ves Merchant Group and Silver Crest Merchant Group Foreign Affairs: Siren Kingdom (Alliance), Orca Archipelago (Alliance). Forces hostile to the ruler: Yatan Church, Saharan Empire.

Specialties: Tower of Limits (Intermediate Magic Tower Level 2), Tower of Miracles (Intermediate Alchemy Tower Level 3) Distinguished Figure: Piaro, Mumud, Winfred, Elysia, Singuled, Amelda, Kentrick, Icarus, Dante, Elara, Alex. Rudra blinked. He read the population number again.

"Thirty-eight thousand people?" Rudra asked. He looked at Silas.

"When did that happen? We only had around twenty thousand a few months ago."

"Word spreads quickly, My Lord," Silas explained. He adjusted his collar proudly.

"When you provide safe walls, clean water, and free meals at the public dining hall, refugees flock to the territory. People from the poorer regions of the kingdom migrated here for safety. Lord Piaro's farming expansion easily sustained the population boom." Winfred nodded in agreement.

"The influx of people brought us more able-bodied recruits. Sir Dante has been training the new militia members relentlessly. Four thousand and five hundred soldiers is a formidable defensive force."

"The security score is really good," Rudra smiled. He was genuinely impressed.

"You guys have been busy."

"We simply followed the foundation you laid down," Dante said warmly.

"The only minor issue is our foreign affairs," Silas noted, tapping his abacus against his leg.

"The Saharan Empire is still a hostile force on our borders. We have halted any merchant caravans heading too far east to avoid their patrols."

"Keep avoiding them," Rudra said. He handed the parchment back to Silas.

"We aren't ready to poke the Empire just yet. Let them stay out there. We focus on building up the city and stocking the armories."

"Understood," Silas said. He gave a quick bow.

"I will go finalize the cargo manifests with Chief Thalassa. Welcome home, My Lord." Silas turned and jogged back toward the storage silos. Rudra let out a long breath. He looked around the courtyard. The trainees were swinging their wooden swords. The sun was warm against the cobblestones. It felt good to be back.

"Winfred," Rudra asked.

"Where is Piaro? I figured he would be out here near the barracks""He is in the eastern sector, My Lord," Winfred replied. A small, amused smile touched the old tactician's face.

"He is tending to the new crop fields. He said the soil needed to be turned before the afternoon sun dried it out."

"Of course he is," Rudra laughed. He patted Kratos on the side. The giant lion groaned but slowly stood up, shaking the dirt off his golden mane.

"I'm going to go see the farm," Rudra said.

"I'll catch up with you and Dante later tonight."

"We will be at the barracks," Winfred said.

"Have a good walk, My Lord." Before Rudra could even take a step toward the gate, the door to the manor swung open. Silas came jogging back out, holding a brand new, towering stack of thick ledgers.

"My Lord!" Silas called out, rushing toward him.

"The merchants need your final seal on the new tax brackets!"