Chương 134: Chapter 118. Check In With The King

It's been a good week since that night I talked to Ruby. My training and Mana Tempering is going well, and the food situation is becoming better. Also, the gatherers looking for Medicinal Plants and fruits said that the Animal activity has slowed down tremendously. My Meditating has gone well too. I haven't Contacted the other Spirit yet, but I'm getting closer. In fact, sometimes it feels like it's right on top of me. It's strange in a way. Regardless, today is the day I decided to pay Warrick a visit.

He had asked me to check in periodically to see how things were going for us. Sarah and Anna were next to me. They'd like to visit, but since this is mostly business, I decided to just go myself. That and the mana it would take to transport the 3 of us would mean I'd have to wait half a day to get us back. I turned to Anna and Sarah and began to reassure them." Okay, I'll be back in about an hour, 2 tops." Sarah and Anna nodded to my words and then I had Paula open a Portal for me.

I should mention that I'm in my mansion. I wouldn't want others to know I can travel this far. I entered the Portal and walked out in Warrick's office." Hello, John."" How's it going, Warrick?" We greeted each other as I sat down in one of the chairs in front of his desk. We chatted about the journey to Paradise. I told him how bumpy the road was, and he was sympathetic. Then he asked about how I was adapting to Paradise." How are you finding living there?"" That's where the story gets interesting, Warrick."

Warrick was puzzled by my words." You see, I was there for a day or 2 and then boom! A huge migration of Demons came and settled in Paradise."

"Why is that?"" They're a group of Demons that I healed from being sick or injured. For instance, some of the parents and children from the Green Scourge episode last year, even came around."" How are you faring?" Warrick seemed concerned as I talked about how we had 3000 hungry mouths move in. It's good to see that he truly cares for his people. For now, I should answer him, so he doesn't get too stressed."

It's fine, I'm keeping everyone fed, we hunt, and we grow vegetables, we use the provisions the Government gives us. We make do. We'll do even better soon."" Should I increase the amount of food we send?"" No, in fact that's the last thing I want you to do." Warrick looked at me confused. I smiled a bit at him as I began to speak." We're making do with what we have, no one is going hungry. If they were, I'd be here asking for aid. Besides I don't want any outsiders to know what I'm doing in Paradise.

Would you believe that no Lords even greeted me after I had arrived at Paradise? I was a little shocked in all honesty. I would've thought of it more, but I had mouths to feed and people's heads to put roofs over."" Why hide it?"" I don't want them to know my fighting force or that Paradise is getting better and less reliant on others. For now, I want everyone to assume we're weak and useless. I want to make sure we're self-sustaining before I reveal any of the cards in my hand.""

You make it sound like you'll fight the Government if you need to."" Yeah, I would if I had to." Warrick cracked a smile at my answer." Has any Officer done anything to you yet?"" No, but you never know. Obviously, I don't want to go against you guys. But Officers and High-Ranking Officials besides the Advisors may cause me grief from being Human... Or Marrying Sarah." Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. I shrugged my shoulders in unison with Warrick."

It takes more than a couple of life saving Healing Spells to fix centuries of anger, doesn't it?"" For some yeah, but I wasn't doing the healing thinking about making everyone like me. I just can, so I did. Better than letting kids, parents or grandparents die in my book. I was actually thinking of making that a service I could do to bring commerce to Paradise." Warrick was interested in the last part of sentence as I trailed off of it." Why don't you?"" What would be a good price point for saving a life?"

Warrick had a flash of understanding." Ah I see... So, what do you plan to do about the sick or injured?" I scratched my head in irritation at his question." I'm not sure. My best move would be to travel to the bigger towns in Diablos and set up a shop, but that takes time that I don't have currently. If they travel to Paradise, I'd gladly heal them, but the road to travel is hard for even healthy people.... For now." Warrick again looked at me with interest. Seems he was waiting for me to speak." Alright, alright.

You don't have to stare so hard." I asked if Gil was doing anything, and he said it was fine. A burst of brown light came from next to me and out walked my new Friend." King Warrick Dreadnaught of Diablos, meet King Gilbert Harrow of the Molemen." Warrick had a look of surprise on his face." You... You Contracted another Spirit Sovereign!?" I nodded to his words. I then turned to Gil." Gil... You mind demonstrating a small example of the plan?"" Sure thing, Lad."

Gil created a small flat black tablet of stone in his hands." Here, Warrick, try to break that in half." Gil handed Warrick the stone. Then Warrick tried and failed to crack it let alone break it." I... I'm just tired recently!"" So is everybody else then, Buddy. Thank you, Gil. Take the stone back too. I don't want anyone to know about it yet."" You got it!" Warrick looked at his hands for a moment and then back at me. I returned Gil to his home." So... You'll make the roads from that unbreakable material?""

It's also resistant to weathering and fire."" And you'll do this for free for all of the cities and towns around you?"" Hell no!" Warrick thought for a moment." What if I paid you to create a road from BlackStone to Paradise." I smiled at his suggestion." I'm glad you said it. Yes, I was thinking about doing that."" How much would it cost?"" For you? Nothing. But I want you to say my work is worth around 500 platinum coins."" 500!"" Yup!" Ah I missed my Friend. I decided to stop teasing him and explain."

The only people I plan on doing it for free are the villages in my Territory, Anna's Parents and you. Everyone else will pay. I want them to think it's super expensive, so I don't get low ball offers. Of course, the Clearfields and Ashblades will receive a big discount, but say it was expensive."" I see. So, you want me to say we agreed upon 500 platinum coins, so the Nobles understand your work doesn't come for free. And since it's based on the distance, that would be a fair price.

The Commoners and Merchants will ride or walk on the smooth road and start petitioning for you to pave and make new roads to their Lords." Warrick nodded in understanding." And then they'll offer me a good amount of money. And then the plan really takes off from there."" God, what now?"" I'll accept their first offer, then, when I meet them for the first time. If their accommodating, I'll lower the price by around half, so they feel indebted to me and feel positive about their dealings with me.""

Then you build relationships with good, fair partners and more or less, rob the bad discriminating ones.... Are you sure you're Human?"" Who's to say really? I think people in my world would just call me a Businessman though." Warrick scratched his chin at my plan. I sat back and smiled." So, what about Midori Village?"" I'll create a road for them as well. I'll be sending a letter for the Moris to come over and visit us since I said I'd send word to Liz when she could come to Paradise.

Once they spend some time here, I'll travel back with them with Anna and Sarah and create the Road as I go. Probably through forests so no self-respecting Merchant would ever go through it." Warrick nodded at my words." How are they doing? Sarah and Anna?"" Sarah has taken to being my Co-Governor. Anna has chosen to be my Head Maid and also my Exclusive Maid and she also Advises me. I almost feel she's taken on too much. She's currently training a new batch of Maids who're going to work in my mansion.

How is Cynthia? Do you have any updates on Sharron and Asha?"" Good to hear. Cynthia is doing well, she actually is studying too much. I asked why and apparently, she wants to skip grades and graduate as soon as possible."" It's nice to have a goal."" That's what I said. Not much news has reached me about Sharron and Asha. Only that both Families are turning down Betrothals left and right."" Good on them! They shouldn't settle for less than what they want!"" I also agree." Warrick and I nodded in agreement.

Then it occurred to me that I never asked about Warrick and Aqua." So, Warrick, how are you and Aqua doing?"" Well, how to say this... Aqua... Would really like... Additions to the Family."" I'm sure you'll see some grandkids eventually."" That wasn't what I meant. Don't get me wrong, I'm beyond willing, it's just that there's always so much work to be done..." Warrick sighed. I felt such empathy with him. With that, time passed. We chatted for a while longer.

Then I returned to Paradise where nothing major had happened. Then I wrote the letter with Anna to send to the Moris. The day was pretty peaceful all things considered.