Chương 153: Chapter 136. Zack

I greeted Zack and noticed that he had a stack of letters sitting on the table in front of him. I recognized the handwriting immediately and cracked a smile. Before I could think of the memories associated with the handwriting, I was snapped out of my thoughts by Sarah." My Love, Zack isn't a stranger. Why don't we give him a tour as we talk?"" That sounds like a great idea to me." With my response to Sarah's request, we all stood up and walked out of the room.

First, we stopped by the mansion so we could release Zack from carrying the letters. We separated them by person. Sarah had gotten 8 letters, Anna had 6 and I had 4. We each placed them in the office space as that's become us Married Couple's place to handle anything business-like. Reading and writing out letters seemed to fit the bill for the 3 of us. Also, something just seemed so right about reading these new letters in a place where we can overlook the town that we're working so hard to rebuild."

What a nice office. It lets a Good Lord remember why he works. Granted, the previous Lords most likely just viewed it as a reminder that they believed they owned this piece of land."" That and the golden furniture are dead giveaways for that. Though I guess this office isn't anything special if you compare it to what a Head Butler of the King of Diablos is used to seeing, right, Zack?" Zack marveled at the view for a moment. I was taken aback by the view as well when I first saw it.

However, the view was different for me at that time. A town that was so barren and empty you could mistake it for a ghost town that was abandoned decades ago. Now, the town was bustling with life. Adults working and going shopping, children playing games with each other, waiting for the sun to set, so they can go home and have a warm dinner with their parents. It's been a short time since I've been here, but it feels longer.

After admiring my work for a second, and with Zack shrugging his shoulders to my rhetorical question, I turned to Sarah, Anna and Zack and began to speak." Shall we do the tour?" All 3 nodded. I asked Paula to come and open a Portal and she was more than happy to." Oh! Zack! Long time no see!"" Little Paula, you've grown since I've last seen you. your skill with Portals has grown wonderfully!"" Of course! Matthew and I diligently practice after all!" Zack and Paula greeted each other.

Zack knows about Paula and Lily since I practiced with them when I could during my time under Warrick's tutelage. We stepped through the portal and reached the first place I wanted to show Zack. which made sense since it was the furthest away from Paradise." What a field! The vegetables and fruit look so large! Did you find it like this, Lord Drake?"" No, it's thanks to Lily's hard work that it's like this. Do you know about the food situation here?"" Yes, I've read the reports.

Last I checked, Paradise survived on rations from the Government and some Charity from its Neighbors." Zack was surprised by the field, I then asked what he knew about the food situation. Seems explaining should be easy." Well, to have a successful town, you need to be able to produce your own food. We've been hunting and farming pretty much since we got here. There's another farm just like this. Our hunting has brought good results as well.

We currently have enough surplus to survive for about 6 months without any extra food coming in. But we have hunting parties and farmers continuing to gather more food. I plan on putting in around 12 to 15 more fields like this one and have them scattered all around the Territory. They'll have different vegetables and fruits of course. Variety is important after all."" You've certainly been busy. Also, I couldn't help but notice how the terrain has become less... Swampy? I guess would be the word?

Only past a certain point, of course. How did you manage that?"" A little help from my Guardian Angel." Zack took my answer as a joke. Only Sarah and Anna knew I was serious. Regardless of all the questions he asked about the terrain and future plans. I told him plainly that I didn't feel like explaining all of it right now. Since I was planning on visiting Warrick soon and reporting on everything that's happened since my last report, seeing as how he'd be there as well, I didn't see the point of explaining it."

What do you mean? It'll take me 2 weeks to get back to BlackStone. And that's with me knowing about a ton of shortcuts and using my Job to get myself back as soon as possible."" I'm just going to open a Portal and you can step through it."" Wouldn't that take more mana than you have right now?"" Oh yeah, you weren't there when I visited Warrick last time? It only takes around half my mana to open a Portal from here to BlackStone. It'll be fine. Besides, it's not like any real problems will come up.

Monsters have started avoiding the roads and coming close to Paradise because they've noticed we're hunting them. Granted, now new Species are moving in due to the environment changing. Pretty soon, there'll be a really good variety of meats. I hear more and more fish are being spotted in the newly rediscovered lakes around the area as well." The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

I babbled a little about the changes that the hunting parties have noted since the change in the environment. I told them to stick with hunting the animals they were familiar with and report any changes in the wildlife they've found. From there, I'll come up with a hunting menu. With something like that, I'll be able to control the population of Monsters roaming the wilderness. I need to be careful not to destroy any of the new ecosystems being created. We took Zack from the farm to inside Paradise.

Sarah and Anna explained the history of certain landmarks in Paradise to Zack. A lot of them were battle-related. Stories of Flameskins and Iceskins killing each other and fellow clan members. It was all quite violent and it began to make me wonder how the hell they ended up forming a town together?" Lord Drake... Are those Humans!?"

"!" My thoughts were interrupted by Zack's question. Shit! I forgot that Zack technically isn't one of us!" Zack... You see..." Sarah spoke to Zack and explained the situation." Wow! What bad luck! Lord Drake, you really are a Paladin! To give Charity to weary travelers. That's so Noble of you!" Zack had a different reaction than I thought. He was happy actually. Now that I think about it. Warrick is part of the faction that wants to work things out with the Humans.

It makes sense his Personal Butler would share similar feelings to him. The tour continued for a while. While we walked, I thought of a question since I mentioned Warrick already." Hey, Zack. How are Warrick and Aqua doing? I know I said I saw Warrick a couple weeks ago, but a lot can change in a week." Zack made a difficult expression on his face and looked at Sarah. He then shrugged his shoulders and began to speak." Well, since you're probably going through something similar in a way, I guess I could explain it.

Warrick has been... Tired..." Again, his eyes darted to Sarah then back to me." Why would Father be tired? Is something happening?" Zack made an awkward expression on his face... I think I see where this is going." Diablos has been pretty peaceful... All things considered. The problem is... Well, Aqua's nest is empty."" What do you mean? Cyn is there, isn't she?"" No, Little Cyn is still busy with schoolwork. She hasn't taken the advancement test to skip grades yet. And I clock out at 7, as your father wishes.

I'm thankful, since Gabby is pregnant. So I can spend time with my Wife at home before she gives birth. But they have all that time alone without any problems to really solve at the moment... Since they're waiting on answers... They just have time you see... And well...."" What?" Wow. She really doesn't get it. Even though she's the same way." Like mother, like daughter."" What do you mean by that?"" You're probably going to have another sibling soon. Or 2... Or 3, I'd say."

"!" Sarah went a bit red at my blunt explanation. I guess she's the type that thinks her parents don't have desires? Strange, considering what we do... Basically every day. Sarah was a bit embarrassed. She looked at Zack and he nodded to her to confirm it." Oh... Well... I guess, we'll need to prepare a vacation home here for them when they come and visit?"" Wouldn't it make more sense for them to stay with us?" Sarah suggested an idea and Anna suggested her own answer.

Sarah looked at Anna with red cheeks and began to respond to her." Well, since they're so lovey dovey... They'd probably want to have a place for themselves, right? I know I would." Anna nodded and then they both looked at me with expectations. It's going to be a rough night tonight, I can feel it." Sarah, Anna.... You're making Zack feel uncomfortable."" No, please. I'm just a Butler and you're a Married Nobleman and his Wives. It makes sense you'd be like this.

Honestly, it's a little shocking that you don't have kids yet, if I'm being honest." Zack rubbed his head. I could feel a load of pressure in a certain pair of stares drilling directly into my head." As soon as Paradise is stable, I hope to have a Blessed Family after all. I think it'll take around half a year? Maybe 8 months?"" Why such a specific date?" I have plans. I imagine once I get everything in order here, money will start to pour in.

What we'll provide to Diablos will be unique and everyone will want some. With that, the town will grow, and become self-sufficient. I'll be able to grow the production of things and focus on the more important aspects of my life after that."" You sound so confident. What are you going to do?"" Again, you'll find out soon I imagine. When I speak to Warrick, I'll be giving him the details of my future plans. Oh! I also have to tell him about the Elves..."" What do you mean "About the Elves", Lord Drake?

"" Well, again. Not much point telling you now, since I'm just going to repeat it tomorrow or the day after. it's a whole thing though. A very "weird" whole thing. I'm still not completely sure why it happened. Regardless, please enjoy the tour for now. After that, I'll send you back with some vegetables. We have some that've just been pickled, so they'll only grow tastier with time. It should help with pregnancy cravings that'll come soon. Also, the nutrition is better because of Lily's Magic."" Really?

You'll just give me that?" Zack was surprised at my idea that giving a gift was par the course. I nodded my head and spoke." It only makes sense. You're basically an Uncle to Sarah and you helped me out a ton this last year. If you and your wife end up liking the vegetables, tell Warrick and Aqua to let me know and I'll make a habit of dropping some off every week. Lord knows we're going to have a massive influx coming in about 2 months from now anyways." Zack was quiet for a moment.

He looked at Sarah who nodded immediately as if to say that it was fine. Zack looked back at me and spoke." I'll take you up on that, Lord Drake. Thank you."" You know, Zack, it's not like a bunch of Nobles are here. Just call me Matthew around here."" You both are so alike it's shocking at times."" Hm?"" Nothing. Don't worry about it, Matthew. You just reminded me of someone." I shrugged my shoulders, and we finished up the tour by gifting Zack about 2 weeks' worth of fresh veggies and pickles.

I asked Zack when Warrick was free for me to visit, he said tomorrow at noon would be perfect. With that, I opened a Portal to the East Gate of Blackstone City and watched as he entered the town. I returned back home in no time at all. Once I returned, we decided to get to those letters.