Chương 633: Chapter 632: Two Months

Ashton Harbor"Two months. We only need to wait for two months," said the man with the staff, looking at the map in front of him with profound impatience. Especially the tower representing the city. He heard new things about it every week, making him want it even more.

"Have patience, commander. We have waited long enough; two months will pass smoothly," the armored man replied.

"I just wished we could attack it now," said the man with the staff before shuddering in fear. They had paid a massive price for what they did. It even scared the high command as swiftly it happened while they watched powerlessly. There is nothing they could have done that would have stopped that. Even if they could, they wouldn't have. As it would have made them pay a higher price. … Clap, Clap, Clap! I cut the ribbon, and people applauded.

"Let this be the first step to Panar becoming a prosperous, industrious city!" I declared before entering Pascal Refinery. I have come to Panar again, this time for the inauguration. Yesterday, the Church of the God of War opened its church in the Panar, and today, we opened this refinery. It is the only refinery right now, but that won't be long. Two more will open next month, and we are in advance talks with four more businesses.

The space in front of me has a large, three-story-tall cylindrical structure standing in the middle. It is a furnace that will refine the crystals. Around the space, there are large loads of unrefined grade IV energy crystals. What is here is a fraction of what we have mined in the past few months. I barely sold 10% of it. I'm keeping most to be refined, as that is where the money is. We already have merchants ready to buy the finished product from the empire and merchant state.

Finding buyers is a problem with Grade III but not with Grade IV. People will buy it as long as there is a supply. They are used in everything: forging, enchantments, alchemy, and other things. There are a few things in which the energy crystals aren't used.

"Start the refining!" ordered Pascal. A moment later, the runes lit up across the large space, with runes lighting up the whole furnace. The runes light up under the loads of crystals as well. They begin to move the crystals toward the furnace like the conveyor belt, but here it is being done with the enchantments.

"These crystals will enter the furnace and go through the seven stages of purification," "The final product that comes out will be a 98. 6% pure energy crystal," he informed.

"My other furnace didn't give me over 94%, but this one is 98%," he added with a smile on his face. This furnace is new; I helped him buy it from a merchant state. They don't usually sell outside the States, but they allowed me to purchase it. This isn't the only furnace here; it is only Grade IV. There are four more furnaces, and they are refining the Grade III crystals. I want every crystal out of the mines to be refined in the city. It will happen with Grade IV since only one mine produces that grade.

But it's not the case with Grade III and below. There are several mines of it. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Many are still closed. If I get enough miners, I will open those mines as well. There is only a tiny profit in the Grade III and below mines, but I am focusing on them, including putting conditions. They will refine the Grade III and below if they want Grade IV crystals.

Although their profit might be low, they generate significant employment, which in turn makes the economy flourish. I watched the process for a few minutes before I walked away. I checked other furnaces, which were older and smaller; they had come from the empire.

"I wish you all the success and fortune, Mr. Pascal," I said as we finished with a tour of the facility.

"Thank you, my lord," he replied. A minute later, I was in the carriage with Ina. The last time I was here was three months ago, and so much has changed since then. The first was the city's population, which had crossed a hundred thousand. The discovery of the mine had built a lot of confidence in the city, bringing more people. We also intentionally sent a lot of people here. The Greltheaven had reached near the limit; its population had reached over four hundred and fifty thousand.

I need to start the expansion so it will not be overcrowded. I don't want that. I pushed those thoughts and looked outside of the window. I could see painted houses and stores with people coming and going out for their business When I conquered the city six months ago, I thought it would take over a year, but now, it will take two more months, and it will reach its former peak. I said two months because that is all I have before things slow down or go downhill.

In two months, the protection of the archmage city would disappear, and the undead would attack again. They will not wait, I am very sure; they will attack within a weak. They had been accumulating forces. The merchants and imperials had destroyed many of their ships, but many had survived. Now, there are millions of undead people ready for the attack. These bastards could have attacked others, I am not the only one in the whole damned region, but they couldn't attack Dustorn Fortress even in their dreams.

That man there would eat them alive, but there is still Deerpond and Port Midlet, but they didn't touch them. They will first come at me before they move to the other cities. I am the biggest prize in the whole region. The second biggest. There is something they want. I don't know, but Archmage Tower does, and it was not doing anything against them. They only helped me because the undead broke the game's rules, which I don't understand.

I don't know much about anything, including things happening in the Dustorn Fortress. Something is going on there, with the envoys of both princes going there. It isn't simple recruitment on their side anymore. It is frustrating when I don't know things. If I had the information, I could plan accordingly.

"Many people are voicing concern about our trade with Gailhorn," said Ina. The concern isn't about the current trade but one that will increase after the bridge is built. It is nearly finished; it will be finished in the next two weeks—a month before the deadline.

"I am sure, those with the concern aren't the merchants?" I asked, and she shook her head.

"The officials and citizens," she replied.

"We need to, not only for the general people in the city but also because. If we don't supply them with those things, the others will," I stated. To that, she nodded.

"I told them as much, but they are worried," she replied.

"They have every right to be," Gailhorn is an ally of the undead; it is more like a puppet. People are worried about that, even though I received concerns about it from the officials and citizens of Greltheaven. I make an effort to make my people understand its necessity. Still, many people are against it. I could not do anything against it other than try harder to convince them. Soon, the carriage stopped at the city hall, and I got out before stepping inside. We didn't go to her office but to the meeting.

It was a meeting with officials and important citizens. It was the last meeting before I left the city at night. The meeting lasted for an hour before I disappeared. In those three and a half hours, nobody other than Ina and the person I had been with knew where I was. It happened last time and this time as well. It is very necessary; it was the main reason I visited, and I will visit once more before the safety of the six months is over.

"I heard Barb delayed her trip?" asked Ina as we left the party. I am leaving for Greltheaven. I would have liked to stay for a few days more, but things are waiting for me there. Most important of all is the core of Mok's Tavern. They are going to milk it the day after tomorrow. It would take a year at least, but this is the thing with a waning legacy. Their masters are frail; they could die at any moment. If the Sovereign feels the master won't live for long. They could milking.

"Yes, the prince had delayed his trip, and the master of Tranquill Bathhouse asked them to delay it since the prince wants to meet them," I replied. I would rather have them return to the city as soon as possible since they had achieved their objective, but I couldn't reject the request without displeasing the master of Tranquill Bathhouse more than I already did. The incident with Barb made him unhappy. I am not upset with her; she did what she could to complete her objective.

Besides, it will be a good opportunity for them. Meeting royalty is an experience, and they should have it. Soon, we reached the carriage waiting outside, along with the company of guards mounted on the beasts.

"Have a safe journey, Master Silver," she wished.

"I will, and you will take care of yourself," I replied, walking toward my carriage before stepping inside. It is dangerous to travel at night. Undead isn't the only danger, but if someone is there who could pass through the guards and kill me, it won't make a difference to travel day or night.