Broken and the others entered the House of Slumdon, their residence while staying in Slumdon Town. The Knights, Anna and Damir, were stationed at the front door, keeping watch.
“Wow, the house is really neat and clean, hahaha,” Booba exclaimed as they surveyed the interior.
Every corner was dusted and polished to perfection; it was clear that someone had put a lot of effort into making sure the house looked pristine.
“Woah…” Melliandra said. “I thought I would sleep in a shabby, dirty house,” she chuckled. “I think a house like this is acceptable. It’s definitely better than Elincia’s inn.”
Elincia then chimed in, “This is Broken’s place. Have you made sure he allows you to stay as well, Mel?”
Melliandra just wandered around, not hearing what Elincia said.
The wooden floors gleamed with a warm honey-brown hue, looking almost like polished mahogany. The walls were freshly painted in a light cream color, giving the room a soft and clean atmosphere. The living room seating area was artfully arranged with plush couches and armchairs, and the carpet looked brand new, without a hint of wear or tear in sight.
“Welcome to the House of Slumdon, everyone…” Yara said, curtsying and lifting the hem of her skirt. “I have prepared rooms for you and all the other guests as well.”
“How do you manage to keep this place in such perfect condition when you’re the only one working here?” Broken inquired.
“My Lord,” Yara replied, “someone from the capital sends supplies to maintain this place and also provides food for the local residents. So, I never leave my job, not even for a day, and I’m happy that this place is finally inhabited again by the new city lord.”
So, the capital still looks out for this city even though there is no longer anyone to monitor it, he thought, nodding slowly.
“Thank you, Yara, for taking such good care of this place.”
“It seems you’ve got a perfect maid here, Broken,” Freya commented with a smile. “See, there’s always a surprise behind what seems like a ‘disaster,’ isn’t there?”
Broken nodded to her words. “Yes, this exceeds my expectations.”
Elincia said, “I think I’d really enjoy staying here too. I love the interior and the vibe. We just need to work on the garden, and this place will be perfect.”
“Who said you’re allowed to stay here, Elincia? Hahaha,” Booba teased.
“Broken and the Ass Guild formed an alliance. Of course, we will stay here too. And you? What contribution have you made to him?” Elincia shot back.
“I’m his friend, hahaha,” Booba playfully responded.
They all then walked into the living room and settled into the luxurious, soft chairs, unwinding from the long journey in the carriage through the desert. Having spent hours just sitting without doing anything, they finally had a chance to enjoy the comfort of such a clean and well-maintained home.
“This town really has its own charm, despite not being as grand as other cities,” Kingsley commented.
“Ch, a dry place like this, even the previous lord abandoned it,” Melliandra added.
“Yeah, but in the hands of someone smart enough, this town can turn into something bigger than anyone’s expectations,” Maylock chimed in.
Yara bowed and spoke to Broken. “My Lord, allow me to go into the kitchen for a moment to prepare drinks and food,” she said respectfully.
She bowed briefly and was about to turn away when Ivana suddenly stood up, a bright smile on her face. She quickly ran up to Yara’s side.
“Let me help you, Yara,” Ivana said excitedly.
Briefly taken aback by what had just happened, Yara looked confused as she tried to figure out why someone would offer to help her in the kitchen.
“Don’t worry,” Ivana said. “You don’t need to work alone now since I’m here to help prepare meals, okay?”
“But… are you sure? This is my job, Ms. Ivana.”
“Yes, let me help. I love cooking too,” Ivana said with a smile.
The two of them shared a glance before heading towards the kitchen together.
Maylock crossed his legs and leaned back as he opened up the topic once everyone had settled into their seats. “Do you already have a plan for what you’ll do in this town, Broken?” Broken paused for a moment before answering. “No, I don’t have a detailed plan yet. But I will do everything I can to rebuild this town. I want to kickstart its economy, help the residents live better lives, and turn this place into a popular stop for adventurers again, just like it used to be. I’ll also be exploring what resources we can use around this area. But as for a step-by-step plan, I don’t have that yet. I’ll take it slow and might need your help along the way.”
Elincia responded, “That sounds fun, Broken.”
Maylock added, “You know you’ll need a lot of support to build this town. And financial backing, too, right?”
Broken nodded. “Yes, I’ve discussed this with Freya. I know I need a lot of support and can’t handle everything alone at this stage, especially when it comes to finances.”
Broken needed to take a tour around the city and its surrounding areas, studying everything and gathering data. Only then could he craft the most accurate, step-by-step plan he
required.
Or, as Freya suggested, he could divide this task among others, but that was precisely what made him hesitate. He wasn’t used to dealing with large sums of money and felt like he needed to be very careful. The investments required would be significant, and so would the contributions from each person. He felt overwhelmed by all those numbers, which is why he needed to calculate everything again, perhaps taking a bit more time. freёwebnoѵel.com
Booba then rose to his feet. “Maylock, don’t think you can contribute much to the construction of this town with your small amount of money. I will be the main funder to build
this town. And I’m sure Broken doesn’t need you here, hahaha.”
Elincia kicked her brother in the knee. “Could you just shut up for a moment! Do you honestly think this city can be built with only the money you have, idiot!”
“Ouch! Hey, why did you kick me? I’m just trying to help, sis,” he protested.
Maylock then intervened. “Listen, I understand you want to help, but it’s not feasible to think you can rebuild this town with money alone, right? You need to contribute with your brain,
too.”
Booba responded, “Wow, are you saying I have no brain? Oh, come on, Maylock!”
Maylock continued, “We need assistance from everyone to make this town happen, and that includes you, too, Booba.”
“Hahaha,” Booba laughed at Maylock’s words, then turned to Elincia. “See, sis, even your guild member acknowledges me.”
Elincia ignored her brother and responded to Maylock. “That’s exactly right. We need all the help we can get, so we all have to work together to make Broken’s dream a reality.”
Broken smiled and nodded slowly. “You don’t need to worry. I’ll get everything about this town laid out for you real soon. Just need to prepare myself first.”
“Sure thing,” Elincia said with a bright smile. “Take your time.”