Broken stepped into the blacksmith workshop. The room was small, just enough for two workstations and some supplies, along with a spot to store equipment and crafted items. There were three distinct rooms lined up side by side, each connected by open doorways, with each section having its own entrance. However, only the middle room had the blacksmith tools.
In one corner, he saw several sets of forging and blacksmithing tools, just enough for one person. To the side, a pile of iron ore waited to be used. On the opposite end, broken equipment and weapons were scattered across the floor.
Yara bowed deeply and spoke in a low voice, “My Lord, I’ll start tidying up this place so you can use it right away.”
Broken nodded slowly. “Thank you, Yara. But no need to rush, I’m not going to use it
immediately. Take your time. It would be nice to have it cleaned up, but don’t rush too much. You need to balance working and resting, alright?”
“Yes, My Lord. But, I don’t need much rest. This house has been empty for a long time, so I’ve had plenty of time to relax,” Yara replied before quickly grabbing a broom and starting to clean the room. She worked swiftly and skillfully, getting rid of unused items and
reorganizing the space.
Just then, Broken received a private message from Freya.
[Freya: “Goldrich and Jovina have arrived. He said he wants to have a conversation with you.”]
Broken immediately returned to the main building and stepped into the living room. There, Goldrich, Maylock, and Elincia were already waiting for him. He walked closer as they all stood up, looking eager.
“Ha ha ha,” Goldrich greeted him with a warm handshake. “Look who it is, the Lord of Slumdon Town.”
“I see you’re making yourself at home in this city,” Broken said. “Have you spent enough money to get the economy going?”
“Don’t worry,” Goldrich replied. “I will flood this place with my wealth, so much that even the Capital of Dissidia Kingdom will envy the progress of this city in your hands, with my help. You’d be shocked to know how rich I am.” He winked. “I could even buy Dissidia Kingdom if I wanted, but I don’t like to boast.”
Broken just smiled, responding to Goldrich’s joke.
Once everyone had settled into the comfortable couches in the living room, Goldrich began to explain.
“As I’ve been exploring the western region, I found dense forests stretching toward the sea,” he began. “Additionally, in the eastern part to the south, there are high mountains, partially covered in snow, close to the border of Keseon Kingdom.”
Broken paid close attention to Goldrich’s explanation.
“So,” Goldrich continued, “I can conclude that many areas of the forests and mountain ranges remain unexplored due to the high-level monsters there. I even discovered Dungeons above level 200 and Trial Domains with similar levels.”
“It’s clear this city has immense potential,” Maylock added.
“Khi khi khi,” Goldrich laughed. “We can level up quickly and reap many benefits if we control all the monsters and dungeons in that area. While Jovina and I haven’t explored deeply yet, I’m confident we can find even higher-level dungeons-maybe even level 300.”
Maylock nodded slowly, absorbing Goldrich’s words. “I think we should explore the forest and map out all the resources and hunting grounds there.”
Goldrich smiled at Maylock’s enthusiasm. “I knew you’d get excited hearing about high-level monsters, huh?”
Elincia chimed in, “But remember, our first focus is building and strengthening this city. We need a solid base for further development.”
Broken nodded slowly, appreciating the help Goldrich had provided even before he had done anything for the town. Their support clearly made things much easier for him.
“Thanks for your exploration and effort, Goldrich,” he replied with a friendly smile.
“Khi khi khi… I’ve made sure to be at the forefront to receive news from you about when you’ll be discussing investing in this city,” Goldrich said.
He continued. “Have you considered it? You don’t need to worry about funds, Broken. As long as you have a vision and the determination to pursue it, and if you bring in many exciting adventures for us, I’ll be your number one funder. You see, this old man has so much money that even a lifetime of extravagance wouldn’t be enough to spend it all.”
Broken smiled at Goldrich’s assurance. “Tonight,” he said. “Tonight, I’ll hold a meeting with all of you to discuss the development of the city.”
After discussing plans with Goldrich and the others, Broken moved on to other tasks that needed his attention that day. He then met up with Igor, Inggrid, and Anna, who were on guard in front of the house.
“My Lord, is there anything I can help you with?” Igor asked.
Broken nodded. “Since there aren’t any training facilities for you in this town, I’m assigning your shifts for guarding. One person at the main city gate, one here at the house, two for patrolling the city, and two more will join whichever party is hunting monsters near the town. Alright?”
“Understood, My Lord,” Igor replied.
Anna also responded with an enthusiastic smile. “My Lord, can we also join you on the monster hunt?” she inquired.
Broken smiled at her. “Anna, I have a lot of things to do, so I won’t be joining the monster hunt for now. But I have someone to accompany you.” frёewebnoѵēl.com
“Polly?” he called, and a little white fox with four tails appeared, hiding behind Broken.
He then turned to Polly. “Could you accompany the Knights to hunt monsters in the nearby area, Polly?” he asked.
Polly nodded slowly. “Yes, Master, I can- But-” She looked hesitant. “What should I do? Who will give me orders while I’m there, Master?”
Broken reassured her. “Igor will give you instructions for now, Polly. Just follow his lead, and everything will be fine.”
He then turned to Igor and the others. “Igor, your main task is to ensure that no one gets seriously injured. Hunt monsters only in the area near the town.”
“Yes, Master,” Igor replied.
Broken glanced down at Polly. “Are you okay with this?”
“Ye-yes… Master…” Polly said, sounding hesitant. Spirits bonded with someone often lose their freedom, acting only when commanded, which is why Polly never strayed far from
Broken.
“Your task is to hunt and gather as many resources as possible: monster cores, monster soul stones, everything. This way, the knights can level up and acquire new skills.”
“Yes, Master,” Polly responded, still a bit unsure.
Broken then delivered a final message to them. “Don’t push yourselves too hard. If any of you get hurt, come back quickly to recover your strength. Heal up and then head out for another hunt. I want you all to level up and become stronger, but don’t take on more than you can
handle.”
“Yes, My Lord,” they replied in unison.
“Polly, let me carry you so you can move faster,” Anna suggested, picking up Polly and
placing her in her arms.
With that, they set off, Polly joining them on their mission. As he watched them walk away, a thought crossed his mind. “I care for them like they are my own children, don’t I?”
But it seemed the knights were still missing a couple of crucial roles to truly form a solid team: a support, a healer, and maybe a dedicated tank. Broken thought about recruiting a few more individuals who might have the right talents to become knights. He could start by selecting interested townspeople and training them intensively.
For the town to progress and thrive, he knew he needed a lot of knights-a strong army. Only then could the town continue to function smoothly, even if he needed to leave on a mission. Take Dissidia Capital, for example. Their knights had capabilities on par with the king, and even the two Knight Grand Crosses guarding Princess Alora were far stronger than her. But he knew everything would take time to build. However, he would soon start by gathering all available resources and support.
As darkness began to blanket the area, the moment many had eagerly awaited finally arrived. Broken called the meeting everyone had been anticipating.
“I’d like to thank everyone for joining us here this evening,” Broken declared, formally starting the meeting. “We will discuss the development plans for Slumdon Town.”