Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Without the little bear causing trouble, the bar’s operations slowly began to recover. Business picked up again, and soon boomed. Every night, soldiers and adventurers would gather at the small bar within Shangri-La to drink and tell stories.
In this period of time, without the battle between the Banto and Rossi people, and coupled with the presence of fierce guards, Wissen Town’s security improved. The troops and adventurers concentrated on completing their missions and plans.
Some hunted in Terras Forest, while others searched for the fabled treasure of the giant dragon. There were even people who fought each other in the forest. But as long as they were not causing trouble in Wissen Town, and as long as they were not threatening the ordinary citizens, Goode, who was in charge of Wissen Town’s defense, did not care too much about them.
Abilities that were deep beyond comprehension, a mysterious family background, massive Magical Beast army, powerful followers…
Yang Ling did not care too much about controlling the troops or adventurers, preferring to let them move freely. At the same time, those people understood Yang Ling’s powers, and would dare not offend their leader. Every soldier and adventurer who arrived would have been warned not to cause trouble in Wissen Town under any circumstances, or everyone might suffer.
With the intelligence unit Parrot’s help, Yang Ling remained informed about every action that happened in Wissen Town, and he knew about the different information streams between the soldiers and adventurers. He was satisfied with the current situation. As long as his plan remained on the right track, the resource-rich Wissen Town would attract many merchants and healthy trade.
The rapid development of his territory was to be expected!
According to the news carried by the Ox Chief, the Fox Elder had recruited several tribes, and many of the aborigines were relocating to the Black Water Lake or Wissen Town. Many hands make light work. It was estimated that a city of a preliminary scale would be completed at the Black Water Lake by spring of the following year. Yang Ling had been thinking about a name for the new city, and he decided to call it Black Water City.
Black Water City, situated right at the shore of the Black Water Lake, had unique conditions. Yang Ling believed that as long as he planned it well, Black Water City would not only become a hub for transferring resources, it could also develop quickly based on its natural conditions. Even though the resources in the Ladak Mountain Range was not as rich as those in Terras Forest, there were still several mines there. Yang Ling believed that many merchant teams would fight to head there after the city had been developed.
Despite only having been back to Wissen Town for a few days, Argus also supplied Yang Ling with good news. He had exterminated many of the aboriginal tribes that were too arrogant to join forces with Yang Ling.
With their current progress, it was estimated that they would be able to fully clear off the bandit-like aborigines between Wissen Town and the Aila Mountain Pass in another month or so. Following that, they could shift their attention toward the insurgents in the wastelands outside the Aila Mountain Pass, in preparation for the influx of merchants and human traffic the following year.
Even though Yang Ling had drafted the overall direction his territory was going to progress toward, he still had to settle many of the finer details. Aside from training, he took the time to discuss the next stage of his plan with Goode and the rest. One morning, while he was preparing to meet with Goode to discuss plans as usual, Orlando arrived and announced that the Gnome Elder had come to call on Yang Ling.
“Sir, my tribesmen have more or less been settled. Do you need our help in any way?”
The Gnome Elder was all smiles, and bowed respectfully. Under Goode’s direction, workers had built a special building for the Gnomes at the northwestern corner of Wissen Town. The cooling, spacious wooden houses, ample rations, warm hides, and the friendly smiles of the townspeople had helped the Gnomes feel welcome and at home.
The Gnome race had been relieved after they moved to Wissen Town. This was especially so for the Gnome Elder, as he understood that he had taken the correct wager back then, and had been lucky to get into Yang Ling’s good books. After settling his tribesmen, he could not wait to lead them into doing something, so as to strengthen their clan’s position in Yang Ling’s heart.
“Elder, your most important mission is to draw as many Magical Spell Formations as you can!” After a pause, Yang Ling continued. “In the future, I will enlist people to supply you with Magical Beast Blood Essences every day. I will also build a Magic Experimentation Tower in town as soon as possible.”
The most important aspect in a large scale battle was the cooperation between the wide variety of troops. It could boost each unit’s offensive and defensive capabilities and keep casualties low. Even though he could not use any spells, Yang Ling was familiar with a Spellcaster’s value in an army unit.
At the time, he had the ability to form a powerful team of heavy infantry as well as a team of light cavalry, but he did not have many experience Spellcasters, or even any apprentices. Spellcasters could not be created overnight. Given that he could not recruit as many Spellcasters as he wanted on the spot, the next best thing would be to draw many of the Gnome’s Magical Spell Formations and equip his forces in this manner.
Building a Magic Experimentation Tower?
Goode and the Gnome Elder were surprised when they heard Yang Ling mention this. As a Great Spellcaster, he understood how many premium crystals went into building a Magic Experimentation Tower. There was no way they could afford it with Wissen Town’s current financial state.
Goode thought for a moment, then decided to voice his opinion. “Sir, we still have not gotten the crystal mine that the Rossi Prince Renaya promised us . Should we talk about building a Magic Experimentation Tower at a later date?”
“The crystals are not a problem. I can get as many as we need. The crux lies in whether there are enough Gnome craftsmen that can draw the Magical Spell Formations!” After a pause, Yang Ling spread out the map and pointed to the Taildon Valley. He indicated a specific area nearby. “Here we have an exposed sulfur mine. There is also a massive vein of five colored crystals!
Neither the Gnome Elder nor Goode had any idea they were so near a vein of five colored crystals. Their eyes bulged in surprise. How was it that Yang Ling knew about this, and nobody else did?
Crystal ores could be used to create Crystal Coins, large-scale Magical Spell Formations, or magic towers, or even to replenish a Spellcaster’s expended Magical Energy. Premium crystals could even boost the power of magical spells just like the Magical Beast Essence Crystals. They were the kinds of treasure that every Spellcaster dreamed about.
On the Tailun Continent, an average crystal mine would attract merchant teams like flies, resulting in many schemes between the noble and rich. The battles between empires, rather than describe it as a desire for territory, was more for the competition for resources like crystal mines. It was precisely because there were several crystal mines on their border lines that the Banto and Rossi Empires remained entangled with each other, and the reason for continuous conflicts.
The Gnome Elder and Goode knew what a terrible uproar it would cause if news of a massive vein of five colored crystals spread! Goode realized Yang Ling’s true intention for building the city at the Black Water Lake.
Wissen Town was still building up its industries and required a large amount of resources and manpower. That was Goode’s original worry regarding Yang Ling’s plan to start another city. He remained frustrated with Yang Ling until just that moment. This was not a situation where Yang Ling was splitting limited resources, but a plot to capture more resources! He could not help but be at awe at Yang Ling’s foresight.
Building a city at the Black Water Lake could not only combine many of the aboriginal tribes and obtain more manpower quickly, it would also decrease the risk of bandits appearing on the merchant routes. Most importantly, he could legitimately post an army at the outpost there, and secretly excavate the vein of five colored crystals without attracting outsider attention.
Goode was excited, but the Gnome Elder was shocked and relieved.
There was only one reason Yang Ling would tell him such an important piece of news, and that was because he had already fully accepted and trusted the Gnome tribe.
In an ordinary human empire or territory, Gnomes were third class citizens. But in Wissen Town, in Yang Ling’s territory, the Gnome Elder saw a beautiful future for his tribesmen.
The tactician Goode was doing his best to remain calm. He took a sip of jasmine tea, and said, “SIr, we have to keep it confidential and excavate the vein of five colored crystals in secret. Otherwise, we might attract massive trouble!”
The value of the vein of five colored crystals was unimaginable. If news of the vein spread, even the Livenza Alliance and Rossi Empire might want a stake in it, and the Banto Empire that was still eyeing Wissen Town would surely get involved. They might even attract another crisis of extermination on the newly formed Magical Beast Territory if they were not careful!
“That’s right, Sir, we have to act carefully, in case news spreads!” After calming himself some, the Gnome Elder’s expression darkened. Compared to an average person, the Gnomes, who had known discrimination, knew more clearly the greed and cruelty that humans were capable of. He knew that if news spread that there was a vein of five colored crystals in the Magical Beast Territory, the first to come knocking would be the self-proclaimed righteous Church that in fact had the blood of countless murders on their hands.
Often, a piece of amazing news was the harbinger of a violent storm!
Without needing the Gnome Elder and Goode to say any more, Yang Ling also knew that a valuable find usually invited trouble. He deliberated for a moment, and then spoke. “At the present time, we could seal off the latter half of the Taildon Valley under the guise of building an outpost, and send out our most trusted warriors to do a small scale excavation. We could transport the crystal ores using the Space Ring, under absolute confidentiality.”
Space Ring?
Goode would have never thought of that. He began to warm to Yang Ling’s idea. All that was left was to select a team of warriors with unquestionable loyalty. In this regard, he believed that the Ogres that would only follow Yang Ling’s orders would be the perfect choice.
“Sir, in fact, using the Space Ring is not the safest choice.” the Gnome Elder piped up. “Frequently going between the Taildon Valley and Wissen Town would easily attract the attention of anyone watching. If the warriors responsible for transporting the crystals were to be intercepted, and the Space Rings forcefully taken from them, then our secret would surely be discovered and exposed!”
The Gnome Elder continued. “We have an even safer way. If we build a small Magical Teleporation Spell Formation inside the Wissen Castle, and one in the Taildon Valley, we could transport the five colored crystal ores safely. All we need is enough Blood Essences from space elemental Magical Beasts, and I think we can draw two small Magical Teleportation Spell Formations!”
Yang Ling was elated. It would be the most secure method of transport for the crystals. It would facilitate the mine’s secret excavations, and it would make it possible to send reinforcements from Wissen Castle straight to the Taildon Valley, should any accident or attack occur.
