Chapter 161
Chapter 161
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 161
Chapter Title: Consolidation of Power
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The process of receiving the marquis title didn't end with the ceremony.
It took five days just to visit and greet various nobles, members of the Hemian Temple, and the royal family. Finally, key guests were invited to the Lennox estate.
The ghost butler was delighted to see the Lennox family not only revived but flourishing, yet Wang-sik found it all to be a nuisance.
—You've worked hard, my lord.
It was well past noon.
With the departure of Rohan Leit, the last remaining guest, all the formalities were finally over.
The butler who greeted him had become so corporeal that no one short of a priest could tell he was a ghost.
He had a perfect human form, and the restrictions that kept him from leaving the estate were gone.
He could now freely switch between his ghostly and human forms. Moreover, he had become aware of everything that happened within the estate.
He had become the estate itself.
“We will expand our influence. First, we will select new lords.”
The lands absorbed by the Lennox family were vast, and Vega had to maintain his position as mayor.
Therefore, a new lord had to be appointed for the region absorbed through the war of honor, and the time had come.
The groundwork had been laid during the party, so his selections would pass without issue.
“Send the letters of recommendation as planned and cooperate with their appointments as lords.”
—Yes, my lord.
New, rising families loyal to the Lennox family would become the lords.
“The Mirje Trading Company will handle financial matters. Ensure everything proceeds smoothly.”
It wasn't a matter of blindly supporting these new families. They still lacked much and would need the help of the Lennox family and the Mirje Trading Company, which naturally established a system of oversight and command.
—Understood. But what about the private soldiers?
Wang-sik's true purpose in seizing the entire eastern region wasn't money, but power. Specifically, soldiers who could fight.
“Authorize the maximum legal number of private soldiers and city guards. However, they must regularly participate in monster subjugations.”
By adhering to the law and using monster subjugations as a pretext, there would be no issues.
*'That should be about five thousand men.'*
He had indirectly acquired an army he could mobilize.
He could find ways to increase their numbers further, but there was no need to push too hard in the beginning.
*'For now, this is enough.'*
As monster subjugations progressed and the population grew, the number of guards would naturally increase as well.
“Tell all the lords to follow Elat's model of governance.”
Elat, currently managed by Wang-sik, was gaining a reputation as the most livable city in the east.
This was because there were many high-paying jobs, and the wage payment system was transparent.
Naturally, workers flocked to the city, invigorating commerce, while the city guard thoroughly prevented interference from nobles or the back alleys.
With this as a foundation, maritime trade and fishing flourished, leading to predictions that Elat would soon reclaim its former glory.
The proof was in the new buildings rising in the once-abandoned residential areas on Elat's outskirts.
Moreover, Elat was still short on labor.
This was due to the vast territories that had been reclaimed after monster subjugations.
“There will be economic cooperation between the cities. I will handle that in consultation with the Mirje Trading Company.”
A vast economic cooperation system was now established, encompassing not just Elat but all the cities along the eastern coast.
—My lord, there may be conflict with the Taylor family. It would be best to decide on a course of action in advance.
The Lennox family was undeniably the greatest power on the continent's eastern coast.
However, they did not control the entire eastern coast.
The largest area, funnily enough, was monster habitat, followed by the Lennox family's territory, and finally, that of the Marquis Taylor's family.
They were a family established on the northeastern coast with a peculiar history.
During the Imperial War, they had been a small nation on the northeastern coast.
They were the smallest nation at the time and were the first to declare surrender to the current emperor's invasion.
Because it was an unconditional surrender, after the empire was unified, the king and his clan were granted the title of marquis and their territory was recognized.
As a result, they possessed a favorable environment and the title of marquis, but their past history made it impossible for them to advance into central politics.
Nevertheless, thanks to their excellent management of their domain, the Taylor family had built a considerable power base on the northeastern coast.
“Make sure not to encroach on their businesses or territory. There will be more than enough land once we subjugate the monsters anyway.”
They are a reclusive group, so as long as we don't provoke them first, there shouldn't be any problems.
*'There will come a time to use them.'*
He didn't say it to the ghost butler, but Wang-sik was already thinking of ways to use them.
With their unique political history, they were a perfect family to throw the continent into chaos.
*'Royalty would never be satisfied with being mere nobles.'*
Now was not the time to act.
“And now, begin conducting our own subjugations. Mold will be in charge.”
They had accumulated not only training but also consistent combat experience, and the fifty private soldiers had been equipped with excellent gear.
“The goal is to reclaim the entire eastern coast. Provide all necessary support.”
The coast was prime land, with potential for resources, food, and tourism development.
—Yes, my lord.
“For now, proceed as planned.”
When the conversation ended, the ghost butler bowed and turned away.
Previously, he would have turned transparent and passed through the door, but not anymore.
He opened the door like a living person, bowed his head, and left the room.
*'The plan is proceeding well so far.'*
Left alone, Wang-sik reviewed the current situation.
Some things had progressed further than planned, while others had not.
*'The Magic Tower should be starting to make its move soon.'*
One hundred days had passed since Lilia's assassination.
As time went on, many businesses that had been lying low were resuming their activities.
In particular, the rising number of gate occurrences meant that people were no longer treading carefully around the Magic Tower.
*'They've done as much as they could.'*
One hundred days was a long time to wait.
By now, they should have at least narrowed down the search area for a more focused investigation, but they still hadn't found any leads.
*'So this is as far as it goes.'*
This situation wasn't entirely favorable for Wang-sik.
*'Is the grace period over?'*
He had hoped the chaos would last longer, but the Azelan Continent was not a place where only the Magic Tower existed.
Things were returning to normal faster than Wang-sik had anticipated.
*'They'll try something to change the atmosphere.'*
The Magic Tower certainly wouldn't just stand by.
At the very least, it was highly likely they would stage a major event to restore their tarnished honor.
*'I need to keep the Magic Tower in check, and soon.'*
He now had the emperor's official permission.
Not for the emperor's sake.
For Earth's sake, Wang-sik kept a close watch on the Magic Tower's actions.
* * *
Magic Tower, 9th Floor.
A sigh escaped from within Lilia's now masterless laboratory.
Outside the Magic Tower, the search for the assassin was still frantic, but the atmosphere inside the laboratory was entirely different.
“What in the world does this mean?”
The one who spoke resentfully after the sigh was Falcon.
Lilia's disciple and an 8th-floor mage, he was staying in the 9th-floor laboratory with special permission.
His purpose was to restore Lilia's research.
But it was not an easy task.
Lilia, with her meticulous nature, had left behind all her research notes, but he couldn't decipher them.
There were countless formulas, but without knowing their applications, his frustration only grew.
*'I thought it would all be mine.'*
When Lilia died, his grief was fleeting.
In truth, it was more shock than sadness.
But after a few days, he realized it was a tremendous opportunity.
The Magic Tower couldn't abandon the gate business, which meant the position would naturally fall to Falcon.
—Once the assassination case is closed, someone must take over the 9th-floor position.
These words had been spoken at an official meeting.
*'I will become a 9th-floor mage.'*
Something he had only dreamed of was actually happening.
But what he coveted as much as the honor was the research left behind by his master, Lilia.
Before his official appointment, the 9th-floor mages had granted Falcon special permission to access the laboratory, allowing him to be the first to view the research materials.
He had been engrossed in analyzing the research ever since.
“Dammit...”
It was on a completely different level.
He could read it, but he couldn't understand it.
It was like looking at a foreign language he could read but not comprehend.
Implementing the magic was impossible.
The 8th floor and the 9th floor.
The difference couldn't be described as just one floor.
“Damn it...”
His high hopes dashed, he finally swore and looked away.
The countless figures and letters that had floated before his eyes like holograms vanished in an instant.
“Heh heh. What's troubling you so?”
Sunk in despair, Falcon quickly came to his senses at the unfamiliar voice.
Seeing the person who had entered the laboratory, he first bowed his head.
It was customary for 9th-floor mages not to visit each other's laboratories, but since Falcon had not yet been formally appointed, his position was ambiguous.
“You've come, Master Gullan.”
Gullan, another 9th-floor mage of the Magic Tower.
He was a white-haired mage with a mischievous smile on his wrinkled face.
He was characterized by his stooped walk, leaning on a staff, and his naturally small frame meant that others inevitably had to look down at him.
Therefore, most people had to lower their heads when dealing with him.
Falcon was no exception.
Gullan waved his hand dismissively and spoke in a friendly tone.
“Why the formality? We'll soon be fellow 9th-floor mages.”
In the past, he would have laughed it off, but not now.
An unannounced visit like this meant he was being disrespected.
If he had been truly accepted, Gullan wouldn't have visited so abruptly.
“What brings you here?”
The thought made his tone unavoidably stiff. Nevertheless, Gullan's expression remained smiling.
“I've come to help you.”
“Help me?”
“Are you prepared to take Lilia's place? The large-scale search will soon be called off, and things will return to normal. And we must prove that Lilia's absence is not a great loss.”
He was asking if Falcon had the confidence to do so.
Of course, he couldn't answer.
There was too much at stake to bluff.
Reading his expression, Gullan nodded in understanding and said,
“You are certainly qualified. You just don't have enough time. That's why I'd like to help.”
“How so?”
“How about we collaborate?”
“Collaborate...?”
“Lilia was a brilliant mage, but she was too secretive. She never collaborated with any other mages. If we discuss and work together, we can advance magic much further.”
Falcon knew what he meant.
*'If it's Gullan...'*
Gullan, the master of mental magic.
Like all 9th-floor mages, he could use all forms of magic to some extent, but he had a specialized field.
Lilia was the pioneer of gate magic, and Gullan was called the absolute authority on mental magic.
*'Come to think of it...'*
The last field Lilia was researching was adding brainwashing magic to gates.
“That was my idea in the first place. I was actually a bit offended when she said she would do it alone.”
“Are you suggesting we work on it together?”
“What do you say? I believe we'll have many things to work on together in the future.”
Various thoughts raced through Falcon's mind.
Gate magic was the most sought-after field in the entire Azelan Continent.
Gullan was now trying to dip his toes into the gate industry out of personal greed.
Knowing this, he couldn't just refuse outright.
*'If I work with him, I can secure my position on the 9th floor.'*
He was in a position where he needed to show results immediately.
*'There's no other way.'*
Falcon realized.
Why had they been willing to recognize him as a 9th-floor mage?
It was certainly strange for the 9th-floor mages to accept him just because he was Lilia's disciple.
*'So this is why.'*
Life Stones were the most necessary resource for them as well.
But all authority over them had belonged to Lilia. So they intended to seize that authority now.
“Very well. Let's work together. I will also request cooperation from the other mages if necessary.”
At those words, Gullan's expression brightened considerably.
“I knew you were a reasonable man.”
“However, I have a condition.”
“Speak.”
“You must share all research materials from the process with me.”
Gullan smiled.
He understood Falcon's intention.
*'He plans to buy time and build his skills in the interim, does he?'*
From Gullan's perspective, it didn't matter either way.
*'Try, if you can.'*
His smile deepened.
For some reason, Falcon thought it looked like a sneer.