City of Desire

Marquess Grimvale

I walked into the parlor and saw nine Nakar barons sitting there. Seeing their faces, I knew it wouldn't be good, but I had to face them and hear what they had to say.

"Lord Marquess," they greeted.

"Everyone," I replied as I sat down on my chair, which was elevated above the rest. "Thank you, Lord Marquess," they replied in unison.

"How is everything in Nakar?" I asked.

"Great, my lord. The security and increasing trade are helping our territories a lot," replied Lysand.

The non-aggression agreement with Silver is going well; he did nothing or made no move to test me. He is also managing the monster problem in the north very well, which is helping trade tremendously.

The trade that brings in more taxes, making me spend a little less on baronies.

If this continued, with taxes coming from trade and the barons themselves, Southern Nakar would become self-sufficient, which would be good because I am spending a lot on it.

I need to focus on other things as well; they aren't the only nobles I have.

"I am glad to hear that," I said, while the smiles on their faces disappeared. Here it comes.

They looked at each other before firmness appeared on Rose's face and

"We need serfs, my lord. A lot of them, it is the only way we will develop to our full potential." He stated, and I wanted to sigh hearing that.

Everybody wants people, these Nakar Barons, the new nobles, two of my subjects and two of my own cities. I am trying to bring as many people as I can.

I had brought over a hundred thousand, and it was no easy thing, but they are far from enough.

I developed a network before even coming here, and it was sending me people, but nobles were clamping down on the movement of people.

Demanding more and more money. Even my power isn't enough to threaten them into the agreement.

"Silver is sending thousands of men into the baronies every month, making them develop rapidly."

"They have already left us behind. If this continued for a few more months, we would have no chance of catching them up," said Schafer, his voice filled with indignation.

I could even feel a faint bit of envy and regret from him. As if he made a mistake, choosing me over silver.

"You should also go heavy on traitors, my lord, those selling their loyalty to Silver for people," added Rose, and instantly he received a few glares.

Silver is giving people to my barons.

The number is far less than what he is giving to his nobles, but greater than what I am giving them.

He is also doing it indirectly through his barons, many of whom have good relations with my barons, despite choosing different camps.

Only four barons are receiving no people from Silver. Lockridge and three of his steadfast allies, including Rose. Six of the nine here are receiving people from him; they are the ones who glared at Rose.

Speaking of the four, that bastard Lockridge didn't come.

I had told him to handle his barons' grievances. It is why I am keeping him there, but the bastard threw them at me.

"You know, the state of the empire, dear Barons. It is hard to bring the people here, but I am trying," I said.

"It is why I have developed a new plan, which I will present to you all to get more people. For that, I will need your help and the help of your families," I stated, and saw the expressions of many changing. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

They could guess what I want, and they don't like it. Well, they didn't have to like it.

I have been paying to get the people, but now I will make them share the burden. Their families have money and, most importantly, the connections.

I didn't want to do this, but I have no choice.

I am using my own money and connections, but it isn't enough. So, I will now use my subjects, not only the Nakar Barons' but also those of other nobles, to whom I sold territories.

"What about Silver sending people to our Barons?" asked Rose. He is not letting this go.

I could see others glaring at him.

"They are people, Baron Rose; our people need them. If Silver is giving it to us, we will take it," I replied, and could see relief appearing on the faces of many.

I don't like Silver sending serfs to my people, but I can't stop them.

If he had been doing that to only a few, I would have stopped that immediately, but he is not. Except for the four, he is supplying people to all, and stopping that would have consequences.

Also, the numbers he's giving them are greater than the ones I'm providing.

So, the only thing I could do was let it happen, even if I hate it, but I am cautious. I am strengthening my forces. So, I could suppress any baron who might try to change sides.

Rose opened his mouth.

"The journey would have been hard, dear Barons; take rest. We will talk more in the evening," I said and got up, before Rose could utter another word of complaint.

"If we had an ocean port, getting people would have been easier," said Dasir as I walked toward my office.

A port would have been very useful; we have Riverbell, and it made things much easier, but its access runs through Inam. If we had an ocean port city, we would have been able to bypass it.

"Gaining one is hard right now. The one controlled by the undead is out of the question, while Zanav and Silver will fight tooth and nail if we attack their port cities," I replied.

I am strong and becoming stronger, but I am spreading my forces too thin. I need to fix that before I can attack.

Because when I attack, I want to succeed.

"How are the negotiations with Zanav going?" I asked. "He was angry when I implied the threat, but since then, negotiations have been moving faster," he replied.

I want access to the ocean port because of the limitation Thorn had put on his.

I have two options, Silver and Zanav. Silver even refused to negotiate on half of the parts, and the threat of attacking didn't work as well on him as it would have when I came here.

That leaves me with Zanav, but even he is tricky. Very cautious.

He wouldn't have been if I hadn't captured Riverbell, but I do not regret it. It is helping me tremendously; without it, things would have moved much more slowly.

"Finish it within a month. Tell him Silver is growing fast. If we don't work together, there will be hell to pay," I said.

Silver is becoming increasingly dangerous by the day, posing a threat to both of us. Bigger for him than me, Silver hates him more than me, despite us crossing arms.

Well, I didn't attack the thing most precious to him, but if he hadn't, it wouldn't have turned into the legacy.

"Summerfield, what is he saying about the crystals?" I asked. "He is becoming more receptive," replied Dasir, and I laughed.

Until a few months ago, he was quite cold. Angry over Riverbell, but he can't remain angry forever. Two massive threats are coming, and he is in the most trouble.

They will go for Silver, but they might target him and Zanav first to set up a base.

As for me, they wouldn't dare to attack me before they finished with Silver.

"Tell him, if he submits. I will be more than happy to protect him," I said, and the man laughed. We both know that Summerfield will not; he thinks he has a chance because of that mine.

I love to get my hands on that. One day, I will.

Soon, I reached my office, and Talmire was already waiting for me there.

"How about Count Balenti?" he asked, without turning from the file he was looking at. "He is powerful, but not someone we could trust," I replied.

We are discussing the second batch of nobles; that batch has three spots for Nakar.

There are empty baronies, and I need to fill them, but Nakar is the most precious territory I have, my emerald land. I need to choose the people carefully for it.

Especially not someone who will flip to Silver.

"We could not trust him, but we could trust his fear; he would not dare to betray you," said Talmire.

"He will, if he feels Silver could offer him enough protection," I replied.

He opened his mouth, but closed it. Talmire had good relations with Balenti, but that doesn't mean I will accept him. I want to sell those territories to nobles who won't flip to Silver.

"We have to choose them quickly; we need money to build the city," he stated.

Yes, money.

I need my city in Nakar; I planned to attack Lauryl, but in the short term, it would be hard. So, building my own city would be a wise choice.

But I am not planning to spend much of my money on it.

I have asked some money from the barons' families. The three people I am selling territories to will also contribute toward it; it's a condition to get the territory.

I plan to build it in stages; that approach will be more economically viable.

"The city is not as important as the opportunity that will come when those two descend on Renwell; it will finally give us a chance against Silver," added Dasir.

The first list of nobles we sold land to had the most merchants. The second have nobles; the nobles who could fight. ƒгeewёbnovel.com

These noble allies will help form a force that will finally give me confidence to march against Greltheaven. Once I conquer Greltheaven, the legacy will help me conquer the whole region.

Even the undead wouldn't be a challenge then.

"It's why we are going to settle on names quickly. So, we will be ready to act when the chance appears," I replied. Silver is getting stronger; if I let him, he will become strong enough to even attack me.

I cannot let that happen.