“This should be all, Lord Arthur.”
“How grand… It’s no wonder some people lose their mind over such things, it’s difficult not to…”
In a well-lit room a man with silvery-white hair leaned over. He picked up a handful of coins and watched them glister in the magical light. He let the coins trickle through his fingers, the clinking sound echoing faintly in the spacious treasure room. The sheer wealth gathered over the past month was staggering. Piles of silver, gold, and rare gemstones sparkled under the light of enchanted mana lights, each piece a testament to his growing influence and the prosperity of the estate. Yet, for all the wealth surrounding him, there was unease gnawing on him.
Mary, his maid and most trusted confidante stood quietly beside him, holding a thick folder of documents. Her uniform was pristine, and her demeanor was calm, though her sharp eyes looked at Arthur with some amusement. When he seemed lost in his thoughts, she cleared her throat gently.
“Milord, if I may?”
She said, extending the folder toward him. Arthur blinked, snapping out of his greed-induced trance.
“Ah, yes, Mary. My apologies. What is it?”
“This is a proposal from Master Roland,”
She explained while handing the papers over.
“It outlines a new project he’s begun. However…”
Her expression turned serious as she hesitated, choosing her next words carefully.
“The expenses involved are... quite considerable.”
Arthur raised an eyebrow as he took the folder, flipping it open. The contents were dense with diagrams, calculations, and descriptions of various expenses. It appeared that his ally intended to order a substantial number of products from the dwarven union - a venture that would require a lot of capital. While his friend had meticulously accounted for the cost of even the simplest rivet, Arthur’s eye twitched as he scanned the summary at the bottom of the page.
“By the gods…”
Arthur muttered, skimming the numbers.
“This could drain half of our earnings for the quarter.”
“Indeed, and I’m sure Master Roland will come up with another grand project soon after…”
For a moment, Arthur felt weak, his legs threatening to give out as he leaned against a nearby wall for support. He had worked tirelessly to reach this point and had hoped the relentless expenses would eventually taper off. However, his Runesmith friend seemed incapable of slowing down, always pushing forward without pausing to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Arthur let out a heavy sigh and set the folder on a nearby table. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he weighed the implications.
“Roland’s creations have brought us success before. The golems within the dungeon have more than paid for themselves, generating steady profits… And the turrets have allowed us to cut back on military expenses… while raising the satisfaction of the commoners… “
The young lord began weighing the pros and cons of Roland’s decisions. He was acutely aware that most of the gold in the treasury would eventually be claimed by his father. Despite under-the-table deals with the Guild Master and the new crime lords in the red-light district, their operations were still consuming nearly all the profits they generated.
Yet Arthur harbored ambitions that required greater resources. He wanted to increase the military budget to recruit more soldiers, preparing for the future he envisioned. Those soldiers would need weapons, armor, and enough food to keep them strong and loyal. If he ever hoped to stand against his elder brothers and pursue his newfound goal of becoming the duke’s heir, bolstering the military was non-negotiable.
“Lord Arthur, there’s still more.”
As he contemplated, Mary interjected.
“Oh?”
Before Arthur could respond further, another set of documents was handed to him. These detailed the potential financial gains of a new plan - one focused on cultivating a recently discovered dungeon level. The proposal highlighted rare ores such as Ignisium and Galeite, both imbued with elemental power and highly valuable.
“I see…”
Arthur murmured, his tone shifting as he scanned the pages.
“So, it’s more of an investment for the future…”
It seemed his smart friend wasn’t just blankly asking for more funds but also presenting ways to generate even greater returns. Roland's plan wasn’t just about spending; it was a calculated move to expand their resource base, potentially doubling or even tripling their income in the long term. Still, it required faith - and a massive upfront cost. Arthur exhaled deeply, running a hand through his silvery hair.
“He always has a way of tying my hands. I can hardly say no when he dangles prospects like this before me.”
Mary allowed herself a faint smile, stepping closer.
“Master Wayland has proven his worth time and again. It’s not a question of if this will succeed, but when. Still, the decision lies with you, milord.”
“Oh, have you finally warmed up to him? Is that nothing but praise that I hear?”
Arthur chuckled as his maid turned her head away, a faint hint of embarrassment on her face. In the past, she had been openly skeptical about their pact. To her, it had seemed unreasonable to place so much trust in a man who concealed his true identity. They now knew that he was a runaway noble who didn’t seem to be a follower but more of an equal.
"True, his results are hard to deny, but that doesn't mean I agree with his methods or his disregard for hierarchy."
It wasn’t a secret that Mary disliked the fact that Wayland didn’t see Arthur as his superior. The young lord didn’t care much as he saw him as more than just a simple vassal.
"Hierarchy, eh? Sometimes, breaking the mold is necessary to achieve greatness and he has yet to disappoint, don’t you think?”
Mary said nothing, instead turning her attention back to one of the papers in her hand. She then presented it to Arthur along with his seal. While they weren’t in his office, he could still sign off on this plan that Wayland had presented.
“If you agree with Master Wayland’s budget plan, then please affix your seal here, milord.”
Mary said, her voice calm and even. She extended the paper and the seal with a slight bow, her demeanor urging him to make a decision. Arthur hesitated, staring at the intricate budget breakdown before him. Each line represented a small fortune, and the final sum was staggering. He could feel the weight of it pressing down on him. His estate's coffers, while healthy, were not inexhaustible, and this was no small expense. His hand hovered over the seal, shaking a bit.
“Is there something wrong, Lord Arthur?”
“Wrong… hah… no everything is great!”
A bead of sweat formed on his forehead as he hesitated further, this was probably one of the costlier projects his friend had organised and he still had his doubts. This was around half of their earnings and the rest they would need to send over to the duke as tax money. Mary just stood there without saying anything more, watching as Arthur slowly lowered his hand and finally gave the document its seal of approval.
“There.”
He said, his voice trembling slightly as if he had just sprinted for several minutes.
“It’s done. May the gods favor our endeavors.”
Mary accepted the sealed document with a slight bow, a hint of satisfaction in her eyes.
“Very good, milord. I will handle this issue personally.”
“Yes, that would be better, I’ll be in the training chamber… if all fails, I’ll just earn it back myself!”
Mary wasn’t sure how to respond to Arthur’s joke. It was clear he was heading into the chamber to train against an undead monster. His levels were rising quickly, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep him away from the higher-tier dungeon. Bringing monsters to him, one by one, had its limits, but it was far safer than venturing into a dungeon itself. If their enemies ever found out about this method, they would undoubtedly seize the opportunity to trap him there.
“But… what was that paper about a school? It felt out of place.”
Arthur left the treasury, heading toward the training grounds while mulling over some of the proposed projects. Among them was one particularly intriguing idea - an initiative to create a schooling system within the city, free for commoners to use. It stood out, not just because it lacked a listed price point, but because the concept itself was unusual. Education and schools were typically the domain of nobles, not commoners. Still, there were merits to the idea, neatly outlined in the proposal.
“Helping children learn to read and write at a young age would increase the likelihood of them gaining more advanced starting classes. We already have enough simple farmers and villagers in this city… Does he just have a thing for helping others, or…?”
Arthur wasn’t sure if his friend was simply kindhearted or if he was looking at the bigger picture. With more educated citizens, the city could thrive. It would be easier to find capable officials and skilled workers. And with the recent influx of residents, they were already facing shortages in various professions - scholars included.
“Maybe I should start planning for the future when I become duke… and we also have that thing coming up… we could use the resources from this project but can I really win?”
His steps echoed down the corridor as he approached the training area. His pace quickened, driven by the thought that if he didn’t keep training, he might fall behind his ally - a man who was clearly always thinking ahead.
******
“Oi, Mr. Bernir, what’s dat contraption ye got ‘ere?”
A burly dwarf called out, his arms crossed as he observed a peculiar machine. Bernir, a worker from the human Runesmith, had just arrived. The contraption looked unusual - a blend of machinery and a carriage. However, there was nothing pulling it forward, and instead of four wheels, it had three. The dwarven craftsman also noticed a few scratches on the chassis, along with some branches stuck here and there.
"It's just a new invention the boss made”
Bernir said with a grin as he stepped out of the buggy. The pride in his voice was unmistakable. The dwarves gathered around, their curiosity piqued, to inspect the vehicle. Questions and comments flew back and forth, but Bernir waved them off, eager to deliver the parcel Roland had tasked him with.
"A contraption what moves on its own, eh? Like th' Dwarven Trains, is it?"
One of the older dwarves, his beard streaked with gray, squinted at the glowing runes etched into the vehicle that became more apparent as the outer layer seemed to have been slightly damaged during the trip through the forest.
“Aye, something like this but I need to deliver something to Master Brylvia.”
“Just git in, ye know she be in da forge, as always.”
The gray-bearded dwarf replied dismissively, waving him away. It was clear that these older men were far more interested in the runic vehicle than in whatever Bernir was bringing. His boss hadn’t mentioned needing to keep the rune buggy hidden from anyone, so Bernir felt no qualms about showing it off. Without the key card he carried, they wouldn’t be able to start it anyway. Besides, the runic battery technology was something they already understood, so there was no need for secrecy. Bernir figured his boss was likely planning to sell the buggy to others eventually, and letting craftsmen get a glimpse of it was excellent advertising. They always loved to chatter endlessly, especially when drunk.
“Then, I’ll see myself in!”
The dwarven compound bustled with activity. Sparks flew from forges, the rhythmic pounding of hammers echoed through the air, and the tang of molten metal mingled with the earthy scent of stone. He approached the heavy iron door and knocked firmly. A sharp, commanding voice responded almost immediately.
“Who dares interrupt mah work? Speak quickly or go away!”
“It’s Bernir, Master Brylvia! I’ve brought the schematics and some materials the boss wanted you to have!”
The door creaked open, revealing a stout dwarven woman. She was clad in a heavy leather apron, her hands stained with soot and oil. Despite her small stature, her presence was imposing.
“Ah, Wayland’s subordinate, just hand it over.”
She said with a smirk, though there was no malice in her tone.
“Come in, then, 'n' let’s see whit this ‘genius’ o' yers has cooked up this time.”
Bernir stepped inside, carefully placing the spatial pouch on a stone table in the center of the room. She didn’t wait and just opened it and quickly went through the contents. The schematics were neatly rolled and bound, while the Ignisium gleamed with an otherworldly crimson hue, faint wisps of flame licking the edges of the ore. Brylvia’s eyes widened at the sight of the rare metal.
“By ye old god’s beard, he wasn’t jesting. Dhat’s Ignisium, a’ right.”
“I’ll need a team to refine some o’ dhis,”
Brylvia said, looking up from the parchment.
“ 'N' a lot more ignisium if we are to mak' thae projects a reality. Tell yer ‘boss’ I’m in, bit he’d better be reddy to negotiate if he wants priority ower mah ither projects.”
Bernir nodded.
“Aye, I’ll let him know. And don’t worry - he’s already got a plan for more materials. Always does.”
Brylvia laughed, a deep, hearty sound.
“Aye, that he does. Noo, git out o' mah forge, lad. I’ve git work to do.”
As Bernir turned to leave, he couldn’t help but glance back at the workshop. It was a place filled with dwarven craftsmen - a place he had always dreamed of working in. However, now that he was older, he couldn’t imagine a life where he didn’t work for his boss. His methods were vastly different from those of the dwarves, yet he somehow managed to outcraft them when it came to runic inventions. If he continued on this trajectory, his name would soon be known throughout the entire kingdom. It seemed nothing could stop him.
******
“Now then, everything should be in order, that just leaves me… with more work and not enough time.”
Through the monitoring system in the city he had already confirmed that Bernir arrived at the dwarven union. He seemed to have driven into some bushes along the way but managed to get there unscathed. Mary had also confirmed the budget and now he just needed to turn it into a reality.
Roland’s current project involved outfitting the dungeon level with some of his turrets and a hidden chamber. The chamber would likely be costly to construct, as it would include a gate unit. His plan was to use that level as a warp point, allowing him to bypass the journey entirely. The gate would also enable him to transport rare minerals more quickly, without relying as much on the guild.
“That Guild Master will probably want a cut of the spoils… but it’s still cheaper than dealing with the whole guild.”
In his report to Arthur, he noted that they would likely have to bribe the bald man. This individual had ties to the thieves' guild, and while their activities weren’t entirely legal, the same could be said for all the Valerian siblings - they were merely playing the game. Without concrete evidence, they remained safe. If their involvement were discovered, the guild master would bear the blame, not Arthur, who could plausibly claim ignorance of the entire predicament.
In addition to the renewable rare resources, there was a large gate at the end of the level. Though he hadn’t confirmed it yet, Roland intended to clear the entire floor the next time he entered the dungeon. The door likely led to one of two possibilities: another section of the dungeon, similar to the molten zone past the tenth level of the Albrook dungeon, or a boss chamber - or perhaps both. Roland still held out hope that this new dungeon was simply a branch of the super dungeon located at the island’s center. Even now, that vast labyrinth remained largely unexplored, its underground passages rumored to stretch in multiple directions.
“Well, I should get to it.”
A sigh escaped from his mouth as he picked up a hammer. While he outsourced a lot of projects to the dwarven union there were still a lot of things that he needed to tend to himself.
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