Gollum grew bigger.
A month later, Moore's troops and Winkle's guests destroyed it, turning over all the stones and leaving the village unrecognizable.
Mervyn not only rose from the ashes, but grew into a decent, if somewhat chaotic, city. As hordes of monsters come for stable food, hyperplane tourists set up shop here, and the undead are looking for a place to "live" without interference, the population has reached 8,000 people. The fields and sheepfolds originally built to accommodate Winkel's guests now accommodated a large population; and the fall of Muir only encouraged the natives to move closer to Ishfania's new rulers.
As Victor flew over the city on his giant wings, he could only marvel at the difficulties posed by the population boom. Everywhere he saw new buildings and homes being built, kobolds, goblins, goblins, and other creatures working together to build them. Angels and demons each occupy an adjacent area, and he sees the two hostile species harassing a dwarf, selling him "afterlife services." The Kobold Rangers had to break down three of the competition, and it got violent this week.
New people don't always get along well either. Goblins and goblins have been fighting, and the newest settlers, a tribe of orcs, have been causing some minor acts of destruction.
In short, Mu
mu
i
It has become an island of chaos in the feudal world.
Victo
His best efforts have been made to guide this evolution in a positive direction, but every day there are new problems to solve; he also has to repay his debt to Fankel. Although his class is resistant to fatigue, the constant stress has begun to take its toll on the staff sergeant.
Victor lands in front of his mansion to find a row of monsters waiting for him, surrounded by kobold minions. "Okay, who's here to talk business?" the minister asked, and many people raised their hands. "Who is here to reproduce?"
Fewer people raised their hands, although some visitors raised their hands twice. Weeks of rejection cost him many admirers.
"No breeding today," he announced, and people in line complained.
Victor was reminded of all those harem animations, where he innocently dreamed of the constant attention of female companionship. That was until he experienced it first hand; the constant sexual harassment and outright stalking was uncomfortable, it was tiresome and unsettling. Some even broke into his mansion and stole his hair!
Eventually, he just turned away almost everyone and had the kobold rangers restrain those who didn't get the memo. It wasn't that Victor despised female attention, he even indulged himself a bit, but being treated like a breeding stallion annoyed him.
Thankfully, most of the people who harassed him eventually lost interest...with only a few exceptions.
"Chocolate..." Victor frowned when he saw her standing in line with a bright smile on his face.
"I'm not here to breed!" she said. "I'm here to find a new temple."
Victor frowned before he remembered that. He doubted she had changed her mind about him, though. "Wait until I finish taking care of other urgent matters." He sighed and the werewolf shook his fist.
The chief of staff walked into his home and Charlene was waiting for him, holding a pile of documents. Another man found her first, much to her dismay. "But my dear..." Croissant knelt down and begged her to come back. "I swear I love you."
"Croissant, I don't know how many languages I have to say that," Charlene replied. "We do. I'm busy today, so unless you're here to talk business..."
"Honey, I've been thinking about it for weeks," Croissant insisted. "I'm very sorry……"
"You lied to me and concealed that you were a werewolf!" Cha
le
e complained. "And all the cakes you gave me...I thought they were sweet, but you fattened me up!"
"Well, yes, maybe our relationship started in animal husbandry, but I care!" said Croissant. "It's like feeding a pig to make ham for years and then finding out you can't make it anymore."
So smooth, croissant, Victor thought, and Charlene blushed at the pig's comment. It didn't help that she lost weight after breaking up with him. "Pig? Is this what I am to you?"
"Yes," Croissant replied, mistaking her anger for a blush. "You are my cute little pig..."
Victor tried not to laugh when Charlene turned into a tomato. "That's enough!" she said, turning to the undead guards. "Get him off government property!"
"But Charlene -" Croissant found himself surrounded by a pile of skeletons. He was forcibly dragged out, dejected.
Victor shook his head when he saw this scene. "It's very therapeutic," Charlene replied, running her hands through her hair. "But he's annoying."
"I can issue a restraining order if you want. The kobold rangers hate him, so they'll love this job."
"No," she replied, dusting off her clothes. "He'll give up eventually."
If he was anything like his sister, he wouldn't.
"What's the weather going to be like this morning?" he asked, as Charlene handed him a stack of paper that was larger than yesterday's.
"Universal Servant Health Plan, New Shared Temple Plan, Legalizing Murder—"
"Legalized murder?" Victor almost choked.
"Or waste disposal, if you want to sound politically correct," Charlene responded, taking the question more stoically than he did. “As Angels and Demons Price War, Savou
Euse recognized an opportunity and began lobbying for the creation of an official Assassin's Guild. "
"I don't have enough sleep to deal with this madness," Victor replied with a sigh.
"I know," she replied with a knowing smile. "Next is what you want to accomplish in Bahrain. Kia also sent out a message saying that Mauria is more or less at peace and that Barnabas has been introduced to the new Agartha Smith. He said next week They will send new magic items."
"Put the temple on the last agenda," Victor decided, since Chocolate would be attending. "Fankel is leaving tomorrow, so let's take care of the mission first."
She pointed to her pile of newspapers, which Victor was reading. It details the exploration and maps the southern continent. "This mission comes from Bahrain's leader, the legendary tactician and businessman Basino," Charlene explains. He wants to retrieve an ancient artifact, the Bottle of Mort, which is kept in the most dangerous dungeon in the desert: Sabra Tower. Bassino told me that he would be happy to reveal the location of members of the Blue Rose Legion in exchange for the artifact. "
Sabrata? Where the ancient ritual that turned Ishfania and the southern continent into a desert took place? It’s a super dungeon that scares everyone; however, stories of the riches buried within encourage tomb robbers to try Conquer it.
So far, few have come back alive.
"It was a very dangerous mission; Sabrata was considered a challenge for over-50 adventurers. Bassino believed, and I quote him, 'that a Dragon Emperor of Winkle's caliber should be powerful enough to achieve victory.'"
There must be Victor's badge inside. "I'll ask Kia if he wants to come along," he decided. The Paladins will surely enjoy the adventure, and they'll need the extra muscle, too.
“So let’s start with Medicare for All?”
Victor nodded and walked into the dining room of the mansion, which he often turned into a party room. Ghostly lights provide additional light, and skeletal servants wipe a large round table with a handkerchief. The chief of staff sat there and watched Charlene invite Malfi, Mir and Julius into the room.
Since she cannot rely on the usual guild fees, Charlene has to rely more or less on donations from Gadmani and V&V to maintain her chapter. Eventually, faced with the challenge of building an administrative structure for the city, Victor decided to hire her as a part-time assistant.
His own chief of staff.
Rather than feeling stressed, taking on city management duties has greatly improved her mood. Victor guessed that she had plateaued in Valban and that being promoted to city administrator would help boost her self-esteem. In fact, she is a very good friend when there is no pressure or worries.
Of course, Victor also used other ways to influence her...
"Dead diabolical gentlemen, angelic ladies," Victor welcomed everyone around the table. "I have summoned you to chair the new Minion Hospice Program."
"Before we begin, I want to say that I like the name, Victor," said Jules, the most enthusiastic of the three about the idea. He even gave the Vizier a majority share of his new Undead Corporation, which went a long way toward paying off his debts.
"Death sucks. Trust me, I've been there twice, and it sucks. It's painful, and you have to wait months to die with dignity." Victor isn't even sure if it's really that good... "So I've been thinking...we could make sentient undead on the cheap. Since many of V&V's minions died in the line of duty, I figured our guild should owe them something for their service. Hence my The idea is: V&V's minions could have their own immortal pension plan, allowing them to be resurrected after death."
"I am opposed to the creation of sentient undead as a workforce, but the idea of making witchcraft a social institution won me over and the Church of Camilla's support," Jules added. "The individual contributions of the servants will determine what we can do What kind of undead would you train them to be?"
"I recommend leaving the Lich Kingdom to the most qualified," Freebon said from within Victor's scythe, startling the Chief of Staff. He had all but forgotten about the Lich, as the undead spent his time conversing with other sealed souls rather than his jailers. "You'll need a virgin sacrifice, but it'll be worth it."
"The undead are a plague," Mir said. At this time, Juriris and some skeletons glared at him. Instead, you should compulsorily purchase paradise insurance. This is the only way to ensure a good, safe afterlife for all. "
"It's a free market economy, people chasing redemption," Malfoy interjected, then turned to Victor. "I say that the Inferi Corporation has priority over souls first. We have been the backbone of the Empire since its founding, and we are all about customer service."
"That's why Minions can choose between three retirement plans," Victor said. "Undead, heaven insurance, or some hell-"
"Happiness paradise."
"No matter what Happyland proposes."
"But one of the choices is immoral and the other is immoral," Mill complained.
"If you want people to sign up with you, give them the afterlife they want and don't delay it for a month."
"You're an exception!" Mill defended her poor customer service.
"If heaven is as good as it is advertised, people will definitely flock to your outdated hyperplane company." "Also, Mr. Victor, you also heard that the Inferi Company opened a succubus in Silent Forest. Brothels. As Prime Minister, it would be great if you could sample the goods. For security reasons."
Sample? Victor raised his head and Charlene rolled her eyes. "Is it always open?"
"Always, for friends."
"Mr. Victor, I have good news to tell you!" Miel immediately launched an offensive. "Due to your contribution to the universal insurance industry, my superior decided to send you a guardian angel for free. She will do the work for you." Anything you want to do. Everything.”
"Oh, Mr. Victor, it seems that a large amount of public donations slipped from my hands." "It would be a shame if no one picked it up..."
"Okay, thank you, but this deal is non-negotiable." Victor stopped them, and Charlene distributed a few pieces of paper to them. "Take it or leave it."
The three reviewed the document and finally signed it; Victor noticed that Malfoy and Mill exchanged a heavy, nervous glance as they handed out the papers. He could almost see the lightning between their eyes.
Why does he feel like he started a war?
Twenty minutes later, the three people exchanged places, and a very enthusiastic Savou
euse is carrying a basket. "Hey Vic! How's it going?!"
"I'm fine, Sev," Victor replied. "It's tiring work, but we can handle it."
"Management? Vic, you did a great job! I left the village for three weeks and found a city on the way back! Oh, I have a gift for you..." Savou
euse opens the basket to reveal a row of cheeses inside. "I brought you this from the north."
"Oh, sweet!" Victor couldn't help but eat a piece of goat cheese, but Charlene refused due to dietary reasons. “So, Savi, Charlene tells me you want to legalize waste disposal?”
"It's a little complicated. The leadership of the Night Blade thought your city had grown enough to have its own chapter operating here. At first, they wanted to form a Thieves Guild, but I told them: 'In a country ruled by dragons , Thieves Guild? How can we have a good ending?'"
"Stop it," the chief of staff said, deadpan.
"So, I suggested that they form an assassin's guild," Savou
euse explained happily. "It's good for the economy, Vic."
Victor gave her a blank look.
"This will create jobs!" Savou
euse defends her profession. "For example, my nephew Botiern. His law degree left him unable to find a job, so he reinvented himself and became a respected professional killer. Vic, as long as there are three people on this planet, there will be one A victim, an assassin, and a silent accomplice. If you don't supervise, the Night Blades will still enforce the contract, but we'll do it in seedy back alleys rather than in offices under government supervision."
"What argument is this?" Victor contested. "You will legalize every crime under the sun!"
"Of course not. Garbage disposal is a community service, taking care of troublemakers. How is that any different than a mercenary job, except we kill our targets cleanly in their homes instead of on the battlefield?"
"There's a difference between killing a soldier and assassinating someone's business rival," Victor replied. "Savi, I've been around the Night Blades long enough to know that they're not picky about who they assassinate, as long as they get paid. I won't condone this kind of trade publicly, especially since the people here are so immoral. Take advantage of this deal.”
"So, you don't agree?"
"Allow me to say something," Charlene interjected before Victor could shake off his friend. "I can see a compromise."
"Charlene, do you want the Assassin organization to operate here?"
"No, but as she said, they will enforce the contract anyway and fighting them will drain our very tight budget. There is another cheaper solution, in Noblecoeu
The effect is good. "
Noblecoeu
A stronghold of the Night Blade organization? Victor saw the results before Charlene filed the lawsuit. "No one can leave the Night Blade," the guild manager said, and Xavierus nodded. "Now that Victor is a member of the Syndicate, he can be appointed leader of the local chapter."
"Yes," Savou
euse agreed. "That's what I was going to suggest. As the crime king of the local chapter, Vic, you have a hand in everything. You'll be the one who approves or disapproves the assassination. The perfect marriage of crime and government."
Is Victor the only one who sees a problem? "So, you want me to legitimize the Assassin's Guild and make me its head?"
"Vic, what kind of empire doesn't have a mysterious force of assassins to supplement its vast army?"
When she said this, Victor decided to stall for time. "I'll think about it, but I won't make a decision today."
"That's not a no," said Saulus cheerfully. "I can't wait to show you the tricks of the trade. Just like before."
Victor sighed and kicked her out of the room. "Charlene, how many jobs do I have?" he asked his chief of staff, before realizing that Savuluse had quietly stolen Malfoy's bribe.
"Including Winkle's titles, I counted at least twenty."
Why is the reward for good work more work? “You can’t really expect me to accept this,” Victor said. "Even if cracking down on them drains the budget, it's better than letting criminal groups operate undisturbed."
Charlene responded: "But by running this organization you will be in a perfect position to dismantle it if the situation calls for it."
Like she did in Gadmani? Victor was pretty sure she was looking after Winkle for the kingdom. "How did we get together?" The minister couldn't help but joke about their situation. "Before the invasion, didn't you hate me to the core?"
"I don't like you," she admitted. "But like you said, that was before the invasion. After seeing you lead this town against Moore's forces and save my life, I'd be petty not to reexamine my perspective. What are you doing tonight?"
"I'm leaving tomorrow, so I need to sleep," Victor replied as Alison and Chocolat walked in. He couldn't suppress a question for a while, which had been bothering him. "Hey Allison, I need your opinion on something. Rollo turned some hostile elves into sheep."
"Sheep," Allison corrected him. "Yes, what's wrong?"
"If I eat a sheep that was once human, does that count as cannibalism?" Victor asked worriedly.
"That's why I became a vegetarian. No meat, no problem."
Victor can't live without meat - in fact, his transformation into a half-dragon has only increased his appetite for meat. He must ensure a safe, reliable source of food.
Chocolate must have read his mind. "Vic, it's cannibalism only when you and the food are equal," she chirped, trying to reassure him. "This is why Isengrim condones the hunting of demons."
"I'm a little worried about your experiment, Jock," Alison admitted. "Some of the new tomatoes you watered with the devil's blood have teeth."
"But they can grow in the desert, isn't that what you want?"
"Ladies," Victor interrupted before they could start another debate. "The Church of Shisha is coming to invest in our small city. They are willing to fully fund the construction of a new temple for the twelve gods."
Ever since the Agarthas worshiped Veran, Jules Camilla, and the Nightblade Deathclown, the unholy trinity known as the Dread Gods have gained a following in the city, demanding a tower of their own temple. in ise
g
Outside of im, Mu
mu
i
has become a haven for disreputable or chaotic cults.
Strangely, neither Mithras nor the more legitimate gods followed them.
"Just make our temples wider," Allison nodded. "Ever since Jock invited the rest of the werewolf tribe into the Whisperers, we don't have enough space to hold gatherings. But Shesha is Shesha, and she does everything for free. I won't pay to worship my goddess rent."
"I didn't see anything like that in their proposal," Victor said, and Charlene shook her head. "I think she's just trying to gain publicity and goodwill by funding public works."
"As long as there are no fine print," Allison shrugged. "Does this mean you're going to remain a polytheist, Vic?"
He nodded in response. He discussed worshiping her goddess Cybele with her, as his current afterlife was less appealing. Of course, when Chocolate heard this, he immediately persuaded him to convert to Ishinglin, and even Juriris preached to him the benefits of worshiping Camilla. Because he has been marked by three gods, one of which treats him as a prophet, Victor decides to avoid everyone equally in order to stop everyone's nagging.
The more the Chief of Staff thought about the issue, the more he agreed with Winkle that becoming a god might be his best option.
After yet another boring meeting to discuss the temple's architecture and location, Allison and Chocolate agree to share the new building with the rest of the cult; the Moon Man's followers have given Victor complete authority to decide the case.
"Vic," Chocolate asked after the meeting, "can I talk to you alone?"
"Charlene, do I have a meeting soon?" Victor begged his assistant.
"You have six more appointments, but the first one starts in ten minutes."
Victor was so tired that he hit his head on the table. "okay, wait a minute……"
"Yes," Chocolate waved his fist, Allison and Charlene exchanged glances, and then left quietly. "Did you know Malfoy is opening a new casino?"
"Yes." Even though the demon wasn't trying to sell him as hard as the succubus brothel. "What's wrong?"
"I have two, two VIP invitations to the luxurious lounge..."
Of course she didn't give up. “Chocolati
e…”
"But you've had kids with seven people this month, including Charlene!"
"Yes, but... you are special chocolate..." Victor suddenly realized that this was not the wording he should use at all. "Wait, how did you know? Are you following me?"
"No, I smell you." Victor winced. "Just one date. One date! If it doesn't work out, I'll give up!"
Victor's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Yes!" she said, putting her hand on her chest. "I swear by my god Isengreen. If it doesn't work, I won't bother you again."
"Deal!" Victor jumped at the chance before she could change her mind. Finally, the exit is in sight. Just go on one date and it's all over. "Just a date, no procreation until I finish my latest assignment, but deal, deal, deal!"
"Yes!" Chocolat replied, equally overjoyed. "You won't regret it!"
It's not going to end badly, but he'll accept it.
