My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 58

§ 58 – Cash, Cash! (2)

[Cyan Elantur, we are sending you the 3 million gold you requested. It’s a significant amount for us as well, but we want to maintain a good relationship with you, Cyan Elantur…]

Cyan read the contents of the letter sent by Diana.

‘Well, as expected, it was about wanting to get along.’

‘But why?’

That’s why Cyan was honestly questioning it.

He had simply written down 3 million gold because he knew they wouldn’t agree, meaning they should just go their separate ways.

The Shadow Moon didn’t need to go this far.

It felt a bit awkward to say this himself, but it wasn’t like Cyan was worth 3 million gold.

Of course, it was true that Cyan had made a name for himself at the last National Foundation Day event.

However, Cyan’s established reputation hadn’t changed all at once because of that single event.

Above all, there was no way the Shadow Moon, the best information guild in the Empire, wouldn’t know Cyan’s true worth.

‘But why on earth…?’

Cyan checked the 3 million gold enclosed with the letter, feeling bewildered.

Exactly 30 notes worth 100,000 gold each.

It was definitely 3 million gold.

Ah.

Cyan felt a momentary rush of excitement.

‘Well, who cares what the Shadow Moon is thinking?’

They gave him 3 million gold just like that.

Whatever their ulterior motive, 3 million gold was enough to forgive it.

Even if they tried to assassinate him again, he could forgive them.

Because Leah would take care of it anyway.

And he could just ask for another 3 million gold!

Hoping for the best, Cyan checked Aria’s letter.

He wondered if Aria had also sent 3 million gold.

But of course not.

[I’m telling you in advance, just in case. I am absolutely, positively not sending you this letter for personal reasons. I know you wouldn’t think that way, but I’m worried you might misunderstand…]

It was full of nonsense.

Nowhere could he see any notes or gold.

Who in this vast continent has ever received a letter from a Saintess?

Moreover, a letter sent by the Saintess first.

If anyone knew this fact, they might be blinded by envy, jealousy, and spite, and try to assassinate Cyan.

In some ways, the Saintess’s letter could be said to be worth more than money.

But Cyan glanced over it and folded the letter.

With 3 million gold right in front of him, there was no way he would care about some Saintess!

“Ah…!”

Cyan shuddered involuntarily.

Hans and Semir flinched at Cyan’s sudden behavior.

But Cyan didn’t care at all.

It was 3 million gold.

It was a whopping 3 million gold!

The 1.55 million gold he had earned at the last National Foundation Day event.

It was almost twice that amount.

And with this money, he could cash in on everything that Mobile Lord [The in-game system interface] had been taunting him about!

‘Hoo…! Hoo…! C, calm down.’

Cyan forcibly calmed his pounding heart.

Excitement was not good.

He shouldn’t lose his mind by getting unnecessarily excited.

The more this happened, the more he needed to calm down—screw that!

“Aaaaaah…!!!”

This was an amount he couldn’t possibly calm down about!

Cyan shuddered once again.

His writhing body looked like he was being possessed, beyond being electrocuted.

“W, why is the Lord suddenly acting like that?”

“He’s like that sometimes…”

Semir and Hans could only stare blankly at Cyan.

How long had it been?

Cyan was finally able to regain his senses.

He was still dizzy, but he was able to regain some reason.

Cyan gripped his smartphone.

‘He had been taunting him with rhythm.’

‘Just you wait.’

Cyan said to Semir.

“Chief Semir, did you look around Ruben while I was passed out?”

“I did.”

“Then, were there any parts of Ruben’s structure that you didn’t like? I mean, places that felt disorganized.”

Semir nodded hesitantly.

“…There were some.”

He spoke cautiously, but it seemed like he didn’t like it overall.

That was because Semir was a Dwarf, a race of artisans.

Moreover, he was a descendant of Morkru, who was called the Divine Craftsman.

There was no way Ruben’s haphazardly cashed-in structure would please Semir’s eyes.

Frankly, it probably looked like a mess, not just disorganized.

So.

“Could I ask you for a blueprint of Ruben’s overall structure?”

“A blueprint, you say?”

Cyan nodded.

Now that the population had increased.

Ruben would continue to develop.

However, it was a bit problematic to cash in on facilities haphazardly every time.

It was okay now because the population was small and there weren’t that many facilities.

But that wouldn’t be the case in the future.

If he continued to cash in haphazardly like this, it would become a grotesque shape pieced together, not a territory.

So, it was necessary to build systematically from now on.

Many facilities had been destroyed in the battle with Nurvia.

Also, a new home for the Dwarves had to be created.

It seemed like a good idea to tear everything down this time.

“Is it possible for you to do it?”

“It’s not difficult, but…”

Cyan nodded in satisfaction at Semir’s answer.

Semir, a descendant of Morkru, who was called the Divine Craftsman beyond an artisan.

With his senses, he would be able to transform Ruben wonderfully.

#

While Semir was creating the blueprint, Cyan also calmly prepared.

First, he was able to recover almost entirely at the Illusionary Treatment Center Lv.2,

And he was able to cash in all the 3 million gold notes sent by the Shadow Moon.

After roughly finishing the preparations, Semir’s blueprint was completed.

Cyan examined the blueprint Semir had created.

Ruben’s blueprint consisted of dozens of pages.

It was drawn to be easily understood based on the overall landscaping of Ruben.

It was drawn not only for the current Ruben area but also considering future expansion areas.

Commercial district, agricultural district, livestock district.

Industrial district, residential district, military district, cultural district, etc.

And even the roads connecting each district.

In addition, specific plans and the main utilization plans for each district.

There was also a detailed explanation of why such a district should be built in that location.

In a word.

“Crazy…”

It was perfect itself.

If it was completed as it is…

Would there be any territory in the Empire, or even on the continent, that could follow Ruben?

Frankly speaking, even the capital of the Empire, Darkhan, wouldn’t be this good.

Of course, an enormous amount of funds was needed to reproduce all of this.

To be exact, a huge amount of cash was needed.

But what was the problem!

Cyan glanced at the gold coins in his inventory.

[Gold coins in possession – 3,170,000 G]

A whopping 3.17 million gold!

“Aaaaaah…!!”

Cyan shuddered involuntarily.

Soon, Cyan took out his smartphone with gleaming eyes.

Uwoong…!

Then, the smartphone vibrated.

Cyan didn’t care, wondering what the sudden vibration was.

Thus began the time of cashing in.

“First…”

Cyan lightly cashed in Arnaise’s Blessing, .

Of course, 500,000 gold was by no means light.

Light my ass, he could crush a person to death with the weight of the gold coins alone.

But.

Click.

《Perk purchase complete!!》

《Stoke the flames! Take out the hammer!》

《Morkru’s flame rises in the territory!》

Ding!

《The effects of all buildings in the territory increase by +500%!》

《Equipment made in the territory’s blacksmiths, where there are blacksmiths with Skilled Worker or higher proficiency, will have a B-grade quality!》

《Morkru’s Blacksmith Lv.1 is unlocked!》

With one touch, numerous notification windows appeared on the screen.

After checking the notification windows, Cyan immediately entered the 【Territory Facilities】 section.

And he examined the blueprint made by Semir.

“First…”

It seemed like it would be good to complete the agricultural district first.

Cyan examined the agricultural facilities in the 【Territory Facilities】 section.

《Abundant Farmland Lv.2》 (9,000G)

First, the most basic farmland.

“Huh? Wasn’t the farmland upgrade 5,000 gold?”

But looking closely, it seemed like he could build Lv.2 right away.

It seemed like it was the combined price of 4,000 gold, which was the price of ‘Fertile Farmland Lv.1’.

“It’s good to build it all at once.”

Kugugugug.

Cyan filled the agricultural district with farmland without hesitation.

《Purchase complete!》

The notification window of purchase completion appeared without fail.

Cyan additionally examined the farmland-related facilities here.

《Bountiful Orchard Lv.1 (5,000G)》

《Earthworm, Snail Farm Lv.1 (3,000G》

《Agricultural Warehouse Lv.1 (4,000G)》

Various facilities related to or necessary for agriculture.

Explanations about each facility were listed below.

However, Cyan didn’t bother to read them.

Click. Click. Click.

《Purchase complete!!!》

Because he was going to buy them anyway!

Above all, how could he read those one by one when there were several things to cash in on in the future?

“It’s a waste of time, a waste of time.”

When cashing in, you had to do it coolly.

Thus, the agricultural district was roughly completed.

“Next is…”

It was the industrial district.

《Hot Blacksmith Lv.2》 (15,000G)

This also seemed to be the combined construction cost of ‘Blacksmith Lv.1’.

And in the future, it would be a place where Dwarves would use blacksmiths to mass-produce B-grade equipment.

It wasn’t just equipment.

Agricultural tools to be used in agriculture.

Also, various tools needed for life.

It was an important facility that could not be missing in the territory.

Cyan fearlessly installed blacksmiths in the industrial district.

Kugugug.

《P, purchase complete!!!》

The Mobile Lord was slowly starting to malfunction.

But.

“It hasn’t even started yet.”

The cashing in hadn’t even started yet!

Cyan checked the blueprint and examined the next district.

Livestock district.

《Lively Demonic Beast Ranch Lv.2》 (10,000G)

《Cozy Barn Lv.1》 (5,000G)

Kuguk. Kugugug.

《Purchaseeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!》

Military district.

《Elite Soldier Training Camp Lv.2》 (10,000G)

《Knight Academy Lv.1》 (15,000G)

《Special Forces Training Camp Lv.1》 (8,000G)

Kuguguguk.

《W, w, completeoooooong!!!!!》

When he cashed in up to this point, the Mobile Lord’s notification window was going crazy.

The words were getting twisted as if there was a real error.

“Hoo.”

Cyan took a moment to catch his breath.

That was because there was no more space to cash in.

He had cashed in on all the buildings that could be built in the current territory of Ruben.

In other words, even if he wanted to cash in on more facilities, he couldn’t because of the lack of space.

But.

【Territory Expansion】

That didn’t mean the time of cashing in was over.

【Territory Expansion】 was opened as the Dwarves became Ruben’s territory residents.

It was literally something that could expand Ruben’s territory.

However, in order to expand the territory, he had to have ‘sovereignty’ over the area.

Sovereignty.

He knew what it meant, but he didn’t know the exact meaning.

But looking closely, it wasn’t anything special.

Literally sovereignty.

It meant that he had to have sovereignty over the area and be able to claim to be the owner of that area.

In other words, he had to be the strongest being in that area.

So, originally, Cyan shouldn’t have been able to expand the territory.

The place where Ruben was located was none other than the Forest of Darkness.

And until recently.

The sovereignty of the Forest of Darkness was held by a powerful demonic beast located deep inside the forest.

Nurvia, the Seventh Lord of Hell, the Sloth.

Of course, it wasn’t that Nurvia had sovereignty over the entire Forest of Darkness.

However, the area Nurvia ruled was very wide.

And that Nurvia was eventually defeated by Cyan and ran away.

In other words, Cyan had taken the sovereignty that Nurvia, the Sloth, had.

In short.

[Expansion of District 1] – 1,000,000G

Click.

It meant that there was no problem in expanding the site at all!

《Purchaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!!!!!!!!!!》

The Mobile Lord was screaming like a crazy person.

At this point, it seemed like he was having a seizure, not just an error.

“What’s wrong?”

Cyan paused for a moment.

But whatever.

Commercial district.

《Warm Bakery Lv.1》 (5,000G)

《Intoxicating Brewery Lv.1》 (6,000G)

Kugugug.

《Completeooooooooooooooooo!!?!!?!?!?!!》

Residential district.

《Livable Brick House》 (10 houses per set 2,000G)

Kuguguguguguguguguk.

《P, p, p, p, p…》

The Mobile Lord was starting to stutter.

Well, it seemed like it would be roughly done if he built up to this point.

“Now, if I just connect each district well with roads…”

《Shoong Shoong Gravel Road Lv.1》 (1,000G per 100m)

Based on the blueprint drawn by Semir, Cyan stretched his finger across the screen and built all the roads.

At the same time, an enormous amount of gold was spent.

And.

《……》

For some reason, no notification window appeared.

“Huh? Is there a real error?”

Cyan tilted his head.

But rather than an error, it seemed like…

[Overload detected due to runaway cause and effect.]

[Connection to the server has been lost. Terminating Mobile Lord.]

“Uh, uh? I haven’t finished cashing in yet! I have to do research and enhancement! Wake up!”

It seemed like the Mobile Lord had fainted.

#

Outside the territory of Ruben.

The Dwarves of the Hammer Anvil Tribe were gathered here.

And their chief, Semir.

Semir asked as he saw Kmaru approaching.

“What about the children?”

“Fortunately, the territory residents are taking good care of them.”

Semir nodded once at Kmaru’s answer.

Soon, Kmaru opened his mouth again.

“They are good people. That’s why it’s a good territory.”

The Dwarves all nodded at Kmaru’s words.

That was because, even in a poor environment, the territory residents readily gave up their homes for the children.

Although the Dwarves gathered here had nothing.

“Well, we can just get by somehow.”

“We’re used to sleeping outside. We’ve been doing it since we were abandoned in the Forest of Darkness.”

“We have no complaints just because they took us in.”

Nevertheless, the Dwarves did not regret becoming Ruben’s territory residents.

“Come to think of it, Chief. The Lord asked you to draw a blueprint, right?”

Kmaru asked.

When Semir nodded, the other Dwarves all looked surprised.

“The Chief himself?”

“If the Chief himself designed it… it must be really amazing.”

“Our village was also designed by the Chief.”

“It was that good even when it was made in a poor environment, so if you designed it properly…”

The Dwarves all had expressions full of anticipation.

But Semir was not.

That was because he had designed it too… excessively.

The Lord asked him to draw the best possible blueprint.

Because of that, Semir had drawn not a territory but almost a paradise.

Of course, a blueprint naturally had to have ideal elements mixed in.

However, he had to consider reality and devise a feasible plan.

But what Semir had drawn was literally a paradise.

Moreover, the buildings couldn’t just be built haphazardly.

It was a blueprint based on buildings that required a high level of construction technology.

Even if it wasn’t Semir himself, he needed many talented people among the Dwarves.

So, he was honestly regretting it.

Excessive goals that could not be achieved were like poison.

And even if it was possible,

It would definitely take too long.

This place was the Forest of Darkness, where survival was the only value, not to mention being barren.

What paradise? It was now being brutally destroyed by demons.

He had to focus on restoring Ruben first.

Still, whatever.

If he took one step at a time, he would eventually reach it someday.

Semir thought that Ruben’s Lord, Cyan, was a man capable enough to do that.

“Everyone, stop talking nonsense. Let’s start again with what we were restoring yesterday.”

Semir took the Dwarves to the site.

No, to be exact… he was about to move.

Kwakwakwakwakwakwang!!!

Suddenly, a terrible explosion erupted from one side.

At the same time, the ground shook violently as if there was an earthquake.

And again.

Kwakkwang! Kwakwakwakwakwakwang!!!

The explosions continued to erupt.

It was as if the entire Ruben was being bombarded by something.

“Wh, what!”

“Could it be demons again?!”

A deep sense of tension settled on the Dwarves’ faces.

“Everyone, move!”

Semir grabbed his hammer and hurriedly headed inside Ruben.

That’s how he reached Ruben.

The first thing Semir and the Dwarves saw was the sight of Ruben’s territory residents gathered together, frozen.

“……”

“……”

They were frozen as if they had been hit by a petrification spell.

Their gazes were fixed on one place.

They didn’t move with their mouths wide open.

“What are you doing?”

“Are, are you all okay?”

The Dwarves asked in embarrassment, but there was no response.

The Dwarves turned their gazes to where the territory residents were looking.

And the sight that appeared.

Chrarararak.

Kugugugung…!

Ttukttakttukttak.

That was…

Some magnificent scenes unfolding throughout Ruben.

Chrarararak!

Ttukttakttukttak.

New buildings were being created throughout Ruben.

Pababababak!

Kugugung…!

Districts and areas were expanding, and neat roads were being newly laid between them.

A magnificent scene as if the entire Ruben was being completely transformed.

“Wh, what is this…!”

“How can this be…!”

A great upheaval? A makeover?

It wasn’t at that level.

It wasn’t something that could be defined as that level.

So this was…

“I, is the territory itself evolving…?”

Evolution (進化) [Shinka: Japanese word for Evolution, implying a transformation beyond normal development].

Ruben was evolving in real time.

A silence descended.

In the meantime, the Dwarves’ mouths were wide open.

“……!!!”

“……!!!”

“……!!!”

The Dwarves were also hit by the petrification spell.