Chapter 44 Progress In A Few Months



In one of the chambers within the castle, Maximus sat across the table from Doran, the overall chief in charge of developing the kingdom.

"Doran, here is the plan I've conceived over the past few days," Maximus said as he handed him a stack of enchanted parchment.

Doran eagerly took the stack of paper and swiftly read its contents.

Maximus waited patiently and then asked, "How does it look? Is there anything you didn't understand?"

"My lord, this is extraordinary! I'm in awe of the architectural masterpiece you've created," Doran exclaimed, his face brimming with excitement as he examined the blueprint.

Seeing Doran's enthusiastic expression, Maximus couldn't help but smile.

After calming himself down, Doran inquired, "My lord, firstly, we don't have access to black-iron stone and other important material. Where can we acquire them?" 

"I will take charge of that. Once we have enough funds from the Aetheria Market, I will travel to the central continent," Maximus replied.

Ever since he transmigrated, Maximus had always yearned to explore the central continent, captivated by its legends and stories. If it wasn't for his weak strength he would already be there, exploring its wonders.

Procuring the necessary materials served as a convenient excuse, but in truth, he intended to acquire black-iron stone and other important materials from the system mall, where they were more affordable.

"Very well, my lord. I will make the necessary arrangements and gather the available materials and manpower to start the project as soon as possible," Doran said, bowing respectfully as he marveled at the grand architectural plan.

...

In the first month,

Based on the architectural plan, the locations for farms and pasturelands were selected.

The positioning of these areas was of utmost importance since the place would be one of the beneficiaries once the mana is purified and harnessed by the completed architectural formation.

The scattered farm covered a vast expanse of twenty-five thousand acres of land, which should be more than sufficient for the inhabitants of the Sunburnt Plateau, even with a population exceeding 150 million.

However, planting had not yet begun is some places due to the shortage of manpower. The people from distant regions were still in the process of evacuating to the vicinity of Moonshadow City.

As for the pasturelands, they remained reserved and would only come into operation once the overall architectural formation capable of purifying mana was constructed.

This can ensure the safety of the livestock, preventing any violent reactions caused by the absorption of unpurified mana with corrosive attributes.

Maximus had meticulously planned an area with a radius of 200 kilometers, equivalent to a staggering 125,000 square kilometers, for the construction.

This ample space would comfortably accommodate tens of millions of people, which was a suitable starting point for the kingdom's growth.

...

In the second month,

Construction on the Aetheria Market had begun, but Maximus felt that the initial plan of a traditional market with stalls was outdated and lacked a modern touch.

After careful consideration, he proposed transforming it into the Aetheria Pavilion—a grand mall where all goods would be sold in a unified manner.

When Maximus shared his new plan, Andre was the first to express his approval. He realized the challenges of acquiring a vast plot of land for a traditional market and understood the potential difficulties it would pose.

Building a market in a remote or desolate area seemed inefficient and inconvenient for the masses. Who would be willing to travel long distances to purchase goods? Moreover, it could be dangerous and pose security concerns.

Thus, they revised their plan and decided to build Aetheria Pavilions in every city. Although it required more manpower and funding, they believed it was worthwhile.

Maximus had already envisioned a future where the entire Sunburnt Plateau would be under his dominion, and catering to the needs of the people was the starting step toward achieving that vision.

...

In the third month,

Maximus's wives—Angeline, Rose, and Irene—became pregnant, one after another. Meanwhile, his other wives had not conceived for some time, which brought him a sense of relief, particularly with his first two wives, Erica and Hazel.

They had already given birth to three children each, and while it enhanced his potential, it delayed their mage training.

As for Luna and Livia, they had both reached Tier 2 Great Knights, which might explain their difficulty in conceiving a child.

...

In the fourth month,

The evacuation had been completed, and the people were now settled within the 200-kilometer radius of the kingdom.

Housing had been a challenging issue for a while, given the ongoing construction, but as long as an abundance of food was available, the people had no major complaints.

They reflected on the fact that just a few months ago, they had faced the threat of starvation. The progress made in such a short time gave them reason to be grateful and content.

...

In the Fifth month,

The total population census revealed that there are a staggering 2,705,475 individuals in the kingdom.

Then each piece of personal information was meticulously engraved onto magical metal plates, which were distributed to the citizens as a form of identification.

These plates served multiple functions, including real-time updates and positioning. Once the architectural formation was complete its function will be more

...

In the sixth month,

In the bustling city of Krion, within the Jira Kingdom, a magnificent pavilion stood tall, capturing the attention of all passersby.

"Hurry, we're about to open!" exclaimed Liza, the manager of the Aetheria Pavilion in Krion City.

"Yes, ma'am," the staff responded, scurrying to ensure all decorations were in place.

After a while, satisfied that everything was ready, Liza walked to the front of the pavilion, where a large cloth had been hanging to prevent people from entering prematurely.

She carefully removed the cloth and took out a magic confetti prepared for the grand opening, designed to attract customers and create a spectacle.

Igniting the magic confetti, vibrant colors, and mesmerizing patterns bloomed in the sky, outshining even the sun's rays. The captivating display caught the attention of the entire Krion City, leaving its residents in awe.

...

Meanwhile, a group of Auntie's happened to be gazing at the sky at that very moment.

As they passed by the pavilion, they couldn't help but marvel at the remarkable structure that had been erected in just a few months.

When they witnessed Liza unveiling the cloth and igniting the magic confetti, their amazement reached new heights.

"Simply astounding! It's like a star blooming in broad daylight, with an array of colors," a tall and elegant Auntie exclaimed, turning to her friends.

"Indeed, it's truly remarkable. What do you think about the background of this shop?" the slightly plump yet astute Auntie asked.

"Let's find out what they sell. Such an impressive display surely indicates they have exceptional products," the curly-haired Auntie chimed in.

Excited by the prospects, the glamorous Auntie urged her friends, "Alright, let's go! Hurry!"

...

"Good morning, madams," one of the staff members greeted them with a slight bow, welcoming them to the Aetheria Pavilion.

They were flattered and blushed at the attentive service they received.

Compared to the rough and impersonal experiences they had encountered in other markets or stalls, this level of service was a pleasant surprise.

As they glanced at the products on display, one of them couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow!"

Their eyes widened at the wide variety of fruits and vegetables, some of which they had never even heard of before.

If you assumed that their expressions were exaggerated for mere fruits and vegetables, you would be mistaken. What truly shocked them was the prices.

For these middle-aged ladies, the price was of utmost importance. Fancy service or ambiance mattered less to them.

"The prices here are almost half of what others charge," the sexy auntie remarked.

"We will have a sumptuous dinner at our house today," one of them exclaimed, she was somewhat financially strained in recent days. The sight of affordable prices made her want to celebrate.

"And look, they even have strawberries. I thought those were unique to the Frost Kingdom with its cold climate," another one said, proudly showcasing her knowledge.

"Alright, let's hurry and make our purchases. We don't want others to grab all the food," one of them urged, quickly selecting her preferred items.

...

Of course, the cheap prices were part of Maximus's strategy to conquer other kingdoms without much bloodshed.

After all, food is the most essential necessity in life.

When people have affordable food to purchase, do they still need to farm? Not really. When the price is twice as low, and the quality is more outstanding than you sell, then you lose.

The most affected by this strategy, of course, were the farmers, who would struggle to make a living after the cheap food became popular and standard.

However, Maximus was not so cruel as to sacrifice the lives and livelihoods of common people for his cause.

After building the Aetheria Market, he planned to establish various factories to support these farmers and, most importantly, to control the kingdom's lifeline.

When you eat what I provide, work for me, and live according to my provisions, what courage would any king have to attack me? They would simply be left powerless.