CHAPTER 132: CHAPTER 132 - RIBBON CUTTING

After confirming that all was well in Grandville, Lucien decided it was time to survey the other territories.

This time, he chose not to rely on Constella.

He wanted to see the lands with his own eyes from above.

So, he boarded the airship.

As the vessel ascended, the ground shrank beneath him. Fields and forests blurred into patterns until the full expanse of his dominion stretched out before him.

And then he saw it.

Each territory was bound together by wide and sturdy roads paved with high-quality stone. Streetlamps like those in Lootwell lined the paths. It’s ready to glow as soon as darkness fell. Massive walls enclosed every settlement.

From above, the six territories curved in a proud semi-circle.

Grandville. Fishville. Farmville. Woodville. Guardville. Mineville.

Each one bore its own distinct character as a mark of its people and purpose.

Lucien’s lips curved into a satisfied nod.

’Sigh. If only Earth’s contractors had been this capable, the world might have been a far better place. But no. Corrupt leaders had always held back the people’s growth.’

He shook his head, clearing away the thought.

There was no time to linger. He pressed onward.

Lucien steered the airship toward Fishville.

The territory brimmed with life. Along the coast, wooden docks stretched like fingers into the waves. The boats swayed gently with the tide. Nets hung to dry beneath the sun while smokehouses lined the shore, ready to preserve the day’s catch.

Under Lucien’s command, the settlement had transformed. He ordered sturdier piers, new boathouses and a saltworks to strengthen their trade.

He also founded a Fishermen’s Association. It’s to ensure fair distribution of the catch and the protection of their waters.

What was once a humble cluster of huts had become a harbor filled with purpose.

The villagers had always lived by the sea but now they honed their skills into true craft. They learned skills not only for fishing but for defending their coast. With monsters no longer threatening them, they flourished.

Through his Craft feature, Lucien introduced rare recipes and equipment. Mana-powered boats, enchanted nets and rods that drew in greater catches. The bounty of the sea no longer meant mere survival. Every haul now promised prosperity.

Satisfied, Lucien turned his gaze inland, toward Farmville.

From the skies, the sight stole his breath. Golden fields of wheat and barley stretched endlessly across the horizon, broken only by vivid patches of herbs and flowers that painted the land with vibrant colors.

Windmills spun lazily in the breeze, grinding grain for the people. Irrigation canals glistened in the sunlight. It carried water to every corner of the fields and ensure life even in the driest of seasons.

At the center of it all stood a vast granary complex. It’s a fortress for food security built to safeguard the people against famine.

Here, farming had risen beyond mere survival. It had become art, prosperity and beauty intertwined. The land itself seemed to breathe beauty and promise.

Woodville held a beauty all its own.

With Elunara’s guidance, the conflict with the forest spirits had been settled. The druids were once enraged by their reckless felling. Now, they had come to an understanding with the people. Now, no tree was cut without its blessing to ensure harmony between man and forest.

The villagers’ homes blended seamlessly into the wild. They stood as living extensions of the forest.

They were built from Witherwood. Even seasoned lumberjacks marveled at its quality.

Under Elunara’s elven touch, the dwellings seemed less like human construction and more like pieces of nature itself.

Lucien had established sawmills, lumberyards and workshops where timber and herbs alike were transformed into medicines, oils and incense.

They were no longer simple lumberjacks. They had become foresters. The caretakers and protectors who harvested wisely. They ensure the woods were never exploited but nurtured as partners in their future.

Guardville too had flourished.

It stood as the unyielding shield of Lucien’s territories. Its walls were poured from slime cement and reinforced with enchantments. It rose like unbreakable bastions. Even the homes here were shaped like fortresses. It was clearly built for defense as much as for shelter.

Under Lukas’s relentless training, no one remained ordinary. Every man, woman and youth bore not only trade skills but also combat skills.

Their spirits had been tempered by years of surviving constant attacks. Guardville’s people were no longer simply villagers. They were warriors of steel resolve.

Facilities dotted the land like the arms of a military engine.

Watchtowers with telescopes scanning the horizon. Training yards that shook with the rhythm of drills. Supply depots brimming with food and weapons. And barracks sturdy enough to withstand explosions.

Lucien had armed them further with weapon drops, making their arsenal second to none.

Once, they had been weary survivors. Now, they were soldiers. Fierce and fearless.

Finally, Mineville.

What was once a weary, soot-choked mining camp now pulsed with activity and purpose.

Mana-powered lifts carried miners safely into the depths. Enchanted carts and tools sped the work. They have also uncovered veins of ore and crystal deep within the mountains thanks to equipments Lucien gave them.

At the settlement’s heart stood a medical facility to protect workers’ health while a roaring smeltery turned raw ore into gleaming ingots. Stoneworks and masonry yards transformed rough blocks into foundations for homes, walls and roads.

The clang of pick and hammer no longer echoed with despair but with pride. Mineville had become more than a settlement. It was a forge of industry, progress and strength.

•••

Seeing that everything was in order and nothing amiss, Lucien knew the time had come.

It was no longer just a town. By every measure, it had grown into a city.

The roads, the walls, the thriving territories. All of it stood as proof. And now, its gates would be opened to the world.

For this occasion, Lucien invited those closest to him. Friends, allies and kin who had walked beside him in his journey.

The day before the ceremony, he had already fetched Vivian and her friends. He even took the time to teach her how to ride the airship himself, letting her guide her companions across the skies.

Vivian happily played tour guide and her friends were left wide-eyed with wonder at all they saw. Lioren, especially, could barely contain her excitement, laughing freely during the ride. This place was unlike anything she had ever experienced. So different from the cold rigidity of duke households.

Baron Hornvale and Needlehart were present as well. They stood proudly alongside Aldren and Roneth. Their eyes gleamed not only with anticipation but with relief.

They were glad that despite Lucien’s growing power and vast territory, he still treated them as allies, not subordinates. The Coalhearts were no longer a looming threat, for Lucien himself had become their greatest shield.

Edric, too, arrived with his wife. He brought along two dukes who had come to value Lucien highly. Their presence was as much a political statement as it was support. Edric’s intent on bringing them was clear. To stand by Lucien’s side.

Caelum was there as well. He muttered curses at Lioren for seeing the territory before him but his grumbling only added to the lively atmosphere.

Maxim fetched Ellen personally while several Academy Department Heads gathered. Each was eager to witness the unveiling of Lucien’s domain.

Even the Silkhands were here.

Some time ago, they had visited Kael. And that reunion had been a warm one.

No drama. No bitterness. Only the comfort of family restored.

Blood, after all, was thicker than water. Now they too remained, choosing to stand with Lucien as he revealed his city to the world.

...

At last, the time had come.

Everyone gathered before the gates for the official opening of the territories.

Nobles stood shoulder to shoulder with common folk.

Subjects mingled with allies.

Even pets nestled among the crowd.

It was a rare sight. So many different lives united for one milestone.

Lucien stepped forward. He walked with pride and dignity. When he reached the center, he bowed lightly to the assembly.

"Everyone," his voice rang clear, "thank you for gathering here today. What once was only a dream now stands before us in stone and spirit. This city was not built by one hand but by the strength, trust and hope of many. From this day forward, may our territory be the bridge where our people, our villages and our world come together. Today, we open its gates not only to trade but to prosperity, unity and new beginnings."

The crowd stirred. Their anticipation rose like a tide.

Lucien approached the massive ribbon strung across the gates. Standing tall before it, he reached into his INVENTORY and summoned an oversized ceremonial scissor. Its polished blades gleamed in the light.

With a single decisive motion, he cut through the ribbon.

Snap!

The sound echoed across the walls.

"With this," Lucien declared. "I open my territory to all. May it thrive, may it prosper and may it forever stand as the pride of our people!"

For a moment, silence hung in the air as if the world itself paused to take in the words.

Then... cheers erupted. A tide of voices filled the skies. Jubilant and unrestrained.

The city had been born.