City of Desire [Kingdom Building]

Chapter 228: Dangerous Responsibility

“…Lokra Bonebreaker and his allies are stopping our hordes, but we are pushing hard. We will gain the advantage within a month,” said the projection of the armored man.
 
He is in the hall with a pale man looking at him from the huge bone throne. He is not present physically, but he would shudder in fear whenever a pale man on the throne looked at him.
 
“This is your last chance, Hezar. If you couldn’t crush Lokra Bonebreaker and his iron fangs within a month. I will give a command to someone who could,” said the pale man gently, making the projection flicker.
 
“I will not disappoint you, your deathless,” said the man as the projection stabilized.
 
The pale man on the throne nodded and turned to the robed figure. 
 
“What is your progress on wasteland?” he asked. “Going great, my lord. Our agents had found another trace; nine more and will have the location of that place,” the robed figure replied.
 
“If that old bastard had died. We would have been much faster in finding it,” added the robed figure.
 
“He won't be able to live for long. Keep up with the preparations. We will make our move the moment the husk falls dead,” said the pale man on the throne.
 
“As you command, your deathless,” said the robed figure and bowed deeply.
 
…
 
The carriage stopped, and I stepped out, with Zela, Jon, and Maria following behind me. 
 
It had been two days since Maria joined, and it didn’t seem like she was enjoying following behind me too much. It is clear by the bored expression; that she has on her face all day.
 
I entered inside the mansion and moved with increased speed, which the three of them didn’t have any problem following.
 
A minute later, I reached the door and looked at the old woman sitting behind the desk.
 
“You can go in,” said the old woman and nodded at my thanks before walking toward the door and entering inside.
 
“My lords,” I greeted and bowed. 
 
Hiding the surprise in my eyes. There are only father and son present in the office as far as I could see. There is no Mage York, Mage Beaumont, or any other protector.
 
It had only happened a few times. The Count is a little paranoid. He rarely remains alone without any guards.
 
“You have come at the right time, Remus,” said the Count, with his tone serious. Not only his, but even Lancel’s expressions are unusually serious, and it is not fake serious, which he usually tries to project.
 
This time, he is really serious.
 
“Forgive my impudence, but has something happened, my lord?” I asked, hoping I wouldn’t hear the news, I dread to hear.
 
I am not ready for it.
 
Thankfully, that didn’t seem to be the case. Seeing a small smile appeared on the Count's face for a moment, before his expression turned serious.
 
“Nothing happened. I just have a very important job for you,” he said and placed a hand on the simple wooden box in front of him. 
 
I saw it as I came into the room, but didn’t focus, but it seemed like something important was there, the way he placed his hands on it.
 
“Your will is my command, my lord,” I said after a moment of silence.
 
He nodded with a smile and moved his hands toward the lid of the box. 
 
“The task I am going to hand over to you is a sign of my trust in you, Remus. I hope you understand the gravity of it,” he said with the most serious expression I have seen him and opened the box.
 
My eyes fell on the things inside, and they widened.
 
I am shocked, beyond shocked. I thought he was being overly dramatic with his words, but looking at this, he didn’t.
 
I was barely able to stop myself from gasping in shock as I looked at those things in front of me. I have seen only images of it, but never truly looked at the real thing, and nor I could.
 
This is the most controlled substance in the world. There is a special department for it and the emperor keeps a tight leash on every drop.
 
Even with all the money, the house of silver couldn’t get their hands on these things legally. We could get our hands on the products that have these things if we are willing to spend enough money, but never in such a pure state.
 
“These?” I asked to be sure, and the Count nodded.
 
“Emotion Essences,” he replied. “They are Grade 3,” added Lancel, surprising me a little.
 
In the box are twenty-four tiny bottles which are smaller than my thumb. Twenty-two of these twelve bottles contained multicolored liquid.  
 
The other two have indigo and red liquid.
 
It was unlike anything; I had ever seen or imagined them to be. The liquid was so different and made my emotions tremulous before I was able to calm it by taking a deep breath.
 
The box contains bottles of emotional essences; they are also called primal drops or pieces of heaven.
 
There are many other names for it.
 
These are things that could be produced only by the legacies. The legacies that harvest the emotions, purify them, and turn them into these.
 
These are the most valuable materials in the world because they could create the potions that one could drink without side effects. Weapons are more powerful than the enchanted. 
 
It could make wine, that a single sip of it could make one drunk for days, and a drug, that after consuming, people begin to experience the heaven itself.
 
It is said, that a higher level of these essences. Grade 7 and above are used to make artifacts and relics and in seals that are used to contain great horrors.
 
This could do anything, and it is why, over 95% of emotion essence is produced by any legacy taken by the Sovereign. In the empire it is 99%; only 1% is left for the owner of the legacy and they need to give the Sovereign record of every drop.
 
It is why the legacies are precious; they are protected by the Sovereign and their owner gets the privileges equal to nobles.
 
Not to mention the zero tax and immunity from low crimes. Even if the crime is high. Only imperial authority could punish them. Local lords do not have the power to touch them.
 
The legacies, no matter where they are, whose territory they belong to. They are considered the property of the Sovereign. 
 
“What do you want me to do with them?” I asked after more than a minute of silence. 
 
“I want you to join Damon and Robin for the Owlspring tonight,” “Tomorrow morning, you will take it to the place and hand it over to a person,” he replied.
 
“The responsibility is too big, my lord. I don’t, I deserve it,” I said. 
 
This is my polite way of declining. I don’t want the responsibility; it is a sure way to die. People kill for it; it is not the most precious thing in the world for nothing.
 
Not to mention, I don’t think this is legal. This material is restricted and now he is asking me to take it to a completely different country.
 
This had danger written on it; it was blazing brightly like a sun.
 
“You deserve it, Remus, and it is why I am handing you this responsibility. I hope you didn’t disappoint me,” he said. I wanted to decline, but I knew if I did, there would be consequences.
 
I have worked so hard to gain his trust and got the power in exchange and I could lose it and I don’t want to, despite knowing agreeing to it, might kill me.
 
“Thank you for your trust, my lord,” I said and bowed to him.
 
They are right when they say, the higher you rise, the more you will fear the fall. I have become a perfect example of that.
 
“You will also have other responsibilities aside from this, mainly signing the contract you have negotiated with Oksall in their representative office.’ 
 
“After that, you can join Damon and Robin in their negotiations with Owlspring merchant guild or do your things, it’s up to you,” he said.
 
“As you command, my lord,” I said and bowed.
 
A few minutes later, I walked out of his office and stepped into mine. I sat down on the chair and just closed my eyes.
 
Everything had been going smoothly; in three days, I was going back to the baronies and planned to hand over the responsibility for one of those two at the end of the month.
 
I had come intending to broach that subject, but now, it won’t be possible till I return. If I am able to return. I don’t know for sure if I could even return or die on the way.
 
Still, if I somehow came back; the Count will owe me enough to listen to what I say.
 
I had my eyes closed for over ten minutes before I opened them and began with my work. There is some work, I have people to meet, but I should be done soon.
 
Two and a half hours later, I walked out of the mansion.
 
I was planning to stay for one and a half hours at most, but I had to meet a noble who came from the Baronies and helped him with the problem. 
 
It was not an official one, but it was something I could solve, and I did.
 
I sat in the carriage, and it moved out of the mansion and ten minutes later, entered the establishment through the back gate.
 
As it did, I felt the feeling. 
 
Earlier, I used to feel it when I stepped into the mansion, but now, as long as I entered the boundary of the establishment, I would feel it.
 
Every day, the feeling seemed to get slightly stronger, which was in turn making charms imprinted on the establishment stronger.
 
The carriage stopped, and I stepped out of it, before walking into the establishment. 
 
I didn’t take the stairs to my office instead I walked into a secret room on the first floor and what I saw brought a smile to my face.
 
The first genuine smile since I had stepped out of the Count’s office.
 
It is five days, six if I count the first night since the establishment opened, and it is doing better than I had imagined. Like the restaurant right now, it is one-thirty p.m. and it is jam-packed.
 
In the past three days, it has been packed from twelve-thirty to two-thirty. We had to send people back during the lunch rush, and even after that, till five, it remained at least 50% full.
 
I really wish I could stay in the city, not go to the Owlspring or Baronies, and just focus on my business.
 
Unfortunately, that isn’t possible.
 
I watched it for a while, before climbing above onto the second floor and seeing the scene there, an even bigger smile appeared on my face.
 
For the first two days, we have used the third floor, but seeing the number of clients, we had to shift to the second floor; the biggest of all three floors.
 
Now, the second and top floors are open, while the third floor is closed.
 
I looked at the huge floor, which is 80% full. It is far greater than we all thought. 
 
I watched for a few minutes before going to the top floor, which was fully packed. These people aren’t ordinary people, we have not let anyone in, even during the day.
 
All the people here belong to the girl's list.
 
A few minutes later, I went to my office. I didn’t step into it and turned to Jill.
 
“Call all three madams to my office,” I said and walked inside. 
 
Click!
 
Half an hour later, the door opened, and Carla walked in with Margaux and Caena behind her.
 
“This better be urgent. I had to postpone a meeting for this sudden summon,” she said, glaring at me; she had used to the skill. So, only I could hear what she had said.
 
She had been in her office in the city; it is where she now spent most of her time. Coming to the establishment, only for a few hours.
 
It is not just the work, but also the staff; it had been only three days since they had come, and she had been familiarizing them with the work.
 
“Has something happened, Master Silver?” asked Margaux as she took the seat.
 
“Yes, something had happened. We will be taking our plans a little forward,” I said, and surprise appeared on the faces of all three of them.
 
Just Yesterday, I shared my plan with them. It shocked them, before exiting them, I could still see the excitement they had in their eyes.
 
“What happened?” asked Carla with a hint of worry.
 
“I have received an urgent assignment to go to Owlspring, with Damon Hardt,” I informed. “Margaux, you will be joining. We will use this opportunity to get more girls,” 
 
I would have loved to take Carla, but she is swamped with work. She would decline, even if I asked her.
 
The same with Caena; she makes things easier. I hope the level-up will help me with the strain, I am going to feel in the next few days.
 
“And applications?” asked Carla and all the girls focused on me. “I will submit them personally,” I replied.
 
The response to the bossiness is good enough that I want to take the risk. It is bigger than what I had taken with the establishment and circle.
 
It will be a huge step toward making my dream come true, and I hope the merchant states won’t crush them.

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