It's been nearly two months since he left Heim Territory, and seeing the familiar city of Myr again, Siegel feels like home for the first time in a long time. The feeling came every time he stepped onto the deck of the Lucky Soth, but never before was it so clear and moving as it is today.

Due to its location in the south, the snow melts quickly when it falls, and ice only appears on the ground in the morning and evening. Adjacent to the mines, a lot of slag and gravel is used to pave the road, so the section from the Ore Boulevard to Myr never looks muddy.

A few men led their horses on foot, as Siegel wanted to keep a good eye on the fortress under construction. The Ore Avenue was cut off from it, and the long walls enclosed the Saint-Ther and the Zebra Mountains, before spreading all the way to the outer walls of the Château de Myr. Every hundred meters there is a protruding tower with space for archers and spearthrowers to rest and hide. However, this is all appearance, in order to disguise Siegel's true purpose: in the Arrow Tower, he asked the dwarven runemaster to secretly make runes to protect against evil, and prepared a magical barrier for dispersing and suppressing the necromancy.

These towers are then connected to form a defensive ensemble with the elemental absorption circle of Myr City. On the mountain side of the Walled Mountains, Siegel was digging west and north under the cover of the Striped Mountain pits, intending to connect with the southern outpost at the top of Mora. It's a secret passage that can be used to transport supplies, mobilize reinforcements, or even leave it as a way to escape.

It's a big project, and the cost of sucking up the mine's output is straight away. After the castle was built, Janet didn't even add any furniture, and the dwarven runes became the only decoration inside the building. Silver cutlery, copper candlesticks common among the lords of the south. Silky velvet curtains and soft cotton quilts. You can't see it in the city of Myr. However, there are many furs from the northern steppes. Used as a carpet and tapestry, the giant Kerry also sent a whole bear skin and spread it under the main seat of the Lord's Chamber, showing a different style.

The effect of this expenditure is very obvious, and the construction progress of the "arrow tower" and the city wall is much higher than usual. Many masons and builders under the Southern Lords came to Heim Territory during the winter break to earn some silver coins. Although the other lords complained about this, they were helpless.

Janet sent a letter to the southern lords in the name of Lord Siegel, reiterating that the cutting off of the walls of the Ore Avenue would not prohibit caravans from traveling. There will also be no additional gate tax. The attack on the Zebra Mountain gold mines forced the Heim Lords to make such a defense, which was a right exercised by the lord to protect his interests.

As a result, the Uther clan of Hero's Lordship became the target of public criticism, and their defeat in battle affected their position as leaders. Although no other lords really wanted to challenge it, rumors of war began to spread among the southern lords, and some small frictions along the border appeared from time to time.

If anyone can see through the surface of things, they will find that many of the rumors actually come from the city of Heim. Fezak and Janet used various channels to get merchants, troubadours, and some unemployed vagrants to help release smoke bombs. They drew everyone's attention to the Uther family so that their realm could develop undisturbed.

At the same time, Siegel did not allow any racial discriminatory decree to appear in the territory. All races are allowed to settle here on an equal footing. But he also issued strict orders that no racial customs should be allowed to override the judicial and law enforcement powers of the lords. It is tantamount to prohibiting lynching and clan jurisdiction. This makes some conservative and traditional races very uncomfortable, but attracts more residents.

Siegel's status as a mage and the army led by Manna and Hum were a strong guarantee of the fulfillment of this decree.

The entire territory is inhabited, with less than half of the human inhabitants already making up less than half of the population, and the orcs becoming the second largest race, followed by the gnomes. Some of the Dwarves of Mora's Peak have come here to practice the use of elemental rune guards while putting their architectural expertise to use.

When Red came to Heim's Territory, although the tall golem attracted attention, and many people put down their work to watch him, nothing rude happened. Outwardly, the Clay Golem Red is much more "refined" than the Earth Elemental Rune Guard, but most people can't tell the difference between them. Coupled with the fact that the lord was around, they all speculated that it was some kind of new earth elemental worker.

Red felt much more relieved, and he tried to greet the people around him, and he was able to get a warm response. Siegel led him to the city of Myr, where there was a clearing dedicated to the temple.

"I'll send builders to build a house, and you'll live here from now on. ”

"No, somebody wants to build their own house. Rhett replied, "All hope is growing and creating." ”

Siegel looked at the golem and said with some unease: "Then do you know how to use money and exchange goods with each other?"

"Someone is not stupid. Red let out a giggle and reached out to shake Siegel's hand. "Someone loved this place, thank you. ”

Siegel watched as the Golem measured the open space left for him step by step, then crouched down to carefully inspect the dirt, used his fingers to pick out the pebbles inside, and began to level the ground. The mage thought about it for a while, and felt that it would be more appropriate for Red to gradually adapt to the new environment and slowly deal with the people around him, and too much interference would only kill the characteristics of the Golem Priest.

So he led Leah through the gates of the castle and into the courtyard of Myr. Moore, who was one step ahead, informed the people in the castle of the lord's return, so Janet was already waiting in the courtyard. Her lower abdomen was already slightly bulging, and she was wearing relatively loose clothes, looking at her husband with a smile.

Behind her, Modette had a lollipop in her mouth and was looking around curiously. The two heterochromatic pupils scouted every corner of the surroundings before they looked ahead with confidence. Siegel frowned, quickly took Janet's hand, and asked, "Nothing has happened lately, has it? Why is Modesti so nervous?"

Janet snorted, then took the dragon maiden's hand and said, "Everything is fine here, it's just that Sister Modisty is worried about the baby in my belly." So always be wary of the situation around you. ”

"Sister?" Siegel snorted twice from his nostrils, "Modesty looks young, though. But at least there are ......"

Janet secretly squeezed Siegel's hand. Interrupted him, "Behind you is Master Leah, right?" Moore just told me, so your room won't be cleaned up until later." But please come to the meal first, we have prepared the meal according to the custom of the elves, I don't know if it suits your taste. ”

"It's all good to keep it simple," Leah said.

Siegel took Janet's hand tightly and led her into the castle. Five fireplaces are burning in the hall, and the warm flames bring a hint of spring. Three servants were busy, bringing the food prepared in the kitchen to the table. Although the dinner plate used to hold things is just ordinary pottery utensils. But every piece of food is prepared with care.

"Now that your belly is bigger, do you feel any discomfort?" Siegel brought Janet to the chair and set up the cushions for her before sitting down, "I have found a priest who can help you heal your illness and recuperate." ”

"As you were leaving, Heim brought with him an elven priest named Albert Allen, who believed in Mother Earth. After me and Fezak retained, he had decided to stay. Originally, I wanted to build him a small temple, but he refused. He said that he would measure the kindness of Mother Earth with his feet. Instead of staying under the ceiling and becoming a living statue. He often visited the villages below to bless people, but returned to the city of Mir every day. I arranged a room for him at the inn. ”

"That's good. Siegel said. It seems that the priest of Mother Earth is not the kind of person who likes to compete for his followers. And getting closer to spiritual practice and down-to-earth work is a good thing for Heimling, and he should find time to meet him.

"You've worked the affairs of the territory. Siegel said, "When I come back, you will be able to raise the baby with peace of mind." ”

Elf Leah also nodded and said, "This is the first child, and the body is not yet adaptable, so you must pay attention to recuperation." It will be easier to have a few more children in the future. ”

"If you lay a lot of eggs at once, wouldn't you save a lot of effort?" said Modistie, pouting disapprovingly, "Humans are really troublesome. ”

Janet's face flushed, and Leah seemed a little embarrassed. Siegel suddenly realized that he was the only man sitting and eating in the lord's hall, and it was really inappropriate to discuss the issue of having children. So he hurriedly digressed and asked, "Where is Fezak?

"There are stray wolves in the northern woods, and to prevent injuries, Hum and Manna have gone to chase them away. Fezak is still settling accounts today. Janet patted the back of Siegel's hand, "Don't worry, finish your meal first." ”

Siegel sensed that something was going on from Janet's expression, but considering the current situation, it was better to wait for the others to leave before asking. Because of the heart, this meal was eaten quickly, in a sense, it was like eating a marching meal in the field.

The final dish was pumpkin stew with bean soup, and Siegel served only one spoonful, drank a symbolic amount, and returned it to the chef. Janet also put down her knife and fork, indicating that she had finished eating. Then the two of them got up and left, went to the mage's study, closed the door and sat down to talk.

"Is something wrong?" Siegel asked, frowning.

"The territory's finances are not in good shape, and it is already on the verge of bankruptcy. Janet said, "If we don't have the income of more than two elemental rune guards per month, we must stop the construction that is currently under construction. ”

"To this extent?" Siegel asked, "then stop the work and slow down." ”

"At the moment we are in a state of debt, and the cost of the castle and the walls is too great. In particular, the Dwarven Rune Arrow Tower you requested in your letter cost almost more gold than Myr itself. Coupled with the fact that the elemental absorption circle has exhausted the past deposits, the Heim Collar has long been unable to make ends meet. ”

Siegel closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then said, "It's me who didn't think about it and didn't calculate the cost. But every project counts, and war can break out at any time. ”

Janet could see that Siegel was a little remorseful, so she comforted him, "Don't worry, Fezak is carefully calculating our accounts, and the situation is not so bad." It's just that we spent a lot of money, which pushed up the price of Heim's collar, and caused the cost of some things to rise, so we exceeded the earliest plan. ”

"I understand, I'll discuss it with you when Fezak returns. Siegel put his lips on Janet's face and said to her, "Let me see if I can hear the child." (To be continued......)