City of Desire: Chapter 1076 Welcome Back (Patreon)

Proofread by Thomas F

“Welcome back, Lord Silver,” said Argis as I stepped into my office.

“It’s good to be back.”

Just a week more. I thought as I sat down in my chair. My new office is nearly ready; some small things remain. Once they're finished, I'll move there.

“How was everything?” I asked.

“Great.

“Chi..Governor Elyrian handled everything well in your absence.” That is the very reason I made her the governor. She is someone who could handle things in my absence.

Now, she will handle nearly all matters. I wouldn’t interfere unless I have to.

I don’t believe I will have much time for that. Once the legacy opens, the work will increase immediately, and there is also the dominion.

“What is the progress on the matter of the news leak?” I asked. This is a serious matter.

When the news of Stone’s departure spread through the city, some people tried to leak it to the army that we were holding captive in the city.

If it had, it would have been troublesome.

We had eyes on spies, but we didn’t know all of them. Especially sleeping agents and the opportunists.

Of course, we controlled it; not a whisper reached the captives, but things have come very close.

That is a massive army we are keeping captive. Even after dividing them across the city, the news would have spread and caused a lot of chaos.

“Most of the suspects are caught and being interrogated, but you will get complete details in your meeting with the Chief of Intelligence.”

I nodded at that and added a few more things to my list before the door opened, and my first meeting walked in.

As he entered, his eyes went to Zela first and lingered on her for a second before turning to me.

“Lord Silver,”

“Take a seat, Chief,” I said, and the man sat down in front of me.

“Have you finalized the names?” he asked, getting straight to business. He nodded and extended the file toward me. I took it and opened it.

There were three names there, and after them, their details.

I am already familiar with some details about them, as I am with most officials in high positions. That evening, I will get an intelligence briefing on these names.

“Who do you suggest?” I asked, and he hesitated for a moment.

“All three are great, but if I were to suggest it, then it would be Rimen Diaz,” he said.

Rimen Diaz, early sixties, former army. I read his profile, and he could be a good choice. Norke is going to a calm city; I don't believe there would be many attacks on it like other cities.

The only thing that could disturb it is the thing I am trying to find.

“I will give you a decision by tomorrow.” Tomorrow is also the day I will announce the Governor of Norke.

The decision is final; the only reason I have not announced it already is that I have to tell it to the stakeholders first before making the announcement.

“Your choice for the protector General has surprised many. The choice of the governor will be even more surprising.” He said, and I couldn’t help but smile.

I didn’t tell him who I had chosen for governor, but given the number of orders I had given him from Norke, the man had already guessed.

“It will,” I agreed.

“Though it will be quite disappointing to many people. Many of them met with Lady Carla, Chief Robin, Chief Locke, and others. They think they could influence you through their decision.”

Yes, they have complained about it, but still met those people. They are powerful, and we have to show respect by at least meeting them.

I opened the file he placed in front of me, before moving to the other.

It took me some time before I reached the last page in the stack.

I am really grateful for having Unveiling Perception, my reading skill. It's the single most time-saving skill I have. Without it, I couldn’t do what I do.

It not only lets me read faster but also understand it better.

The file covers the progress of the negotiations with Namdar about the forgebase.

Salazar acted smoothly, sending her negotiating team immediately. The merchants wanted to do it next week, but I delayed it till the opening of Legacy.

I had also asked my people to take these negotiations slowly, without raising suspicion.

Both of them wanted to see the forgebase, but I had told them both that they wouldn’t before the negotiations finished.

Before that happened, I had to move the golems away.

Azalia might have taken the two, but the Forgeband is still there, and it is far more valuable than the two golems Azalia controls.

We are moving toward it.

I wish we could move faster, but we are already rushing. We cannot rush any faster.

If it had been up to me, I would have taken the time. I want to be sure of the person I will trust with such a powerful weapon, but unfortunately, I have to move fast.

I can't let anyone see it. Not only because it needs to be a secret weapon, but also because if they see it, they will desire it, and these are powerful people.

“Your one o'clock meeting has arrived,” Argis said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I nodded and closed the file. A few seconds later, the door opened, and a middle-aged man walked in.

Hours passed, and I met over ten people. It is an extremely tight schedule, but there are a lot of things to do in it.

Most importantly, I want to deal with this now. So I could focus on legacy. Unfortunately, I couldn’t simply leave all my focus on legacy, especially not now.

It is a sensitive time; we just finished the war, and we are negotiating with allies and adversaries.

“Summerfield is very insistent,” informed Argis.

“Tell him I cannot possibly meet him sooner than tomorrow.” Young Summerfield arrived yesterday and is negotiating the release of his people.

Unfortunately for him, I won’t lower the ransom, and it’s going to increase every day.

I will not feed, clothe, and house those people for free. Summerfield will pay for them, and there will be no exceptions to it.

I wanted to state that directly to him and would have met him, but I am so damn busy.

I had just thought that when the door opened. I frowned, seeing I had a little over five minutes before my next meeting, until I saw who it was and sighed.

I should have expected it.

She walked in and sat down in front of me, then stared at me with those beautiful amethyst eyes.

“I hope you will reconsider and give a chance to someone from Velvet Garden,” she said.

In all the Governors' appointments before, I had discussed them with her. This time, I found little chance, aside from speaking a few words, not a long discussion as we had before.

“I have made my decision, love,” I stated firmly; I will not change it.

She isn’t the only one who came. Earlier, I met with the head of the Merchant Guild, the Mage Guild, three nobles from Nakar, and others.

All of them championed their own candidates.

Even someone from my own family contacted me yesterday; I wanted to laugh so hard when I heard the name they suggested.

“What is wrong with choosing one of the girls? They are just as capable as the one you have chosen, some more than him and younger; they have the energy and zealous loyalty to you.”

“They will be perfect as the Governor of Norke!” I wanted to sigh, hearing that.

She does not have any specific candidate in mind. She just wants it from the Velvet Garden.

“I agree with you, but Norke needs a steady, experienced hand, and as capable as girls might be, he is more suitable for the position than they are,” I said calmly.

If Norke had been a city like Panar or Gailhorn, I would have thought heavily about someone from Velvet Garden.

It is not.

I believe Norke would be the safest city; it wouldn’t be attacked before Panar or Gailhorn. So simply, the city needs a manager who could efficiently govern it and bring it back on track as soon as possible.

She just stared before sighing and getting up.

“I hope you will return home early; the children are waiting for you,” she said, and I smiled.

“I will try.”

She gave a small, understanding smile and walked away.

She knew it would not happen. I have meetings till late at night; I feel guilty, but I can’t leave.

“The trade office had just received confirmation that the head of the Veldim merchant guild would be coming with the Duke of Veldim, bringing a large merchant delegation,” Argis informed.

A smile stretched across my face as I heard that. It is the seventh confirmation I have received today.

Many important people are coming to the city for the opening, but this time, it is slightly different, as many among them are bringing large business delegations.

To negotiate and to see the opportunities in the city and Dominion.

The war had given the Dominion and me a massive boost in prestige. Most importantly, it sent a signal that I am strong enough to protect the trade and its investments.

Which I need, a lot.

This time, I have to succeed. Get everything I can; it’s the only way I will make the dominion truly powerful.

I may have won this time, but I have only thwarted an attack. They will come again, and they will be more careful and prepared to deal with my tricks.

So I have to be prepared for them with a bigger army, more weapons, and a lot of powerhouses.

A prosperous dominion will help with all that.

“Good,”

I am happy about Veldim, as it is from the Kingdom of Tezir. Most of the investment in the Dominion had been from merchant states and the Empire.

I want to diversify to manage the geopolitical risks. It is one of the things I am going to focus on most.