V3: Chapter 2

Interlude: Riegert:

…

Everything we passed by reminded me of times long past and I wasn't alone.

"Hard to believe that we lived like this just a few years ago, huh?" Oswald frowned at the sight of slums and the refuse that was in every direction. The roads were still slick with mud and sewers were yet to be. It was obvious that things were improving. These people just received their Citadel, and they were working on improving on it. The issue lay with us. We were used to far finer things nowadays. "Back then, it was normal to walk into towns like this one and have a bit of fun with the locals, especially the really willing ones."

"Times change." Outposts of the Wardens were considered miracles for armies on the move. They were a good and honest lot, who traded great goods, and happily offered themselves to slake lusts, while also providing services for healing. Much of the men present now were beside themselves. We had to give them a stern talking to about staying in line, at least until they were off duty. "Make sure that not a single man takes advantage of anyone. If they do, make an example of them, Oswald. No exceptions. Not with our King's guards."

"I'll beat them within an inch of their lives and have them dishonorably discharged, sir. Though, I imagine that most of the younger lads won't even think about it. They look downright appalled at the thought of doing anything here." There were wagons collecting feces going around now, and alongside them were wagons filled with wood and iron to build homes. One collected waste and the other went to erect buildings. I saw only things that could be replaced by light rail and trolleys, or even mages that need practice. Everything seemed backwards, even though I knew it was anything but. These people were living very well compared to anyone else to the continent without a Citadel."

"They've barely had two seasons to get this place up and running. They're doing better than we did, Oswald." He grumbled, but the message seemed to ring clear enough in his mind. He knew as well as I did that our rise wasn't that pretty. We contended with a whole disease outbreak in our early years, which would've been fatal to our cause without the Citadel. Judging the Wardens would only paint ourselves in a more ill light. "Instead of comparing, let's help out. These people will make for fine allies. Or, at least, they'll be fantastic trade partners."

"Aye, sir, whatever you say." Oswald gave me some lip, but I just ignored him and looked around. The Wardens were rapidly speeding up. The foundation for an Academy was already present and soon the Residential Districts will be fully developed. Their population will flow forth from the caverns they called home and their numbers will be nothing to scoff at. Thanks to their defensible positions, even with all the terrors they faced below, they had bodies to spare. "I'll think of a few things and say the boys came up with it, sure."

I chuckled.

"Yeah, that sounds good."

We moved forward further into the city proper. After the small festival last night in greetings, our men were offered to visit the town and enjoy themselves. We decided to do it in batches, in order to maintain a security force, and create a patrolling force to keep our men in line. Leaving young men unsupervised in a foreign city with all their friends and money to spend? It was a recipe for disaster.

It was a nice, growing city and didn't deserve any of the hesitancy that we had.

The issue was that we've grown used to the wonders of our Citadel and its surrounding city, which everyone else was trying to emulate. Ours was at the forefront and the very best of the world. Everything else paled in comparison, but we couldn't allow that to cloud our vision and affect our relations with other people. It would not do to become like the Children of the Elm.

I sighed and scratched my chin, before deciding on a course of action.

"Well, I'm feeling parched." Oswald raised an eyebrow at the old phrase, but none of the new men with us knew the old tradition. Thank goodness that I'm their superior office and a Champion. They were eying me up and wondering what to do if decided to go against orders. Jack sure knew how to inspire loyalty. I suppose rallying your whole nation to fight against an oncoming apocalypse raises people's loyalties quite a bit. "Let's take a short break, spend some of our money, and get to know the locals, huh?"

It's an old trick our old war band used to get a good reputation, even when we let loose to blow off steam. The patrolling group would drum up a rapport by carousing, buying drinks and food for everyone from local businesses, and spend small fortunes on trinkets. Jack would say it's just throwing money at the problem, but he'd approve it with a smile later. If something could be solved by money, then he believed it should. I'd worry about our finances if I didn't have access to the books. Now, I looked for reasons to throw money around, too.

With the amount we had, we were all but itching for a reason to throw money at something for the best outcome possible.

…

Dammit, they're all just out there spending my money.

I mean, I knew that's how the diplomatic action worked. Send your forces to someone that you have neutrality with and open borders, then you spend some gold to have your troops spend money. It's a simple, non-descript bribe that everyone could use against the AI for increased reputation. It also cancelled out the fact that you had an army in their territory, so I encouraged it.

Travelling without an army was an even worse idea, after all.

Anyhow, while everyone else was outside of the Citadel, I was given a room in it along with my guards.

I say room, but it's actually a whole suite and the entire surrounding floor was for my guards. By all means, it was the very lap of luxury, though the fact remained that I was in enemy territory and they could change the whole structure to their advantage. They had me at their mercy, but with the number of troops I had in their city, it was basically just equalizing the situation.

Initially, I thought that I'd use the room sparingly for the talks that I'd have with Khalai, but that didn't prove to be the case.

The Dark Elf King was lying down on the sofa reading one of the books I brought along for recreational purposes. The aforementioned leader of the Dark Elves was wearing a glossy nightie and matching shorts and with his hair down. I know this faction's lewdness was inspired by anime, but this is ridiculous.

Then, again, it wasn't like he was being seductive.

He was just being staggeringly informal.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

"Jackie, this book is no fun." A sigh left his lips and he let the book fall flat on his chest. I raised an eyebrow, while I kept reading from my book on the chair near the sofa. Why was I sitting so close if I wasn't interested? It's because that I'm uninterested that I can. If I was interested, I'd be on the other side of the room. "Don't you have anything more pleasant to read?"

"My apologies, Khalai, but I prefer to study when I have time to spare." I lied as easily as I breathed. This was just a way to pass the time. Though I could attend plays, or read fairy tales, neither interested me. Hosting feasts and tournaments came to mind, but both were too expensive for my taste. So, books of learning were my only option. Studying was my only option. It sucked. "Still, I suggest that you do the same. You cannot rely on your advisors for everything, otherwise you will only be a puppet."

Like me with Khanrow and Riegert, though I preferred my position than actually being a leader. Much less stress.

"But, sometimes, everything being a surprise is fun." Khalai spouted off innuendos as easily as he breathed. He wasn't even aiming the insinuation my way or making eyes at me. He just stated the lewdness like fact. "Not only that, but sometimes being told what to do feels amazing."

Is this what it feels like to have a promiscuous friend? I can't say that I hate it, but it's definitely not something I particularly like. I can easily imagine Khalai getting us both into hot water, because he decided to have some fun with a princess… or a prince. The man's a living hentai protagonist/main character, except in this world his dalliances will cause a lot more than a few comedic panels of repercussions.

Still, even if that's the cost of an alliance with the Wardens of the Caverns, it'd be worth it.

"You are your own person, but you must understand you can no longer act solely for yourself. You are a servant of your people. They rely on you to be at your very best." Please don't succumb what your body wants and get your nation and mine into hot water. Think with your brain, please. Become an industrial juggernaut with one of the best economies and cultural spread in the game, so that I have less work on my plate instead. Fornicating might be fun, but have you considered overwhelming endgame crisis armies with deathstacks? It's even better. Straight? Gay? Bi? I like winning battles with so much overwhelming force that I break the game in half. That's hot. "You will have many foes, even if you wish to extend your hand in peace. Thus, you must be prepared for war."

"Hah, you always speak like one of the elders. The actual elders who are practically talking prunes." Khalai got up onto the edge of the sofa and stretched with a light moan. One of my guards stiffened up and started staring into nothing a thousand yards away. It's a hard life, my guy. "But, I do see your point. I've lost the right to live solely for myself. Still, when I have time to spare, I can do better than reading musty manuscripts. Tea, please!"

Khalai rang the bell at the table between the two of us and called for refreshments. I moved the book I lent him off the table onto my lap, while a servant bowed and walked towards the kitchen of my suite. There was a bit of hustle and bustle, but soon enough my chef and Khalai's chef sent out a cart filled with the foods offered, which were quickly looked over by our respective mage-guards for poisons before being cleared for service.

In other words, it was my time to start trying to increase the cultural spread of my lands.

For now, it was the waiting and build up portion of the game. The pillars of a stable nation were its research income, standing military force, and positive economy. However, after you have all three, it's easy to overextend by investing too much in one or the other since the T2 structures that improve them are very expensive and you need to improve your towns and villages into cities, first. T2 research or a T2 military without a T2 economy just bankrupts you. Trying to get T2 military or economy with T1 research is just begging to be out-teched. Finally, T2 economic buildings improve the output of regions, not just the capital, so cultivating population centers outside of the Citadel is the only way to get their full, intended output.

Now, this was a recipe for a boring intermission between upgrades, right?

Wrong.

This is the time in the game when you go out to find events and get Influence, which comes through multiple ways. Winning battles against your opponents nets you fame in combat. Completing specific event chains gives you a constant stream of influence. Making sure your people have positive happiness modifiers is a great way of getting influence. If you have loads of it banked up and unspent, then you'll affect the culture of other people, and their pops that are less happy than yours gives you influence. You can trade influence for boosts to your production, research, gold income, and strategic income, and with some leaders and perks, you can buy buildings and army units and Champions with sheer charisma alone.

If Alexander the Great told you to join his army on the warpath, after all his victories, for glory and riches… wouldn't you?

Anyway, while everything was building up back home, I was looking for allies, putting down enemies, succeeding at Events, and trying my best to boost culture.

The best way to do that was via culinary delights.

Win people through their stomach and make it clear that the food they're eating is yours!

"My, my this is quite the assortment of foods that I've never seen before." It was tea time, so I deployed my knowledge of cakes and pastries. As an American, I had access to a plethora of foods and I enjoyed a ludicrous amount. Food, games, and work, that was my life. The games helped me out for a bit, so why not the food too? "Ah, these mini-cakes are fantastic!"

Higher culinary arts are still in the process of being figured out by the chefs and pastry makers, but little leaps forward like certain flavor combos and mini-versions was good enough for now.

Cupcakes at tea-time, though, were sure to be a hit.

"I'm glad that you like it. I made it whilst wondering how to give more to the people. Little pleasantries such as this improve lives." I lied once again and with a smile. I didn't make this. That story is wholly made up. But that didn't matter. That was true in this world. The King of Wisdom made cakes smaller for his subjects to enjoy. Perfection. I wiped frosting off of Khalia's mouth with a napkin, before serving myself. "Help yourself, Khalai. There's plenty to enjoy."

For a few minutes, I enjoyed the cupcakes and tea, before the High Justiciar spoke once again.

"Jackie, you're making it very difficult to not flirt with you."

Huh!?

How!?

I'm literally treating you like my younger cousins!

Don't… don't tell me that you guys are THAT perverse!?

Who am I kidding, they probably are!