Since it would take Luf a while to refine all the material, Seth was rather free again. Apart from refining the blueprints and planning out how to make use of the hydra core, there was nothing he needed to do.
Of course, this free time was not granted to the busy blacksmith. The cruel and heartless businesswoman Jane and her accomplices Mary and the politician Leana had come up with a devious plan and called for him when he was about to start up his computer.
He entered Mary’s office, where Mary, Jane, Leana, Evan, and Karina were waiting for him. What an unusual combination of people. Karina seemed a little peeved, while Evan was looking down, embarrassed.
“What's up, Guys? Is there something wrong?” he asked, looking at the scene inside the office.
“His worms dared to nibble at the roots of the guardian tree!” Karina exclaimed angrily. Compared to her usual calm demeanor, this was outright explosive. Maybe it was just Seth's perception, but her disposition had slightly changed since the hangingtree awakened as a Guardian Tree.
“I already told you, I'm sorry! They didn't know better. It's just their instinct to tunnel,” Evan said exasperated. It seemed like this discussion had gone on for a while, without really getting anywhere.
It couldn't be, did they call him to be an intermediary? But more importantly-
“Did you just say tunnel? Evan, are the dungeon worms eating holes in the surrounding of Minas Mar?”
The magic tower's biggest defense was that it was situated in the middle of the mountain. If something suddenly dug a bunch of tunnels in their defense, then that was a huge issue.
“O-Only a few?” “Hah! See, even Seth doesn't like your pets digging wherever they like!”
“They only just started awakening their instincts, they have not done anything major,” Evan explained.
“Except gnawing through one of the Guardian tree's roots!” “It had thousands of roots!”
The Dungeon Worms managed to dig through the roots of the legendary tree. By what Seth knew, these were still the younglings of the second generation Evan managed to breed. And those hatchlings managed to eat through the at least relic-rated wood?
“Interesting. But we can't have your hatchlings eat through our defenses.”
“S-Seth! I promise I will control them better from now on!” Evan pleaded.
“I think they should leave Minas Mar!” Karina asserted.
Seth could see it on their faces, Leana, Mary, and Jane had been experiencing this over and over.
The blacksmith looked at the people present and remembered an idea he had quite some time ago. Less of an idea and more the wish to bring back the convenience of travel, they all still remembered from before the apocalypse.
Of course, there was nothing more convenient than teleportation, but they couldn't open that channel to everyone and it was very energy intensive to the spatial magic often, or across a big distance.
“I have a solution for this problem. Neither will you have to control your worms, nor will they stay in Minas Mar.” Seth stated.
“Are you really going to kick me out of Minas Amr?” Evan asked, close to tears.
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“I-I also think that goes a little far...” Karina supported him.
“What are you two talking about? We will put the natural instincts of the worms to good use and build a subway between the Tree Stations. This way the dungeon worms will be happier since they will be able to follow their natural instincts and they will be out of the Tower's vicinity,” Seth said with a shrug. They had already done something similar to create an escape route for the people of Y-city. The difference was that Karina had to do all the digging alone, previously.
While the dryad and the tamer had faces of enlightenment, the other three listened in dismay. Another massive project they would have to manage!
“Since the stations are already connected by Karina's roots she will able to use them to reinforce and guard the tunnels from monsters and dungeon cores and the dungeon worms get a chance to learn that the roots are no food. That means you both will have to work on this together.”
Now all expressions were a mix of shock and dismay.
Mary sighed. “At least this way of travel will be safer and we should be able to save a lot of manpower that would be used on escorting the travelers.”
After they surrendered to their fate under the leadership of Mary, the Chosen of Hestia, the three administrative powerhouses came up with more ideas and details for the construction.
“We could make money with travel and cargo fees,” Jane added after a moment of thought.
“We can ask the engineers from Y-City, to build the trains and carts,” Leana lastly revealed.
Leana mentioned a group of people Mark Baker had asked them to take care of. Their new chef who was going to help Link was also part of the group of people Baker sent over, to ensure their safety. However, the biggest part of them had not yet been assigned anywhere. It would be good to put them to work.
Overall, it was a good plan to improve their current strategy of siphoning away people and businesses from the other districts. Although Y-City was no longer the enemy and the bad actor behind Delta was technically gone, it was always lucrative to be the trading hub of the world.
“By the way, do we have to restrict ourselves to the tree stations? With the dungeon worms doing the heavy lifting, we could expand the net to remote dungeons, mines, and hunting grounds,” Evan suddenly suggested.
“Evan, you are giving me dangerous ideas.” Seth suddenly said.
The Tree Stations had already been placed in a way to have the shortest ways to the better dungeons and mines they had scouted between Delta and Agra. What Seth thought about when Evan mentioned remote mines and dungeon, the blacksmith had to think of Mike's quest.
The unclaimed mountains. Ores he had not known before, barely developed mines and dungeons. He didn't need to go there and take possession of them, but what if they offered them a safe connection to civilization?
Transporting their goods, giving them access to fresh rations and necessities by making it possible for merchants to easily travel to and from their little settlements? Minas Mar could lean back and silently reap profits, only making friends on the way.
“C- Can we concentrate on our own district first?” Mary begged him. As if building this kind of infrastructure to cross the 12 tree stations, Agra and Thres wasn't already enough. Widening the net past Beta and across the unclaimed mountains?
“Don't worry, we can go at it slowly. Also, I will probably be able to introduce you to a real workhorse for brain gymnastics,” Seth answered understandingly.
“Who?” Jane asked a little surprised. It had been some time that Seth personally scouted someone not as part of the field teams.
“Luf! Of course, I first have to make her a body that won't melt you with her mere presence.”
"She should be able to join you within the next few days. And she can act as your bodyguard."
“...Great,” Jane said tired. What did she even expect?
Mary massaged her temples for a moment.
“I guess this is decided then? I actually didn't call you because of those two,” Mary revealed after a moment. Seth looked at her questioning, it seemed that Karina and Evan had come here on their own to complain. Mary put a few sheets of paper and an envelope before him on the table.
“It seems like Gamma is on the move,” Leana revealed.
“Gamma?” Seth read the short report stating that envoys of Arget Nore had been seen in Delta.
Then the envelope? The letter was addressed at him and it was an official request for an envoy of Arget Nore to visit the embassy of Minas Mar. Was the multidimensional empire of undead no longer satisfied with ruling the ruins of former Gamma?
The letter did not state the reason for their wish to visit.
"Are you going to meet them?" Mary asked.
"What do you think, Leana? You know more about the nations across the Pathworks." the blacksmith reflected the question to the princess.
"They have already turned Gamma into a land of death. This means they are to stay. It could be that they are really just trying to build diplomatic relationships. At least I don't think they will pull anything during this visit."
"So they are up to something. Fine, I will meet them...In a week or so."