V54C7P2 – Half Elf Vishur
“This is the entrance to the second area . ”
The place he arrived at with Haruna was entangled with tree roots .
It was a narrow passage for barely a single person or elf .
Once they got through it, the passageway became wider again, but no one could ever find it without paying close attention .
“From here on, we could not diffuse all the traps . Monsters spawn on occasion as well . ”
The first area was cleaned out by the adventurers, but the second area was still in progress .
The adventurers scouted meticulously the countless branches of paths, looking for the way through .
“Chase-nim!”
“Oh… Weed-nim has arrived . Hhha . ”
He met up with adventurer Chase and began scouting the second area .
“I am drawing a map . This is a considerably large dungeon, but with a thousand users it should be finished by night time . ”
“I see . I am grateful for your assistance in stopping Kaybern . ”
“I will gladly take it upon myself . As an adventurer, I know very well how much Weed-nim went through for the Versailles Continent . You stepped forward to the difficult tasks when no one else could, like the Embinyu Cult, and even now you are under hardship trying to lead us all . ”
A long compliment .
Anywhere he went, he was used to hearing such a level of praise .
‘I need to speak more humbly at a time like this . ’
Weed moisturized his lips with his tongue .
“Hmm-hmm . I am merely doing what I wish to do . I thought I had to stop the Embinyu Cult for the people . ”
“The world will be at peace if Weed-nim rules over the Versailles Continent . ”
“Of course . People living in happiness is my goal . ”
It wasn’t a complete lie .
It was just that his real objective was ripping off taxes from the happy folks .
He exchanged short greetings with adventurer Leboy and other famous users .
“Aren’t you exhausted?”
“It’s nothing . The dark, murky dungeons are my home . The scent of trees is pleasant and I have many friends at the beer parties I host often . Of course, as long as it doesn’t affect the adventures . ”
The adventurers were sincerely enjoying confrontation with monsters and diffusing traps .
Each adventure was never guaranteed success, nor did they receive big rewards .
It was a job that could not be pulled off unless they themselves found passion in it .
“Moving forward, the Arpen Empire will greatly expand the quest rewards . ”
“For real?”
“Yes . The excavations from historical sites and mines to various types of adventurers will be supported . ”
Weed’s words held great weight to them .
It was difficult to go back on words once spoken, but he was absolutely certain that these adventurers will make him incentives beyond the investment .
‘They will fail at times . They will be rewarded if they succeed . But, failing has nothing to do with me . ’
Successful stories make people forget the fear of failure and bare hope .
Great cities crumbled due to Kaybern’s activity, and regions that were invaded by monster invasions were going out of count .
Each broadcasting station was weary of the Versailles Continent’s demise, but there was a stir of unexpected change .
– This is Morata . I am running a fruit store . What is going on right now? I have to close by noon, by then the goods will be sold out .
– This is Puhol Waterpark . I thought this wasn’t the time for a party but… This is insane! The rich folks of the Central Continent are streaming in .
– All the cottages far from the waterpark are all sold . Further lot-outs are resulting a steep increase in price .
– You know the high quality equipment were released into the market after the Hermes Guild and the Haven Empire dipped following the Garnav Plains… I thought the market value of equipment would plummet, but it’s way high again .
– The dungeons and hunting grounds are cluttered with users .
– The cities are also very populated . There’s a swarm of people no matter where you go .
The cities were ruined and the natural disasters reduced crop production .
The haven-like Versailles Continent fell into great danger and chaos . However, the activity of users increased significantly .
– I can’t really explain it, but it seems like Royal Road has become more enjoyable .
– There’s so much I want to do and so much I have to be doing as well .
– The times are dangerous, but it’s great . I think I’ve gone a little crazy . Hha .
The farmers tended to the crops and put their best efforts to reduce the damage from the black rain .
The merchants roamed the continent on their wagons and supplied the declining necessities . The users of other job classes became livelier as if they woke from a long sleep .
In the face of danger, people seemed to enjoy themselves even more .
They were actively out hunting, producing, collecting and enjoying vacations .
The cities were destroyed, but the users without a home weren’t necessarily gone for good .
Castle Evaluk and the Free City of Somren were being repaired by the local citizens and users .
“Morata was raised from ruins . We can do it too!”
“Let us stand again . The Arpen Empire will support us . ”
The users refused to give up .
They would have laid low and quiet, doing their own thing at times of peace, but now they were building homes and constructing roads on the ruins .
Dain spent her entire savings and invested towards the restoration, news of which spread and the users that took goods out of the treasury came to return them .
“I would like it to be used for the restoration . I am not famous in any way, but I am a user of Evaluk . ”
The power of the people was assembling and the Arpen Empire was growing exponentially despite the threat of Kaybern .
– Seoyoon: The income for the Arpen Empire has increased a lot this week .
The interstellar amount of investment committed by Seoyoon began taking effect in conjunction, forming a huge economic value .
Common villages advanced into cities with more than 30% increase in all kinds of production .
The roads were well set, and cities with large sums of land doubled their expansion of production .
There was quite a handsome amount of money that had been earned by the Central Continent users over some time .
Even though the Hermes Guild exploited them heavily, the money earned by users hunting and trading scaled and stacked up with time .
For a long time, they could only hide the money away from the tyranny of Haven Empire, but now they were bold in their spendings .
– Now is the time . Though it seems like a crisis… Once we get over this, the Arpen Empire will develop rapidly .
– As long as it’s not the great cities prone to the dragon . Just the medium cities . Especially the vacation spots, they’re worth the money .
– I am an expert real estate speculator . I never worked and lived off speculating all my life . This is the chance . A little too late and the prices will skyrocket . Then, I assure you that I won’t even be able to afford a hut .
– Transportation, hunting, trades . Invest in lands that are developed in all three . Land doesn’t lie .
The price of land was increasing exponentially even in the Central Continent .
The investment of the Arpen Empire surely sparked fire .
The funds that were suppressed up until now were being released at once and people were surprisingly very hopeful about the situation .
– Weed-nim will certainly defeat the dragon .
– He doesn’t have to . One city destroyed at a time… I can live with that .
– Let’s push forth with new cities . Construction at its finest!
– The dragon will have a limit too . I mean, how long will it take for it to destroy all the cities in the continent?
– It’s a given fact that more cities are being built than that are destroyed .
– Monsters too… Though they multiply, it’s not too bad once you get used to it . You can grow even faster by hunting . Cities will not be invaded in turn .
The users were growing used to the city destructions and monsters roaming in huge numbers .
– The Arpen Empire . Weed-nim is a development expert . So, our trust in him can go a long way .
– Even if a great city crumbles, the nearby regions develop even more . Overall, it’s a positive result .
– Stock market, coins . No need for all that . Your answer is Royal Road . There is no other place as fun and instantaneous in rewards .
– Looking at it long-term, it is definitely going onward and upward . Drive!
The users were investing passionately and were trouble-free in their growth .
The Haven Empire slowly fell apart, concerned with the declining tax income every month . The Arpen Empire was the exact opposite .
The large-scale investment and user activity increased tax income by 200% every week .
It was a recovery of tax income that suffered before, but now it was at an unbelievable level of growth .
Weed became excited and announced his development plans .
“I will construct 12 waterparks all across the continent . Skyscrapers? Great Landmarks? I will build all of them . ”
He was different from the common politicians that threw a bunch of empty promises during elections .
Weed was a man who stuck to his word, and he was well prepared .
He conquered the buildings, vast plains, mountains, woods and fields near rivers that were owned by the Hermes Guild and took control for free .
It was all to promote development plans and increase real estate worth based on the incredible property assets under the empire .
Houses, cottages and hotel business increased the count of lot-out and the resulting funds could be re-invested into the empire .
As the people said, apart from the great cities prone to the dragon’s attack, medium cities of trades and transportation had a chance to develop greatly .
– The investment plan also covers the monster fortresses . I think he just blurted out without looking at the situation . Is he in his right mind?
– You don’t know what the higher-ups are thinking . If they eradicate the monsters, they can all turn into amusement parks .
– An awesome theme park .
– The people who know what Puhol used to be will have no doubt about the future .
– Do tourist attractions have much to it, really? It’s a tourist attraction if people can go and have fun . It doesn’t matter what it used to be .
– The plans for the volcanic island in the east sea is even crazier . This is a volcano that erupted last month .
– Wow… That’s going to be one decent springwell .
Weed never stopped to think that hunting diligently and establishing public security was all there was to governance .
“As the emperor, I have to plant dreams in their heads . So that the people can be hopeful . ”
He reacted sensitively to the users’ change in attitude,resulting from the investment of the Arpen Empire .
He was also concerned about how to exploit the users even in the desert!
All the studies on real estate speculation became the foundation in his development plans .
“I am going to lure out the real estate investments . Once the massive funds are released, they will serve as the key to a rapid development of the empire . ”
People do not hesitate to pull from their pocket for their fantasies .
The gut feeling that things will turn out well and you’ll be behind everyone else . The ache lower in the stomach is human psychology when you sense that your neighbor or your friends will earn good money .
“Happiness doesn’t come from the money that I have this instant . I can be happy knowing that there’s money streaming in from now on . ”
It was all a political move that he hoped would pay off based on real estate!
A plan that will transform all the weakened cities into the glory of Royal Road’s early flourishing days .
The production will go up a notch and trades will occur much more frequently . Moreover, the users shall willingly step up to do something with their own hands .
“Governance doesn’t come from honesty or diligence . ”
Weed thought that politicians who go by the book will never gain the trust of the people or succeed .
Any pep talk about honesty was rather painful to the ears .
Anyone can tell another to follow the rules and live with an honest attitude, and it makes it all the more annoying .
After all, where is the fun in the honest life!
“I will raise skyscrapers . Construct roads . The value of land will increase enormously, so hurry up and buy them!”
“Wahhh!”
“I will make sure that everyone can earn as much as they want . ”
“Hurray, Weed!”
In the real world, the side effects of real estate was immense .
When house values are going up, it is synonymous for the construction business as well and more job opportunities . However, the higher house values can become a burden for the average person .
If they worked all their lives and saved the money and we’re still unable to buy a house, they would be bound for grievance .
Even the government could not meddle with housing price!
“When it gets to that, I can tax them for property ownership as an excuse to reduce house prices . ”
Politicians also knew that increasing property tax had a huge effect, but they simply could not do so .
Bluntly speaking, even if they do proceed, the money will not be their own, therefore it was a difficult policy to pull off . However, the emperor of the Arpen Empire was Weed!
He promoted real estate, causing a huge boom of investment into the development of the empire . Then, the money from increased tax income will all be his own .
The gullible investors that will jump in for the hope of earning some money, will be ripped off here and there!
“Economic development will revolve around me . Yup . That’s the way it will be . ”
(To be continued…)