[Lord of Abundance] Chapter 20: Architectural Planner

 Chapter 20: Architectural Planner

“By the way, how is the household registration in the territory coming along? I’ve heard the progress has been quite good recently.”

As if he had been waiting for this question, Old Tate immediately straightened his back and replied loudly:

“Reporting to you, Young Master—within the Abundance Territory, there are now 127 new free citizens, 366 slaves, and 582 original residents, for a total of 1,075 people. All have been fully registered.

“The majority have chosen to join the Blackstone Castle work teams. Following your instructions, half have been assigned to logging in the Everdark Forest, and the other half to constructing new buildings at the Emerald Heart Farmstead.

“The registry has been placed on your desk. You may review it at any time.”

“Well done. Faster than I expected.”

When Kun had first arrived, the residents had been so uncooperative that he’d assumed mobilizing the entire population before spring planting would be impossible. It seemed Old Tate was doing quite a competent job as registrar.

“It’s all thanks to your benevolence, Young Master. Once the people realized the new lord wasn’t interested in squeezing their few copper coins—and instead provided them with work, food, and wages—they became more enthusiastic than ever.

“Some even wish to meet you in person to express their gratitude.”

Kun neither confirmed nor denied it. The flattery was obvious—no need to take it seriously.

Most lords on the Eternal Radiance Continent treated their people as private property. At most, Kun treated them as cheap hired labor and was willing to offer a bit of respect.

If he started believing himself to be some savior just because of a few flattering words, then he must have gotten his head caught in the Gate of Abundance during one of his trips.

—

“Additionally, this old servant would like to recommend two individuals for your guard unit,” Old Tate continued. “Both are local youths from the Emerald Heart Farmstead, similar in age.

“One is named Joel, the other Redo. Both have potential. Leaving them in the logging team would be a waste. They also contributed significantly to the household registration work.”

Due to the previous lord, most residents left at Emerald Heart were women and half-grown children.

Joel, who was obedient and filial, was well-liked. With his persuasion and example, Old Tate’s work became much smoother.

Redo, on the other hand—the one Nia called a thug—was the unofficial leader of the local children. When he spoke, others followed.

Since he had ambitions to join the guard and become a warrior, he actively helped recruit locals for Old Tate, which greatly accelerated the registration process.

Though Redo’s intentions were somewhat self-serving, they were not lost on Old Tate’s keen eye.

Old Tate didn’t care much about that. Good or bad, ambitious or not—if someone was capable and useful, he was willing to give them a chance.

There was only one condition: they had to repay kindness with loyalty. If they dared bite the hand that fed them, he wouldn’t mind letting his “rusty” former guard captain stretch his limbs a bit.

—

“These are minor matters,” Kun said. “The guard unit is under your management now—you decide.

“As for treatment and training plans, discuss everything upfront. It makes cooperation cleaner. Don’t let gratitude turn into resentment—that never ends well.”

“Actually, Dawn’s new disciple, little Nia, would be the most suitable candidate. With proper training, she could eventually replace Dawn as captain of your guard—”

Kun waved him off.

He already felt somewhat guilty having a renowned third-tier warrior serve as a mere security officer in such a small territory. Coveting his disciple too? That would be too much.

—

Returning to his study, Kun sat behind his desk, opened a drawer, and took out a stack of finely drawn blueprints, handing them to Old Tate.

“Young Master, these are…?”

“Previously, we built simple housing just to meet urgent needs—functional, weatherproof, nothing more.

“Now that everyone has a place to live, it’s time to focus on both practicality and aesthetics.”

He sorted through the drawings.

“This one is for the dining hall. This is for public toilets. This is a row of two-story townhouses.

“And this—this is a fountain of the Goddess of Wisdom, Aqua. I like this one the most. Build it in front of the castle… though it’s not urgent. It can wait.”

Goddess of Wisdom Aqua?

Old Tate blinked in confusion. He had never heard of such a deity.

“Take these plans to the construction teams—carpenters, masons—and have them build according to the designs. Materials and locations are all marked.

“If anything is unclear, send someone to find Li Tianyun with Dawn. It’ll also give him a chance to practice the local language—two birds with one stone.”

These blueprints were all drawn by Li Tianyun.

They were based on Blue Star architectural principles, blended with the style of the Eternal Radiance Continent, and refined through firsthand observation of Lovos City’s structures.

Though Li Tianyun had dropped out of school due to illness, he had self-studied the entire university curriculum in architecture.

In fact, in Blue Star’s online world, he was a popular architectural illustrator known as “King of Assur”—though no one knew his real identity.

If not for his illness and meeting Kun, he would likely have become a renowned architect.

As for now… his dream was probably to become a qualified third-tier warrior like Dawn, capable of splitting open Blackstone Castle’s gates with a single strike.

A bit of a shift in direction—but at least he was still himself.

—

Kun glanced out the window.

The weather was good—clear skies, sunlight, little wind, no snow. The frost on the window had melted away under the warmth.

Unlike his first days here, when everything outside was blurred by ice.

Winter was coming to an end.

—

Turning back, Kun flipped through the household registry.

“Have the maids prepare some black tea and pastries for the reception room… no, bring them here instead.

“Also, invite Lady Latifa and Master Melvord. Tell them I’d like to speak with them. After waiting so long, they must be getting impatient.”

Since meeting them at the Mage Association in Lovos City, Kun hadn’t shown himself again, nor given these mages any opportunity to interact with him.

Normally, any noble who managed to recruit even a mage apprentice would treat them as honored guests—it was a matter of prestige.

After all, only failing nobles lacked mage retainers.

Even if it meant saving face, they would invite at least one mage from the association.

Most nobles could only recruit low-tier mages. Higher-tier ones either served major families or held high-ranking positions in mage associations.

Thus, mages were held in extremely high regard—only slightly below nobility.

—

But Kun had no intention of indulging them.

By status, he was the son of a marquis, with royal blood.

By magical attainment, as a fourth-tier archmage, he stood leagues above these first-tier mages—there was no comparison.

He had deliberately left them waiting these past few days.

Partly to temper their pride.

He needed capable assistants to build his territory—not ornamental figures to decorate it.

It was also a test.

Those who couldn’t endure hardship could leave.

Those who stayed… would be rewarded beyond their imagination.

—

“As you wish, Young Master.”

Old Tate bowed and left, his imitation of noble etiquette far from elegant—but Kun pretended not to notice.

Soon, a maid brought in black tea and pastries.

The tea was Ismel Highland black tea from the royal capital—grown in the mist-covered Mel Highlands.

Harvested in late summer, its fermented leaves produced a bright orange-red brew with a golden ring on the surface, like a crown.

Rich, slightly bitter, with a floral aroma—it was a prized luxury in the capital.

Wherever you went, businesses involving alcohol, iron, tea, or salt were guaranteed to be profitable.

Of course, such trades weren’t for just anyone—without the right backing, they could bring disaster.

Kun had once helped a tea merchant in the capital resolve a spoilage issue. Whether the problem had been real or staged, he didn’t care.

The result was that the merchant sent him premium tea every year—and even allowed Old Tate to invest in his business when Kun left for his territory.

—

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

The study door opened. Latifa and Melvord entered together, sitting across from Kun with visible restraint after receiving his gesture.

In front of a higher-ranking mage—especially one who had set a kingdom record as the youngest third-tier archmage—no low-tier mage could remain calm.

Kun smiled politely and poured tea for both of them.

“I’ve been occupied these past few days and didn’t get a chance to speak with you. My apologies. Have you been comfortable staying in the castle?”

Melvord quickly accepted the cup with both hands, flustered.

“Thank you for your concern, my lord. It’s… quite alright.”

“Quite alright?” Kun laughed.

Alright, my foot.

There was a reason he’d been hiding on Blue Star—late winter here was brutal. The days were milder now, but nights were even colder.

And Blackstone Castle hadn’t even been fully repaired.

For mages accustomed to comfortable lives in Lovos City, this place must have been unbearable.

Melvord awkwardly lowered his head and took a sip. Beside him, Latifa covered her mouth, stifling a laugh.

She had warned him—this lord was nothing like the high mages in the association. More perceptive, more straightforward.

Better to speak honestly.

Now look—awkward.

—

“I should also thank you both,” Kun continued. “I heard two mages left due to impatience. Without your efforts, more might have followed.”

Of the nine mages who came from Lovos City, only seven remained.

If Kun had delayed any longer, even more would have left.

—

Melvord and Latifa exchanged glances, unsure how to respond.

Was this gratitude… or a reprimand?

After all, if they had truly tried to stop them, could two apprentices have left so easily?

Kun smiled.

A question with no correct answer didn’t need one.

He picked up the registry and pulled out two parchment sheets.

“Melvord E. Saavedra. Age seventy-two. Resident of Blackstone Castle, Abundance Territory. Peak first-tier ice mage.

“Proficient in sixteen spells including Ice Spike and Slow. Skilled in cultivating magical plants and crafting first-tier scrolls. Fluent in Common Tongue, Elvish, Orcish, and Aetheric.”

Hearing his own profile read aloud by a higher mage, Melvord scratched his nose, embarrassed.

If he’d known this wasn’t some personal assessment form but a household record, he wouldn’t have written so much.

The second sheet was far simpler.

“Jefferson Moya. Certified mage apprentice of Lovos City. Has left the Abundance Territory.”

Latifa noticed something—the two parchments were slightly different in color.

Kun didn’t bother hiding it.

“The territory is still in its infancy. Those who can’t endure hardship and see no future are free to leave. I understand and respect that.

“Not just those two—anyone who wishes to leave, including you, I will not stop, nor will I retaliate.”

He paused.

“But once you leave… returning won’t be so easy.”