Chapter 676 - Controlling The Economy (1/2)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Olivia felt as if she was playing the game ‘Civilization’ as she developed Kaer Morhen as her base of operations. The game system seemed to have changed. She was no longer playing an RPG, she was playing a farming strategy game. Building up a new wonder of the world might even add to her own powers.
If she did not have the game system by her side, it would have been impossible for her to develop this otherwise poor and desolate Kaer Morhen into its current wealthy and prosperous state. The ‘autoplay assistant’ had done much
Of course, Kaer Morhen was nothing like the great old cities such as Vizima [1], the capital city of Temeria, or the Nilfgaardian Empire’s capital, the City of Golden Towers [2], or the Free City of Novigrad [3].
Novigrad was indeed a very prosperous and famous city. It was a free city, located within the boundaries of Redania. It was the largest city in the North, and one of the major ports on the continent.
The Northern people even coined Novigrad as the world’s capital. There was actually a reason for this.
The city had an astonishing amount of wealth, influence, and strategic importance. It was a city that was envied by multiple countries. Emperor Emhyr’s plans accounted for Novigrad as well.
People from different backgrounds and occupations filed into the city. It was home to almost 30,000 inhabitants, excluding the merchants and visitors who came to the city. Its main roads were paved with stone.
Novigrad had a harbor, many warehouses, four watermills, slaughterhouses, sawmills and an enormous shoe factory. It was home to all manner of craftsmen. It had coin mints, eight banks, and nineteen pawnshops. The only downside was that the city’s civilization had not yet been developed.
Within the city’s spectacular buildings and business facilities, there was a cult called the Eternal Fire [4]. The local Reverend and temple guards had forced a rein over the city’s head and had forced it to move to their liking. They used superstition to control the city’s citizens, their jurisdiction only growing day by day.
It was strictly forbidden to wear any other symbol of Gods or to preach and perform rituals of other religions. The citizens in Novigrad were only allowed to believe in the Eternal Fire. Anyone else was a heretic. By law, they would be put to the torch.
All in all, the Eternal Fire cult had enormous power over the city. They built the Great Temple of the Eternal Fire on an island, naming it ‘Temple Isle.’
As the citizens often said, “You could find anything you want in the city of Novigrad. Zerrikania [5] spices? We have it. Swords cast by ancient dwarfs? Not a problem, buy one, and you get another for free. Toussaint grape wine? Whatever you want, we have it – As long as you have money, the more, the better.”
As a free city, its City Council had created its unique form of currency and measurement units. By this, Novigrad could guarantee its position as a trading center in the continent.
As the North and South clashed, the economies of all countries were severely impacted. Now, the most valuable currency out there was the Novigrad’s Crown [6].
Novigrad was not a country, but as a city with free trade, Novigrad had a flourishing economy. The Crown’s value became grossly inflated. Now, it was the world’s only universal payment method. Whether it was the merchants, nobleman, townspeople, and farmers from the North, or the Nilfgaardian quartermaster, dwarf bankers, prostitutes, and of course, witchers, all of them traded with Crowns.
At the moment, Olivia sat in a luxurious carriage, heading towards the free city of Novigrad to wrap up some business dealings.
After a few years of growing up, Olivia was now a drop-dead gorgeous beauty. She had long, silver hair that flowed down to her waist. She always wore fashionable clothes that she had designed herself. Not only did they match the world, but no other designer would also be able to come close to their artistic value…