Chapter 352: Rumi The Architect (1/2)

The bird gave a screech before it turned twice in the sky, getting ready to land. As it flapped its wings to descend, powerful wind accompanied it. It landed in front of the camp, so Arthur had to stroll toward the architect.

When he reached the man and got a better look, he could tell that his architect was anything but boring. The brown-skin man wore clothes of every color stacked on top of each other. However, that wasn't what grabbed Arthur's attention the most.

'A mohawk? No, his hair looks like... a tower. How much time did he spend on styling it that way?' Arthur was amused that such an interesting character was here.

”You call it a city, but this nothing but a camp!” The architect barked at Ma, who was receiving him. The two of them walked through the camp's several houses. ”If you wanted to build houses, then you should have waited for me. So much wasted time...”

”Only a day or so,” Arthur said with a smile, and the architect, along with Ma, halted their steps. They turned Arthur with curiosity from the architect and relief from Ma.

”Seika! This gentleman is the one I told you about.” Ma introduced. ”He's the famous architect, Rumi.”

”You must be the Seika of Living Beings.” Rumi's previous haughty attitude was gone, and he even bowed. ”I heard nothing but praise for you.”

”That's difficult to believe, but our architect has a silver tongue.” Arthur smiled. ”This is no place to receive someone. Let's go to my house.”

As he said that, Arthur took the lead and began walking. The architect followed after him by a short distance, and Ma was further away. They passed by the houses that Arthur built using his skill.

”Have you truly built these houses in a day?” Rumi asked with curiosity. ”I never expected the Seika of Living Beings to be a builder as well.”

”I'm a lot of things.” Arthur smilingly said. ”Not all of them are good things, but I'm sure that you know about it already.”

”Hm?” Rumi looked genuinely confused. ”I only heard that you were building a city from scratch. That's all I needed to know.”

They reached the house, and Arthur was speechless by the architect's response. Before they talked further, the two of them sat down on each end of the table.

”Why did you want to meet me, though?” Arthur squinted his eyes at the architect.

”I wanted to see the man I'll be working with for the next few months,” Rumi said with a smile. ”And, see your reaction to this attire.” He gestured toward his clothes, which looked like different colored patches of fabric sewed together. ”Just the fact that you didn't comment or look with disdain at my clothes tells me a lot.”

”I don't care what you wear as long as you outline our city.”

”You said 'Our,' heh.” Rumi grinned. ”Seika, Seika, can I call you Seisei?” The architect leaned on the table. However, Arthur shook his head. ”Well, anyway. I like you. You are the only one who didn't offer me anything but knowledge because you know how little I value money.”

”No, because my knowledge would have turned any architect into a master,” Arthur said as he leaned back. ”If you didn't come, I would have hired anyone and gave them the knowledge they need.”

Rumi looked taken aback before he threw his head back and roared laughing. He slapped the table with his hand as he wiped the tears away from his eye.

”I have never been this disrespected. I like it!”

'Uh-oh, did I pick up another Reece?' Arthur was worried, but the architect was already looking at him with sparkling eyes.

”Tell me, Seika, what city are we building here?”

”Well, before I say anything, I'll have to ask you some things,” Arthur said as his eyes began shining. ”Tell me the truth. Do you work for anyone else to spy on us?”

***

Arthur might be going overboard with his Art of Submission, and it made him feel like a dictator, but it needed to be done. This world didn't have an absolute law that everyone followed. It all depended on your capability to protect yourself.

Rumi was given a house after he passed Arthur's test. Arthur assigned him under Courage in the Civil Affairs department. The details of the city's outline would take place after Mother Rega grows.

After informing Courage and the rest of this arrangement, Arthur called out for the newest member of the team: Rosa.

”She'll be my assistant and the hostess for the Auction House,” Arthur said, and Gala banged on the table as she stood up.