568 Disguise Part 1 (1/2)
”Daniel was feeling very smug, but Saleen felt that something was amiss. There are more than three-hundred castles here. Excluding the thirty plus castles that I have to control, at least two-hundred nobles have come forth to seek shelter. Each of these nobles own their private armies and their titles are high, some of them might even be mages. Will I be able to suppress them? This isn't a problem which could be resolved using force. The power of these nobles aren't fearful enough, I can execute them anytime I want. But the moment such things happen, no one will flock to this city anymore. Metatrin City will surely become an isolated city. If this issue develops in this manner, then I can only tap on Lex's status to resolve matters already! Lex has ten-thousand men here while I have more than twenty-thousand troops, I am afraid this number isn't even sufficient to make up an emblem group of her vanguards.”
Saleen became inert out the blue. Daniel did not know whether he had said anything wrong, so he also shut his mouth.
Nailisi's thoughts were almost telepathic with Saleen's one. She nudged Saleen from behind, then whispered, ”Your teacher will arrive in at most two years, you don't have to be worried about this.”
Suddenly, Saleen gained epiphany, ”I only have to hold out for two years, Lex will not really try to vie anything with me, and she is chasing after the Six Elements' Space in the hell of the God's Punishment. Without support from the Sregl Island mages, she won't even dare open the planar teleportation portal. In two years' time, even if these nobles tried to conspire, all of their efforts will also be fluff once I build all thirty-six magical towers.”
When Daniel heard Nailisi's words, he realized Saleen's concern. Smiling oddly, he said, ”Sir, the castles of those nobles were designed by us. You can enter anyone's castle anytime, no one can stop you.”
Saleen swept his glance to the mages surrounding him, then he noticed that the mages from Sregl Island were holding back their laughter. At this moment, Saleen realized that his worries were unfounded. ”If the nobles want to fight, let them be, but they will never be able to oppose me in the area of military affairs. With so many people seeking refuge here, the population of my city has increased swiftly, the commercial activities are thriving and there are many slaves around. In two years, no one will be sure of the number of lands I will own. I still have to make a trip to the Holy Rock City. Since I have made a promise to Joey, I have to fulfill it. No one can control that kind of person. The moment he becomes furious, even Teacher will not be able to protect me, unless I flee to the Sregl Island and never appear again.”
After Saleen asked Daniel about all the happenings which took place in his absence, Saleen calmed down gradually. The situation was better than what Saleen had thought. The population of the city would be increased several times very soon, while a number of farms had been developed on the northern and western sides of Metatrin City. The defensive power of these farms might not be as high as a castle, but it was adequate for housing the farmers.
Daniel had built a charcoal field north of the city, as there was a coalmine three-hundred miles north. That way, the farmers could live through winter without any problems. There were people moving over from Phoenix, and they were the true assets to Saleen.
”I have no problems advancing to a sorcerer. Once I enter the Six Elements' Space, I can become a grade-9 sorcerer in no time. By then, my life will be around twelve-hundred years long. I will be able to accomplish many things in twelve-hundred years.”
”Viscountess Lex is here,” Daniel reminded Saleen.
Saleen noticed that there was a tiny magic device in Daniel's ear, it was a piece of silver magnetic stone. This object could be used to make the smallest sound transmission magic array. Other than being a little expensive, it had no other flaws. It was easy to be crafted yet difficult to be damaged, and it consumed the fragments of a magic nucleus. A level-1 magic nucleus would suffice.
Very soon, Lex had arrived at this small meeting room, she didn't bring along anyone else. Saleen's men also rushed over, taking their seats around the table.
Clearly, Lex had already understood the changes that took place when she wasn't around as she was in a pretty good mood. Metatrin City had been developed so quickly. Only the magical towers were yet to be constructed, but the rest of the projects were on the right track.
”Saleen, I have to discuss something with you. Since everyone is here, you will make a decision.” Lex looked at Saleen with a gentle smile on her face.
”Judging by your look, it shouldn't be a bad thing.” Saleen was jubilant that the atmosphere was harmonious, and when he said that, everyone else also felt relieved.
”No, I believe you have heard from Daniel about the events which took place in Metatrin City, and you have a problem.”
”What problem?”
”Identity. If you are just a city owner, you have to be my subordinate, and you will have to interact with those nobles.”
The moment Lex said that, the mages from the Sregl Island could not help but appear enraged. ”Who do you think Saleen is? A student favored by Jason is one of the people who has a chance of inheriting Sregl Island. Even if Lex is an emperor, Saleen will never ever be her subordinate, not to mention that she is just a viscountess.”
When Lex noticed the expressions of the mages, she cackled. She was afraid that these people would not care. If they didn't care, it meant that Saleen did not hold a high status in the eyes of Sregl Island. Saleen had not discussed with Lex in detail about the Sregl Island, so Lex did not know what Saleen's position was. When she saw the faces of those mages, she felt more assured already.
”That is why I have thought of a solution for you, but I don't know whether you are willing to be a noble or not.”
”Say it.” Saleen wasn't actually very agitated, he knew that Lex did things secretively and carefully, she wouldn't say something for the sake of provoking his subordinates.
”Your identity in the Sregl Island cannot be exposed at the moment. The past few years, I have been asking people to investigate your background. The 'Metatrin' surname was once glorious back in the fourth dynasty. Since many of the files regarding the fourth dynasty were destroyed, the ones I can find aren't that reliable.”
”Are you asking me to disguise as a noble from the fourth dynasty?” Saleen understood Lex's plan at once, and he was a little reluctant to do so.
”I am not asking you to disguise. I have found a swath of information. In the past two-hundred years, on the route where your family migrated along, there was no person with the surname 'Metatrin'. Not even the peasants. Which means that in the last two-hundred years, in Sikeqinya, your family was the only one with this surname. Even though the more recent information is murky…”