Pioneer Lord: Starting From Daily Intelligence

From a distance, the Lion Ring Arena sprawls across the center of Hesse Town like a steel fortress. Its outer walls are over thirty meters high, built from gigantic stones that seem as though they’ve been meticulously polished by hand by a Dwarf Engineer. The monumental architecture is extraordinarily majestic and grand. The carvings on the walls are vivid and lively, depicting twelve Knight statues wielding halberds, gazing down upon mortals in a posture of interrogating heretics. The base is intertwined with a group sculpture of gargoyles locked with wrought black iron chains. The imperial double-headed eagle insignia is not a mere relief, but a massive sculpture cast from melted brass shells by four hundred Dwarf Engineers, with its talons crushing the shattered remains of the Chaos Eight-pointed Star.

Upon entering the arena, the layered seating immediately strikes awe, resembling an inverted war fortress. Each layer is supported by thick stone pillars, embodying the heaviness and splendor of Empire-style architecture.

In the center is a slaughter arena over 400 meters in diameter, enveloped by three layers of protection. The outermost layer is a Fine Steel fence engraved with runes, the middle is a gigantic granite protective wall, and the innermost layer consists of Magic Vines grown by the Sisters, which seamlessly bind the entire defense together, ensuring that it is impervious and no attack can penetrate it.

Twelve steam clock towers encircle the top of the arena, the surface of their bronze bells etched with historical scenes of the Empire’s champions executing Green-skinned Warlords. When the gladiator games reach their climax, the towers emit sulfur steam mixed with gunpowder, enveloping the entire space in a blood-tinged golden mist, instantly igniting the enthusiasm of all the spectators, prompting them to throw countless Gold Coins and rewards downwards.

The most eye-catching feature is the "Well of Confession" beneath the north stands, a vertical shaft hundreds of feet deep, filled with remnants of armors from defeated warriors over the ages. In the confessional rooms along the well walls sit three Combat Priests of the Fiery Sun Goddess, monitoring whether there have been any acts of treachery or injustice in past battles, or if chaos worshippers have tainted this arena.

Last year alone, this arena earned Su Li 673 Golden Crowns. At this rate, it would only take 4 to 6 years for Su Li to recoup his investment, and then he would be able to make a profit effortlessly.

And that’s not even counting the revenue from gambling.

The gambling operations in this arena were previously managed entirely by the Half-Elf Balantangborne Clan, who are inherently gifted in business. Their annual gambling revenue amounted to as much as 2460 Golden Crowns.

This exceeds even the income from the territory’s brothels.

Of course, the relationship between the casinos and the brothels isn’t one of competition but rather a subtle and intimate symbiosis. In this lavish entertainment domain, the courtesans become the most enticing chips at the gaming tables. They move gracefully among the clinking glasses, their enchanting demeanor teasing the nerves of the men, while the wealthy patrons, driven by the dual intoxication of alcohol and wealth, release their desires to the fullest.

Whenever the duels reach a fever pitch, the atmosphere in the VIP rooms grows increasingly debauched. Those dressed in luxurious attire burn with a bloodthirsty desire in their eyes, transforming from genteel gentlemen into beasts ruled by primal instincts.

The courtesans are well aware of how to maximize their value at this time. They actively cater to these inebriated guests, gently running their fingers over the men’s skin, increasing their desires with beauty and submission.

The most exhilarating moments arise when the duels reach their climax. The VIPs’ eyes gleam with greedy light, their hands begin to tremble uncontrollably, roughly tearing at the meticulously styled garments of the courtesans.

The sound of silk and lace tearing under their fingers, mingled with the men’s heavy breathing, composes a beautiful symphony that entices nobles and knights alike.

The courtesans have long become accustomed to this frenzied game. They know how to find the delicate balance between danger and allure, securing more wealth and chips for themselves.

At this moment, money and desire are perfectly intertwined, forming the most charming scenery in this arena.

Although within the Empire, knight arenas, taverns, and brothels are the essential trio of buildings for every village and town,

the perfect combination of all these elements owes much to the Half-Elf Balantangborne Clan.

And the Balantangborne Clan, who orchestrated all this perfectly, only take an 8.7% share of the operational profits, which is already quite substantial. Meaning they earn 200 Golden Crowns annually.

It’s important to note that even running their own autonomous territory might not earn the clan 200 Golden Crowns.

When their clan initially arrived at the territory, they pooled together all their wealth and could only muster 800 Golden Crowns.

Due to their exceptional work, the Provincial Affairs Council has not reclaimed the casino’s operational rights and continues to leave it under their management.

This particular tournament festival is undoubtedly their greatest opportunity to amass wealth, and the territory must further support their endeavors.

However, Su Li won’t domineeringly monopolize the profits. The Empire’s Emperor, who once defeated a large number of rebels and the Alien Race Alliance Army in the northern wars, the Emperor, the Northern Conqueror, Malcolm III, had a famous saying: Politics is the means of forming a group by drawing people together through interests. War is the armed confrontation of this group against other political entities.