Ch 45 - The Lord of Necroton
Jester then explained everything again to the two of them, Lucia, and Lula, making sure they understood exactly how they would work in this place. It turned out that Lucia had already done her part by explaining everything to Lula beforehand.
They would continue treating Jester as Prince Caelan whenever other people were around. At the same time, the two of them would also help with the maids' daily work. Both Lucia and Lula admitted that they actually preferred this arrangement instead of spending their days doing nothing.
"You don't have to force yourself, okay, Lula?" Jester said as he looked at the little girl.
"I'll become a knight in the future. I'll grow strong and protect the weak, just like Sister Lucia."
"How old are you, Lula?"
"Five years old. But you don't have to treat me like a little kid, Your Highness. I'm strong. I'm brave too. I'm not scared." She puffed out her chest proudly. "I wasn't even afraid of the Bullkin that attacked our village."
Then she suddenly fell silent.
"It's just... I couldn't do anything when Sister Lucia was taken away." She lowered her head, her expression filled with sadness.
Jester could only smile to himself. He wondered how the little girl would react if she ever found out that he could now take on the very same Bullkin form that had carried Lucia away back then.
A while later, Lucia finally answered the question Jester had asked earlier, explaining Lula's background as well.
"Someone left Lula at the village gate when she was still a baby," Lucia said quietly. "She reminded me of how I used to be, so I took care of her from that day on. I've always treated her as my own little sister."
"I'll repay everything Sister Lucia has done for me. I swear it with my life," the little girl said without hesitation.
Lucia simply pulled Lula into a gentle embrace after hearing those words.
Both of them had been abandoned at the village gate? Could it be that the people who left them there were the same ones?
Why were there parents so heartless that they could leave their own children behind so easily?
A little while later, Elora led the two of them outside, leaving Jester alone in the room for a few minutes. When they finally returned, both girls were dressed in the same maid uniforms as everyone else.
Lucia wore an outfit nearly identical to Elora's. The only noticeable difference was that her skirt was slightly shorter. Even so, it still looked perfectly proper, thanks to the full-length stockings that covered her legs up to her thighs. The combination of black, white, and dark maroon also reflected Valtherion's signature colors, giving the uniform an elegant and refined appearance.
Lula was dressed in a matching maid uniform as well. Despite her young age, the outfit had been tailored perfectly for her, making her look even more adorable than before.
The little girl's face lit up with excitement as she spun around in place, proudly showing off her brand-new maid uniform to everyone in the room.
Lucia and Lula were now in a place that should be far safer than the small village where they had lived before. Then again, if he thought about it carefully, perhaps they would have been safer if they had simply stayed there. At the very least, Lucia had already become many times stronger than she used to be.
On the other hand, by bringing them here, Lucia would inevitably be exposed to far greater challenges than anything she had ever imagined. Still, with the kind of past she carried, it would have been a waste for someone like her to spend the rest of her life hidden away in a small village deep within the forest.
Jester had no idea what kind of future awaited the young woman.
As for Lula, she would be well protected here, surrounded by Igrio and the other maids serving in the manor.
As for the villagers back home, according to the latest discussions spreading across the internet, they had already begun receiving plenty of help from the players. It turned out that many players had started visiting the village because it made an excellent base for hunting in the surrounding forest.
With more players passing through, the village would no longer have to worry as much about Bullkin attacks. Before long, they should also have enough resources to slowly develop and improve the village on their own.
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To be honest, Jester did not care much about what happened to the village itself.
The only thing that concerned him was the possibility that Bullkin might still appear somewhere around the area. Fortunately, he already had a plan to deal with that problem in the near future.
Not long after, it was time for another matter on that day's schedule.
A knock came from the door before Igrio entered the room, accompanied by Sliora.
The blonde woman wore her long hair in a thick braid that fell over her left shoulder. She was surprisingly tall, standing almost as tall as Igrio.
It was hardly surprising.
Sliora was, after all, a slime. According to what she had explained before, she could absorb almost anything, then assimilate and make use of whatever she absorbed.
With an ability like that, it was only natural that she could mold her body into any form she desired. The tall, voluptuous figure she wore now was simply one of the countless appearances she could create.
From a distance, she looked incredibly beautiful, with a body that would easily draw anyone's attention.
However, if people ever learned what truly hid behind that beautiful face… Most of them would probably be terrified and run for their lives without looking back.
The two attendants stepped to one side of the room as the door slowly opened. A moment later, Elora escorted another guest inside.
He was Opopo, a man in his forties with a large, heavy build, a neatly trimmed mustache, and hair combed back with great care. His luxurious noble attire, decorated with fine embroidery and expensive fabrics, left little doubt about his status.
He was the current Lord of Necroton.
The man bowed deeply before Jester, clasping both hands together in front of him as he offered a respectful smile.
"Your Highness, Prince Caelan, the Eighth Prince. This humble servant never dreamed that Your Highness's visit would bless this city with such unexpected fortune."
His smile remained calm and courteous.
"For many years, this city has eagerly awaited the day it could finally welcome Your Highness. It is the greatest honor of my life to receive the prince entrusted with governing these lands. I sincerely pray that, under Your Highness's wisdom and guidance, this city will prosper beyond anything its people have ever imagined."
He lowered his head once more.
"Should there be anything this humble servant can do to ease Your Highness's burdens, I ask only for the privilege of serving. The people of Necroton, myself included, stand ready to devote ourselves to Your Highness's vision."
Jester remained seated without offering any response. His expression did not change in the slightest as he quietly turned his gaze toward Igrio.
"Report your findings, Igrio."
Igrio bowed once before taking a rolled parchment from inside his coat. He calmly unrolled it, stood perfectly straight, and began reading his report in a steady, unwavering voice.
"Your Highness," Igrio began in a calm tone. "After conducting a thorough investigation, I regret to report that Necroton's defensive capabilities are in a deeply concerning state."
He glanced briefly at the parchment before continuing.
"Nearly a quarter of the city's defensive walls have deteriorated to the point where they require immediate repairs. Should the city come under attack, those damaged sections would be the most likely points of failure."
"The City Guard is also suffering from widespread corruption. Numerous reports from the citizens describe guards abusing their authority, accepting bribes, neglecting their duties, and, in some cases, using intimidation and excessive force against the very people they were appointed to protect."
"Your Highness..." the city lord interrupted. But, no one acknowledged him.
Igrio continued as though he had not spoken.
"The city's taxation has exceeded the standards established by the Crown. Despite collecting significantly higher revenues, there is little evidence that those funds have been reinvested into public welfare or infrastructure."
"The management of Necroton's natural resources also lacks transparency. Income generated from nearby forests, mining operations, and commercial trade cannot be properly accounted for. A considerable portion of the revenue disappears before reaching the city's treasury, with no official records explaining where those funds have gone."
"Furthermore, expenditures recorded by the city administration contain numerous inconsistencies. Several public projects were declared completed despite showing no visible results, while maintenance budgets continue to be allocated to facilities that have clearly been neglected for years."
"The evidence strongly suggests long-term financial mismanagement throughout the city's administration."
"Your Highness, I can explain all of this!" The city lord hurriedly stepped forward, his composure beginning to crack.
"The situation is far more complicated than it appears."
He forced an uneasy smile before continuing.
"The lands surrounding Necroton have become increasingly barren over the years. Harvests continue to decline, making agriculture unreliable and placing enormous strain on the city's food supply."
"Most of our citizens possess little education or specialized skills. They rely almost entirely on manual labor, which severely limits the city's ability to generate stable income."
"As the city's finances deteriorated, we had no choice but to make difficult decisions. We were forced to maximize every resource available simply to keep Necroton functioning."
He swallowed before continuing.
"As for the guards... their salaries have long been insufficient. While I do not condone corruption, it became increasingly difficult to maintain discipline among men who struggled to feed their own families. The administration has done everything within its limited means to preserve order, but our circumstances have simply been... overwhelming."
He lowered his head respectfully.
"I ask only that Your Highness consider the full picture before passing judgment."
Jester merely smiled faintly as he listened to the city lord's explanation.
It seemed that no matter the world, whether reality or this game, people like this could never truly be avoided.
Then again, the original Caelan had hardly been any better.
Still, Jester had little interest in dwelling on the past. The prosperity of this city would directly affect him in the future. Whether he liked it or not, he would have to clean up the mess left behind and turn Necroton into a city worthy of its name.
"Sliora."
The blonde slime girl answered with a gentle smile before calmly stepping toward the city lord.