Proofread by Thomas F
Edmor Amellus
"If the workers kept arriving at this speed, by the end of next week. We will have the level of workers we had before he undead came," said Harrison, looking ahead toward the extensive construction project going on in front of us.
The construction of the outer city has resumed as funds have been released.
"I think it will be sooner," I replied.
The new infrastructure chief was a very resourceful man. He is bringing workers from the empire fast and said a lot more will come in the coming weeks.
"I hope the people in the chief's office will do the job well in settling them," he said. To that I smiled.
Bringing workers to the city is part of the job, and another part is arranging lodging, food, and the necessary documentation for them.
A slight hiccup could waste days. That is not the thing I want to happen.
We are on a tight schedule. The lord wants basic infrastructure ready. So, he could release the first tranche of plots to sell.
There had been a lot of interest in it, not only from the citizens of the city and the dominion, but also from those from outside.
Since we won the battle, the rates of real estate have been skyrocketing. Going beyond the peak, what they had been before the battle.
The firm had made a lot of investment. We had used nearly all our money for it.
That is going to help us tremendously.
Another factor contributing to high prices is that 15% of the city remains under a no-sale order. Until two days ago, it was 30% of it.
People sensed that something significant was about to happen.
The plan hadn't been leaked; I had made sure of it, but people could guess that Lord Silver was planning something big.
I shook my head of those thoughts and looked ahead.
The work is being done as quickly as possible. We are building roads, sewage systems, water supplies, and barracks.
They are important for confidence since we haven't begun work on the wall yet and wouldn't be for at least two to three months.
We have made significant progress before the battle, and we will be finished with the first stage by next week.
I turned and looked toward the river, where my people were studying things.
We will be constructing the second bridge. I had planned to wait, but Lord Silver has asked me to start working on it by the end of the month.
The current bridge will be more than enough to handle traffic for a while, but Lord Silver and the new chief are insisting on the second bridge.
Hun!
I was thinking about him when I saw his carriage coming down on the bridge and stopped, not far away from me.
He stepped out of it, and I walked toward him.
"Things are progressing well, Architect Amellus," said the man. "Yes, Chief Hercule. If the labour you had promised came, it would be even faster." I replied.
Locke Hercule is the new chief of infrastructure.
I found it easier when Valentina was responsible for infrastructure. Locke Hercule is good, but also demanding.
He is the kind of person who will provide you with everything, but also expects results.
He had given me a timeline for each stage, and he expected me to complete it. I will, as long as he provides me with the men, money, and materials I need by the schedule.
I talked to him for a few minutes before walking toward my carriage.
This is important, but most of the work is being handled by Harrison. He is a stable hand. This is the biggest project he has ever done, but he is doing well.
I am keeping an eye on it, but most of my focus is somewhere else.
Soon, the carriage crossed the bridge and entered the inner city as it continued its journey. I sift through the files.
We need to partner with these firms to build the new Velvet Garden. All of them are small to mid-sized firms, each specializing in certain things.
For the legacy, we are going to need a lot of partners.
We have some key figures already, such as Lady Blackwell and her sister, but we will need more, as the legacy this time is significantly larger and more complex.
Not just the legacy, but also the new park. I don't even know if it can still be called a park.
Soon, the carriage stopped, and I walked out. I looked at the building in front of me, the office of Elar and Amellus.
I never thought I would have my name on a firm while in jail, let alone work on another project. Even the best architects in the world are jealous.
I have been contacted by many of them.
I entered inside, took the elevator to the top floor, and walked around inside.
"Any messages?" I asked my secretary. "A lot," she replied and handed me the file. I read through it before walking into my office.
I didn't sit in my chair. Walked to the small studio attached to it.
I had my schedule clear until the evening, like every day. It is for working on the designs of the legacy.
In the afternoon, I work alone on it, while at night, I work with my team.
Each of the four designs Lord Silver had given me are different from the other. Some are very unique, which I have never seen before.
Still, I have to develop them according to his instructions.
Thankfully, there is only one idea for the park, but it is so vast and complex.
It isn't just the land anymore; he's also considering what he wants to plant. It would need complex irrigation and fertilizer systems.
They will come later, but I need to incorporate them into the plan. If I didn't, I might need to make significant design changes later. That is not what I want.
It is the domain of the Ulaxasys sisters, but even they have never developed something so complex, this work is demanding.
Thankfully, there is Mage Urgal.
Click!
Hours passed as I worked on the designs, when I heard the door open.
I didn't have to look to see who it was; there was only one person who came from that direction.
"It's time. They have arrived," informed Val. I nodded, but didn't stop immediately. I need to finish what I'm working on before stopping.
"You have made good progress," she said, looking at the designs.
"I hope I will be able to finish it on time," I replied. Despite the difficulties, designing is the easiest part; the real challenges will come when we start building it.
It is not a Mage Tower that we have been building for millennia. They are complex, but there is a procedure. There is no template for the legacies.
People do not build them; they are birthed.
There are a few references I could take other than my previous work on the tower. It would be helpful, but this time, it is a lot more significant.
The things Lord Silver is asking for are far more complicated.
"You will," she said, and we stepped out of my office and walked toward the conference room. Today is a big day for the firm; it is going to change it.
This is the reason why Val had come here. Usually, she maintains a distance from the firm. If we have to meet, we typically meet at the city hall in her office, but today is different.
Soon we reached the conference room and Val opened the door, before we stepped inside.
There are already people there. Harrison, lawyers, and most importantly, two people.
One is a half-dwarf with orc blood. He is a tall man with iron-grey hair and has wide shoulders and pale bronze-green skin. It is a peculiar shade that would make anyone stop and look at him.
The woman beside him was even taller and bulkier than he; she was a giant-blood. She has not awakened it as General Stone's, but the elder blood is powerful.
She is a beautiful woman with straight black hair and grey eyes.
Looking at them, one would assume they are mercenaries of the kind, but far from it. However, they are powerful enough to blast mercenaries apart.
Both of them are mages. Well, they started as mages, like me, before moving into a specialised field.
"Amellus, Chief Elar," they greeted. I could see the excitement in their eyes, but also nervousness. It is a stunning decision they have made; it will change their life.
"Hillstead, Ritson," I replied as I sat in front of them.
The woman is Natalie Hillstead, while the man is Jotus Ritson. Once the contract is signed, they will become an integral part of Elar and Amellus.
There was a silence for a moment.
"Let's begin then," said Ritson, and I nodded. The lawyers immediately placed the contracts in front of us. I begin to sign it as I read through page after page.
Finally, I reached the last page. I signed it and felt the powerful contract clicking.
"Welcome to the family, Hillstead and Ritson," I said as I shook their hands.
We have acquired their firm, and they will now oversee the Mage Tower division of Edmor and Amellus. These individuals are the same team I collaborated with on designing the Mage Tower.
Lord Silver had told me to start working on it. Saying we will get funds within the week.
Before the war, they did not want to merge with us; it was not even a question, but the war and its legacy changed things.
Also, the written guarantee is that they will have near complete independence to run this sub-division.
These two are very talented people. I am glad I got them before they made their first tower. Earlier, I would have had to forget about them.
Belnin wouldn't have let them go. Still, Lord Silver had to pull some strings to get the affirmation from Belnin for this deal.
"Thank you," they replied.
"I have prepared the space. I want you to start working as soon as possible," I said. "We are excited as well. This will be our first time building the tower with our own ideas," replied Ritson with a smile.
"The city will provide you with all the help you need. Just keep the crazy ideas to a minimum for this tower," said Val, and we all laughed.
While designing, we had some unique ideas, but she shot them down.
This is not an experiment; the magic tower costs a massive amount of money, and most importantly. It is the city's first tower, and they want to finish it safely and quickly.
So, most of the ideas will follow the tested path, but we will get to try our small, less risky ideas.
Val didn't stay for long and left, while I took them to the floor below, which will be their office.
People will start coming from tomorrow, including their people and a few whom I had recruited.
It would have been great to work with them on the magic tower, but I won't be able to.
My priority is the legacy, which will be as complicated as the Mage Tower or even more so. This has made me very excited to work on it.