Until Rhett's figure disappeared around the corner of the street, Carlton's smile remained stiff. He rubbed his face, gradually calming down.
Only then did he realize that not only his face, but also his palms were drenched in sweat.
After wiping them clean and composing himself, Carlton gazed down the street and sighed with emotion, saying to himself, "Who would've thought…? A small baron has now grown into a king. His journey is truly legendary. If only I had clung to him even tighter back then!"
A flash of regret crossed his eyes, and he muttered again, "This can't just be described as inspiring anymore. It should be called…"
"Called…"
Carlton pondered for a long time but couldn't think of a suitable word, his face turning red with frustration. Finally, he shook his head and headed back inside.
A week quickly passed.
After several discussions, Rhett finally decided to name the capital of the Green Kingdom "Hatchling City," to commemorate where the Green family's dreams had first begun.
—Never forget your roots, always move forward.
At that moment, Rhett, along with his family and the steward Sveta, arrived at a vast plain.
This area had once been the territory of the orc Minotaur tribe, with many of their buildings still standing, such as underground dwellings, spiked houses, stone huts, and various strange structures.
But under Rhett's guidance, all these structures were quickly reduced to ash and buried in the soil.
Around Rhett, a group of elite alchemists and construction teams gathered, dispatched from both the Ring Tower and the Kingdom of Gillon. There were about a hundred people in total.
Although the number of people wasn't large, the efficiency of these high-level alchemists and extraordinary individuals was far beyond that of ordinary people.
"King Rhett, how high and thick do you want the city walls to be?"
An elder from the Gillon royal family, dressed in a golden mage's robe with the royal insignia on his chest, bowed to Rhett as he spoke.
Rhett had already consulted Manu regarding the construction of the Green Kingdom's capital and had prepared detailed city planning and architectural blueprints.
When asked about the requirements, Rhett pulled out the plans from his spatial ring and said, "I am very grateful to all of you for coming such a long way to help. All the details regarding the construction of the capital are contained in these blueprints."
Upon hearing about the blueprints, the alchemists around him were taken aback. Some even frowned slightly, feeling displeased.
After all, these were some of the continent's top alchemical construction teams, and they had come with full confidence. They believed that all they needed was a general understanding of Rhett's requirements, and that the actual construction should rely on their own expertise.
Receiving a ready-made blueprint surprised them.
—While it might make their job easier, how good could such plans be? Did King Rhett not trust their level of craftsmanship?
The leading alchemist was filled with doubts but decided to accept the blueprints before saying anything further. He held the plans high so everyone behind him could see.
Initially, they dismissed the blueprints, casting only casual glances. But in the bright sunlight, the intricate and precise lines of the city's layout, both complex and beautiful, immediately caught their attention, leaving many stunned.
Soon, gasps of surprise echoed through the group.
"My goodness, this blueprint is so intricate! It not only details all the above-ground buildings, but it also includes a fully functional underground pipeline network—something even the most advanced capitals haven't dared to attempt!"
"Creating an underground alchemical pipeline network is still a theoretical concept. How did someone manage to design one so perfectly?"
"Exactly. Handling the waste produced by extraordinary individuals isn't just about the pipeline itself; it's about matching the right alchemical materials and methods. This requires deep expertise in both alchemical pharmacology and alchemical equipment!"
"But… can this blueprint really work?"
Someone raised a question, cooling the excited atmosphere.
However, these alchemists were not easily swayed. With their deep knowledge, they studied the blueprint for a few more moments. An alchemist from the Ring Tower shook his head and said:
"I don't think it's fake. My specialty is alchemical equipment, and I know a bit about alchemical formations. The methods for creating the pipeline seem highly feasible in theory. There's no way this was just made up."
"That's right. I specialize in alchemical formations, and I can confirm that what's described in the blueprint is accurate. If we follow these plans, the pipelines should work smoothly, making transportation efficient and even managing a large amount of waste!"
…
A few minutes later, after careful consideration, the alchemists began to validate the blueprint.
Their voices were filled with excitement—not only because they had encountered such an innovative alchemical design but also due to their curiosity about its origin.
They speculated that it could have come from the Grayroar Kingdom or perhaps the Ice Kingdom, given that these two nations hadn't contributed funds to the Green Kingdom's construction. If a Saint-level alchemist from either kingdom had created the blueprint, it would make sense.
Some even speculated that it might have been drawn by a reclusive genius.
In short, the blueprint could have come from anywhere—but it definitely couldn't have been made by Rhett himself!
"Uh, King Rhett, could you introduce us to the person who designed these plans? Although most of the blueprint is understandable, and following it shouldn't pose any major challenges, there are still some questions I'd like to discuss with the designer," one of the alchemists from the Ring Tower asked politely.
Hearing this, the other alchemists' eyes lit up. It was a great suggestion. Anyone who could design such plans must be a genius in alchemy, someone brimming with talent and innovation. Meeting and exchanging ideas with such a person would undoubtedly enhance their own skills.
"Indeed, if that alchemist could guide us, the construction would surely proceed much faster," said another alchemist, trying to suppress his excitement.
Faced with their eager requests, Rhett stifled a smile, maintaining a calm demeanor. With an air of mystery, he said:
"Actually, the creator of this blueprint is present here today!"
The group was shocked. They looked around, scanning every corner, but found no one unusual.
Confused, they turned their questioning gazes back to Rhett. Where was this designer?
Rhett pointed to himself and cleared his throat. "Ahem, to be honest, I drew this blueprint. Every line was made by my own hand."
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd erupted in astonishment.
The alchemists at the front looked at Rhett with intense skepticism, their eyes scanning him up and down. These were highly skilled professionals. While they might differ in their levels of talent, they were united in their seriousness and dedication to the craft.
"King Rhett, may I ask when you first began studying alchemy, and for how long?" one alchemist asked, trying to contain his disbelief.
"Only a few days," Rhett replied, clearing his throat again. "Perhaps with my Saint-level spiritual power, learning alchemy came more quickly for me. I gained unique insights from my studies."
"Th-this is impossible! Saint-level spiritual power may help you learn faster, but when it comes to advanced techniques, spiritual power alone isn't enough. True mastery depends on alchemical talent. The blueprint you designed is at least on the level of an alchemy master. There's no way you could reach this level in just a few days!" The alchemist from the Ring Tower was utterly astonished. This defied all his understanding of the world.
The other alchemists shared similar feelings. They gaped at Rhett, struggling to process the unbelievable news.
Not far away, Tuck, Riley, and Tylus remained silent. They knew full well that the blueprint hadn't been drawn by their father but by the steward Manu from the Home system.
Tylus's eyes gleamed with excitement. He had long known that Manu was a highly skilled alchemist, but he hadn't realized the extent of his expertise. Now, he could turn to Manu for any alchemical question, and his learning experience might rival that of the Ring Tower itself.
"Not long ago, I had the opportunity to discuss alchemy with Haipaste. If you don't believe me, you can ask him to verify my skills in the future."
With this concrete evidence, the alchemists reluctantly accepted the fact that King Rhett was indeed an alchemical prodigy.
Feeling both awestruck and inspired, they bombarded Rhett with questions. Some were genuinely eager to learn, while others were still testing his knowledge.
Thanks to Manu's assistance and Rhett's ability to share his senses, he answered every question with ease, earning the alchemists' deep respect.
Soon after, satisfied with the explanations they had received, the group of alchemists set off to begin construction, heading toward the west where the blueprint indicated the city should be built.
As Rhett watched them leave, he let out a quiet sigh of relief, feeling a sense of fulfillment.
His alchemical genius persona was now firmly established. He hadn't sought fame for the sake of it, but with Manu's continued studies, they were bound to achieve breakthroughs that would astonish the world.
If Rhett kept his abilities hidden, it would only hinder the sharing of future discoveries. It was better to reveal his talent now, so that any future achievements would be more easily accepted.
The process of constructing a city in a world of extraordinary powers was vastly different from his previous life. These top-tier construction teams carried space equipment filled with all sorts of materials.
Rhett exhaled deeply, gazing into the distance.
He watched as the group huddled around the blueprint, discussing it for half an hour before dispersing. From their space equipment, they extracted various materials: yellow stones, golden sand, barrels of liquid, and more.
Some of the earth-element grand magi began to conjure stone blocks, which would form the foundations of certain areas.
To speed things up, Rhett personally stepped in, unleashing a vast amount of spiritual energy. In an instant, he conjured mountains of stone.
Then, recalling the details from the blueprint, Rhett circled the plain, using his spiritual energy to shape the earth into the outlines of various structures from the blueprint.
These included houses, shops, and squares in the outer city. With the rough framework in place, the alchemists would only need to refine the details, saving a lot of time.
For buildings requiring higher structural integrity—such as the inner city's houses, shops, palace walls, and parts of the castle—Rhett shaped the inner framework, which the alchemists would later reinforce with specialized materials.
Thankfully, as a grand earth-element mage, Rhett was able to handle many of the time-consuming tasks, leaving the alchemists to focus on the finer details, greatly improving efficiency.
The city Rhett had planned covered a vast area, spanning over a thousand miles, surpassing any other capital.
As he waited patiently, he spent time chatting with his family, enjoying the warm summer breeze.
At the current pace, Rhett estimated that the grand city would be completed within a day or two, thanks to the power of these top-tier alchemists.
While this might sound unbelievable, in a world of extraordinary powers, it was far from impossible.
Even in his previous life, the construction speed of major nations was astonishing.
At that moment, having finished his work, Rhett returned to his family.
"Sveta, have you made all the necessary arrangements for Green Manor? Is everyone willing to move to the capital? Have you informed them of the higher standards required for living in the palace?" Rhett asked after some thought.
Sveta bowed respectfully and replied, "Everything has been arranged. The vast majority of the servants are willing to move to the palace and embrace the new challenges. The senior staff have all agreed, but a small portion of the recently hired servants have chosen to remain in the southwestern borderlands."
"Very well. Respect their choice. Forced loyalty is never sweet. Those who wish to stay can live in peace there, as Green Manor's final gift to them," Rhett nodded slightly.
"Master… no, Your Majesty, your kindness is as vast as the ocean, endless and boundless," Sveta praised.
Rhett paused for a moment before adding, "From now on, the palace will only accept the most sincere and capable staff. Make sure to be strict in your selection."