Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: The Coming of the City, or a Ghost Town?

Eleven years and a few months now, Sharath Virayan Darsha gazed in wonder as his apprentices, magisters, and artisans streamed over the empty land like ants over a busy sugar hill. The initial stage of full-scale building had commenced. This was no longer blueprints on paper or small models on desks—it was actual buildings, roads, and magic-based infrastructure taking shape over acres of wild earth.

[🐧NEUROBOOP]: Sighting: mini human has managed to escalate operations from pen and paper manufacturing to city-block-sized construction. Chances of anarchy: 98%. Humor quotient: maximum.

Thermo perched on top of a newly built rock wall, tail quivering, watching the hustle and bustle below with the swagger of a CEO inspecting whether middle management is functioning properly—or maybe considering which apprentice he would intimidate next.

[🐧Thermo]: "Yes, yes, humans scurry, hammers swing, bricks fly, magic misfires occasionally. Very impressive. I'll rate your chaos efficiency a solid 7 out of 10."

Infrastructure DetailsSharath's vision for his new territory was ambitious: every aspect of urban life had to be accounted for. Over the next five months, he oversaw:

Road Foundation: Layers of crushed stone, magically compacted to ensure smoothness and durability.

Enchantment: Small vibrations incorporated to minimize potholes and self-repair minor cracks.

Road Widths: Constructed to allow easy passage of both tricycles and magical carts.

Bridges and Inclines: Curves calibrated for utmost efficiency; magical railings incorporated for safety.

[🐧NEUROBOOP]: Observation: small human exercises engineering precision with magical augmentations. Likelihood of potholes: 0.1%.

BuildingsCommercial Districts: Built for merchant stalls, markets, and workshops. Apprentice carpenters and magisters worked together to make sure every building was strong and beautiful.

Industrial Zones: The factories for pens, paper, and other inventions yet to come, with design tailored to assembly line efficiency and mass production.

Residential Areas: Comfortable yet simple housing for people to come, with little gardens and magical illumination for the evening.

[🐧NEUROBOOP]: Observation: human values functionality above fluff. Humor rating: high, since apprentices sometimes glue their hats onto walls.

Magic Toilets and DrainagePublic Sanitation: Magical flushing systems in public places.

Plumbing: Enchanted pipes dispensed clean water, and slight enchantments ensured no clogging.

Drainage Systems: All rainwater is drained off into reservoirs to avoid flooding and irrigate gardens.

Thermo trudged through sewer trenches examining pipework, every now and then swishing his tail in approval or disgust, based on the orientation of magical runes.

[🐧Thermo]: "Humans can construct whole cities but somehow still can't manage to make up their minds which direction to install a pipe."

Industrial WorkshopsSharath's pens and paper plants were duplicated here on a small scale for training, and apprentices mastered assembly and quality inspection. Every workstation was designed to be modular, so workers could move between tasks. Workshop design provided for constant production without jamming, and strengthened magical wards guarded against sabotage (deliberate and inadvertent).

Mishaps and ComedyEven with thorough planning, the workshops weren't safe from human—and cat—mistakes:

An apprentice spilled ink over a batch of drying paper by accident. Result: a temporary "modern art installation."

Thermo, disapproving of apprentice proficiency, jumped onto a conveyor belt and created an accidental yet hysterical "ink tornado."

Princess Madhu giggled uncontrollably, seeing apprentices racing to avert disaster while avoiding flying paper and ink.

[🐧NEUROBOOP]: Observation: comedic mayhem is inevitable and fun. Human morale: decently boosted. Cat morale: unaffected with periodic smirks.

Daily Routine and Construction ManagementSharath's days were divided methodically:

Morning Knight Training: in spite of the hectic regimen, he maintained agility and quickness for actual construction oversight.

Late Morning Planning: overseeing craftsmen, magisters, and apprentices to guarantee road designs, building construction, and magical systems followed his exact blueprints.

Afternoon Inspections: Riding tricycles or little magical carts around, marking down any deviations or areas in need of improvement. Princess Madhu would often join him, providing insight on water filtration systems or paper production integration into future city operations.

Evening Review: Inspection of finished structures, pipes, and sanitation systems, then dinner with his parents and reviewing the next day's agenda.

[🐧NEUROBOOP]: Observation: time management has slightly gone down with knight training. Efficiency loss: 12%. Humor opportunity: apprentice fatigue is evident.

Population Absence: The Ghost Town DilemmaAfter five months, the land had been completely built, every street paved, every building towering, and sanitation systems running smoothly. But Sharath, looking at the city from a freshly constructed tower, heaved a deep sigh.

Sharath: "It looks… lovely. Efficient. Enchanted. But deserted. It feels… abandoned."

Princess Madhu, ever perceptive, placed a hand on his shoulder.

Princess Madhu: "Sharath, it isn't abandoned—it's ready. Once people come, they'll see the work you've done and the ease of life you've built. This will be the busiest city in the empire."

Lord Darsha, observing his son's melancholy, stepped forward with a broad smile.

Lord Darsha: "Sharath, I can see nothing but promise. Since construction is now finished, it's time to bring trade, people, and life to this city. You've constructed the infrastructure; the people will come."

Merchant Intervention walks Lord Bassana, Sharath's grandfather, with a small retinue of merchants.

Lord Bassana: "I've spoken with several trading families. They're excited to establish workshops, markets, and trade routes here. Sharath, with your roads, sanitation, and infrastructure, this city will thrive—maybe even surpass the capital in efficiency."

Sharath's eyes gleamed. He began designing:

Residential Blocks: Modular homes ready to accommodate traders and families.

Marketplaces: Centralized areas with room for stalls, storage, and magical delivery carts.

Industrial Zones: Workshops and factories prepped for immediate operation.

Transportation: Tricycle roads, cart paths, and magical transport paths.

Sanitation and Water Systems: Complete and functional, providing sanitary living conditions on the first day.

[🐧NEUROBOOP]: Observation: production of miniature human scales and planning of cities at the same time. Chances of population inflow: high. Humor potential: still apprentices slipping on ink and loose stones.

Mass-Production of Machines for the EmpireAfter the city's infrastructure was ensured, Sharath moved on to the imperial request: 100 bulldozers, 100 digging machines, and 1,000 tricycles for the empire. Each machine was carefully crafted:

Road Rollers Design: Reinforced magical alloy, enchantments for self-leveling roads.

Function: Smooths construction sites, enables rapid expansion.

Digging Machine Design: Modular magical components for versatility in all terrain.

Function: Dig for foundations, drainage, and reservoirs with efficiency.

Tricycle Design: Multi-passenger, enchanted for longevity, with modular storage bays for cargo.

Function: Perfect for travel in both city and industrial districts, bridging the gap between magic and pragmatics.

Apprentices were arranged in assembly chains, directed by magisters who ensured both mechanical and magical accuracy. Accidents still persisted:

One tricycle, charmed to be even more durable, turned into a puzzle that couldn't be broken apart. Apprentices worked for an hour attempting to remove its parts.

Thermo took control of a conveyor belt, firing tiny pieces back and forth across the workshop.

Sharath sarcastically joked, "Just perfect, now all the people know where the spare bolts are—up on the ceiling, courtesy of Thermo's training scheme."

[🐧NEUROBOOP]: Observation: disorder continues undeterred amid great planning. Efficiency: 92%. Humor: optimal.

Two years of incessant production, testing, and quality control had resulted in Sharath personally overseeing machines being delivered to the imperial capital himself. Loads were inspected, charmed for longevity in transit, and recorded in copious ledgers.

Sharath: "Father, all tricycles, bulldozers, and diggers have been double-inspected for both magical and mechanical soundness. Nothing short of perfection will depart this city."

Lord Darsha nodded with pride. Princess Madhu smiled, observing the subtle streaks of ink and smudges from Sharath's previous paper tests on the delivery ledgers—a tiny reminder that even the most brilliant minds had messy origins.