War Online

"The Imperial sword… You have done it." The smile became wider on his face, further, looking at the rusty sword in Wil's hands.

Wil handed the sword.

As the sword landed in his hands, the rust was suddenly replaced with a shine. There are some runes carved on it.

"I did it, grandpa. I fulfilled your last wish." Streaks of tears started falling from Hugo's eyes as he was staring at the sword in his hands.

Meanwhile, Wil received a series of notifications.

*Ding! You completed the quest, "Revive the Lost Kingdom."

*Ding! The Athledon kingdom will be restored in 72 hours.

*Ding! You received 100 million exp, 10000 fame points, 1000 gold coins, and a mystery box. Please check your inventory.

*Ding! You reached the maximum level. Please upgrade your rank to receive EXP.

"Wow, 10000 fame points?" Wil exclaimed in his mind, seeing the generous reward.

Several hours later;

The Warship resurfaced on the water nearby the Ormshire Island. He landed on the beach and the ship returned to the inventory.

Wil then started walking towards the entrance of the city that was renamed as "Vulture" city.

After his business is done with Hugo, he dropped off the latter at the island of Astaria before he returned to the city.

"Welcome back, Your Majesty." The four guards at the entrance kneeled before him.

Wil nodded and walked into the city, folding his hands to the back.

He has a smile on his face.

The people who aimed the weapons against him are now kneeling before him. It won't be a lie that he's enjoying the current situation.

As the village for hybrid creatures is demolished and now, they are once again, allowed to live in the city, everyone can't help but feel grateful to Wil every time they see him.

The residences and the stores that he destroyed are restored, including the towers of the fort.

Nodding to every greeting on the way, Wil reached the fort.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." The Prime Minister as well as the advisor to the past king, Eban Doves greeted Wil.

The treasurer Wymer stood beside him and welcomed their ruler.

Wil saw a look of worry on both of their faces.

"What happened?"

Eban glanced at Wymer, who then said, "Your Majesty, our treasury is about to become empty. You ordered us not to hold back on the restoration of the city and recruiting the army, no matter what.

But now, we are..."

"I know." Wil interrupted with a nod.

Both of the ministers were taken aback, looking at the calmness of Wil.

The last time, when Wil went to the treasury to retrieve the crown of Athledon, he realized that the past ruler sent away the hybrids, not because a hybrid assassinated a member of the Geruntius family.

In reality, there are hardly 25 thousand gold coins in the treasury. Wil was sure that the past ruler wants to cut off the army, send off a part of the people while selling their properties to wealthy people in the city, earning money in the process.

But, now, the treasury was emptied and there's a 12000 gold coins further deficit as the prime minister took the loan from the bank for the first time.

"Don't worry. I've returned with the funds." Wil said, before walking past them, "Follow me."

They reached the treasury.

There was a small heap of gold coins in the middle of the spacious room.

Wil walked to the heap and smiled as he took out a pouch from the inventory.

He poured 500 coins on the floor but he didn't stop there. It was repeated for three hundred times, stunning these NPC officials.

Besides a small heap, right now, several heaps are glistening with gold. Eban and Wymer's faces are glowing in happiness.

Looking back at them, Wil said, "I'm offering my wealth. I guess a hundred and fifty thousand gold coins would be enough to run this city and free our troubles. We don't need to raise our taxes."

With the help of the system, Wil converted all the Athledon gold bars and coins he found in the ruins to Llyne and then presented them as his wealth. With a different symbol on the gold coin, both of them were really fooled by it.

Both of them kowtowed on the spot, "Your Majesty's generousness knows no bounds…"

*Ding! Familiarity with Eban Doves reached the maximum.

*Ding! Familiarity with Wymer reached the maximum.

Wil was taken aback by their actions, "Did they never see such an amount? Are they poor or something…"

In reality, until now, they felt like they are walking on a tight rope that's attached to two cliffs. Now, they found that a sudden bridge appeared below them.

Exiting the treasury, Wil then gave an order, "first, pay off the debt and exchange them to our currency. They are Llyne gold. Then, hire some workers.

I need an imposing large statue of a Vulture, spreading its wings at the top of the fort. Understand?"

Although they wanted to ask, why Vulture, they didn't voice out their opinion, thinking that it must have something to do with the city name. They bowed together, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"And what about the teleportation formation, how does it going?" Wil asked them.

"So far, the research hasn't borne fruit, Your Majesty. It's too advanced and hard for our researchers." Eban replied in an apologetic tone. In truth, because of a tight budget, it was hard to convince those freelance researchers. Not to mention, a part of the budget will be swallowed by the officials in the process.

Wil sighed as he knew creating a teleportation formation on their own is very difficult but remembering that Bran had done it when he developed a city on an island nearby the demon continent, he can't but try.

It's just that Wil doesn't know how he did that.

So, he thought of a second plan.

"Prime Minister Eban, assemble all the ministers and the general at the courtroom. I'm going to announce something important."

Even though he's a ruler, technically isn't a King, so, there's no option that lets him announce the start of assembly.

An hour later;

Wil arrived at the courtroom/audience chamber. It was much smaller than the one at the palace and there are only six people in the hall.

The throne was positioned a bit higher than the rest and looks like a King's throne. Meanwhile, there are three seats on either side.

The queen's seat beside the King's throne is empty.

Wil looked at the ministers. Five of them are wearing standard robes while one was wearing armor from top to bottom.

Eban Doves

Level: 300

HP: 2 million

Description: Prime Minister of Ormshire state. He overlooks the state's affairs in absence of the King and is the prime advisor to the King.

Wymer

Level: 300

HP: 12 million

Description: Treasurer of the Ormshire state. He overlooks the finances of the state.

Cliff Olive

Level: 300

HP: 100,000

Description: Chief Minister of the Vulture city. He overlooks the administration of the city.

Roesia Geruntius

Level: 300

HP: 120 million

Description: The last surviving member of the Geruntius family. The representative of the wealthy people of the state and the head of merchants association.

Vicar Pawlin

Level: 300

HP: 1 Billion

Description: Representative of the Temple of Poseidon. He is the head of the religious organization that worships Poseidon.

General Remont

Level: 300

HP: 1.5 Billion

Description: The current General of the Army. He is a native of Astaria Island.

The six most powerful people in the city gathered before Wil. Two people, Roesia and Pawlin surprised him.

He didn't know that there are representatives for the wealthy people in the assembly, not mentioning the religious leader also have a say in the administration.

They greeted him with a bow.

Wil takes his seat and they sat down too.

"It's the first time we are meeting but let me spare those useless speeches. We get straight to the point. But, before that, I want to hear if there are any issues you would like to raise. Feel free to talk."

General Remont is the first to speak his mind, "Your Majesty, Our military is in need of funds to recruit and train the new soldiers."

Roesia snorted, "Hmpf, your military is already took 6500 gold coins so far. That's almost 30% of our budget. And now, you even need more?"

"Miss Geruntius…" The General frowned, "it isn't enough. Starting from scratch isn't easy. I was ordered to raise 10000 soldiers. How ca it be possible with such little amount?

If the trained soldiers aren't well-fed, they might adjust it but if the new soldiers aren't well-fed and don't get enough accommodations, not only they will fall into depression and can't train well, they will also get second thoughts. What would you do if a beast suddenly attacks the city..."

"Our mighty King is there to protect us, right. After all, he and his mount defeated the entire army before.

What we are in need of is not the military but the support of wealthy merchants, who are now refusing to business in the city. I have their demands with me. If his majesty will fulfill it, I will make sure they will continue."

Wil felt Roesia's words contained a little bit of arrogance. She's telling that she's the messiah of this city. He immediately decided to show her place.

"General Remont, I just filled our treasury with my personal fortune of a hundred and a fifty thousand gold coins. I'm allotting you, 30,000 gold coins for now. Later, present me a defense budget.

If I feel it's right, then, you will have my full support but you shouldn't forget that 

Then, he looked at Roesia, "And back in my homeland, I inherited a few gold mines from my father. With my wealth, I can promise you the Ormshire state will never see poverty, ever again.

I don't know how the previous king ruled the city. But, from onwards, we won't depend on banks or those wealthy merchants…"

He didn't say it aloud but everyone thought he was saying to Roesia that her services are no longer required.

As the rest of the ministers were shocked to hear it, General Remont bowed, "thank you, your majesty."

Roesia, who also go the same meaning, frowned, "Are you firing me, your majesty?"

Contrary to their thoughts, Wil shook his head. "Nope. You are still useful. But for now, tell those wealthy merchants that the Ormshire state will not adhere to their demands no matter what they asked.

Ormshire will progress under my rule. Those who want to continue their business, we will welcome them. As for those who doesn't want to, they are free to do business, elsewhere..."