CHAPTER 437: Changes

Three years is neither long nor short, but it is enough for a city to change a lot. The originally poor Brettel City had long since become a prosperous city in the eastern part of the Lancelot Empire.

With Brettel City as its centre, the five surrounding mines established many weapons and armour workshops. These five mines forged various types of civil and military weapons. Not only was the production more than enough to meet the needs of soldiers and civilians in Brettel, but they were also exported to the seven Grand Duchies and every major city in the Lancelot Empire.

Walking along the streets of Brettel City with Gilbert, Han Shuo gazed at the never-ending stream of people and the dazzling array of shops that lined both sides of the street. It was hard for him to imagine that this was the dilapidated city not too long ago.

This time, when Han Shuo and Gilbert returned to Brettel City, they did not use the transportation matrix in the Cemetery of Death. Instead, they used the Transportation matrix in Zajoski City to get there. Han Shuo wanted to try out the transportation matrix in Brettel City and see if it was any good. As for the results, Han Shuo was very pleased.

"Master, that magical Transportation matrix you just saw, the Space Sacred Magus Sabakas personally came to Brettel City to set it up. It can connect to any city within the Lancelot Empire. Of course, we could use the transportation matrix in the Cemetery of Death to get to Brettel City. But why do you have to take the longer way?" Dark Dragon Gilbert asked Han Shuo.

"Nothing much. It's just that I know how important a large-scale magical transportation matrix is for Brettel City, so I wanted to personally check out this magical transportation matrix. Hehehe, I know that the rapid growth of Brettel City was inseparable from the existence of this transportation matrix," Han Shuo replied with a faint smile.

"Master, you are quite right about that. This Transportation Matrix has indeed made a huge difference. After His Majesty the King's strong support and Miss Phoebe's merchant guild's support, all sorts of talents have poured into Brettel City through it. The soldiers in the city are all able-bodied and strong. Whenever a group from the seven grand duchies has tried to invade us, they have always been defeated by the forces of Brettel. Security here is guaranteed," Dark Dragon Gilbert slowly explained to Han Shuo beside him.

After reaching Brettel City, Han Shuo released the twelve Mystic Demons and let them move around the whole of Brettel City, taking in the entire scene of the current Brettel City at once. Three years later, he had a completely new understanding of Brettel City.

The four sides of the city wall were equipped with magical crystal cannons, along with all sorts of large-scale destructive devices that were clearly visible everywhere. The moat around the city gates had been deepened to withstand an attack by a cavalry regiment. Some sharp fences had been erected on the city wall. It wouldn't be easy for anyone to break through.

A few pointy magical towers stood high on the city walls. Thick and dense magical elements always lingered around the top of the tower. This kind of magic tower could be powered directly by a magical creature's core, and could also be operated by a grand magus' mental power, absorbing the magical element found throughout the continent and using it as an attack.

Compared to magic crystal cannons, these magic towers were a class better in terms of flexibility and destructive power. Now that two magic towers had been erected for each of the four city gates, Han Shuo could almost imagine the look on the invaders' faces when they saw the magic towers.

On top of the four city gates were soldiers with shining armour and weapons. Han Shuo could tell that they were no ordinary soldiers just by the brightness of their weapons and armour. The fully equipped soldiers had a calm expression on their faces, obviously warriors with the blood of iron that had been nurtured by war. Their demeanour told of the many who had died at their hands.

After the Mystical Demons had made a few rounds, the scenes of a few districts of the city fell into Han Shuo's eyes. He walked shoulder to shoulder with Gilbert all the way to the city lord's mansion. As he listened to Gilbert's descriptions, Han Shuo had a calm and serene smile on his face, as he was very satisfied with the current situation in Brettel.

Finally, they arrived at the city's lord's mansion. Compared to its previous state, the grand and beautiful mansion was full of prestigious splendour. The walls of the mansion had been widened and built much higher than before. Han Shuo took one look and realised that the current city lord's mansion had been rebuilt once again. It seemed that countless gold coins had been used.

Although the city lord's mansion had grown in size, the guards guarding the front door of the mansion were still the same familiar faces. Two arrogant and energetic looking guards with their heads held high scanned the area with their eyes. As Han Shuo walked towards the entrance with a smile on his face, one of the guards suddenly trembled and stared blankly at Han Shuo.

The guard stared blankly for a while, and out of nowhere, he kneeled down in front of Han Shuo and bowed in greeting. With an extremely emotional tone, he shouted, "Lord Marquis, have you completed your training?"

"Lord Marquis, oh my! Lord Marquis has returned to the city!" The other guard also recognised Han Shuo. Upon hearing his colleague's words, he couldn't help but turn his head to take a look and discovered that Han Shuo had indeed appeared. He screamed wildly with joy on the spot.

With a smile on his face, Han Shuo nodded and said, "Yes, Drucker. I'm back."

The guard named Drucker was originally from the first batch of soldiers in Brettel City. Back then, he had been extremely self-deprecating and as thin as a bamboo. But now his body was tall and sturdy, filled with an imposing, solemn quality from head to toe. He was a different person from what he had been before, no matter how you looked at it.

"Lord Marquis, you actually remember my name! Oh dear! I'm too emotional now. My Lord, you truly are a brilliant and magnificent lord!" When Drucker heard Han Shuo pronounce his name correctly, he became so emotional that he started to speak incoherently.

"Alright, alright, I'm going in!" After Han Shuo saw that Drucker's voice was getting louder and louder as he became more emotional, Han Shuo waved his hand and walked into the mansion.

"Lord Marquis is back, Lord Marquis is home!" Another guard shouted loudly as soon as he saw Han Shuo enter the mansion.

After this guard's announcement, the entire city lord's mansion suddenly went into a frenzy. All kinds of screams could be heard from inside the mansion. Outside the mansion, a few horses suddenly bolted, heading in different directions in great haste. Inside the mansion, the old butler Kallas rushed out to greet Han Shuo. He also seemed quite emotional.

The last time there had been riots in Ossen City, Han Shuo had informed the butler Kallas beforehand and he had taken a group of servants to escape the heat. When peace returned to Ossen City, Kallas did not remain in Ossen City, but came to Brettel City without hesitation and began to take care of everything for Han Shuo in the City Lord's mansion.

After a moment, Kallas, the old butler, arrived at the door. As soon as he arrived, he bowed to Han Shuo and greeted him, "Welcome home, Lord Marquis."

"Hehehe. Alright, alright. Let's talk inside," Han Shuo replied with a smile.

On the way inside, Kallas the old butler was busy ordering the servants to prepare everything needed for a banquet. As he did so, he explained to Han Shuo, "My Lord, during the three years you have been away for training, Lord Jack has been made a Viscount, Lord Dorcas a Count, and several others have also been raised to the peerage. The few Lords who originally lived temporarily in the City Lord's Mansion have all been given mansions by His Majesty, as they were all peers. However, the few lords' mansions are not far from the city lord's mansion. I have instructed people to invite them here. I expect they will all be here in a short while.

Three years can change a lot. Lawrence obviously knew how to curry favour with Han Shuo. Thus, Jack, Dorcas and a few others who have close ties to Han Shuo were each granted nobility. Of course, Because of their nobility, they no longer need to live in the City Lord's mansion. Besides, these people have parents and families of their own.

Han Shuo nodded and smiled as he replied, "His Majesty is indeed treating us very well.

"Yes. Brettel City was able to develop so quickly because of His Majesty's utmost support. But apart from that, the leadership of Lord Jack and Lord Dorcas was inseparable. The two lords are both great characters. Only with them in charge of the military and administration could Brettel City happily enjoy its triumphant progress all the way. Kallas did not forget to praise Jack and Dorcas.

Han Shuo had heard all this from Gilbert's mouth, and he had some knowledge of Jack and Dorcas' achievements. The two wielded authority in Brettel City, one in literature and the other in the military,

Jack, in charge of government and finance, saw to it that Brettel City's economy and all sectors became more and more prosperous. And Dorcas, who wielded the military power, not only made Brettel City invulnerable to attack, but also went on the offensive against the Seven Grand Duchies, plundering many goods from them.

Of course, before he officially started training, Han Shuo told Dorcas some things about the Seven Grand Duchies through Jack. As for Helen Tina of Helon Duchy and Burt Zili of Boulet Duchy, the latter secretly controlled by Calamity Church, Dorcas knew what was going on.

It was also because of Helen Tina and Burt Zili's help in the dark that Dorcas was able to attack the Seven Grand Duchies with such skill and ease. Not to mention the ease with which he could leave after plundering.

The existence of the two with malicious intentions made it impossible for the seven grand duchies to form a true alliance, and they could only watch helplessly as Brettel City grew more powerful. With the war horses purchased from two countries, Brettel City had a real regiment of knights. Equipped with finely crafted weapons, armour and protective gear, the Knight Regiment, led by Dorcas, became the most fearsome troops among the Seven Grand Duchies.

The duo of Jack and Dorcas, one in literature and the other in the military, tightly held the power over Brettel City. In addition, Dick of the Dark Mantle, backed by vast financial resources, led the forces of the Dark Mantle to cover the whole of the seven Grand Duchies like a spider's web. He provided the duo with accurate and extensive intelligence. With the three of them working together, Brettel City was not only invulnerable to attack while constantly expanding, it became a truly safe and formidable megalopolis.

"Through Brettel City, many goods from the Seven Grand Duchies circulated to the Lancelot Empire, while certain goods from the Lancelot Empire also found their way to the Seven Grand Duchies. Many aristocrats in the Seven Grand Duchies supported the culture of our Lancelot Empire.

Hehe, although we are enemies with the seven grand duchies, the merchants put profit above everything else. Brettel City always treats merchants with open arms, so many merchants from the seven grand duchies simply don't care about their grand duke's restrictions, and continue to work with us to circulate goods and supplies..." Kallas' explanation and understanding of the situation was different from Gilbert's emphasis on the main points, and he went on to explain the economics and politics in detail for Han Shuo.

"Hahaha, Bryan! That damned scoundrel has finally returned!" a loud and clear shout came from outside. Jack laughed as he carried a shy young lady inside.

Three years had passed and little fatty Jack had become big fat Jack. His weight increased in parallel with his size. With the power of Brettel City at his fingertips and the esteem of His Majesty the King, the cowardly and timid Jack had long since disappeared. The Jack now has an imposing aura on his body, characteristics of people who occupy leading positions.

Han Shuo had been friends with Jack for many years. As soon as he heard the familiar laugh of Jack's voice, a comforting warm feeling rose in his heart, and he walked over to Jack in a welcoming manner. Looking at his suit of well-tailored robes, Han Shuo smiled and shouted at him, "Hehehe, the little fat guy has now become the big fat guy! Not bad at all. It seems that you have been eating well for the past three years!"

"Get lost! You brat, how could you stand aside and do nothing for your own City, leaving all the work to us and making me so tired! Now that you have returned, not only have you not comforted me, you have even said that I have grown fatter. Where's your humanity?!" Jack cursed with a smile after casting an angry glance at Han Shuo.

"Who is this?" Han Shuo asked with a smile after glancing at the shy young girl next to Jack.

"This is Jessica. I've mentioned her to you before!" Jack introduced her proudly and winked at Han Shuo.

"Oh! I remember now! Hehehe, nice to meet you!" Han Shuo remembered that the reason Jack wanted to stay in Brettel City was because of this girl named Jessica. Now that Han Shuo saw that Jack had gotten the beauty he wanted, he was truly happy for Jack.

When Jessica faced Han Shuo, she was obviously a little reserved. She shyly and respectfully greeted Han Shuo and said in a somewhat fearful voice, "Greetings, Lord Marquis!"

"My Lord, you have finally returned!" Dorcas approached him from outside. There hadn't been much change from the younger Dorcas, except that his face showed even more signs of hardship, and it was obvious that he was steadier and more experienced.

Dick, Faulke and some of the leaders from the mountain region arrived one after the other, and they all gathered together. . With the butler Kallas taking care of them, they went to the banquet hall and drank as much as they liked. The few characters who were in charge of everything in Brettel City explained the situation to Han Shuo once again.

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