ANOTHER MONSTER IN URALIS CITY

ANOTHER MONSTER IN URALIS CITY

"It is a matter of supply and demand. If the Trogdol merchants don't sell grain to anybody else in Drachia kingdom, and we buy as much as we can from the countryside, there will be a shortage of grains eventually. With a shortage, we will slowly increase our selling price", I explained to them.

"Young master, you are cornering the grains market again?" Hagar asked me.

"Yes, it will also be for a good cause. When calamity comes, we are the only ones who would lend a hand to the ordinary people", I told them.

"You see cousin, that is my son", Orol said to Prince Geoffraie.

"And he will be my son-in-law too soon", Prince Geoffraie replied to him.

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"King Orion, what pleasure do we have to have you here today?" Amelia asked me as I came to visit them in the Noten House.

"I came to check on the progress of our plans?" I asked her when Hugo replied to me smilingly.

"We made more than a billion Aurs selling those twelve bloody rocks, Radiance of Agni, that cost nothing to make, hahaha", Hugo told me and laughed.

"How are we going to spend the money?" I asked them.

"We are buying up all the commodities in Drachia kingdom and from the neighboring countries, as much as we could. We are also stocking up on ingredients for potions", Amelia told me.

"Ah potions. This old bloke will not be alive today if not because of the longevity potion from the Red witch, hahaha", Hugo said to me and laughed.

"Did someone talk behind my back. I have a curse ready for that", Red Witch said to us as she walked into the room to surprise us, and Hugo suddenly stopped laughing at the sight of the witch.

"Red, good for you to be with us", I said to Red Witch.

"We are stocking up on healing and other potions and ingredients as much as we can. If war comes, we will be prepared for it", Red Witch told me.

"There is something else that I need your help on", I asked Red Witch.

"What is it?" Red Witch asked me.

"Can you create a strain of grains and other plants that grows in ice?" I asked Red Witch.

"Do we have to create something that grows on ice? Are you sure we are not closing the Ice Gate this time?" Red Witch asked me.

"I doubt the apostles will help the Ten-Kingdoms this time. We must help ourselves", I told them.

"We are also building many Terrariums under Istiopolis city that can feed our people. They may cost more to operate now but if the ice comes, these farms will become invaluable", Amelia told me.

"I can try to force plants to evolve on ice although it may not be easy", Red Witch told me.

"Try mixing some Hell sand into your experiments, if we can't find plants that grow on ice, if we can at least make soils that don't freeze completely may help", I told her.

"That is an idea", she replied to me.

"By the way, how is the real Oriese doing in your school?" I asked Red.

"Oriese, he is a stubborn boy. But his temperament is improving since he doesn't have his father to spoil him here", Red told me.

"I hope that when I return him to his father, he will be a good boy", I said to Red.

"You are making it a hat too big for the boy to wear, you are a Duke of the Knight Templar Court now and soon, even a Prince", Amelia said to me.

"And not to mention a fiancé too. Are you sure your fiancé will be happy about Oriese, the real bully?" Hugo asked me.

"I don't know but they are friends before", I replied to him.

Taking on the alter-ego of Oriese was out of necessity at the time. But I would have to return the identity back to the real Oriese eventually.

"Hopefully, I can tie this loose end properly without hurting any people", I said to them.

Suddenly, someone came to report something urgent to me.

"What is the urgency?" I asked the news porter.

"The Trogdol Merchant, Gagarine, sent you a letter", the porter said and handed me a letter.

"What is the problem?" Hugo asked me.

"Some merchants are being taken as prisoners to Uralis City, the capital of Trogdol kingdom. Gagarine asked for our help", I replied to them.

-----

The city of Uralis sprawled across the landscape, its size belying its lack of vitality.

Vegetation thrived amidst the sparse populace, as there were not enough hands to trim the overgrown foliage or cleanse the streets of encroaching greenery.

Years prior, Uralis had been ravaged by the emergence of King Bulhane, the Lich King, whose insatiable desire for eternal life led him to twist his own citizens into undead liches.

The city never fully recovered from this dark chapter.

Only the militia remained, struggling to maintain control over the desolate streets, while the majority of the population had fled to the safety of the countryside, far from the clutches of the heartless rulers and their dark magic.

Our arrival in Uralis was driven by a mission: to confront the latest abomination spawned by the city's relentless pursuit of forbidden sorcery.

It seemed the experiments in dark magic persisted in Uralis city, birthing a new threat that demanded our intervention.

------

"What are we looking for here?" Sara asked me.

"There must be a prison here in Uralis city that keeps Gagarine's friends and families", I replied to her.

Only Sara and I came down to Uralis city to scout.

"Why must you always waste my time helping you do unnecessary tasks? Didn't I already loan you Asterix for this kind of jobs?" Sara asked me, irritated with me to make her join me on my latest mission.

"You can turn invisible, Asterix cannot", I replied to her.

"So, can you too. Waste of my time", She said to me.