99 Development of the Duchy

It was then guards arrived wearing the standard equipment given to patrol the city, they wore breastplate with a spangen helmet and armed with a pole axe, a baton and a short sword.

"We have received a report of a disturbance going on here!" the sergeant said as soon as he arrived and he looked at the people within the tavern. His eyes locked unto Maria making him bow and greet her.

"Lady Maria, it seems you are present in the premises. Would it be okay for us to carry on with our duties?" the Sergeant asked as he felt that if Maria was here then maybe the matter was already resolved but he still has to know what transpired.

"Don't worry Sergeant, it is but a tourist that has no idea how the current Old World works. There is no need for your presence here." Maria waved her hand to dismiss the guards who just nodded in understanding.

Finubar was watching this with curious eyes but also was inquiring with his gaze towards the Handmaiden who felt a bit averse to Maria's presence.

"Everybody, let us not go into hostilities. I sincerely apologize at the rash words of my companion, it is our mistake for not understanding the situation of the world at first. If by any chance I can gain you forgiveness with me buying all off you a drink?" Finubar walked forward and apologized as he gave a bag of gold towards the Barkeep who looked at Maria.

The lady just nodded making the matter be done as it is, the Wood Elves and dwarves though were watching with sharp attention to the almost forgotten High Elves. Even the Wood elves were a bit of a myth to the public and only showed themselves rarely in places they approve of.

And that is the Laurelon Forest's Wood Elves, the Wood Elves of Athel Loren is a bit more hidden as they do not want to wander out the world since they rather kept to themselves in the forest filled with mysteries.

"My Lady, I am deeply sorry for the actions of my men. It may be a bit late for introductions but I am Finubar of Lothern, we have arrived here in hopes to develop trade between our people and I feel that you are a person that could be able to make decisions about these matters." Finubar had noticed the way people look at her with respect so he felt that they might need to form good relation to this lady.

"I am not in charge of the affairs of Trade within the realm, also I am currently entertaining guest of my Husband so I cannot entertain you all for the moment." After saying that Maria turned around and went to Diana's table with Judy.

"You-!" the guard again wanted to get angry in this disrespect they received but he got a murderous glare from Finubar.

"All of you follow me outside." Finubar said in a cold tone as he walked out while the people in the tavern watched these new guest, as they were gone a few murmurs were heard as people talked about how these thought to be long gone High Elves returned to the Old World.

This info has also reached the ears of Mark who was handling some minor affairs in his land on his Solar. He was thoughtful as he remembered it was indeed near this century did the High Elves reach out back again to the Old World.

But he has no accurate memory of when they arrived, but he knew there was one elf that would be present in the group the current Phoenix King sent.

The Future Phoenix King Finubar, who was also called the 'Cucked' Phoenix king, since Alarielle was supposed to bear his child yet she rather slept with Tyrion.

Though Finubar did not know and raised the daughter born from Alarielle the Radiant, it was like the King Arthur-Guinevere-Lancelot tales of how Tyrion who is Loyal to Finubar slept with his wife who was supposed to give birth to a daughter born from the Phoenix King and the Everqueen.

(A/N: It is vague as to when Finubar was born but he was handpicked by Bel-Hathor to explore the old world and make trade but that would be during 2001 of the Imperial Calendar, yet Elves really live a very long life and there was no concrete data on when Finubar was born. Tyrion and Alarielle is not yet present in the world as well since it was during the 22nd century IC that they appeared.)

Mark was signing some files as well as reforms for his land as he was in thought if he should make this can of drama burst by giving it a bit of internal pressure.

But he just shook his head as he felt that it was not beneficial from him, but if he does see a merit that it'll make him gain something then he'll totally make this matter known to many if it ever happens.

Meanwhile in an alley way the guards were standing still as the Handmaiden glared at them with anger while Finubar was silently standing in front.

They still did not think they were in any wrong since in their minds High Elves are noble beings that primitive creatures like humans and other humanoid beings are lesser than they are.

Though that may be the case, they were sent he on a delicate mission and the Young Lothern Prince does not want to fail the current Pheonix King.

So as he pulled back his hood of the cloak he wore as well as taking off the mask that covered his face, keen eyes could be seen as his narrow face emerged while his pale blonde hair swayed in the breeze that blew to his face.

His eyes usually sported a sort of longing in seeking the next horizon he wanted to reach but it now shows a deep held disappointment to his men.

"Were we sent here by the Pheonix King to gain enemies?" Finubar asked as he looked at the guards that did not control their outburst earlier.

"N-no… but your highness they dare disrespe-" a guard wanted to reason but Finubar just glared at him with obvious anger.

"Disrespect? Is that what you were about to say? Do you think they know of us? Of who we really are? We came here in secret to seek what his majesty asks us for and you want to announce our presence? They now know we are Elves of Ulthuan but they do not know why we are here." Finubar said as he looked gravely at the men who followed him.

"I asked his majesty for you to follow me because I trust you all but hear me now if I say that I will not hesitate to execute any who dares to deviate from his Majesty's wishes." Finubar said coldly as he turned and covered his face again.

"Even I held myself in, though a person who smelt of dark magic is present I held myself in. Her majesty the Everqueen shall hear of our actions." The Handmaiden said as she looked at the guards who were looking down in shame and regret.

It was a week of leisure for Judy, Carter and Diana as they found themselves seeing the city itself develop. But it was during this time many envoys and representatives from various powers arrived.

Mostly they were Brettonian nobles that were curious about the flourishing realm of the recently famous Duke. Others were representatives of other races, like the Woodelves at the tavern who came from Laurelon.

They were requesting to be able to build a town near the forest of Arden within the borders of Mousillon. They promised to take care of the forest that regained its vibrancy and would give a lot of tax and produce of the forest that the Elves would produce.

Mark was tempted since Wood Elves had a better way of understanding the forest than his men, but he replied he'll consider it and think as to how he can rearrange his forces now that his foundation has set.

There were still hidden places in that forest where he trains his hidden forces as well. Thus was not really keen on accepting the terms of the Wood Elves, even if it'll bring him a lot of profits if they ever gain some rights of the woods.

But it then hit him that he'll just move the hidden forces and buildings there to the Eastern edge of the forest which is beyond his land but still no one was able to develop.

He'll make a hidden camp to train more of his soldiers into elites near the Pale Sisters( A pair of mountains in the Grey Mountain range). That part of the forest is filled with wild beast as well as some monsters that live in the mountains as well as small goblin tribes.

A perfect place to train young recruits, Mark also received the request of the Dwarves of Karak Norn who were grateful for him killing the ancient nightmare of their people.

Mark was happy gaining a few more dwarves who wanted to be his citizens, he had Borten and Gimbult handle them as they were now loyal to him. Most likely because he introduced the way to make Sake, Tequila and Vodka that these Dwarves totally loved.

Mark knew that he was totally going to be busy especially when he has the crystal that Jor-El gave to Thomas Wayne, he wanted to decipher the contents of the crystal to develop lots of technological advancements.

He knew his powers alone are not enough to defeat the Chaos Gods, especially when his other self is now gone from him. And this time he cannot make any large moves since the Chaos Gods seemed to have placed their attention to him.

Also there was this nagging feeling deep within him, making him halt his assimilation with his divine powers. A feeling that makes him think that maybe he'll have a hard time wandering the mortal world if he ever crosses this wall he felt.

Either ways he is now currently making plans on absorbing what he got from the world of DC, maybe he can go later for the Marvel world but he felt there might be a lot of annoying things that'll bother him once he goes there.

So other than his work he went to digest mostly the knowledge that pertains to Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics as well as CRISPR so he can improve the various variations of the Compound-V.

He knew that maybe others can develop their own SSS(Super Soldier Serum) but he has to make sure he is ahead of this game. He had found grounds on how to mass produce powerful minions, and that was from the Orcs.

Mostly the Greenskins, because he had thought that there were Female and Male he did not notice it but during his time practicing Swampfire did he feel the connection to the Orcs who were mushrooms by nature.

They were born out of Fungi who were genetically connected to this Hive Mind that the Orcs call Gork and Mork. Their minds also has the unique ability of affecting what the Molds of Fungi that births them.

For now Mark is handling matters as well as reviewing his plans for his domain so he can leave it for Francine to handle. He does not want to leave a clustered organization for his wife since he knew a lot have been leering into his domain.

He had heard of the Three Emperor's meeting and how they decided he was a threat, mostly the high priest of the religion that backed them. But even then they can only send in small contingents trying to assassinate him.

But that was all useless when he has Neferata in his hands, she became a bit of a passionate woman as she demanded his attention as long as she has achievements to show and he does give them to her making her work harder.

It did make Mark think if he was really an S or that Neferata is just a total M but he did not mind since he can release stress from time to time.

Ulthuan has made moves as well as Naggaroth, but Malekith seemed to not care for him as he still aims for the seat of the Phoenix King.

There were also the recent news he received from Cathay, the dragons seemed to be getting active from some reason unknown to him.

A ton of work but he does it fast as he used the four arms/XLR8 hybrid to do his work making everything faster. And if it times out he can still go on bullet time even though it is slower that the alien form.

But if people come into his Solar they can see Mark going around like a blur reading and reviewing everything down to micromanaging the whole realm for the next few years.

He knows that he might need a long time hiding in his Backyard to be able to absorb all the knowledge he gained as well as the contents of the crystal.

It was another week later that Diana and the others decided to leave, Mark did give them one last banquet and found his ability to go to both worlds still intact.

Though it is in the form of the Anywhere Doors his other-self left for him, it is a truly broken item that can go anywhere he has been. He cannot even scan or understand it yet even with his techadon form.

It was the month later did the whole world get a clear idea at what happened in the north and it made headlines to various powerful people.

A lot of other religions were shocked as they heard of many people calling Mark a god and they cannot refute since almost everyone present there attest to the powers of the man that is that talk of everybody.

Various things arrived in Mousillon, bribes, threats, marriage proposals to Mark and to his future 'Son' (Who was just him acting as a small kid or an android to give the illusion he is human). Even the Wood Elves of Athel Loren was able to learn of this since they too were curious of the one that killed Drachenfels.

But the forest is a bit gloomy as the current Queen is in a deep dark moment of her life. Mark already knew this and he had been waiting for someone from that place to call upon him to invite and make relations with.

Oddly the Church of the Lady of the Lake was silent, there were no negative actions from them and even Damsels were present in his lands helping the people.

They even formed partnerships with the Forest Knights that Mark has anointed and roamed the lands of Brettonia to help the weak and poor.

This made a large surge of Faith go towards him but he allotted it all into finishing the  changes in the Backyard, where he is making the underworld that is solely in his control.

Where the souls of those that died believing him rest as they were in unending celebration of their battles.

Like a Valhalla for his fallen warriors, he also allotted a few of his divine power to give authority to his wives to act as his own Valkyries to ferry the souls of the warriors fallen.

Since even now there are battles fought in the dark, the underground caves were now teeming with the Skaven who had found the ones responsible for the deaths of some clans near Brettonia.

It was a battlefield that is not known to others and even of Mark's forces always prevailed, it is not avoidable for a few soldiers to die in the heat of battle.

It did slowly get him his elite force faster as they learned how to fight underground, above ground, sea battles and even aerial battles.

His first regiment of Air Force were a group of freed elven slaves riding great hawks each. There was even a special squadron that were experts of the night as they rode great owls silently to kill unsuspecting spies or bandits in his lands.

His prospering lands gained the Jealousy of the many nobles of Brettonia and tried many things to hinder its development.

From hiring pirates to steal his cargo in his ships, which totally failed since his fleet has proven to be currently the best in the world.

To trying to undermine his other trades but they cannot find his routes or caravans.

His lands in Kislev also developed as his Fort was becoming sturdier with more walls and better wards to protect from the monthly raids from the Norscan tribes.

The POW war were also slowly converted as they lost their connection to the dark gods and Mark was there to rehabilitate them and slowly hypnotize them into forgetting their loyalty to the chaos gods.

Mark felt he can expand his territories but he did not take action much to the relief of many, this stopped others who were just sacred of Mark's power and military might from taking action since they can see that the soldiers of his land only go about hunting bandits and criminals.

Slowly the entire Duchy of Mousilon changed as he developed into a place full of life and happiness as well as content peasants.

This was the last sign for a certain group to finally find a place within the lands of Mousilon, the Herrimaults, people who take action in where justice has failed.

They were disbelieving at the notion of a lord being benevolent but when they all saw the newly reformed Duchy, they fell in love with the place.

Here even the Nobles were tame since they were hand-picked by Mark to rule various fiefs. They were also monitored closely by the Dhampirs and were educated properly in how to handle their duties as well as understand what real Noblesse Oblige is.

A real just system under the watchful eyes of the Duke, many of the Herrimaults joined the recruitments as suggested by their brothers who also joined earlier and even got to fight in the battle in the north.

There they became more loyal seeing how Mark was handling the happiness of the realm as well as fighting the dark part of the underground secretly.

Even the leaders called the Faceless were moved seeing such sacrifice done to ensure the people live in peace.

Mark was happy in getting these people since many of them were also fallen nobles who have connections to a lot of places in Brettonia.

They were also experienced warriors who are experienced in war and battle many times in their lives as well as have a good moral compass.

Unbeknownst to Mark he has prevented the supposed to be revolt of peasants in the future as most of them are finding ways to get into Mousilon thus making a lot of disgruntled nobles pay attention to their lands.

Some were strict and some were finding ways to keep their people so they went to Mousilon to study how this Duchy developed into such a powerful territory.

This made life for many other peasants in other territories better while those that held their people with a hard fist lost a lot since Herrimaults found ways to smuggle people away in massive number.