67 – Business & Profits & Sacrifices!

—————————

PART 1 – Investments!

—————————

With the 40,000,000 gold invested in the Trade Route, construction began at an accelerated rate.

Firstly, we will start with the capital, situated in the heart of the Krugar Mountains. A long road will connect the empire with the numerous passes that connect the north.

They have hired the mountain people themselves to clear the future road's path and hunt down any nearby wild beasts.

Another crucial location for commerce was the sea. A section of the walls boasts a perfect passage to the sea, providing ample space to dock small to medium-sized ships.

Oceanographers were sent to the site. Zenyo, who was well-connected, hired an agency that specialized in ocean studies.

An oceanographer's job is to monitor tides and currents, study erosion and sedimentation, analyze ocean circulation, and assess environmental impacts.

These specialists are also Blue Magi. They received hundreds of thousands in investment gold to conduct thorough studies on the area in preparation for the creation of a dock and port.

They were efficient people who, as soon as they arrived, set to work investigating the depths of the seas. There were even members of Calah's race, the Undines. They began to work alongside the engineers, and, of course, everything passed into Skarla's hands for evaluation.

Zenyo took the opportunity to buy another 1% of the shares, spending the same amount as before. He saw that it would certainly increase in value by 10~20 times over the next few years, so he would take the opportunity to support such an investment enormously; even if it seemed dangerous, he knew it was worth it.

If it were any other nation or person with such goals, Zenyo would never invest so much. It's not because he has feelings for Skarla that he would give up his entire fortune; it's because he trusts Skarla and her lofty goals.

If his creations prove to be genuine, they will attract substantial investments, ensuring his financial security. It's worth risking everything for a dream like that.

Letiphia, in addition to Zenyo, received 5% of the shares due to her heavy investment and significant support for Skarla's conquests, thereby qualifying her for a share.

Hackel also showed keen interest in her plans. She signed a stronger contract that would take a lot of sacrifice to break, allowing her to learn incredible techniques that made her awaken her aura in just a few weeks.

And when she learns of Skarla's ambitious plans and the method of government she wishes to implement, she can't help but be shocked and terrified. If it succeeds, it will alter the entire structure of the continent, and if it flourishes as much as Skarla anticipates, the empire may begin to emulate it.

Hackel wanted to invest; she was a princess and had a lot of wealth. But when she learned that every 0.1% of the shares cost 1 million at the start, she shuddered and made a decision.

......

“Do you want the equivalent of 10 million in gold to support the development of the Independent Kingdom of Skarla? Why would your father and I accept such nonsense?” - Kaleria narrowed her eyes.

“Because I believe it won't take long, at most five years, to recoup this investment. It's even likely that the 10 million could be resold for 30, 40, or more million.” - Hackel smiled.

“What nonsense are you talking about?” - Kaleria frowned.

“It's hard to explain; Skarla, Zenyo, and Bianca know best, but from what I've seen, Zenyo invested 50 million, all the wealth she had after hearing the plans. Apparently, at first, it's possible to buy percentages of the right to own the Trade Route between the empire and the North that will open in a few months. Each 0.1% is 1 million in gold, but from what you've told me, this will be like an item, something that can be sold to others for higher or lower prices.”

“We're talking about revenue. How would that be? Monthly or yearly?” - Kaleria scratched her chin as she realized something.

(Author: That bastard only has Critical Successes in intelligence tests!!!)

“Monthly.” - Hackel said without hesitation.

“I see, call Skarla; I want to talk to her about it and how much she'll sell me.” - Said Kaleria coldly, unwilling to give such a large piece of meat to her daughter.

Hackel, noticing this, smiled. - “It won't be possible. I'm sorry, mother, but Skarla has no plans to open up the shares for sale to outsiders now. I only received permission to contact her myself, as the purchase would be in my name.”

Kaleria narrowed her eyes. - “You mean she won't give any percentage to the empire, even if we're willing to buy it for such a high price?”

“That's not it at all. Skarla wants to keep as large a percentage of the initial shares as possible, because each 1% is worth 10 million, but this will increase in the near future, and probably a few percent of it will be auctioned off, which should increase the value a lot. And from what I've heard, it's a permanent thing as long as the commercial route keeps producing. If you have 1%, you can pass it on to your children, grandchildren, and so on, constantly receiving income, potentially receiving tens to hundreds of times what was invested.”

“How is that possible? I can't see something like that sustaining itself, unless...” - Kaleria's eyes widened as she realized something. - “How much is Skarla willing to sell you?”

“5%.” - Hackel smiled.

“Understood. I'll send you 50 million of my personal treasure; I'll talk to your father later about it, but know that of the 5%, I'll be entitled to 4%.” - Kaleria's gaze was authoritative, accepting nothing less.

“I agree.” - Hackel bowed his head, not negotiating beyond that, because he knows how scary his mother can be.

......

Hackel's investment arrived; it was in his name, the princess, but it was an investment that came from the pockets of Kaleria the Empress.

Over 100 million in investment gold, a truly absurd and illogical sum. No one comprehended the purpose of so much gold, as they gradually witnessed the acquisition of various items and materials.

Skarla began to use the knowledge Sueika had, starting with building materials and the concrete formula for constructing large buildings.

Electricity was also something Sueika had in his library; he only used Mana as power instead of electricity. The issue lies in the lack of electronic tools to utilize this electricity for purposes other than lighting and refrigeration, despite its ample supply.

Skarla first built the “Krugar Palace”, which will be the heart of the nation that will be born, but its interior is unlike any other castle, as it wasn't designed to host parties or for many people to sleep.

It's a place for future politicians to interact and decide the laws and fate of the country.

Naturally, the Revenor Family and the "Verona Mansion" were also under construction.

Aaron was given a temporary post as Commander of Civil Justice. Although his salary was substantial, it was not particularly noteworthy; what truly mattered were the prospects for his future.

His job involved maintaining security in the main cities, constantly traveling between villages to check on the status of the numerous representatives chosen to rule over the people, and of course, collecting taxes.

Supporting him was Leslye, his lovely wife, who became treasurer of what was to become the Ministry of the Economy.

Needless to say, Aaron spent little time at home, traveling a lot in the mountains, where he could even take his older children, who, even at a young age, could learn their father's trade and look up to him.

And since he was away for so long, it gave Skarla plenty of room to play with Leslye. Of course, it wasn't as much attention as Leslye wanted, since Skarla is a busy woman and has many wives to look after.

Leslye is merely a toy that she employs to satisfy her desire to sex with a proud married woman who is convinced that she is so extraordinary that she can manipulate her.

Aaron, who was very motivated, was doing an excellent job, avoiding any corrupt acts, as was his wife's request. Before long, he was already well respected, and as he was in charge of training more soldiers, most of whom were young half-breeds, he, who was strong, quickly attracted their recognition and respect.

Aaron also worked hard to impregnate his two concubines. Not seeing Leslye as much as he wanted was painful, but when he saw her on rare occasions, his wife hard at work with a lot of paperwork that he didn't even understand half of, he knew that he was working towards a greater future and that he mustn't falter.

(Author: I'm starting to feel a little sorry for Aaron, but only a little, and look, it's gone!)

—————————

PART 2 – Production & Profits!

—————————

The focus of the continent was the war between Zenirys and Torwin. The mysterious investment of 100 million in gold alarmed many people, but the war was more attractive than the waste of money.

Nobles couldn't understand how the empress and one of the world's greatest merchants were investing so much money in the Krugar Mountains. If the investment was spread over years, it would typically reach this amount in 3 or 4 years, rather than all at once.

They didn't understand, thinking that just because Skarla is a legend, it would be more than enough to invest so much to get on his good side. Although having more control over the trade route is appealing, merchants can only benefit so much.

Of course, their mentality is like that because they don't know about the share percentages, how they work, and, of course, they don't know about Skarla's development plans.

But to show that the Krugar Mountains aren't just a huge waste of money, just because they want the favor of a legendary figure, Skarla has started the mass sale of “Nutritious Acorns”. The Murim introduced a product that could satisfy martial artists or armies for 12 to 24 hours.

2 acorns a day were enough to give a grown man all the nutrients he needed. They are small and simple to carry around. There are ways to improve the taste, which is often poor.

Skarla provided the Imperial Family with the basic recipe, enabling them to produce a product that was up to 60% more effective despite using nearly twice as many resources. As Skarla began construction on her land, she made the decision to start generating income and improved the recipe.

Calah, possessing exceptional talent, assisted in understanding the concepts and martial arts of alchemy. The pair combined Murim Alchemy with Magic Alchemy.

The result was a huge improvement in taste, much more nutritious, and less resource-intensive. It didn't emit any smell, which made it impossible for animals with a keen sense of smell to trace it.

As a result, thousands began to be created every day, with only two pairs of hands working, one of which spent most of his time playing with his children.

Simultaneously, Zenyo, showcasing her skills, encountered some respectable alchemists who had faced limited opportunities in their lives. She offered them lifelong employment with Skarla. They would receive a rich commission on everything they produced and sold, land to live on with their families, and other benefits, along with the opportunity to learn special techniques.

Of course, this would result in an extremely damaging contract, requiring someone stronger than Skarla to undo it. It goes without saying that this would require a demigod or an extremely powerful artifact.

In the end, the alchemists accepted, who were taught the basics of martial arts and the perception of materials for a better evaluation, and then Calah was left to take care of his training for the mass production of the “Food Acorns”.

In a few days, production only increased, the quality improved every day, and the sales process began. The price of the “Food Acorns” matched the prices of those that the Imperial Family was producing.

And it's worth noting that the cost of materials is 3~4 times lower, while the production process is 5 times more efficient. Selling at the same rate as the Imperial Family yields nearly 20 times the profit.

Needless to say, the “Food Acorns” earned the title of “Krugar Pills”. Each pill was sold for 1 Silver Coin, which is much more than the average meal a day.

But the advantage was that it was extremely nutritious—even more efficient than 3 meals a day, where the norm for people is to eat 1~2 times a day in order to survive.

And because of the war, the price of acorns at the borders reached 1.5 Silver Coins. Each set of materials was capable of producing 8 acorns, and with the machines and tools used, each alchemist could produce 2,000 per hour.

We hired 8 alchemists, 9 of whom worked 8 hours a day, for a daily total of 144,000 acorns.

144,000 acorns sold for 1 Silver Coin as a base; we're talking about the equivalent of 1,440 Gold Coins produced daily. As for the cost of production?

Each set of materials used costs an average of 4~6 Copper Coins, where 10 Copper Coins equal 1 Silver Coin.

As each set produces 8 acorns, that's an average of 16 times the profit.

And as time went by, production improved. Skarla is a genius if you ignore her barbarian appearance. With the knowledge in Sueika's library, Skarla was able to improve the processes every day and was producing machines to better automate production.

Needless to say, her main buyers were the Zenirys Empire. Torwin even tried to buy it but was not allowed to sell.

And with “Food Acorns” in a variety of flavors, the army could satisfy their hunger and try tasty meals. Despite the unfamiliarity, it's important to remember that the imperial family has trained them over the past few months to eat acorns.

The improved taste has resulted in improved army morale. Not to mention, the energy contained in each acorn has given them more strength. Skarla produced each acorn with the aim of being nutritious and efficient for training.

Soon, the army was no longer the sole purchaser of the acorns, as they began to accumulate enough for sale throughout the empire. This led to the Imperial Family ceasing their production, as no one was interested in purchasing the acorns they were producing.

The product you create is so exceptional that it leaves no room for competition. Even if the Archmage of the Imperial Family made a concerted effort to replicate it, he would be unable to do so because, aside from the magical steps, he lacks the necessary understanding.

Everyone is trying to recreate the acorns; every nation that has heard of it, not just on the continent but on other continents, has started trying to get their hands on as many acorns as possible to reverse engineer them.

The efficiency of this product in the army is remarkable, as it provides food that can fit into a small bag and last for days or weeks. Not to mention, each acorn now has an impressive shelf life of three years, compared to its previous lifespan of several months.

Skarla's modified acorns can last 3 years, and she is thinking of ways to increase their shelf life, aiming for no less than 10 years.

This will significantly transform both land and sea exploration. It will reduce the load on armies and ships, not to mention cities' emergency food stores in the event of disasters.

Mass production of these acorns would give you a massive advantage over the rest of the world.

As a result, we recruited more alchemists, increased orders, and increased production every day.

Skarla also began selling to the northern regions. They were facing food shortages, and the arrival of the acorns coincided perfectly with the impending winter, which would make food acquisition more challenging.

The first signs of trade began to emerge. The Trade Route was being used to transport and sell the “Food Acorns”. Zenyo oversaw this and added international trading partners.

—————————

PART 3 – Gifts!

—————————

The money was flowing in as effortlessly as water into a barrel. The issue arises from the punctured barrel, which leaks more water than it receives.

Expenses are rising every day, but this is due to the need for materials and improved production of agricultural products. Skarla was using matrices to gather more mana in the mountains, which significantly improved the quality of the soil.

Of course, she hasn't drastically increased it to avoid affecting the continent, but she has sufficiently modified it to ensure that a significant portion of the agricultural production grows with greater strength and quality.

She was also working on creating a training ground for herself, her family, and, of course, the location of the future Academy.

As time swiftly passed, the situation began to steadily stabilize. Skarla eagerly awaited Shunam's arrival, anticipating their joint battle with the mad alchemist, after which she would deftly devise a plan to reverse his condition.

But in the meantime, she is training and spending precious time with her children, where she has just turned 22. Theya recently turned 1, and today was Gina's 2nd birthday.

Gina received an abundance of toys, enjoyed delicious food, and naturally, spent a significant amount of time with her beloved parents.

Gina has been spending a lot of time with Toru, her older brother, and the two have grown close very quickly.

Naturally, it was a closed event, as Gina is still too young to understand how wonderful she and her family are. Naturally, they received numerous gifts from various nobles.

...

Days after Gina's birthday. Letiphia and Viper went into labor simultaneously, an unexpected event given that Viper's pregnancy occurred nearly a month apart.

In other words, everyone was worried about Viper's child's premature birth, but Skarla was there to ensure that nothing bad happened. Fate wouldn't dare hurt her family.

Eight hours into their labor, Viper was the first to conceive, giving birth to a little boy with white hair and soft skin. So small, fragile, and adorable.

Skarla assessed him carefully, but everything was perfect. It seems that her son developed faster than expected and, as a result, came out early. She then handed the little one over to Viper, tired but in pure joy as she hugged the child.

“My son... I can't believe it...” - Viper cried, clutching Skarla's shirt as she leaned into her, elated by her achievement.

Skarla smiled, overjoyed. Her first male child, she would need to protect him from his sisters, not wanting something like Hackel's relationship with his brothers to happen.

“What's his name?” - Viper asked, as Skarla had been keeping this to herself for a long time, and she kissed his forehead, caressed the little one, and said. - “Lohan Verona, that's the name of our treasure.”

Viper smiled as she felt the warmth of Skarla's embrace, along with the joy of being a mother.

...

AAAAAAAHHH!!!

In the other room, Letiphia's scream was shrill, mixed with pain and anger.

“What do you think about a caesarean section?” - Skarla asked calmly, because she saw that she was in too much pain, and Letiphia's response was a scream, followed by a beam of dark magic driving Skarla into the wall.

“I HAD SEVEN CHILDREN! IT WON'T BE YOUR MAMMOTH THAT MAKES ME GIVE UP!” - Letiphia roared at the top of her lungs, and Skarla could only be frightened by Letiphia's lack of emotional control, something she had never expected to see.

But Letiphia wasn't really angry; she was afraid. Afraid of losing another child, she was terrified of such a possibility, believing that as long as she endured all the pain, her child would suffer nothing.

She refused any help or medication to lessen the pain, as she wanted to feel everything.

Skarla stayed by her side, deactivating her almost impenetrable defense, letting Letiphia's nails pierce her flesh, letting her bite her. Skarla made every effort to assist Letiphia in relaxing and letting go.

After 13 torturous hours, tears filled the room, and the midwife brought in a lovely, dark-skinned creature who screamed as loudly and powerfully as her mother.

A futanari, like Skarla, is the second. Letiphia picked her up in her arms, gazing down at the little demon that had caused her some of the most intense pain of her life, a pain that paled in comparison to the two on top.

She cried with joy, hugging her precious child, thankful that she was all right. Skarla used her power to ease the pain and comfort the little newborn, naming her Belisandre Verona, the name her ex-husband's mother would have given if the dead child had been a girl.

Skarla was the one who suggested it, and Letiphia accepted without hesitation. - “Now stop hugging me and bring the potions before I pass out.” - Letiphia, after her initial joy, ordered Skarla to laugh and bring them over, which she devoured without hesitation.

Skarla took Belisandre and went to clean her up, then left Letiphia to sleep while she was cleaned up by Skarla, who moved her to another room, the same one where Viper was.

They were both sleeping in the large bed, a magical mechanism having been installed to speed up the recovery of their bodies and minds. The nurses placed Belisandre and Lohan in nurseries equipped with specific machines to ensure their comfort.

Skarla stood between the nurseries, facing her exhausted wives. She had her eyes closed as she carefully observed the bodies of her babies and wives, looking for any irregularities.

Skarla harbors a deep fear of herself. She is a reincarnation, her 3rd life, an adult with over 100 years of accumulated life but in the body of a 22-year-old woman.

Skarla fears that one of her children is just like her—some adult or old monster from another world or time who has possessed her child's body.

—————————

PART 4 – More negotiations!

—————————

Having two children to brighten her evenings and torment their mothers only increased Skarla's motivation.

While she was instructing her new disciples, an unpleasant visitor arrived. Skarla had expected them to come sooner, but they took their time.

She left Ilyria and Talya to take care of the disciples' training.

...

Arriving at the structure built specifically for guests, it was needless to say they had recently received many visitors and needed a suitable place to accommodate them.

“I wouldn't say it's pleasing to see you, but we have business to attend to.” - Teresa smiled calmly, but there was hatred in her eyes.

“The feeling is mutual. I was hoping you'd come sooner, but surely your hatred of me prevented you from coming sooner.” - Skarla laughed as she sat down, not even greeting Teresa.

The priests and paladins responded to her behavior with furious looks. - “Curious.” - Skarla said, looking at a rather calm figure among the group. - “You're not bothered by my attitude, even though I'm so disrespectful to the Saint of your church. Who are you?”

The figure is around 1.8 meters tall, with blond hair and white skin, and is quite handsome, apparently packing good muscles and exuding power.

[Image] →

"I'm Enrico Pootzy, Archbishop, and I'm pleased to meet you." - He bowed in respect.

“Look at my rudeness. What are you doing standing up? Please sit down.” - Skarla even stood up to greet him; the reason? To tease Teresa.

“There's no need; I'm comfortable where I am.” - Enrico smiled, understanding Skarla's motivations and understanding why Teresa had been in a terrible mood for the last few months, which had worsened on the trip here.

Teresa snorted and waved her hand. - “Talk amongst yourselves; I'm not in the mood.” - She waved her hand as she sipped her wine and rubbed her temple.

Skarla smiled, shrugging as Enrico came forward, standing next to Teresa.

“Marquise, I've heard a lot of stories about your heroic deeds, but I have to be honest, I've also heard a lot of negative things about your personality.” - Enrico said, getting straight to the point.

Skarla laughed. - “Indeed, I'm not easy to get along with, and I don't see myself as beneath anyone, that includes the giants above the skies.”

“Heresy-”

“Quiet!” - Enrico anticipated and automatically said in a stern tone, casting an intense glare at those behind. - “Get out; your protection is unnecessary. It's not debatable!”

None dared to stay, and they all left. - “I beg your pardon for seeing something so shameful on my part; it's just that I believe they haven't been trained or educated to deal with individuals of such power and authority.”

“And for that, I must congratulate you; it's hard to find someone willing to raise their voice to protect their ideals and beliefs, especially in front of me.” - Skarla smiled.

“In fact, that's why we at the top have to be more flexible, because we understand that not everyone respects or fears our God, which is the case with you.” - Enrico smiled. - “I even heard that you talked to our glorious Lord. The center was in chaos because of it.”

“I can't say it was a pleasant conversation, but we reached a consensus. But I don't think it's yet time for me to fulfill what was agreed.” - Skarla smiled, liking Enrico, perhaps because he had experience dealing with people above his pay grade or even level of authority.

“We didn't come here because of the agreement you made with our great lord; we came because of your merchandise being sold. Something extremely useful that is already making waves on all the nearby continents. It's very likely that you'll start receiving visits from individuals far beyond this continent and... summonses from Sovereign Empires.” - Enrico smiled slightly.

The term Sovereign Empire is not something Skarla is ignorant of. She heard it not long ago, as she had to start investigating more about her future trading partners and the dangers she might face.

Among the dangers, there are powerful Empires that have conquered entire Continents, their rulers being recognized as Sovereigns. The number of legendary powers under their wings is enormous, some of which are protected by demigods.

Not even the Zenirys Empire would dare confront these sovereign nations, as it would be tantamount to committing suicide. Of course they wouldn't be destroyed immediately, but they would suffer severely from trade to the outer continents; their border enemies would receive support, and mysteriously legendary entities would begin to appear in their midst, being used to attack the empire and slowly conquer it.

The countries backed by a sovereign nation would have to pay heavy tributes for centuries after the empire's fall.

...

“I've been getting a lot of visitors, but really. I've heard about many groups from other continents marching towards me; I feel almost honored if I didn't know the real reason for their approach.” - Skarla laughed bitterly, for she was beginning to tread on eggshells, and if she wasn't careful, she could end up getting dirty.

“Indeed, such individuals are best taken care of. Now, disagreements aside, I hope we can reach a consensus regarding the famous Krugar Pills.” - Enrico smiled.

“Since it's about money, I have no reason to put emotions ahead of myself. So, how much do you want?” - Skarla smiled and leaned back on the sofa.

“Before we go into details, I'd like to know how much the prescription would cost. Don't worry about us not being able to afford it; if the Pope wanted it and the Zenirys Empire was for sale, we could buy it 10 times over and we wouldn't even feel it.” - Enrico said confidently.

“It's a lot of money, but even if I gave you the recipe, it's unlikely that your alchemists would be able to create it. Not that I doubt the capabilities of your alchemists; you must have thousands, some of whom must be legendary; I have no doubt about that. But the main process used requires my modified martial arts, and I have no plans to give up the monopoly on these techniques. When my academy officially opens its doors, once you've learned the basics, how you modify them is up to you.” - Skarla gestured in a relaxed manner.

“I see. The Holy Head received a revelation from our God, informing us to give some focus when you open the doors of your academy. I hope you won't let conflicts get in the way of learning.” - Enrico narrowed his eyes.

“Don't worry about it; I'll treat everyone equally, but I recommend that you don't send noble or excessively arrogant offspring, as any disturbance to the peace of the other students will be grounds for expulsion. I'm someone who values meritocracy and effort; the fact that you're the son of someone important or powerful doesn't matter to me because I see the vast majority as insignificant people; the significant ones are those who attract my attention or who can at least hurt me.” - Skarla smiled debauchedly as she glanced slightly at Teresa, who growled.

“A very interesting point of view; I'll make a note of who to send into your care. But since we don't have the ability to use the recipe, we wanted to know about buying a portion of your production.”

“I'll be fair and go for the market price, with no adjustment for the war. 1 silver per pill. Currently, with the materials we have and our purchase, we can produce 300,000 a day, where I can set aside up to 20% of the daily production to be sold exclusively to the Radiant Church.” - Skarla smiled.

Naturally, production exceeds that level, and we are currently training new alchemists to boost manufacturing. The goal is to produce 1 million units per day, as there will undoubtedly be buyers.

“So that's technically 600 gold coins a day. It's indeed a lucrative production, and having a monopoly on the highest quality product makes it difficult to negotiate, but in fact, the price is quite fair for its effects and tactical value. In 1 month you can produce 9 million, which works out at 1.8 million, which would be 18,000 gold coins a month.” - Enrico said calmly, and Skarla nodded.

“From what little I've heard and analyzed, I know that your daily output used to be half that, but since you've secured the right deals for materials from all over the continent, as well as learned about the fact that you've recruited more alchemists, I assume that your current output of 300,000 per day could increase significantly in the coming months. So how about we start with a deal for 3 million a month? All you'll have to do is bother with production. I heard about your port and dock, which can accommodate small to medium-sized vessels.” - Enrico smiled and stopped talking for the moment, as his motivation for mentioning the docks was obvious.

Skarla anticipated a 13.3% increase in production, which is equivalent to 1/3 of their current output, but this was based on future growth. Fortunately, orders have significantly decreased in the past month due to extensive stockpiling for the winter season.

“I can agree with 2 million; as winter is coming, it is likely that production will decrease. Even if we are expanding the business, the winter on the continent will still affect the growth of our crops, which results in lower production. That's why we can settle for the next three months, 2 million a month, where we can renegotiate after the winter.” - Skarla smiled, and Enrico agreed.

“I believe that's it, but would you have any other motivation for this meeting?” - Skarla asked curiously.

“No, I only came to discuss the pills. I also wanted to congratulate you on the recent birth of your children; I hope they are as healthy and strong as their mothers.” - Enrico smiled gently.

“Thank you for your kind words.” - Skarla smiled as she stood up for a handshake, which Enrico returned; even though he wasn't as strong as Skarla, he wasn't without strength.

“A tip. Do you know the Elven Kingdom, Yggdrasil?” - Skarla said calmly, and Enrico nodded, still not moving his hand back and listening carefully. - “At the main auction house, something specific will be put up for auction by me; it will be just after winter. I assure you that it will be in your interest and that of the church to get your hands on the item.”

“Any tips on what it is?” - Enrico smiled.

“We'll let you find out for yourself, but I assure you it will be in the millions.” - Skarla smiled, and Enrico nodded.

......

“What did you think of her?” - Teresa asked coolly.

“An interesting person, but overconfident and arrogant. I understand the reason for the conflict between you; your personalities don't match.” - Enrico replied calmly.

“You know that those two million won't be of any use to us.” - Teresa snorted.

“Not for us, but we can send it to Saint Maria, who is in the middle of the conflicts in the Land of the Kings. Even if she charged twice as much, it would still be advantageous, and we could resell it.” - Enrico smiled.

Teresa rolled her eyes. - “Okay, I don't want anything less than 3 Silver Coins per pill; I want Maria not to get a good deal.” - She growled.

“Naturally. But Santa, I recommend finding a way to resolve the conflicts between you and Skarla. It's not advantageous for our future plans to have this unnecessary conflict.” - Enrico suggested.

“First of all, she's the one who has a problem with me. Secondly, I don't mind this overconfident worm at all. If it hadn't been for the command of our great lord, I would have made this barbarian pay for all the insult, humiliation, and heresy!” - Teresa growled, her beautiful white face turning red.

“I understand your point, but for the sake of our wonderful lord and the future of the church, we need to have a friendly relationship and get as much benefit as possible out of Skarla. Should you be incapable of this and it turns out that Skarla's value is greater than anticipated, to the point where the Pope ignores your transgressions and focuses on the benefit of a prolonged partnership, it is likely that you will be replaced from dealing with this continent by some other Saint.” - Enrico was extremely patient as he said this with a gentle smile on his face.

Teresa frowned, but despite her anger, she understood that Skarla was not as insignificant as she claimed. Her God, known for his overwhelming power against his enemies or those who affront him, has decided not to take any action against Skarla.

This shows that Skarla has something that is in the interest of her God, which may be in the interest of the church, and as a result, should her god or the pope see that she is in the way of plans, she could be replaced and even lose divine favor.

But the mere thought of her bowing her head to Skarla filled him with fury. She, who is adored by her believers and respected in every nation she visits, has to bow her head to a legend with strange techniques.

“We'll sort this out in the future. First, prepare for whatever happens in Yggdrasil. But I didn't hear about Skarla having relations with the elves.” - Teresa frowned.

“I was surprised too, but something worth millions in gold... maybe some artifact or... is she about to sell her technique? I don't see that making any sense, which makes me even more curious.” - Enrico smiled, a twinkle appearing in his eyes.

“The 100 million.” - Suddenly an old man said.

“What do you mean?” - Teresa frowned.

“Sorry to interrupt, but there are rumors that the Gander Merchant Group and the Zenirys Imperial Family have invested a total of 100 million in gold in the Krugar Mountains. As far as anyone can tell, it's real, as the Gander Group has stopped most of its services on the continent to focus here, as it has invested all its savings in one place.” - Said the old man as he bowed his head.

“What else do you know about it?” - Enrico was curious, remembering that he had sent people to investigate this matter further, as 100 million is not a small sum.

“The rumors mainly say that the owner of the Gander Group, Zenyo Gander, is Skarla's lover. As for the imperial family, it's said that it's a wedding gift because Skarla and Hackel are together. But these are merely rumors, and I don't know anything more than that.”

Teresa frowned and thought, while Enrico nodded and stepped back, thanking her for her words. - “I'll send an investigation group to find out more about it. But if the 100 million is related to the item sold at the auction, then I'll prepare our church coffers.”

“You can use my name to get a bigger subsidy. If it's so valuable that Skarla mentioned it today, that means we should have it.” - Teresa said seriously, and Enrico thanked her.

—————————

PART 5 – Sacrifices!

—————————

As the days went by, the weather got colder, snow fell, but work didn't stop.

As expected, production decreased significantly, but orders only increased. As a result, the price reached 2 silver per acorn, and the stock ran out in a few days.

Hunting led ordinary people to recognize its value. Not to mention that mercenary groups were some of the main buyers, as they were often escorting caravans and needed a lot of food. But with acorns lasting so long, they could use them without having to restock in every town they set foot in.

Simply put, emergency rations were gradually being replaced with acorns due to the significant differences observed.

Their nutrition was excellent, and people with little muscle mass suddenly saw significant growth. The children who consumed the acorns also showed improved development.

The common people were initially sceptical, but this will change, especially in winter when the goal is to preserve excess food.

The acorns came at the perfect time, which greatly reduced hunger.

...

During these cold days, Skarla was receiving visitors who wanted millions of acorns. However, Skarla did not immediately guarantee a few hundred thousand per hour, as it will take some time for production to return to its previous level and continue to grow.

In the meantime, the continent's major powers have learned that Skarla will bid tens of millions of gold at Yggdrasil's post-winter auction.

The auction house itself began disseminating the news, marking a truly unprecedented event.

As a result, this little-known item has captured everyone's attention.

...

As the focus shifted away from her, Skarla initiated the implementation of various government methods, beginning with the right of residence. Skarla allocated a designated plot of land to all the original residents, designing each town and village to follow an organized pattern for the future.

The laws would take effect after the winter, causing many people to lose their homes. In fact, the mountain people had already begun to build villages in previously unvalued areas due to their barren land and lack of nearby forests.

Upon examining the land and determining its lack of natural resources and fertile soil, the architects initiated the development of a novel housing design, naturally adapting to the unfamiliar structures and materials.

The builders would also learn to use the materials and read the blueprints in order to build sturdy houses and buildings in the future.

Skarla personally supervised everything, analyzing the finished structures and testing them with some artificial tremors. Needless to say, many failures occurred, so they had to clean up and rebuild.

In the end, it was all a test, but they only had 1 month to test, and then they would start building the houses where people will live in the future, since many villages will start to be destroyed in order to rebuild, and families will be relocated too.

...

Skarla officially started allowing traders to move along the defined route. Skarla prohibited traders from venturing too far into the mountains or to remote villages.

Interaction between the two parts of the continent began, and tax money flowed in quickly.

Skarla received a visit from an old friend, Edric Wholfe, who had become a lord of some lands in the north. There wasn't much conversation, as they had drifted apart due to events.

However, Edric demonstrated his willingness to discuss business instead of seeking retribution for his past actions. He wanted investment to help him become King.

This took Skarla by surprise, and she listened attentively to what Edric had to say.

“I don't think it's wise for my people to continue attacking the people of the empire, especially with the mountains you conquered and we've suffered a heavy blow. It will take decades to recover the warriors we've lost. The acorns you sold us will be of enormous help, especially with the lack of warriors to help in the hunt.”

“But I want a better future for my people and my children; that's why I've come to you with this request. I need money to attract warriors and expand my lands. Most of the lords are in serious financial trouble and, as a result, are thinking of attacking the empire during the winter, which will be extremely foolish.” - Edric sighed.

"How much are we specifically talking about?" - Skarla scratched her chin thoughtfully.

“One million gold. That would give me enough power to create the strongest army; I could buy other lords' lands without needing wars.” - Edric said firmly.

Skarla thought and asked. - “If I invest all this money in you, what will I gain? If it's about a strong trading partner, I want you to understand that I'm trading with several nations beyond our continent, and this will only increase as time goes by.”

“Naturally, I'll send you tributes for your investment in me becoming king. Once I become King, it will be taxes for the next 20 years, and no merchant with your mark will be attacked or have to pay taxes.” - Edric said, full of confidence.

Skarla thought about it and proposed. - “Instead of taxes, how about the Krugar Mountains, represented by me, and the North, which in the future will be represented by you, becoming partners, but not just in trade but also in terms of government.” - Skarla smiled.

“Government? You want part of the North?” - Edric frowned, but listened carefully.

“No. As it happens, I am going to implement special laws in my lands, which will be for the prosperity of my people, where I guarantee that in 20~40 years, the people of the mountains, who have been isolated from the rest of the world, will be the most advanced and modern people in this world, to the point where anyone from the north or the empire will enter one of my cities and ask if they are in the same world.” - Skarla smiled. - “And I wish that with my support, after having a large part of the north under your rule, you would implement part of my laws of government and economy, where I promise that this will not only be beneficial for both of us but also for your people.”

“To show you a fraction of what I'm aiming for, how about I take you to a special place? I guarantee you'll be impressed.” - Skarla smiled, and Edric decided to see what he had to show.

...

Edric was taken to the villa under construction and was amazed by the structures, their strength, and the thermal sensation inside. - “The houses aren't finished yet, but following the right architecture, with the materials we have, imagine structures that soar into the sky, dozens or even hundreds of stories high.” - Skarla laughed as she pointed to the 4~5-storey buildings being built.

“Cozy, simple houses, where the people's work won't just be fighting, hunting, or farming. New jobs will emerge, such as better trade, people producing specific types of food, and creating all kinds of items that will help the nation. Children who, instead of focusing on training their bodies and magic to be strong, train their minds to earn a lot of money and be above those who are stronger.”

“I long for a world with less violence. A world where our descendants can prosper without having to risk their lives to die pathetically in the clutches of monsters. Where everyone will have endless job opportunities, where parents can watch their children grow up, study, and become great in life.”

“I will make the mountains like this, small to large cities that can accommodate tens to hundreds of thousands of people easily, in the future millions. A world where what matters is not just strength but intellect and the ability to make money.”

“What about food?” - Edric asked. - “If so many people are going to live compacted in this kind of place, that's a lot of mouths to feed. How are you going to feed all that?”

“In the event of an emergency, we have food acorns, but of course that's only in the event of an emergency. As you know, the mountains have an extremely prosperous valley, and it will be one of the main sources of plant food for the mountains. But I have plans to evolve the agriculture of the entire continent, to increase production by dozens of times, to accommodate the population growth I expect.”

“I understand that there may be fears on your part about your people, as you are naturally warriors and strength is ingrained in your veins. But you've lived a lot in the empire, and you've seen that not everyone needs to train their whole lives to make a living or feed their families. Being strong is often not an obligation, but in the north it's the other way around, right?” - Skarla smiled, and Edric sighed.

He calmly touched the wall of a house, punching the wall, which made the structure shake a little, but its resistance was obvious. He experimented with thermal insulation.

“Let's go back and talk more about this method of government; I'm interested. But to get my support in changing the entire culture of my people to what you believe to be ideal, I want security.” - Edric said seriously and faced her.

“What do you suggest?” - Skarla was calm.

“I fear that you may wish to rule over my people and subsequently replace me. So if you want my support, I wish you to establish an arranged marriage between your firstborn, Gina Verona, and my son, Ryan Wholfe. They're both the same age.” - Edric said confidently that even in the face of a terrified look from Skarla, he didn't give in.

Skarla was not at all happy about this proposal. - “I don't like involving my children in business, especially when it comes to their future relationships.”

“I'm no fool, Skarla. I know how much you love your children, and that's exactly why I'm making this demand. I won't go through with changing my people, sacrificing our history and customs, if you can't sacrifice something too.” - Edric didn't back down.

“You wish to associate our families, not for your people, but for yourself and your family.” - Skarla snorted.

“Yes, I'm greedy, and I don't want to lose my power, much less do I want my family to be forgotten. I've fought too hard for you or your descendants to step on me.” - Edric smiled. - “If we don't establish a marriage between our children, there will be no more business; forget about the investment and I become King. I'm willing to give it all up, because if I'm not going to have anything, I'd rather you didn't either.”

Skarla crossed her arms, and they both looked at each other seriously. - “Lohan. My newborn son, my first and only male child. He's Viper's son, and you know how much I love her, so you know how much I love my only son.”

Edric sighed. - “I love my children too, so don't look at me like that. You could crush me like an insect, so I need to protect myself somehow. But regarding Lohan, his age is a bit worrying, but I have a beautiful daughter 1 year older; it must be 3 months since she turned that age.”

“Viper will personally evaluate the mother of this daughter of yours. If she doesn't like it or decides on someone else, so be it. Even though I'm Lohan's mother, I'm not the one who carried him for 9 months in my belly. Viper will have greater authority over our son's marriage, so negotiate it better with her.” - Skarla sighed, and Edric nodded, understanding that Skarla's relationships are unconventional.

It's only natural that the provider, who is Skarla, has greater authority over the future of his children and the actions of his wives. He himself has total authority over his children and wives, and none dare challenge him.

......

As soon as she heard the news, Viper frowned and bit his lower lip. - “I understand that you must be furious that I simply decided this without consulting you, our son's future wife. But I hope you understand that it was necessary and the authority to judge who will be your future wife from among Edric's daughters is yours.”

With his eyes closed, Viper calmed down and looked at the adorable baby sleeping in the cradle. - “Is it because he's a man?” - She asked.

“I was thinking of Theya or Belisandre. Letiphia would be more willing, as it's a common thing for her. Talya would create a fuss, but in the end she would accept. But Lohan is my only male child, and I believe that the best thing for him will be this arranged marriage. Before you agree with me, listen to what I have to say.” - Skarla touched Viper's hand, making her look into his eyes.

“Don't think I don't love you because you're a man; I was a man in my past lives, and you know it. I simply don't want our son to be the target of his sisters, because you know how Hackel's relationship with his brothers is. I don't want something like that. Our son will need to have a strong personality, and we'll spoil him, but we can't allow weakness. Today it will start with Lohan, but in the near future, with us becoming involved in relationships with other continents, it is likely that I will have to send one or more of my children to other continents.”

“These are sacrifices that we have to make because we don't have the strength to overcome everything, not yet. Lohan will open up opportunities for the government I want to establish in these lands to spread more quickly across the continent. And as you know, Edric is handsome, and his daughters will certainly be beautiful, so I want you to take Lohan with you to accompany Edric. Evaluate our son's future wife and her mother; don't let his future wife be a pathetic woman who will only serve to give us grandchildren.”

Skarla held Viper's face and kissed him. - “I'm sorry.”

Viper closed his eyes, punched himself lightly in the chest, and smiled. - “No need to apologize. I was expecting something like this; we've all been expecting something like this. I only reacted like this because I didn't expect it to happen so soon, but I'll take care of it.”

Skarla was relieved, but soon felt a dagger in her neck. - “But the next time you decide something for our children without consulting me, I swear I'll castrate you!” - Viper growled menacingly.

With a bitter laugh, Skarla nodded, and soon her attention fell on Lohan. Skarla apologized for deciding something like this for him, but it couldn't be helped.

3 days later, Viper, accompanied by an entourage of knights, left with Edric for his lands, where he would see his son's bride-to-be.