The Golem Mage Chapter 1126: City Lords And Sub Lords.
Previously on The Golem Mage...
“And why would I leave?” Alec immediately questioned.
“Well, my lord, your predecessor didn’t even last a week in this city before fleeing after acquiring all the necessary resources.”
“After all, the surrounding cities are known as the Barren Cities. Thus, I won’t fault you if you decide to depart. It’s just that the citizens here are already quite fragile, and I would prefer not to foster false hopes within them,” the old man explained cautiously, noticing the conversation wasn’t unfolding as anticipated.
Upon hearing this justification, Alec finally grasped the reason behind the man’s apprehension.
“Well, you needn’t concern yourself with such worries, as I have no intention of departing whatsoever. You can convey this to those awaiting your return outside,” Alec stated, and a rare expression of joy finally graced the old man’s features.
“Thank you, my lord. I shall personally deliver your message to them,” the old man replied, as even those standing by nodded vigorously, unable to conceal their elation.
[Master, multiple foreign mana signatures are approaching the town hall. Affiliation: Human Lords.]
Just then, a feminine voice echoed throughout the throne room. It emanated from the cube, leaving the old men stunned the moment they heard a voice originating from it.
They had always recognized the cube’s significance to the city lords, but the notion that it could actually converse was beyond their expectations.
“Can you display visuals?” Alec inquired, a skeptical mien on his face, uncertain if any mechanism existed for him to observe any intruders within his territory.
He mused, ‘It’s not as though this place possesses some sort of magical CCTV system, is it?’
However, the subsequent notification from the City Heart utterly shocked him.
[Master, please expend 10,000 System Points to cover the entire range from which foreign energies are invading. (Y/N)]
Alec nearly cried out, suddenly recalling the precise words his system had uttered regarding the absorption of mechanisms and gaining complete dominion over them.
While he had been more than content to allow his system to assume control of the city’s new infrastructure and reprogram it to interface with his own direct system, he now recognized a critical oversight. He had failed to consider the fact that his system possessed an insatiable appetite for resources and would relentlessly seek to drain him dry.
Although, to the present Alec, ten thousand System Points seemed insignificant as he could readily afford it, that wasn’t the core issue.
His true concern lay in the understanding that this was merely the prelude, and inevitably, he would find himself compelled to pay substantially larger sums.
Nevertheless, for the moment, he did not deliberate and simply assented to the cost. The amount was deducted from his reserves as he awaited the unfolding revelation.
In the ensuing second, luminescence erupted from the cube’s core, projecting outwards to materialize a vast holographic screen before him.
“Whoa… I’m genuinely impressed,” Alec exclaimed upon observing that the holographic display rivaled the size of a large cinema screen.
And that was not its sole remarkable feature; it presented seven distinct, segmented views. The instant he noticed this, a smile touched his lips.
He had already harbored suspicions regarding their identity, and now, with his City Heart’s surveillance confirming it, he deemed further observation unnecessary.
Thus, with a sweep of his hand through the air, the projection screen vanished as if it had been minimized.
“My lord, is there any task you require of me? While our strength might pale in comparison to mages of higher realms, I can still muster capable individuals to assist in establishing a domain array,” the old man offered, prompting a look of surprise from Alec.
“And to what benefit would that serve me?” Alec inquired, his curiosity piqued.
“Though rudimentary, the array possesses the capability to impose a cumulative five percent stat reduction on all non-city affiliated invaders within its operational radius,” the old man elucidated.
Yet, despite the old man’s dismissal of it as weak, Alec perceived an invaluable opportunity to ensure his future forces would dominate every battlefield they encountered.
“Baby X, fear not, they are not intruders but rather my kin and companions. And old man, you need not trouble yourself with gathering able-bodied men. However, if it wouldn’t be too much to ask, I would appreciate the chance to discuss the specifics of the array with you in greater detail later,” Alec requested, concluding with a polite ask after christening his City Heart, Baby X, on the spot.
“It is no bother at all, my lord. Your command is my desire.” The old man had barely finished speaking when both he and Alec heard a voice shouting from outside, approaching the hall at speed.
“Alec!!!!!!!”
Arthur's booming voice echoed through the hall as he made a dramatic entrance, his eccentric demeanor eliciting another hearty laugh from Alec. Not far behind Arthur, the remaining six lords also made their grand arrivals. 'These must be lords… are they allies and kin of our lord? It makes sense now. They arrived together, which explains the eight stars that materialized in the sky earlier,' the old man mused internally. Yet, just as he marveled at the prospect of enhanced protection against the orc menace with these eight lords united in an alliance, the subsequent actions of these lords utterly astonished him. Arthur strode towards the cube and inserted his own lord token into Alec's cube. "I, Arthur Gordons, pledge my fealty to the master of this castle." Instantly, a subdued golden light emanated, and upon retracting his token, it appeared noticeably diminished in size. "I assign your mayor to your designated city," Alec declared, and a new entry appeared in the status panel of his city. The old man could only gape, completely unprepared for the subsequent shock when the other lords replicated Arthur's actions.