The bird gave a screech before it turned twice in the sky, getting ready to land. As it flapped its wings to descend, powerful wind accompanied it. It landed in front of the camp, so Arthur had to stroll toward the architect.

When he reached the man and got a better look, he could tell that his architect was anything but boring. The brown-skin man wore clothes of every color stacked on top of each other. However, that wasn't what grabbed Arthur's attention the most.

'A mohawk? No, his hair looks like... a tower. How much time did he spend on styling it that way?' Arthur was amused that such an interesting character was here.

"You call it a city, but this nothing but a camp!" The architect barked at Ma, who was receiving him. The two of them walked through the camp's several houses. "If you wanted to build houses, then you should have waited for me. So much wasted time..."

"Only a day or so," Arthur said with a smile, and the architect, along with Ma, halted their steps. They turned Arthur with curiosity from the architect and relief from Ma.

"Seika! This gentleman is the one I told you about." Ma introduced. "He's the famous architect, Rumi."

"You must be the Seika of Living Beings." Rumi's previous haughty attitude was gone, and he even bowed. "I heard nothing but praise for you."

"That's difficult to believe, but our architect has a silver tongue." Arthur smiled. "This is no place to receive someone. Let's go to my house."

As he said that, Arthur took the lead and began walking. The architect followed after him by a short distance, and Ma was further away. They passed by the houses that Arthur built using his skill.

"Have you truly built these houses in a day?" Rumi asked with curiosity. "I never expected the Seika of Living Beings to be a builder as well."

"I'm a lot of things." Arthur smilingly said. "Not all of them are good things, but I'm sure that you know about it already."

"Hm?" Rumi looked genuinely confused. "I only heard that you were building a city from scratch. That's all I needed to know."

They reached the house, and Arthur was speechless by the architect's response. Before they talked further, the two of them sat down on each end of the table.

"Why did you want to meet me, though?" Arthur squinted his eyes at the architect.

"I wanted to see the man I'll be working with for the next few months," Rumi said with a smile. "And, see your reaction to this attire." He gestured toward his clothes, which looked like different colored patches of fabric sewed together. "Just the fact that you didn't comment or look with disdain at my clothes tells me a lot."

"I don't care what you wear as long as you outline our city."

"You said 'Our,' heh." Rumi grinned. "Seika, Seika, can I call you Seisei?" The architect leaned on the table. However, Arthur shook his head. "Well, anyway. I like you. You are the only one who didn't offer me anything but knowledge because you know how little I value money."

"No, because my knowledge would have turned any architect into a master," Arthur said as he leaned back. "If you didn't come, I would have hired anyone and gave them the knowledge they need."

Rumi looked taken aback before he threw his head back and roared laughing. He slapped the table with his hand as he wiped the tears away from his eye.

"I have never been this disrespected. I like it!"

'Uh-oh, did I pick up another Reece?' Arthur was worried, but the architect was already looking at him with sparkling eyes.

"Tell me, Seika, what city are we building here?"

"Well, before I say anything, I'll have to ask you some things," Arthur said as his eyes began shining. "Tell me the truth. Do you work for anyone else to spy on us?"

***

Arthur might be going overboard with his Art of Submission, and it made him feel like a dictator, but it needed to be done. This world didn't have an absolute law that everyone followed. It all depended on your capability to protect yourself.

Rumi was given a house after he passed Arthur's test. Arthur assigned him under Courage in the Civil Affairs department. The details of the city's outline would take place after Mother Rega grows.

After informing Courage and the rest of this arrangement, Arthur called out for the newest member of the team: Rosa.

"She'll be my assistant and the hostess for the Auction House," Arthur said, and Gala banged on the table as she stood up.

"I thought I was your assistant!"

"You never were. What are you talking about?" Arthur looked at her with confusion.

"I'm your night assistant, that is!"

"That's not true! Why are you spreading baseless rumors?" Arthur shouted with a frown. However, the rest looked at him in a weird expression.

"Denying it so strongly backfires, Seika." Gala snickered as she sat down. "Don't worry, everyone, I'm not into kids." She waved her hand.

"Yeah, she likes people who are close to her age: a thousand years old," Arthur said with a grin as he shot back. Gala's brows twitched as she clenched her fist.

"Um, I don't do that kind of thing." Rosa looked at Arthur with fear, almost making him cough up blood.

"I never... There will be no such things, don't worry." Arthur simply sighed as he glared at Gala. "We need to secure a supply for the ores, and Rosa has a suggestion."

Arthur nodded toward the blacksmith apprentice who stepped up and presented her idea. The rest of the team widened their eyes as they heard the suggestion.

"Is this even possible?" Ma asked with a frown. "To reason with the Ogres is unprecedented. They are different from the rest of us, the Demis and humans. They are humanoid monsters." Ma said, and the rest of them agreed.

"We have nothing to lose. Some species of monsters might surprise you." Arthur said as he remembered his goblins, which he missed dearly. It was just a day after he evolved Mero that the Hybrid Ender, Ellen, appeared.

"Is something wrong, Seika?" Gala asked when she saw his dark expression, but Arthur simply shook his head.

"Rosa, Gruen, and I are going to be the ones dealing with the ogres. For the rest of you, keep doing the tasks I asked for. Big Bear, take Rumi and show him around so that he can draw a map of the surrounding."

"Yes, My Lord." Big Bear nodded. "I also like to report that all monsters have been cleared, and we are ready to take the next step. Walls are of utmost priority to prevent monsters from wandering near the civilians."

"We're going to get there, but after we handle the issue with the Ogres," Arthur said with an enigmatic smile. After all, who can be the better candidate for building a wall other than the Seika of Metals?

***

"How do you plan on awakening him, Seika?" Aimee asked with a worried expression after he told Gruen of his plans. Arthur sighed and glanced at the dwarf, fidgeting next to Aimee. He knew that Gruen wasn't as worried about it, but Aimee...

"I've read books about Seikas when Gruen told me," Aimee said with a frown. "Most of them go through a hardship related to their affinity before they awaken. The Seika of Water almost drowned. The Seika of Flames had burn marks. What are you trying to do?"

Her knowledge was the issue here. Gruen trusted Arthur unconditionally, but Aimee was different. She was a sharp woman who didn't allow anything to slip past her notice.

"That's true. However, this is Gruen's decision and his affinity to awaken." Arthur said. "If he doesn't wish for it, then he can decline. However, I need to remind you of something."

"What?"

"Everything I did against the duke, even building this city in the end, was because Gruen asked me to. We had a deal that I will help him be with you and awaken in return for creating items for me." Arthur frowned as he felt like he was being used.

"That doesn't mean you can place him in a torturous experience," Aimee said with a frown. "We thought of you as a friend."

"I think of you as friends, too," Arthur said with a blank expression. "But you can't simply dismiss my deal with him when the terms don't sit well with you. I will try to awaken him without hurting him. That's what I can promise."

"Honey, the Seika is right. Without him, none of this could have been possible." Gruen stepped forward and held Aimee's hand. She turned to him and sighed with worry.

"Please be careful, love," Aimee said as she caressed his chin. Gruen nodded with a grin.

'Why the hell am I being forced to watch this?' Arthur almost threw up. It was okay if they love each other, but seeing others acting all lovey-dovey while forgetting he exists pissed him off. 

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