Freya continued discussing the plan to rebuild Slumdon Town.
“Based on the facts I’ve shared,” she went on, “we could let several people become
shareholders in Slumdon. They would need to invest money, and in return, they’d get a place in the city and the job of helping to develop it. Maybe we could even give them a small piece of land and a say in decision-making.”
Leon raised an eyebrow. “That’s quite intriguing. I’ve never delved deeply into investment strategies before.”
Freya explained in more detail. “Do you understand where this money will go? You’ll need to build barracks to fortify your army, develop agriculture to ensure a steady food supply, construct schools to educate the populace, establish a research center to cultivate local talent, create markets to stimulate the economy, open a smithy, and set up various workshop facilities, among other things.”
Leon nodded slowly, his mind processing her words. “Considering the limited information I provided about the Land Management feature, how did you reach this conclusion so swiftly, Freya?”
Freya crouched down, her face level with Leon’s as she leaned in closer, gently tapping his cheek twice with her index finger. “It’s standard practice in Kingdom Building games and similar formats. This time, you’re starting with a city, but who knows? This might just be the groundwork for establishing your own Kingdom someday.”
Leon nodded. “I see now. I’ve never really played Kingdom Building games before.”
Freya thought for a moment, considering her next approach. “So,” she started again, “to simplify things, I’ll seek out a few brands that might be interested in sponsoring your town. Ultimately, it’ll be up to you whether you accept their investments.”
“And then?” Leon leaned forward.
“Regarding the idea of shared ownership, you could extend this opportunity to the members of the Ass Guild. Most, if not almost all, of the members are incredibly wealthy, so funding shouldn’t be an issue for them. However, I advise you to consider the long-term implications. How do you envision your relationship with them evolving in the future?”
Leon looked perplexed. “What do you mean, Freya?”
Freya paused, choosing her words carefully. “Think about it, Leon. If you involve these individuals as shareholders, they will have a stake in the city’s success. You need to consider how their influence might shape Slumdon and whether their goals align with yours. This isn’t just about financial investment; it’s about forming alliances and ensuring that your vision for Slumdon remains intact while leveraging their resources.”
“In my opinion, at least you have to be in the same guild as them or in a more binding alliance,” she added. “And in this case, there are only two options: you join them, or you build your own guild and invite them to join yours.” She giggled, thinking it was a pretty amusing idea. “Yes, invite them to your guild.”
“Invite them into my guild?” he asked tentatively.
“Yeah…” Freya said, her voice filled with amusement as she chuckled.
She continued. “You can’t possibly join the Ass Guild and take over the position of Guild Master, right? While I know you don’t seem interested in being part of them, or at least you have your own goals, you shouldn’t follow the whims of many people. You should decide your own path and pick individuals who share your vision and are willing to support you.”
After a moment, she added, “A person with as much potential as you really should be the one making the highest decisions. Therefore, I think the best option is for you to create your own guild.” She chuckled again.
Leon was once again faced with the option of forming a guild. While he had pondered the idea a few times, the more he ventured into the game, the more he realized he would need allies to work with. Having everyone united under one guild would certainly make it easier to share a vision and achieve common goals. Yet, the decision between joining an existing guild or creating his own still lingered in his mind.
“I propose myself as the Deputy Master-second-in-command. I’ll assist you, the Guild Master, and step in as your right hand when needed. That’s the best offer I can make because I know you can’t handle everything on your own,” Freya said.
“I’d take care of the day-to-day operations and coordinate with the other guild members. I’d manage everything under your orders while you’re out and about, possibly adding more women to your list of potential brides,” she added with a giggle.
Lily immediately burst into laughter at Freya’s joke, obviously finding the idea of Leon gathering women in the game quite amusing. “I think collecting potential brides sounds way more fun than managing a guild.”
Leon took a deep, calming breath and propped himself up on the sofa. “Woah…” he said, pausing as he realized the many tasks ahead. “Is it possible for the game company to remove the total login limit for each player? I mean, I really need more time to spend on the game.”
Lily interjected, “You’re not isekaied. You’re not transmigrated to another world, Leon. You still have responsibilities to attend to in the real world, you know.”
Freya laughed at Lily’s words. “Looks like he’s given up on his real life, Lily… in the real world, he was left by a woman, but in the game world, he’s dating a princess.”
Leon leaned back on the sofa, looking a bit worn out. “Okay,” he sighed. “I guess I’ll spend some time in the palace first, working on some armor for myself. I’ll also monitor the progress of the attack against Princess Alora. After that, I’ll check out what I can do in Slumdon Town.”
Freya smiled approvingly and replied, “That sounds like a good idea,” before adding, “but remember that your plans might have to be adjusted after you learn what the ring given as the grand prize holds.”
“Yeah, sure,” he replied, nodding in agreement.
The next morning, Leon woke up brimming with excitement. He dressed smartly, knowing that today was the day they would visit the Remember Car Shop to pick up the new car he had received as part of his sponsorship deal.
“I still can’t believe I got such an incredible reward just for mentioning their brand at the right moment.”
He emerged from his bedroom wearing a pair of sharp blue jeans paired with a crisp white shirt. As he entered the living room, he noticed Lily already there, dressed in a charming sunny yellow dress with a short skirt. It was Sunday, and she had the day off from school. “Leon!” Lily chirped as he approached. “Freya said she couldn’t come with us today due to some urgent matters, and Alfred had to take an unexpected day off as well.”
“No problem,” Leon responded with a smile. “We can just take a cab.”
Descending the stairs and walking through the bustling hotel lobby, Leon noticed a few people recognizing him due to his recent rise to fame. Shortly after, they found themselves in a taxi, making their way towards the Remember Car Shop.
Minutes later, the taxi pulled up in front of a sleek, glass-fronted building showcasing rows of pristine cars inside. As they stepped out, Lily’s face radiated enthusiasm, her eyes wide with awe. “I never imagined this day would come when you’d actually be able to drive a luxury car all on your own, Leon,” she exclaimed, her voice tinged with excitement.
Leon nodded slowly, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. “Let’s go,” he said, his voice filled with eager anticipation.
“Let’s pick out one of the most luxurious cars they have.” He beamed, feeling a sense of accomplishment as they stepped into the showroom.
