Chapter 107: My City

Chapter 107: My City

After confirming that the command building was fine, Bran moved in the next day. In the following days, Bran was busy remodeling this place, which had been renamed Bran’s City Manor, infusing his mana into every corner.

As Bran progressed, nearby Wizards sensed a new life taking form there. The Dragon Riders and the Wizards from the Delegation gathered in front of the City Manor under the pretense of visiting Bran, trying to enter. However, unfortunately, the Northlanders blocked them outside.

So these Wizards returned to their respective Camps and began pressuring their leaders. Their actions were very successful. Hall and the head of the Delegation, Layton, appeared before Bran again. If it were only Layton, Bran could ignore him, but Hall, after all, was Eileen and Aiman’s father, so it wouldn’t do to be too rude.

Facing the impatient Bran, Hall got straight to the point: “The Wizards want to observe your work.”

Bran sneered, “Are they even worthy?”

This sentence made Hall and Layton flush red, but what needed to be said still had to be said: “We will pay an appropriate price.”

“A price? More dragons?”

This remark put Hall in an awkward position. He explained, “That was just a personal act. I didn’t know about it beforehand, and you’ve already taught him a lesson.”

“Is that so?” Bran looked at Hall with a scornful smile. “They won’t understand it anyway. What good will their presence do? You’ll just be paying for nothing.”

“Just letting them watch is enough.”

“Then let’s be clear upfront. Your payment only buys them the right to watch. It’s best not to cause any other trouble.”

Having achieved their goal, the two exchanged a few casual pleasantries and left. Danny, who had been standing beside Bran, saw them leave and asked softly, “Is this alright?”

“They definitely won’t understand. So, after gaining nothing, they’ll probably complain, saying how they paid a price and so on, and then make some unreasonable demands.” Bran paused and continued, “I need an opportunity to teach them a more profound lesson.”

Danny lowered her head, looking at Bran who still hadn’t raised his head, and sighed silently. Was that really the plan?

Although Bran didn’t look up, nothing around him escaped his perception. Danny knew he was lying, but having an excuse was better than none.

…

As soon as Hall returned to the Camp, Grew approached. “Well?”

“He agreed. Be careful yourself.”

“Okay.”

“I’m worried. What if we still gain nothing even after paying this price?”

“Continue until we get something. Also, these past few days I’ve noticed the Northlanders across the river are constantly decreasing in number.”

Hall was startled. “What do you want to do!?”

“If those people all leave, we could kidnap Bran.”

“Forcibly kidnapping him would definitely cause casualties on both sides. That would completely enrage the Northlands.”

“As long as Bran is unharmed, as long as we get what we want. In the end, we return Bran and use our own heads to calm the Northlands’ anger.”

Hall was silent for a moment, then said, “Be patient and wait. The people from the Anya Kingdom are coming.”

Grew’s eyes lit up. “Good!”

…

Earl came to the City Manor every day, quietly waiting for any instructions. In just a few days, mana completely enveloped the place, and Starlight began to glow within. This city was about to fall completely into the hands of the Great Wizard. They would no longer have a shred of privacy, but she just watched silently and would not say anything.

Earl deeply regretted involving Peter. She had sternly warned Peter not to reveal any information about that night, hoping the child would obey. She believed the Great Wizard had already noticed Peter, probably just because the matter was insignificant, so he couldn’t be bothered.

She still remembered everything that happened afterward. That Camp turned into true darkness, a darkness that devoured everything. For a moment she wanted to drape the Night over herself, but her ability refused her call, shrinking back into her body. In that moment, she witnessed true terror.

From then on, she decided to submit completely. She already knew the power of a Wizard, and she had seen a vaster world. As long as she truly obeyed and pledged loyalty to him, as long as she stayed by his side, she would eventually learn some secrets to becoming a powerful Wizard. Now, she felt incredibly light. She had a new goal. Compared to her own power, what did this city matter?

She tried to slowly unfold the Night like the Great Wizard, gradually expanding a small space. Within this space, she felt peace and felt strength.

…

For the next few days, a group of very respectful Wizards followed Bran around. These Wizards watched Bran wander, stopping and starting, completely baffled by what he was doing. Moreover, the Wizards were within Bran’s Magic Field, so their various abilities couldn’t be used at all. So they could only stare wide-eyed, dumbfounded.

Bran, who had long finished his work, dragged things out for two more days. Seeing that no Wizard had stepped forward to voice dissatisfaction, he could only sullenly announce the work was done and chased this group of Wizards out of the City Manor.

Since the Dragon Riders had a new plan, they wouldn’t want to lose people for no reason. So they had been warned beforehand on how to behave.

The Wizards from the Royal Capital were no fools either. Seeing the Dragon Riders being so respectful, they naturally wouldn’t invite trouble.

Only Bran felt uncomfortable. A delicious opportunity was before him, but he couldn’t act. Danny had been watching him more and more closely these days, almost never leaving his side, which helped him temporarily restrain his desire.

…

Today was a good day. Bran stood in the courtyard of the City Manor, preparing to plant a tree seed he carried with him. At that moment, Hall, Grew, Layton, and someone Bran didn’t expect—Sophie—appeared at the City Manor gate.

Sophie was clad in armor, with a longsword at her waist, shining with a silvery light that was eye-catching. Though she looked very heroic, was this attire really appropriate for this occasion?

Bran shifted his gaze from Sophie’s body, ushered them into the courtyard, then turned back to continue his tree-planting work. Without the Old Fairy, he had to activate this tree seed himself. Bran couldn’t spare too much attention for these people. What the Old Fairy did casually was somewhat difficult for Bran.

This obviously rude behavior dissatisfied everyone, but these old foxes wouldn’t provoke Bran at this moment. Layton knew what the Delegation had done to Bran before, so he naturally wouldn’t ask for trouble. The Dragon Riders already had a sinister plan, so now they needed to show more goodwill to clear suspicion in the future.

Sophie of course stepped forward: “Is this how you treat people who want to help you?”

Bran was taken aback. Was there something happening today? He looked Sophie up and down, which made Sophie, who moments before had held her head high and chest out, involuntarily hunch over. “If you have any news, just say it. I am not being rude; I am trying to express my warm hospitality.”

Sophie snorted coldly. “Sophistry!”

“The people from the Anya Kingdom have arrived. A large Delegation.” Sophie couldn’t hold back and directly gave the news.

Bran also snorted coldly. “What does that have to do with me? Receiving them is the Royal Family’s responsibility. Guarding this land is even more your responsibility. Or does the King not want to do his job anymore? Planning to abdicate. And the Dragon Riders don’t want to stay on this land anymore, planning to go hide in the Azure Wave Archipelago?”

Although these words weren’t pleasant to hear, they were the truth. The Northlanders had always guarded their homeland. No matter who came, it wasn’t the Northlanders’ turn to rush to the front.

“You!” Sophie was speechless.

“There’s one thing I don’t understand. This Dragon Knight Grew has been spying on you. He has eyes that see through everything. Why don’t you guard against him and keep staring at me?” Bran said with a double meaning.

Grew instinctively raised his voice: “Nonsense!”

“I know, she has something on her that interferes with your sight. You just failed at spying.” After saying this, Bran glanced at Grew, and with that glance, Grew closed his mouth.

Hall helplessly explained, “They will make an example of you because you are the Kingdom’s most powerful Warriors. So if they can subdue you first, everything else becomes easy.”

Bran finally fully activated the seed. He ignored Hall, just tossed the seed at his feet. Then he turned around, facing the somewhat shocked group. Accompanied by the growth of the tree behind him, he said, “This is the Northlands.”