The Harpers Wanted In Too

Hill ignored the people who had rushed out of the inn and were pointing at him overhead. He folded his arms, questioning his life choices.

He certainly couldn't let the Silver Shield Holy Knight Order run this shopping street. That meant taking out several more Shop Cores and the shop-specific constructs that went with them, then figuring out what goods would fill the stores.

He had done all this to save himself trouble, yet every time, he thought too far ahead and ended up with just as much work.

Hill clicked his tongue in annoyance and finally decided to leave it to Liszt. Managing only the Floating Castle was a waste of Liszt's abilities.

He raised a hand and built a broad road in front of the shopping street, running all the way to the Maze at the far end. Long, narrow flower beds separated the sidewalks from the road.

Then he filled the outer edge on the opposite side with three-story shops as well.

The houses, of course, went behind the shops.

Closest to the main road were several rows of low, one-and-a-half-story houses, with a narrow lane running between them. The rear section held two-and-a-half-story buildings.

After a moment's thought, he removed the shop at the entrance to the lane and erected a tall iron gate.

These measures would only deter people willing to follow the rules. What Hill truly relied on was the Water Mythal.

He simply didn't want to punish anyone without warning.

If someone still caused trouble after Hill had drawn such a clear boundary, they had no right to complain to him afterward.

Hill had no objection at all to Tyr's Priests or Holy Knights holding court in his territory.

That was enough. Hill had no desire to rebuild anyone else's purpose in life.