Annan had a dream. He dreamed of Free City's future: with the Firstlove Fruits it cultivated, everyone would become a Warrior, a Magic User, or even a Professional practicing Magic-Martial Dual Cultivation.
Of course, Free City had no Firstlove Fruit Tree, and Annan couldn't dream.
Only seventy-seven Origin Fruits remained in his hands. Giving Dade ten was unlikely to yield anything, but however slim the chance, he had to try.
The choice between a bag of coins and an undiscovered gold mine was easy.
The Firstlove Fruit Tree was the future. Annan drew his gaze back from the distance and turned to what lay before him.
Olmedo stood before the enormous Map of Western Middle Earth.
South of Free City lay the Forest Mountains and the Grand Lord beyond them. To the east were the Empire's borderlands and a scattering of small powers caught in between. To the north was the Montablinlock Duchy, their ally in name and their subordinate in practice.
Olmedo's gaze rested on the gray line marking the city wall.
For now, only one section north of the duchy had begun construction. The other two directions remained unprotected.
Outsiders might have thought Olmedo was pondering strategy. In truth, she was worrying about work for Free City's hundred thousand-plus unemployed residents.
Farmers were reclaiming fields all over Gem Bay, while the factories and docks couldn't absorb many more people. Building a city wall remained the best option.
To that end, Olmedo had sent letters to the surrounding powers, offering to provide materials and workers to build walls for them at no extra charge. All they had to do was pay for the walls themselves.
Even with terms that generous, every neighboring power had refused.
No noble was foolish enough to spend his own money on a useless wall.