Chapter 331: The Rose Duchess’s New Beginnings

Jasmine Knight truly had no talent for management. Rose Duchy only had one enormous castle built across the path, blocking the only route from the outside world to the Wizard Tower.

In front of the castle was a winding river that led to the sea. Both banks of the river were high cliffs and dense forests. A wide and sturdy stone bridge connected the two banks, but it too was now blocked by the tall and majestic castle.

“It’s less a castle and more like a formidable pass or fortress,” Will and Lilith said, looking at the twenty-meter-high walls, where patrol guards periodically appeared. They couldn’t help but shake their heads and smile wryly.

“Is it really a good idea to leave the knightdom to Big Sister Jasmine? Won’t it end up bankrupt? She can’t even handle the trivial matters of the Odd Jobs Guild; can she really manage a huge knightdom?” Will couldn’t help but complain.

Lilith nodded repeatedly beside him. However, when you’re bad-mouthing someone, shouldn’t you avoid the person you’re discussing? A punch from Jasmine to each of them quickly made them much more well-behaved.

“Do you think I want to? But this knightdom belongs to me. Brother explicitly said he wouldn’t interfere, so what else can I do? I don’t trust any of the stewards Father left behind. This place carries a lot of responsibility, and all my subordinates are muscle-brained simpletons. I’m truly desperate,” Jasmine said, her face filled with misery.

The Direwolf mercenary group really didn’t have anyone particularly intelligent or skilled in management; they were accustomed to taking on tasks and selling their strength.

“In this past year, besides building the castle and reclaiming farmland, what else have you done?” Will was very curious. He hadn’t had any previous experience with territory development, and although he had learned a lot of theoretical knowledge, his practical experience was almost zero. Lilith was in a similar situation.

“Lots! Building the castle was the main part, involving all aspects of a castle: safety, defense, living, daily life, transportation, and so on. It also included watchtowers, moats, drawbridges, battlements, and portcullises. You don’t really think a castle is just a simple, thick wall, do you?” At this, Jasmine immediately became enthusiastic and began to explain, detail by detail, the sturdy fortress she had built.

“The lord’s manor, barracks, residences, storerooms, blacksmiths, stables, logging camps, quarries, pastures, farmlands, waterwheels—these are all essential. Do you think managing a knightdom is really that easy? It’s impossible without a bit of a holistic view.” Jasmine counted everything she knew on her fingers, growing more animated as she spoke.

“Hmm, what about a market? A duchy isn’t a fortress. While Rose Duchy’s responsibility is to keep ordinary people out and maintain the mystery of the Wizard Tower, it can’t be completely isolated from the outside world. So, have you designed a place for communication and exchange with the outside?” Will’s question stumped Jasmine. She really hadn’t considered that.

“Auntie, everything you just mentioned is standard equipment for an ordinary castle, but Rose Duchy is special. Have you considered its unique nature? How to increase industries to meet the needs of the Wizard Tower? Have you considered using the duchy as a gateway to facilitate internal and external circulation?”

“You should know this is a huge industry. Wizards have always been among the most technologically advanced people on this continent, and the resources they control are also the most valuable.”

Under Moody’s guidance, Lilith had long understood that knowledge is the primary productive force, and she had clarified many things she hadn’t understood before.

The Kendall family’s ability to establish itself and thrive in Drake City was largely due to this. Their family’s wizards actually controlled over sixty percent of Drake City’s pharmaceutical market, even if it was just peripheral products from wizard apprentices, they still held such power.

“This castle, was witchcraft used in its construction?” Will touched the solid wall, suddenly feeling that the stone’s texture was slightly odd.

It didn’t look like naturally quarried stone; rather, it seemed like stone created using the ‘Transmute Rock to Mud’ spell. Although this was a zero-level cantrip, it consumed a considerable amount of magic. Generally, only official wizards would use it on a large scale; wizard apprentices mostly couldn’t handle it well.

“Leftover materials from building the Wizard Tower. Ordinary people made mud bricks, official wizards transmuted mud to stone, and wizard apprentices used levitation to construct buildings according to the blueprints. That’s all,” Jasmine said simply, but Will and Lilith knew that the Wizard Tower wasn’t built so easily.

The materials produced by the Transmute Rock to Mud spell could not meet the requirements for the main structure of the Wizard Tower; they could only be considered an auxiliary or filler material. The Wizard Tower didn’t need that much, but the castle needed a lot, a lot. One must remember this was a large castle capable of accommodating thousands of people.

All the families of the Direwolf mercenary group lived here, hunting and farming from dawn to dusk. While they weren’t rich, they certainly wouldn’t starve. Backed by the Wizard Tower, some good cooks and diligent cleaners were occasionally hired to help out, earning a little extra income.

“According to your previous suggestion, I built this general store. All daily necessities for wizards and wizard apprentices can be bought here, or they can place orders for procurement, though it requires a small handling fee.”

“This is the tavern. It’s a place for leisure and passing time, and also a place to post quests. Quests for wizards and wizard apprentices can be posted here. Of course, outsiders who want to seek a wizard’s help also need to go through here.” Simply put, this was a broker’s bar. Will had suggested she build it, but business didn’t seem particularly brisk.

“Don’t let the small number of people here fool you; once there’s a quest, the earnings are definitely substantial. They carefully analyze, certify, and complete every transaction, and the rewards are excellent. Gold coins are secondary; the potions and extraordinary items provided by those wizards and wizard apprentices are the biggest benefit.”

Jasmine pointed to the huge warehouse in the distance: “Most of what’s stored there is grain. Following Lilith’s suggestion, we no longer levy grain but purchase it. We buy fifty percent of the grain at market price, which has made these People (liege-people) very satisfied, and their enthusiasm has increased a lot.”

“The bakery owner is an old chef sent by the family, whose skills are considered first-rate in all of Drake City, fully capable of satisfying the tastes of wizards and wizard apprentices. The slaughterhouse is run by some members of the Direwolf mercenary group themselves. I only oversee quality; they handle everything else.” Although Jasmine said this, she actually didn’t manage anything herself, only overseeing the general direction, and many of these directions were provided by Will and Lilith.

“Zarath, you’ve unified and incorporated the Direwolf mercenary group’s senior and intermediate warriors as external mission personnel for the Odd Jobs Guild. You don’t need to concern yourself with the tavern’s business; all missions will be screened and priced by you. You will be solely responsible for external communication with wizards and wizard apprentices. Big Sister Jasmine only needs to manage the internal affairs of the territory.” Will’s words made Jasmine’s heart stir. She seemed to have thought of something, nodding gently without refuting.

“I will take over the blacksmith shop. Magic rune equipment will no longer be a secret here, but ordinary goods, though their external circulation will require permission. Rhea, you need to open a medical clinic. Lilith, your jewelry store can pretty much start now.”

“Luke, you’re still young, so just train with the guard Team for now. Most of these guards are from Mabuster City and were originally mercenaries, so you should have no trouble communicating with them.” Will systematically arranged the work.

“Black Merchant needs to open a specialized antique shop, dealing in extraordinary items—whether raw materials, finished products, or anything else related to extraordinary items. My magic rune equipment and Lilith’s magic jewelry will be supplied to you first.”

“Luo, Nicole, you are responsible for protecting Vya and Mimi. When you have free time, you can also train the guard team. Father, the city defense is entrusted to the guard team; you and your men are responsible for public order, that shouldn’t be a problem, right?” Will’s gaze turned to the city defense army. Floret nodded in agreement.

City defense? That’s not really needed. The hidden Wizard Tower is only three to five miles away, and there’s also a hidden defensive line outside the city. City defense patrols are just for show; those people should have other tasks. Taking charge of public order with this city defense army is already the easiest and safest job.