Chapter 472

While Ajax was taking care of everything in the capital his family had really started to make changes in Lessis. Before Ajax’s return from the Empire they had focused on setting up their estate and instituting Tom as the new mayor, the public visit and show of support from the prince however kickstarted their authority over the populace.

“That’s quite a lot of plans you have.” Grievous said as he walked into Tom’s office and eyed the large stack of papers. “I doubt we can afford half of them, mayor.” 

“We’ll be funding all of them, warden.” Tom answered, letting a smirk show as he talked to his former mentor. “We’re not yet sure how he does it but my brother has a knack of making wealth just drop from the sky every time he needs it. The rest of us are all working on preparing for the time his good luck finally runs out.” 

“Certainly is something to see.” Grievous agreed. “All this work is going to make people around here really happy. Why such a focus on buildings and food?” 

“What’s the Strength a fifteen year old should have?” Tom answered the warden’s question with a question. “What about Endurance, or Dexterity?” 

“They’re all about to go up, I get that.” Grievous said defensively.

“That’s what you’re not getting.” Tom said with a shake of the head. “I thought the same way at first, so did Ajax. But we’re all motivated, driven. For a farmer who just wants to be a farmer he won’t need more than what his father had before him. So where does he put all the other points he now has left over?” 

“In Vitality.” the warden’s eyes opened wide as the realisation struck him. 

“Exactly,” Tom nodded. “Ajax’s idea about educating everyone doesn’t seem that bad now, it might even inspire maybe half the young people to pursue something more rather than just toss everything into Vitality.” 

“What is your brother doing in the capital with all this coming for us now?” the warden asked.

Since his move up from Commander Grievous had been a little less involved with the lives of the guard recruits, that was going to have to change. He wanted his people motivated not doing the bare minimum as they waited for the day the next spot up opened up so they could finally be promoted.

“Reporting to the king,” Tom’s answer refocused the warden. “Probably getting engaged as well.” 

The absurdity of that answer was enough to draw a chuckle from Grievous. “I never would have thought it back when I met the two of them. Your brother almost made a point of staying away from anyone in the chain of command during the skirmish, to think he’d end up with one of the two girls running our side.” 

“It surprised all of us when we moved to the capital.” Tom assured the warden. “Now onto some more serious business, what do you think about this?” 

“You want to start up a new village in the mountains?” Grievous asked as he looked over the papers Tom had shown him. “Why? All the iron ore there is so bad most smiths don’t even bother trying to smelt it.” 

“We’re thinking of making a quarry.” Tom explained. “My brother’s new hardening mud needs it, we can also expect there to be a new wave of alchemists cropping up as we will need the manpower to mass produce it.” 

“I’ll start recruiting and training people for a new inspection force.” Grievous said as he thought back. “That many new alchemists we need to make sure some of them don’t try making some money on the side with rustleaf or who knows what else.” 

Rustleaf was a mild hallucinogen, mainly used to handle pain over night by apothecaries. If it was soaked into leaves and smoked however it became a very strong narcotic that lasted at most twenty minutes, it was highly addictive and prolonged use came with some severe health risks. 

That wasn’t something Ajax had planned around at all but it was something Tom already had in the works. His time as a guard in the capital had shown him how to deal with both the entrenched criminal element that came with a city of that size as well as the rising upstarts and how to best cut them off at the knees. He passed Grievous another set of paper that detailed a specific budget he set aside for the guards to help police the underground market that was sure to form with this many new alchemists.

“Not bad thinking there.” Grievous acknowledged as he read over Tom’s plan. “But this won’t work here the same way it did in the capital.” 

“Why not?” Tom was genuinely asking for a reason and not being stubborn.

“Because they have nobody to cover for them here.” Grievous explained. “In the capital it would take some time before you could find the small up and comers and pull them out, here it would be obvious. The underground market will be staying far away from Lessis for as long as it can, instead it will pop up in all the small villages and settlements first. Most likely starting with this mountainous settlement you are planning. People are bound to be flush with coin after a hard day’s work at your new quarry, there’ll also be enough alchemists there wanting to work to act as a good cover.” 

Tom and Grievous spent a few more hours going over the chances that needed to happen. It had been a while but Tom had missed the interactions with his old mentor and was happy to relive them even if their positions had changed. 

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The following morning Ajax took Lexi out for breakfast at a fancy restaurant before taking her to the Academy. 

“It’s been quite a while since I was back here last.” Lexi said as she took in the Academy grounds. “Are you looking for my grandfather?” 

It took everything Ajax had not to give the game away. He was planning on proposing to Lexi back in the same classroom where he first asked her out and Duke Manashaper was facilitating everything. 

“There is just a question I was looking to ask.” Ajax said, hoping Lexi wouldn’t catch on, but from the suspicious look she was giving him Ajax knew it wouldn’t be long until she put everything together.

Duke Manashaper as well as Lexi’s parents were all waiting in the Academy knowing what was going to happen. As soon as Ajax and Lexi entered the classroom they all moved closer hoping to hear what was going on. 

It didn’t take for a rather loud ‘YES!’ to be heard  before the three members of House Manashapers entered the classroom and congratulated the happy couple. Lexi’s mother took a moment to appreciate the engagement ring that Ajax prepared. The Vibration affinity mana stone embedded in the gold setting was the size of a pea and it sparkled beautifully. 

“That’s a high quality gemstone.” Duke Manashaper observed. “Rumors about that mountain of gold you found in the Empire must have some truth to them.” 

Ajax would rather not think about how much he had to pay the royal family to get the Vibration affinity gemstone, he had swapped it out for the diamond he was planning on using now that he had the gold to afford something better. Not only that but his spacial ring also housed the generous number of potions he had bought from the royal family.

“Are you planning on heading to Lessis right away?” Lexi’s father asked after he too congratulated them. 

“Not just yet.” Lexi said. “Ajax wants to see if he can help me and a few friends get an achievement in the dungeon first. We are trying that tomorrow, the king has already volunteered for one of his squads to join us on the delve to ensure nothing goes wrong.”

“What are your plans if it works?” Lexi's father asked, as the person who managed most of House Manashaper, he was interested in how Ajax would manage his own House while also balancing that with the ability to help others unlock such a unique achievement.

“If it actually works I plan to consolidate my strength. Work on leveling up my skills and have the people who want to unlock the achievement come down to Lessis to do it.” Ajax explained. “That will allow people up to level sixty to attempt the increase, so I won’t be forced to hold back my level and it will give me time to manage the duchy.” 

“What are you planning on charging?” Lexi’s mother asked, she had married into the Manashaper family and while she was dedicated to her new House she did still have connections in her previous Viscount House as well. 

“I’m mainly focusing on selling the first delves to other nations.” Ajax answered. “I’m hoping to secure evolutions for my own House. As for the Houses of Gryndor, my grandfather will most likely be reaching out once he gets a better idea of where we are with the new investment of gold.” 

“That’s enough about that.” Lexi said as she gave Ajax another kiss. “We have something to celebrate.