"If only it were that simple." The duke said. "But do not misunderstand me. I understand the plight of the city and am not asking for an army."


    "Then?" Eldrian pondered.


    "We''ve already sent all soldiers we could spare to the east to help. Verest invested its might into Navedan, and Tripeak is being supported by Taurtania and Njired. While it is true that our numbers arecking, our biggest holdout is theck of cannons."


    "Cannons?"


    "Yes. Sending unqualified soldiers to the front will only bolster the undead''s numbers. However, even a soldier wet behind the ears can man a cannon and kill an Unwilling, or even Higher undead."


    "But that is not all you''re asking." Pros interrupted. "Eldrian, what he really wants is you and those from your guild."


    "Huh?"


    The duke took over exining again. "While there are almost five thousand Chosen, along with their imperialmander in the East, their efforts are sorelyckingpared to Phoenix''s contributions."


    "Oh! Right!" mming her hand in her palm, Elizabeth suddenly recalled that the yers whoe to support the kingdom of Taurus had split into two groups.


    The group they had met, and absorbed a fair number of said guild into themselves in the North, when helping at Elomir. The other had gone to the East to face the undead there.


    "Thanks to your influence in the North, the guilds there havee to understand that helping in logistics is of far greater aid than them charging to die in battle." The duke continued.


    "Those in the East, sadly, are having a hard time understanding this. And each time they die, they''re growing weaker and bolstering the undead''s numbers."


    "But if that is all, why ask Pros for support?" Eldrian asked.


    "Of course, I do not simply want the Chosen''s assistance alone. I also want a few captains knowledgeable in both the cannons and undead. I would love to ask Evale toe, but I understand that she is crucial to the defense of the city."


    "What of me?" Myropsis asked.


    The duke turned to his daughter, worry clear in his eyes. "I would prefer you stay here or rest at home. However... I understand that you cannot agree with sitting back."


    "So..." Eldrian cut in again. "If I am getting this right, you want some elites to bolster the two cities?"


    "Yes. Ideally, we can find some candidates experienced in defense, and some experienced in raiding the undead. Ideally, we can form a group that is capable, but not strong enough to draw the attention of thosemanding the undead horde."


    ''Mmm, I don''t think I fall into that category,'' Eldrian thought, recalling all the times he had done exactly that. Drawing the ire of the enemymander or someone too strong for him to face. By now, it was a tale as old as time to Eldrian.


    "However, there are a few things going for us in the East." The duke continued. "They''ve held out until now, thanks to themanders in the cities. Unlike what happened here, over there the number disadvantage is only at the lower ranks."


    —<novelnext></novelnext>


    Wandering the streets, Eldrian found the jubnt atmosphere most rxing. While soldiers were hard at work to repair the border wall, and many citizens had gone to help, that did not dampen the mood of victory filling the city.


    Children were running around ying, injured, retired, and resting soldiers were drinking along with the citizens, and in general, it felt like the city was holding a festival. This was certainly mostly because casualties had been shockingly low.


    "Tomorrow, we''ll go and hunt down some of the undead that escaped!"


    Hearing the boasting that the adventurers were doing, Eldrian shook his head in amusement. They had yed their part well during the siege. Filling the holes that soldiers could not, and many citizens had evene forward with their own weapons to offer support. Though, the quality of their weapons had been such that the guild had been forced to supply them with better items.


    "This really makes it feel like it had all been worth it." Eldrian mumbled, smiling as he reached his estate. Greeting the girls who dutifully worked to keep the ce clean, Eldrian headed to his study.


    "Aspen, how are our funds doing?" Eldrian asked, having asked Maia to fetch his trusty retainer.


    "There are no problems. We have started to turn a profit with the medicinal herbs we are cultivating." The wolfkin replied. "One of the girls, Rina, the foxkin, had even shown some promise as an alchemist."


    "I see." Eldrian smiled, taking out the ring the duke had given him near the end of their meeting. His reward in assisting with killing the lich. Inside was quite a treasure trove. The duke had taken anything he considered dangerous, but he had left the mountain of gold and crystals.


    ''It is sad that he took the death crystals, but this wille in handy with the new update,'' Eldrian thought.


    Taking out a three thousand gold, Eldrian instructed Aspen. "Please use this to gather as much rank two metals as possible. I won''t be picky with what we can get, but I want as many as possible. With what is left, I would like elemental crystals."


    "What is your n, sir?" The wolfkin asked, taking out a bag to put the mountain of gold inside.


    "It is about time I gather some real funds." Eldrian replied. "Please notify Solvi that I wish to visit the smithy and make some items in two days. I also wish to update the dark slime items we''ve made."


    Bowing, the wolfkin with snow white fur left Eldrian''s office. Soon after, Maia brought him some fresh fruit juice infused with some calming herbs from the garden. Thanking her, Eldrian turned his attention to the update.


    ''Now, what are your ns?'' He asked. The n was, honestly, not something he thought Miracle would ever do with what he understood of their ns. ''Helping the yers in such a way... didn''t it run counter to their ns?''


    The update was, honestly, massive. Since near the beginning, the yers had begged for something like this. After all, the game was a tad too realistic.


    [Major Game Update] It started.


    [With the fifth guild reaching level 5, we are pleased to announce the world building expansion. With reaching level 5, guilds are finally allowed to take part in the war in a fuller sense. No longer will your guild halls be limited to cities. You can now even station within forts on the front lines.]


    It went only like that for a bit. Exining further that once guilds reach level 6, they could then petition to takemand of the fort. Should their trustworthiness be high enough, they will be able to do so afterpleting a quest.


    ''I see. This is basically the release of what Fort Phoenix is. But far more detailed.'' Eldrian nodded in understanding. The announcement then further exined what each further level would allow guilds to takemand of:


    Level 7, a town and additional forts. Level 8, more towns or even be a mayor of a city. Level 9, city establishment. Level 10, kingdom formation.