What even is going on, I'm pretty sure today is the day the funds I gave for food ran out.
Having Benny stand up, I remained silent and waited for him to speak his mind.
"Your majesty, on the eastern and southern part of the area under the 3rd wall. I've discovered two villages , I have made some prior adjustments but.... ".
"What is it, speak up." I asked, in a bit of an inpatient tone.
I'm already trying to rack my brain on how to work out this food management.
"My lord, I've struck gold!" he exclaimed.
"Figuratively or literally?" I raised an eyebrow, unsure whether he meant a financial windfall or an actual gold mine.
"Literally! Well, sort of. One of the village was discovered with a mana-infused gold vein while digging a new well. They reached out, requesting your protection in exchange for exclusive rights to the resource."
My mind started racing. Mana-infused gold could be a game-changer—it was rare, valuable, and highly sought after for crafting enchanted items and high-tier gear.
"What do they want in return?" I asked, keeping my tone neutral.
"They've asked for a garrison of troops to keep monsters and raiders at bay. They're also hoping for a small reduction in taxes for a year while they get their mining operation started."
"Hmm." I leaned back, weighing the offer. Protecting the village would cost resources—perhaps a few of my newly acquired grade 3 troops—or-r-r-r since they're already inside the walls so I don't really need to do much..
Maybe I'll allocate some grade 1 troops over there, grade 3 are too precious to guard some village anyway.
"And what do you get out of this, Benny?"
I asked, narrowing my eyes.
He chuckled nervously. "Well, I might have promised them I'd oversee the operation as your official envoy. A small cut of the profits for my efforts, of course."
That shocked me, this is the first time I'm hearing he's a bit corrupt but well, as long as my land develop.
"Fine," I said. "Draft up an agreement. But if this goes sideways, you're covering the losses."
"Thank you, my lord! You won't regret this!" Benny grinned, practically skipping out of the room.
As he left, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension. The mana-infused gold could bolster our economy and armory significantly, but I'd need to act swiftly to secure it.
"Perhaps it's time to call the alchemist and see if he can refine mana-infused materials," I thought aloud.
Three seconds in and it struck me...
Wait, wasn't Benny supposed to come here asking for food support fund?
And then Benny walked in through again, his face betraying his sense of shame. He knelt and gave the usual greetings again.
"I'll transfer 100k in a while, you may leave."
I opened the official forum and checked in on this so called mana infused gold for further information.
Mana Gold
Price: 50 Gold Coins
Description: Not that different from original golds except being exposed to mana for far too long, leading to the golds having properties of mana.
Special Effect: Increases mana barrier by 5% and amplify mana in equipment and items forged with it.
Selling some mana crystals, I send 100k gold coins to Benny.
8,525 mana crystals left, that'll work out well in my favor anyway, I guess.
Apparently the invaders still haven't learnt their lessons yet and won't give up.
Dude, you can't even hit the walls, you're just standing targets, go home already.
I wanna cry out, shouting at them for being such a fool. Their lord practically is sending them to dead door at this point.