At the very edge of Hell's Kitchen, there was a small, three-story building.
"Thank you, Dr. Hughes. This is your reward," Samir said, handing over a small envelope.
"You're welcome, you're welcome. If you need me again, you know where to find me," Dr. Hughes said as he opened the envelope. His expression stiffened when he saw the modest payment inside—five dollars.
"But, of course, you can count on my discretion," Hughes added quickly, his earlier professional demeanor vanishing as he nodded deferentially.
"Good. We'll be in touch if necessary."
"Of course. Have a good day."
Samir watched as the once-proud doctor shuffled off, his earlier confidence reduced to something pitiful.
"Boss, the doctor has left," Samir called out.
"I heard."
Diana walked in, arms crossed. "I thought you'd get rid of him."
"Why would I?" Ryuji replied with a smirk, wrapping an arm around her. "I only deal with true criminals. If someone has even a shred of redeeming qualities, I let them live."
"Let's hope you stick to that," Diana muttered, her gaze distant.
The past three days in Hell's Kitchen had drained her. This place was a black hole, devoid of light or hope. She'd seen more atrocities here than she cared to count—an old woman stabbing a child over a piece of bread, gangs extorting families for protection money, and countless other horrors.
She wanted to do something about it, to protect the innocent, but in Hell's Kitchen, innocence was a rarity. The closest she found to it was in the eyes of children too young to understand the world they lived in.
Ryuji could sense her unease but didn't know how to comfort her. His focus was elsewhere. He hadn't come to Hell's Kitchen to save it; he had come to build something.
---
Three days ago, his system had issued him a new task.
[ As a future Sorcerer Supreme, how can you not have your own Mage Tower? Get to work, Ryuji! ]
A mage tower?
Ryuji groaned as blueprints materialized in his mind. They were intricate, detailed down to the millimeter, with schematics for magical wards, defensive mechanisms, and arcane conduits. The system offered several options: [Hogwarts], [Tower of Eternity], [Dalaran], [Karazhan], and others.
Of course, Ryuji chose Karazhan. After all, he had inherited Medivh's magic—it would feel wrong to choose anything else.
The system provided him with everything he needed, including 100 A1-sized blueprints.
It was overwhelming.
"Looks like I'll need an architect," Ryuji muttered, setting the blueprints aside. The system had also given him a stockpile of rare magical materials, including an enormous chunk of [Red Dragon Essence]—a glowing, pulsating orb of raw magical energy harvested from the death of an ancient red dragon.
The tower would be magnificent, but it would also cost a fortune.
---
Ryuji's first thought was to approach a wealthy family. The Stark family seemed like the most obvious choice. While he had considered the Waynes, he knew far more about Howard Stark than Bruce Wayne's ancestors. However, the Starks weren't as rich as he'd hoped.
That's when he heard the news: Howard Stark had fallen into a mysterious coma.
Ryuji immediately recognized the cause—dark magic.
Transforming into a raven, he flew to the Stark estate to investigate. Sure enough, Howard Stark's body was entwined with sinister magical energy, a form of black witchcraft. Dispelling it would be easy for him, but it wouldn't come cheap.
His price? Enough funding to build a 66-meter mage tower.
---
The logistics of building the tower were staggering.
First, he needed land—at least 10 hectares for the tower itself and 30 hectares for the surrounding barrier. After weeks of searching, he settled on a plot in Westchester.
The location felt oddly familiar.
"Westchester... why does that ring a bell?" Ryuji muttered, shaking off the thought.
Next came the materials. Stone would need to be mined in the western mountains and transported via train to New York. Each trainload would take nearly a month to mine, load, transport, and return. To keep construction on schedule, he'd need at least four trains running continuously for half a year.
Thousands of workers would be required—miners, laborers, architects, and countless others. Feeding and housing them would cost a fortune.
In total, the project would cost upwards of 20 million dollars—a sum that even the wealthy Stark family would hesitate to part with.
But Ryuji wasn't worried.
Howard Stark's life hung in the balance, and Ryuji was the only one who could save him. The negotiations would be short.
---
While Samir handled the arrangements, Ryuji focused on studying the blueprints. Building a mage tower wasn't as simple as stacking bricks—it required precise magical inscriptions, carefully placed wards, and the strategic placement of materials like the [Red Dragon Essence].
Each step of construction would require his supervision. Once completed, the tower would be an impregnable fortress and a nexus of arcane power.
But for now, it was just a dream—a 66-meter-tall dream that Ryuji was determined to make a reality.
###
Hello once again maybe? Haha, seriously, these days, I don't even feel motivated to update, you feel me guys... No engagements in this fic, like PS, reviews, comments nor are there any new patrons so.. yeah, apologies but maybe I wont dissapear like I did twice if we cross 10 reviews and some comments? Haha~
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