Lux watched the winery construction from a distance, map rolled tight in his fist. Constance was still locked in discussion with Trella, gesturing at some timber beams. The moment Constance stepped away, Lux darted over, anticipation making his steps quick and light. He was eager to discuss the plans for the Temporary Apartments.

  “Constance, are you free now?” He already had the map halfway unrolled.

  Constance laughed, palm already outstretched. “I have plenty of time now. Show me your latest plan.” She took the map, and Lux began explaining the new changes, tracing lines and circles as he spoke. “I don’t think you’ll have to adjust the plans as much as you think, Lux. If we use reinforcement potions on the wood for the frame, it’ll be strong enough to support five stories.”

  She tapped a finger on the map. “I also think you should start manufacturing bricks. With the rapid expansion you’re planning, it’ll be cost effective to make your own. Bricks only need three materials: clay, sand, and dirt. You can get an all-in-one brick making machine.” Constance finished her suggestion with a nod.

  Lux mulled it over. “How much would an all-in-one brick making machine cost?” He could see the logic in Constance’s words, but it all depended on the finances.

  “If we add the machine to the current list for Brison, he’ll give us a discount. I’d say about 40,000 gold, but Grace would know for sure. She’s already got multiple designs for brick making machines.” Constance gave him a moment to think, eyes still on the map.

  Lux pictured the difference between a clay and brick fa?ade for the apartments. He let out a long breath. “Okay, let’s add the brick making machine to the list. Guess we’ll need a warehouse, too.” He’d hoped Constance could get started on apartment designs right away, but it looked like that would have to wait.

  “Great! I’ll inform Grace, Brison, and Trella of your decision. I have a few warehouse designs on hand, you can just pick one, unless you want something fancy?” Constance arched a brow.

  “No, one you already have would be wonderful! That way you can start working on the apartments sooner.” Lux felt his mood lift, it had dipped at the thought of spending even more money.

  Constance handed him a stack of warehouse blueprints. “I’ll be back in a moment, Lux. I’ll grab Grace so you can look at the brick machine designs.”

  Lux studied the blueprints and settled on a simple large, functional warehouse. By the time he finished, Grace and Constance were back, and Grace handed him more blueprints. “With the output you’re after, I recommend the last machine. The only catch is it runs off a medium monster core. You’ll need to replace the core every month,” Grace explained.

  Monster cores again. Lux’s head throbbed. He really needed to find out how much they sold for, if Novgar couldn’t get a steady supply, he’d have to budget for buying them. He also needed a huge amount of those pesky orbs to finish the dungeon.

  Lux pulled out a new parchment. He needed to track every machine and its monster core requirements, plus replacement dates. Before he started writing, he answered Grace, “Let’s go with the one you recommend.” Grace knew machines better than anyone.

  He handed over the money with a sigh. The treasury would drain fast now that he had no income. Grace and Constance left, and Lux found a quiet spot to write. His fingers trembled as he updated the Silver City ledger.

  Silver City

  Treasury: 310,000 gold, 608 silver, 215 bronze.

  Population: 8 (permanent), 25 (temporary)

  Contracted Workers: Labourers, Merchant, Architect, Mechanical Engineer

  Buildings: 10 shoddy houses, Farm, Dirt Path, Town Hall, Logging Factory, Granary, Mill, Main Roads (under construction), Farm (relocation in progress), Winery (under construction).

  Monster Cores required: Low 28, Medium 1.

  Available Monster Cores: 0.

  All the machinery needed replacement monster cores every month. Even this small number made Lux’s heart pound. What would it be like when he found out how many the temporary accommodations would need? Lux flopped backwards onto the ground, arms spread wide. Managing a city was more stressful than he’d imagined, and Silver City did not even count as a village!

  His plan to delay opening the dungeon suddenly seemed foolish. If they had the dungeon right at their doorstep, collecting monster cores would be easy. Lux decided he needed to talk to Silver, opening the dungeon wasn’t something he could decide alone.

  He stared at the clouds, mind drifting, until a shadow fell over his face. Short blond hair and smiling violet eyes peered down at him.

  “What ya doing, Lux?” Violet’s gaze dropped to the parchment on the ground. “What’s all this?” She picked it up and whistled. “That’s a lot of monster cores! A medium quality core, that’s going to cost you a pretty penny. Want me to grab Azura and get one instead of buying it?” Her eyes sparkled.

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  Lux shot upright. “You can get a medium monster core?”

  Violet grinned. “If I team up with Azura, it’ll be a cinch. Besides, I’m bored out of my mind here. If you order it, I can go.”

  The way she said it made Lux pause. “Violet, do I have to give you a task to leave Silver City?” The smile vanished, and she nodded. Lux knew instantly who’d given that order. Only Silver could get this kind of obedience.

  Violet started to whine. “Lux, I’m so bored, please let me go! I’ll go crazy if I stay here with nothing to do. It was fine before the Large Worlders came, I was helping clear land, but now I’ve had nothing to do for days! There’s only so much fishing I can take!”

  She looked genuinely miserable. Lux couldn’t help but laugh. He wished he had a few days with nothing to do, but he’d probably end up just like Violet. He was terrible at doing nothing.

  “Okay, grab Azura and go. But be back before seven days, the machines are due then. And if you could get some low-quality monster cores, too, that would be great!” He watched her face light up.

  “Lux, you’re the best!” Violet hugged him tight, then dashed off, stopping by Ruby before heading for the city.

  Lux was still chuckling when he saw someone striding his way. Ruby’s determined steps sent a jolt of fear down his spine. “Oh shit. This does not look good.” Lux considered hiding.

  “Lux, don’t you dare move!” Ruby’s voice froze him in place. She stopped in front of him, eyes blazing. “Why didn’t you ask me to get monster cores?” Now he understood why Violet had stopped by Ruby, to brag about going hunting!

  Ruby was prickly about her skills being wasted on labour instead of fighting. Lux decided to lay compliments on thick. “I know building the winery isn’t as glamorous as hunting, but it’s way more important. Besides, you’re the only one who can help with the construction. I can send anyone to collect monster cores, but I can’t replace you.”

  Ruby settled at that. “You’re right, anyone can collect monster cores. Only I can build the winery.” She flicked her long red hair and looked down her nose. “You remember that, Lux.” With that, she spun and strode back to the construction site.

  Lux let out a long breath. “Why do I have to manage these people?” No one answered. He shook his head. “Never mind, time to get back to work.” He had a jail to add to the map. He pulled out his city design and spent the rest of the day drawing.

  The next day brought rain. Lux looked out the small window of his cabin and cursed. This would put the winery behind schedule. Instead of wasting the day indoors, he decided to travel to another city with a dungeon. Maybe it would give him ideas for Silver City.

  He dashed through the rain to Magenta’s cabin, banging on the door until it opened. He stepped inside, water dripping from his coat.

  A towel hit him in the face. Lux dried his hair and looked around. Clothes were everywhere, covering the dresser, bed, and wardrobe. He didn’t dare step further in, afraid of stepping on something.

  “If you want me to take you somewhere, you’ll need someone else to come with,” Magenta said, rifling through her clothes. “I’ve got something to do today, so I can only drop you off and pick you up at a set time.”

  That left only Ruby. Everyone else was busy. The thought of spending a day alone with Ruby made Lux blush, but the blush faded as he remembered her prickly personality. Could he survive a whole day with her?

  He glanced outside. The rain wasn’t letting up. “Okay, I’ll go ask Ruby.” To his surprise, Ruby agreed easily, and soon they were standing inside a travel building.

  As they stepped off the platform, Lux noticed everyone’s eyes were on them. He followed their gazes and saw Ruby sashaying toward him, wearing a skintight black dress with a thigh-high slit. Her hips swayed hypnotically. A slap on the back of his head snapped him out of it. “Let’s go, little human.”

  Lux rubbed his head but followed her outside. The city noise was a shock after the quiet of Silver City. Across the street was a park, empty in the rain, but filled with trees and flowerbeds.

  He flipped up the hood of his borrowed raincoat. Ruby opened an umbrella. The patter of rain on his hood followed him as they walked.

  They didn’t linger. Soon they were in a Travel Carriage, heading for this cities dungeon street. Lux watched the city slide by, noting the buildings here were smaller than those in Helidale.

  When they reached the temporary accommodations area, Lux frowned. The buildings averaged only five stories. Nothing like the towering apartments he’d seen before. “Ruby, is there another temporary accommodation area in this city?”

  “Yes, this city has a few clusters of apartments. The dungeon isn’t the main focus here, the shopping district is what draws most people.” Ruby glanced out the window. “The dungeon here is terrible. Only a handful of monster species, all low level. Some don’t even grow monster cores, they’re more like wildlife.”

  Lux was stunned. He’d assumed all dungeons drew big crowds. “Ruby, how many dungeons are like this?”

  She tilted her head, thinking. “They are all different some have an abundance of monsters, while other have only one monster species inside. The dungeon you visited in Helidale has a good variety of monsters, so it always draws a crowd.” Lux felt a chill. All his plans, all his confidence, had come from seeing that first dungeon.

  “Are dungeons only in cities, or can they be in towns or villages?” Lux held his breath.

  “Most cities have a dungeon, but plenty of towns do too. They’ll probably grow into cities over time if they are managed properly. Having a dungeon nearby means a surplus of monster cores after all.” Ruby frowned. “But that’s not always the case. Most places rely on adventurers to sell the cores back to them. If a city doesn’t offer a good price, people will sell elsewhere.” Her words sent Lux’s mind spinning.

  He stopped himself from panicking. He needed to see the dungeon here before making any decisions about Silver City. He didn’t have to wait long, a familiar white colosseum came into view.

  Though, calling it a colosseum was generous. It only had a ground floor. Every third archway was filled with a wriggling, oily black porthole, the rest were empty spaces anyone could walk through.

  The crowd was small, though Lux didn’t know if that was because of the rain. “Ruby, is this normal for a dungeon this size?”

  “No, it’s usually not this bad. The weather’s keeping people away.” That was a relief. Lux looked at the buildings near the dungeon. The closer ones were more ornate, but the layout was the same as Helidale, luxurious up front, cramped in the back.

  If Silver’s dungeon turned out to be this size, Silver City might take years to grow into an actual city. Lux felt himself tense, then he suddenly relaxed as he realising the dungeon’s size wasn’t his problem. All he had to do was activate the dungeon and start building the city.

  He was glad he’d come. It put things in perspective, and honestly, it took some pressure off his shoulders. The dungeon might be a dud, the image in his head of hundreds and thousands of people descending on Silver City had shrunk dramatically.

  His confidence returned. He was ready to get back to the map and start working again.

  “Seen enough?” Ruby asked. Lux nodded.

  “Then let’s grab some food before we meet Magenta. I’m starving.”