Nini had finally returned.
After her return to Atester City, she spent her time thinking about how to fight for her own interests.
She needed to be the one in full control, but what exactly could move that Goddess Lady? Should she use her own body to seduce the Saintess?
But Aililan was clearly not some lovestruck fool. If she were truly blinded by lust, Nini would have been dealt with 100 times in the dungeon already.
‘What exactly does she want?’
‘And what can I give her?’
Nini’s head throbbed with frustration. In the end, she failed to come up with any answers. She felt that if she continued to waste time like this, it would be better to just go and ask that Goddess Lady directly.
She couldn’t afford to waste any more time, because who knew if Aililan had contacted other demons?
***
The Slums of Atester.
This place was now full of life.
It was no exaggeration to say that under Aililan’s governance, the Slums were no longer truly slums.
The Sewing Workshop produced hundreds or thousands of garments every day. They were not only sold to the Gnoll-kin but also transported to other cities in the Fifth Wing Region, creating many job opportunities in the process.
Furthermore, with the intentional guidance of Aililan and her Finance Chief, they utilized the Market Policy to encourage outside merchants to build various shops and warehouses here.
The Slums had practically become a logistics center. One could say that if a fire were to break out here, it would cause a serious shock to the economy of the entire Fifth Wing Region, and many people would go bankrupt because of it.
Now, there was even a massive blacksmith workshop entering its final stages of construction.
Many blacksmiths had come here to sign up, seeking an opportunity to work and earn money.
“Lady Saintess, there isn’t much land left reserved here in the Slums. Additionally, many residents are unwilling to leave; some are even funding the construction of their own houses,” Finance Chief Grace reported while discussing their work.
Aililan asked, “Why?”
Grace spread her hands, saying helplessly, “That is naturally because there are so many job opportunities here. Rumors are spreading through the city that the Slums are the new commercial hub. Many merchants are even offering high prices to purchase land from the people in the Slums.”
Aililan waved her hand and said, “It does not matter. However, you must ensure that all subsequent house construction strictly follows the city planning. I do not wish to see a chaotic and disorderly city.”
Grace nodded. She knew that Aililan preferred cleanliness. Since Aililan had arrived in Atester, the city’s environment had improved significantly.
There was also a sense of awe.
Who could have imagined it?
In less than six months, this Goddess Lady had actually managed to eliminate a slum?
Grace even had a premonition. If Aililan were an Empress, the people under her rule would surely be very happy, wouldn’t they?
And an Empress within the Church… wouldn’t that be the Pope?
Grace shook her head. Such matters were not for her to comment on. Seeing that Aililan was free, she asked about a few more things.
Grace asked with some concern, “Lady Saintess, once the land in the Slums is all used up, what will we use in the future? We surely won’t have to rebuild the entirety of Atester, right? Our treasury’s money didn’t just blow in with the wind.”
Aililan glanced at her and said in a deep voice, “Is the land in the city not enough? We have internal walls and external walls. When the time comes, we will simply expand the city scale. We will turn the current external walls into the mid-city. What do you think, Miss Grace?”
Grace nearly bit her tongue, saying in shock, “What? Expand the city scale?”
Aililan shrugged, looking innocent as she said, “Why, is there a problem? With the development of Atester, it will inevitably siphon the population of the entire Fifth Wing Region in the future, and even attract people from other wing regions to take up permanent residence.”
The current Atester City was not particularly large; it could only be considered a small-to-medium city. After all, everyone feared that once it was caught in the flames of war, everything would be destroyed in an instant. Therefore, no one dared to build it too large or too well.
But Aililan did not think that way. Her ambition was to make Atester the World’s Desired City.
Grace felt a bitter pain in her heart.
‘If I had known, I wouldn’t have asked.’
How much money would it cost to expand the city scale?
Aililan said no more. After inspecting the blacksmith workshop, she headed to the Sewing Workshop.
There were mountains of leather piled there. A portion was used to make clothes and boots, but a large part was treated as important strategic materials for crafting leather armor.
Aililan could not manage to equip the entire army with iron armor, but she at least needed to provide them with leather armor.
One should not think that leather armor had weak defensive capabilities.
Once that material had been tanned… anyway, put it this way: if you have no concept of leather armor, you can go home and try to chop a piece of years-old dried meat. Leather armor processed through tanning is only more terrifying in its defensive power.
Inside the Sewing Workshop, the manager, Felix, accompanied her cautiously, introducing the recent business conditions. He knew that his boss was the former gang leader Nade, the Black Anaconda. Moreover, Nade was now a member of the Chaste Knights and even a Squad Leader. So, did he even need to wonder who the real boss was?
Aililan flipped through the ledger, closed it, and asked, “How long will it take to finish the 10,000 sets of leather armor I ordered?”
Felix bowed his head and said, “On the premise of not hiring more workers and not affecting other business, we can produce forty sets a day. It is estimated that it can be completed in ten months.”
Aililan frowned and said, “Too slow. Hire more people. I want them within six months.”
Felix said with some difficulty, “The Saintess is wise. It is easy to expand production capacity, but if there are no more orders later, I fear it will affect the workshop’s operations.”
Aililan waved her hand, interrupting him. “You can rest easy. For at least the next few years, there will be plenty of business.”
Felix bowed his head in a salute. “As you command, Lady Saintess.” To continue resisting would be failing to recognize her favor.
As for why she needed so much leather armor? Aililan could only say that one could never have too much of the stuff.
Just the gap in the garrison for the seven or eight cities in the Fifth Wing Region alone was as high as 100,000 sets or more.
The current reality was that in many local armies, only squad leaders were qualified to be issued leather armor. As for the common soldiers… one could only say their defense was as thick as their clothes were.
Aililan’s steps were very simple.
First, leather armor.
Then, iron armor.
Specifically, an army entirely in iron armor. If she could build a force of 30,000 to 50,000 men, it would be enough to steamroll through the surrounding small nations.
The inspection was complete.
As Aililan walked out of the Sewing Workshop, suddenly — *thud* — a simply dressed young girl accidentally tripped and fell right in front of her.
Aililan looked at that face.
‘Nini?’
Standing beside her, the Head Maid Yarandale saw that face, and her hand was already moving toward her waist, prepared to draw her blade. This pathetic Succubus actually dared to appear here?
Aililan seemed to think of something. She personally helped the fallen girl up, saying with concern, “I see you’ve taken quite a fall. Come to the Saintess Garden; I will treat you personally.”
Yarandale: “…”
‘If I fall down right now, would it still be in time?’
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.