Overlord: Blue Citadel Alternate

Vertum had set Tuare up in one of the homes settled in the greater district of the underground City of Vilisyrteria, within close proximity to the Castle itself. It was just as he promised. As he stepped outside, leaving a few female members of the honor guard to keep her company and good health, he was then joined by Ninya, Dyne and Anna.

With a smile drawn across her face, Ninya looked up to Vertum. Rather than choosing to take up a life debt with Tuare, he had refrained from doing so. Instead, it seemed he was focused on her for the most part, which was new to her after donning the guise of Ninya the Adventurer and member of the Swords of Darkness.

Throughout all her adventures with her group, she had never come across a Dragon who had a human form. Though she had heard of the Queen of the Dragon Kingdom, she had never visited it. That and that woman was no a full dragon, but half. The idea of her being half dragon was an interesting piece of information. It wasn't something she'd expect if it weren't true, but it was. Being around him made her think of mostly just Dragons in general, their mannerisms.

She could see that he genuinely cared for people around him, or for the most part, the people who had his interest.

It wasn't long before the four of them began making their way towards the designated Market Area near the castle, so when they finally arrived, it seemed there had been some stalls being propped up. They were finally starting to begin using the space which was provided.

"Those weren't here before," Dyne pointed out with a chuckle seeing people moving about.

"Is this going to be some... Some kind of market?" Ninya asked as she looked over to Vertum, curious of what the plans were for this place. The uniqueness of the place was amazing already. It appeared that the farmers as well as the armored guards were putting up these stalls.

"Yes," Vertum responded to her inquiry with a light nod. "This is where craftsmen farmers and the like will sell their wares for profit, or trade for other resources." In the long term, he wanted to use a dual currency system, one being conventional minted and the other being resource based.

"Cool..." Ninya kept her staff tucked away, watching more and more people move about freely.

If you couldn't pay with coin, then you paid with resources the other person might be interested in. Of course, there were other options, but he wasn't going to get too far into that. He also had other plans in order to make sure the city dwellers and villagers lived in relative comfort as to keep local crime rates down. As long as the economy grew, a monthly stipend of coins would be handed down to civilians to make sure they had enough for basic foodstuff. These stipends would eventually make their way back into the treasury through medicore taxation.

However there weren't that many visitors to the City just yet, and Villages were still moving in. Many of which were also still acclimating to the vast differences within the underground than there was on the surface.

There was far more technology here, even toilets and a waste disposal system. It was actually hard for some of the peasants to understand, but they quickly got over it. With a push of a button, their trash and bodily waste were gone.

When they turned the faucets, they had a near infinite amount of water pouring out for them. It was nothing like the sink Enri had at home which could only dispense a certain amount of water per day. So far, it was better than the Dwarven runic tools and equipment that they had inherited over a number of centuries ago, but it wasn't magic.

As they stood there, Vertum turned his head slightly as he could hear the shifting of metal plate armor. Finally looking over his shoulder to look towards a group of individuals ascending the steps to the marketplace, a small grin formed over his lips.

It was the Princess and her party. Silva was leading them along and talking with the other Vampire within the group.

Evileye commonly found that not only has no one heard of Landfall within the City, but they didn't fear Vampires, or Undead. There were even some in service to it. In this city, she didn't need to wear a mask to disguise what she was, it was a place she could relax.

However immediately the Princess and her Bodyguard Climb approached him as the other members of the Blue Roses fanned out.

"Leader of Vilisyrteria, Dragon Emperor..." Renner curled her lips in slightly, running them smoothly across her perfect royal teeth. She kept her gaze on him, seemingly sharp, but also soft. It was clear she had been taken back by the things she had seen on her tour and the benefits not only the Kingdom would reap, but she herself.

"What is it Princess? Everything satisfactory, hm?" Though she had been polite in addressing him, he on the other hand sounded more sarcastic and like a friend who was casually picking a fight with her.

"I would like to stay in your settlement for a fortnight," she made a light gesture of the hand as she motioned towards the city surrounding them. "I fear the noble faction would see me in disbelief, should I return too soon. Giving them a feigned sense of struggle and... Humility may..."

Vertum was looking at her with a deadpan expression for a few seconds, which caused her to stop talking. "I do not mind your deception of your treacherous Feudal Lords, but I would prefer you don't lie to me."

She blinked at his accusation of lying to him, surprised that he had seen through her facade. Though at the same time, she seemed to have taken note of something familiar in those dead-looking dim glowing eyes of his. The girl had wanted to see how he governed the place, what he would introduce to E-Rantel, and to see if it had any weakness to her manipulations.

Vertum wasn't entirely aware of her true personality, but he was very much aware of her nature.

"What you see here is an experiment which covers a small population center, if it suits your fancy, a place of residence can be arranged near the Castle." He'd offer as he stared through her, using a low intensity intimidation spell through silently cast magic.

Pins and needles traveled through her face where his eyes were centered, the rest of her body seemed to tighten up. Was this fear she felt? It was beginning to get to breath, beads of sweat formed over her brow. It was as if his very gaze was threatening enough to end her life.

"My apologies, Emperor," The Princess Curtsied as her eyes fell to the ground, looking to his feet. His clothes despite having been through so much, remained clean and unstained. While she wasn't aware of the events with Tuare, she was sure he smelled of fresh blood.

Ninya's gaze watched the Princess as she raised her head. Immediately she looked away when the Princess's gaze flickered over to her next.

"Hm?" Renner's eyes traveled up and down Ninya's form. Baggy clothes, feminine face and short brown hair. The overall shape could be a feminine built male or it was a woman in disguise. It wasn't her first time seeing her, but it was the first time the adventurer was eying her.

She was beginning to wonder the person's connection to this proclaimed Emperor.

As the pins and needles ceased, she could finally breathe through her lungs once more. Placing a hand over her c.h.e.s.t, Renner sighed in relief before regaining her composure.

Climb though remained there standing, conflicted on what to do. This was a negotiations, and while he had felt like she was being threatened, he couldn't see any indication of it.

If he had stepped in, things would have surely ended poorly whether he knew it or not.

From the corner of his eye, he could still see the one known as Evileye talking with Silva. Whatever or whoever they were talking about, seemed to keep their conversation going.

It was good to see this, though while he was curious of learning what they were talking about, he wasn't going to eavesdrop. He trusted Silva, her loyalty to him and his cause.

"Silva," Vertum turned his head the rest of the way to look over towards the Vampire under his command. "The Princess wishes to have a stead arranged near the castle. Would you see to it?"

All of the humans in the square that were accompanying Vertum and the Princess couldn't help but turn to see what it could be. Towering above them all was a giant Praying Mantis, its large eyes looking down at them.

"W-wh-what is that!?" Nearly all of them seemed to panic, but Ninya was the one who nearly immediately slipped in behind Vertum in order to hide from it's sight.