In the morning of the 7th day before departure, Jack kissed Nisha and his son Janus goodbye while they slept.
He left his mansion without disturbing them.
[Lords Resources: Wood 1.500.000. Stone 2.500.000. Iron 1.000.000. Gold Coins 4.250.000]
Jack had made it so the crazed forests didn't become too heavily deforested so 500.000 units would be dropped in the mansion in Black Mountain every day.
1.200.000 gold coins was still the norm - with a large abundance of gold nugget leftovers. These gold nuggets was often forged into coins, and through inner trade they spread throughout his entire peninsula empire. They were even traded at Ocean City, now permanent, trading square between the harbour and the outer city gates.
Thus coins of copper, silver and gold with Jack's face and Black Mountain on either side, even appeared far up the sea beaches in distant lords territories.
Likewise through caravans on land, they also appeared far inland in the territories of the lords there, together with other goods from Jacks empire.
The huge and deep Iron veins in Silver City, Rushing Mountains Rextown, Hizz'rah City and even Black Mountain itself, all had a steady stream of iron bars transferred to either the mansion in Black Mountain, or the resource drop in his mansion in the Empires Capital Eros.
A decree had been made to each mining city to deliver a certain amount. The rest was used internally in his empire for warcrafts or for the civilians, like axes, pickaxes, saws, wagons, hammers, nails and everything else.
Thus 500.000 iron units was deposited every day.
The stone however, had no limit as the entire mountain ranges was basically limitless and they could drop however much they wanted and use whatever they liked themselves.
Jack went to the section of his 25 meter tall walls surrounding his mansion, where the 6 other summoning stones where located.
He created 4 more sections.
Here he put 2x centaur troop summoning stones.
Next to those, in larger sections, he placed the giant civilian- and giant troop summoning stone.
He spends 2x 50.000 gold coins to summoned a total of 10.000 centaurs. They would be completed tonight.
Then he went to the giant civilian stone.
He spend 1 million gold coins and summoned 1000 giant civilians.
They would be completed in about 2.5-3 hours time.
Then he went to the troops stone and made the same purchase.
Jack had 2.2 million gold coins left, and signaled for the first 10 giant troops to follow him.
He went outside the mansion to the area where he had already built and upgraded enough drill-zones.
The giant trash troops were only 10 meters tall though rare ranked and strong.
[Upgrade Giant Trash Troop to Common Rank? Cost: 10.000 gold coins. Completion time: 1 Hour]
Jack spend 100.000 gold coins and send the 10 giants into each their drill-zone. They would be done in 1 hour.
He then spend the last 2 million gold coins on 20.000 new human and dwarf civilians, pushing Eros to 140.000 civilians.
100.000 gold coins remained, and Jack felt a strange satisfaction in being poor.
For the next hour he wandered the Capital and saw the countless statues the civilians had already made to decorate the platforms on the bridge to the citadel.
He saw countless scorpions on all the walls, troops patrolling and civilians busy with all kinds of labour.
He saw the civilian women, both human and dwarves, at their housing zones. They washed clothing, prepared food, crafted things in wood and wool and many more things.
He strolled past the smoking forge and blacksmithing area.
Hammers clang and dwarves singing.
Materials appeared in copper, iron, silver and gold.
War materials, decorated swords for trade together with countless rings and jewellery.
Jack was amazed by these things and went to a dwarf who had just finished a heavy ring woven in all four materials in intricate and beautiful patterns.
A single large gemstone was in its center.
A white diamond that shone a flashing red light in the left half when caught in the sun, yet the same stone shifted to a blinding golden-white light in the right side.
"How much for this ring Mr. dwarf?" Jack asked politely.
The dwarf didn't look up, but was busy with his small instruments and setting the finishing touches.
"This thing? It's only a prototype... But the gemstone has a certain value. You can get it for 200 silvers."
Jack withdrew 10.000 gold coins in a large pouch from his inventory.
"I'll take it for this amount my good dwarf. Also, I'd like you to create a necklace worthy of the princess of the Empire."
This made the blacksmith dwarf raise his head.
He instantly recognised the human in front of him.
"Emperor! Forgive me! I didn't not know to who I was talking!"
The dwarf bowed deeply and the entire blacksmithing area became silent as all the dwarfs and humans alike stopped their work and bowed deeply.
"Shh that's enough! Continue you work all of you, don't let me interrupt the wonders you're creating here!"
Jack watched as they returned to work and the dwarf in front of him spoke again.
"The ring is yours Emperor. The though of you wearing it, is more than enough payment for this lowly subject!"
Jack smiled and put the ring on his left index finger. It fit perfectly.
"Take the pouch of gold, Mr. Dwarf. That will instead be the payment for the necklace you'll create for Princess Xena."
But Jack continued by speaken so all the blacksmiths could hear him.
"I have another personal order for all of you. And I want you to work together in this. In a few days, I will have a personal guard of 20 common ranked giants. They are formed as humans but 10 meters tall and their arms and legs are thick as trees. I want you to create 20 sets of the best and strongest armours you can create. Spare nothing. The Empires vaults will pay everything, and a handsome coin reward will be given to you all. I expect it done in maximum 3 days from now."
They all bowed deeply as Jack left.
However as Jack returned to the drill-zones, he had to send a messenger back to the blacksmiths.
The common rank Giant Troops were 15 meters tall and randomly gained one of tree weapon proficiencies.
Giant Hammers.
Giant Axes.
Totem Giants.
The messenger likewise specified that 5 giant war-totems, 5 giant hammers and 10 giant axes were to be forged in a matching design to the armor.
The rest of the day Jack spend leisurely in the mansion and citadel.
He walked with Nisha, Xena and Dex, who was becoming part of the family.
Baby Janus was growing fast and chuckled in Jack's arms as they walked.
Many civilians worked in the citadel and mansion.
They needed to be cleaned after all. And his not-yet-wife Nisha and his prince and princess needed every comfort and many attendants.
"How is the half-breed doing?" Jack suddenly spoke.
Dex was the one to answer.
"I personally bring him food three times a day. He cries a lot. But I have taken the liberty to provide some comfort in his solitude and imprisonment."
Jack as genuinely surprised by this.
"Is that so Dex?" Jack answered with a lifted eyebrow.
"Most certainly. He is a prisoner, and can't escape my meagre power. However. It has come to my attention that he is also a prince. Your prince. And as such, he deserves at the very least, a comfortable place to rest his head. And being a child still, a few none-dangerous toys."
Jack scowled. He knew Dex had some kind of a point. However Jack wished he could just lock the door and forget about this 'son'.
"You take a lot of liberties, Dex." Nisha and Xena thought he was about to scold the old man but kept quiet.
"However these small things I accept. Just make sure that no living being besides yourself, comes near him. I fear what havoc he might cause if his powers comes in contact with lesser blood."
Dex smiled, at least the Emperor was kind enough to allow these small things.
"As you wish Emperor. However, as I will be the only face he will ever see, allow me permission to teach him about humans and your empire."
Nisha spoke here as well.
"Jack, teaching the boy won't be harmful. At least let him learn about the world he will never see. Let him hear some stories and learn some manners at least."
Xena also hugged Jack and pleaded with him.
"Father. Please. I can't stand the though of him being in that cell all alone with nothing to keep him company."
Jack gave up.
"Okay. But if you're going to teach him. Teach him everything you know. If I'm going down this path, I'll do it with a whole heart. I believe there even is a small yard enclosed in steel and bars inside the prison. Take him there for an hour. Teach him about weapons and the dangers. Teach him to become a human. Maybe. Someday I will visit him is he is following your instructions."
Nisha, Xena and Dex himself was surprised by this. In a single sentence Jack had changed the future of this child, to maybe, not be so dark after all.
It was all up to the child himself.