Jack awoke early three days later.
He had made a few minor adjustments and improvements in the capital.
He had sent 1000 giant civilians, 1000 giant trash troops and 5000 human civilians and 5000 dwarf civilians to Empherus at the icy peaks.
They carried along with them, 500 large wagons stocked to the brim with materials and resources for Empherus to build his 'giant' town. Including many pickaxes, wooden planks and plenty of warm beast hides and furs to keep them warm.
The 10.000 civilians would live there with the giants, both to help build, but also to create natural good relations between the races.
The giants where completely loyal to Emperor Jack, however everyone knows that day to day relations is very important. So Jack had made this call.
40.000 centaur trash troops had been finished summoning.
They were outfitted with 20.000 short bows for ranged combat.
20.000 spears and swords for the melee half of the trash troops.
All of them had been outfitted with leather amour vests, leather arm guards, shoulder guards and leather helmet.
Around the 'horse' section of the centaurs, a hastily forged layers of thin plate-mail were laid.
The legs had been woven in larger iron rings and the hooves had been ironed.
Many thousands of Eros civilians had been busy with this and Jack was very pleased with this outcome.
He now felt he had a superior cavalry force, rather well armed and protected..
Even if they were still trash rank, such a force could be extremely deadly in the open plains and hills in the mainland.
The archers could run circles around any target and rain death upon them.
The charge of 20.000 iron-clad centaurs could break any flanks.
Jack already imagined the glory he could gain in the mainland with this force.
However he still had things to do before he could unleash the might of his Empire.
20 common rank, 15 meters high Giants, now followed Jack to the blacksmithing area inside Eros.
The dwarf and human smith's were all filthy and sweaty when he arrived.
But they had completed the task.
They all stood smiling in a long row in the open area beside the smiths.
Before them, on the ground, lay 20 complete sets of beautiful and heavy steel armour.
Not only had they forged the plate mail, but they had even learned how to turn the iron bars into steel!
'Dwarves are truly without equal when it comes to the crafting of ores!'
Jack was extremely pleased.
These armours and weapons would jump the common ranked giants into a whole new league!
Steel-forged shoes. Steel-forged plate-leggings. Steel-forged heavy chest-plates. Steel-forged pauldrons formed as giants. Steel-forged helmets with small slits for their eyes and mouths, a long black feather protruded from the top of the helmet, clearly inspired by the citadel guards.
Giant two-handed axes, forged in steel with the common deadly double edges. The dwarven way!
Giant double-headed steel warhammers. The force of this weapon, once swung by a strong 15 meter high common ranked giant troop, could undoubtedly crush a huge part of the 25 meter high stone walls surrounding many of Jack's cities.
Lastly the 5 totems.
These were strange weapons. The giants could hold them firmly in two places. Making defence and offence equally devastating.
The totem were crafted from heavy solid wood logs. They were then wrought with layers of steel and had condensed areas for blunt force effects. The totems were all uniquely crafted with patterns of humans, dwarfs and giants.
Even the giants were amazed by their new equipment and quickly went to equip them.
Soon 5 giant Hammerers, 5 giant totem-wielders and 10 giants with the deadly double-edged waraxes stood fully equipped with extremely strong and light steel.
From toes to head they were firmly protected with steel.
'What a terrifying force'. Even Jack shivered at the sight.
'If I bring these to any human lord and his town outside in the mainland... Chances are they will surrender on sight.'
Jack slightly grinned but asked the smiths the cost of these products.
"Emperor! Each of these complete sets, the weapon included, costs around 100 gold to produce as of now. However we believe that once the steel-melting technique has been properly set in your empire, the cost could reduce significantly."
The same dwarf that had given Jack his ring, was the one to speak.
Jack was in a good mood and withdrew 20.000 gold coins. 10 times more than the actual production cost.
"This is for the cost, the rest you'll split among you as your coin reward."
All the smiths dropped their mouths.
Working directly for the Emperor was beyond rewarding... A single job had secured their families for countless years.
"And the necklace? Is it completed?"
The dwarfs eyes dropped.
"I'm so sorry Emperor! Please forgive me! But the armours took all our combined efforts to get ready! Also, to create such an important item as the Empires Royals Families heirlooms... I will accept nothing but the finest gems and ores! Please understand Emperor. Such a challenge will take more time."
Jack wasn't disappointed, actually he was rather pleased to see just how serious this smith took this assignment.
"Very well. Take all the time you need."
Jack procured additional 10.000 gold coins and threw the pouch to the dwarf.
"Procure the finest pieces you can possibly find! The price doesn't matter!"
With this he left the stunned smiths behind.
He spend the last 3 days with his family in the Capital. Enjoying his time and expanding his army, sailors and fleet.
These 'sailors' were a branch in the 'Officers Academy'.
The building itself was placed next to the drill-zones. It covered an area of 500 square meters.
The building was tall with many floors.
Each floor had a physically weak hero, yet their ability was tied to special role within the academy.
They were 'teachers' essentially.
Knights, captains, majors and generals could be educated for land armies.
Sailors, officers and captains could be educated for naval fleets.
He had send word to all his commanders.
Lee, William, Gunnar, Ruben and Cochi all received funding to train as generals in the academy.
It was expensive. 50.000 gold coins per general.
They had each picked proven individuals to be trained as their mayors and captains.
Gunnar had even, confidently, brought 100 riders to be educated and upgraded to proper knights.
Jack had allowed it and paid for everything.
'A proper and strong army is more than just skill and equipment. Well educated commanders is essential and I won't slack off in this area.' Jack had thought at the time.
Besides this, 10 large warships had been fully equipped and stocked with tradegoods.
A few scorpions had been mounted on them, additional to the 3 larger ballistae that each carried as their main firepower.
500 common troops had been upgraded and educated into sailors. Their stats was slightly higher than the common troops and they knew their way around a large warship to perfection.
Each ship had a set of 4 officers and one captain to steer the ship.
The flagship has been created under Xena's supervision and administrator ability fully activated.
The normal large warships had two large masts with large white sails.
The flagship however had 4 larger masts and 2 masts the size of the common warships. A total of 6 masts with multiple huge white sails.
1 captain, 12 officers and 1000 sailors was the minimum requirement to sail this monstrous beast.
But Jack had been extravagant. His flagship needed the extra push.
1 captain, 20 officers and 3000 sailors could easily be stationed on this ship. And it was done.
The warships would carry 500 civilians each, and many tonnes of trade goods.
A total of 5000 civilians and hundreds of tonnes of goods for trade.
In his flagship he loaded additional goods and the 20 giants.
If he was going to a festival with hundreds of other earth-lords, then he wanted to show off in style.
Besides the 20 giants he also took 1000 of the citadel guards and 1000 centaurs.
To his surprise, there were still a lot of storage space left in this flagships holds.
So he just emptied 1 million gold coins from his inventory and ordered chests to be made. Enough to store all this.
When the time came for his departure, the flagship had already sailed down the huge river to Ocean Town.
There it waited, anchored off-coast with the 10 warships.
Everything was ready. All the ships full of sailors, civilians and tonnes of trade goods and resources.
Jack stood on the beach and kissed Nisha and Janus goodbye.
"Xena, a word before I leave."
Xena went to her father, a large smile on her face.
"I will be direct with you. It won't be long before you turn 14. In the old world that was young. But here we have to adapt, and I need you to step up. I'm my Empire, the age of 14 will make you and adult. As such, you need more training to become a proper princess."
Xena didn't know what to say. But she already though she understood his thinking. Even back on earth, at the age of 12, she was certainly more mature and mentally sharp then even the 16 years old. If properly implemented, the age of 14 made perfectly sense. Later, in more peaceful and certain times, the age could be pushed back again.
"I have been speaking regularly with Ramises, Blaze and Angelica for weeks. This festival isn't purely fun and games. Not only is it the celebration for our one year survival and prosperity on Prime."
He led the words hang a bit before he continued. Giving Xena a chance to understand.
"War might come to and between the humans yet again. Another alliance is opposing the trade-alliance in every turn. They outright state that they will find and kill new alliance members. A few days back I made a statement in the lord's chat, you know it. And many hundreds of lords have joined us. However it had a negative impact as well. The other alliance, the 'Slayers' used it to spread propaganda and equally amassed many lords who is hostile to the alliance."
Jack made a pause to let the information settle in his young daughter.
"But father. I don't believe any lord can even pose a threat to our empire. It's just not possible.' Xena said genuinely.
"That's very true. A single lord might not be able to even come near our borders. But the Slayer alliance now have thousands of lords. It is a very real threat now. However, the main leaders of the Slayers will also attend the festivities. We invited them to try and come to terms that benefit both our sides. But if it should fail, I might have to stay with the trade alliance for a while, and help them there."
Jack gently hugged Xena, he truly didn't want to fight fellow-earth humans, not now that only a single territory remained before he had claimed the entire peninsula. A very secure and vast land to live his life and enjoy it all.
"You have to do what you must. This is a new world, and you're creating a nation where multiple races can live in peace and prosper. If you have to kill, then don't waver Jack."
Xena was serious now, and Jack was very proud of having her as a daughter.
"And so must you Xena. I have a task for you while I'm gone. 75.000 common troops are in my army in Eros. March to Hizz'rah City. Station 5000 of your troops there, but take the 20.000 reptilian common troops with you. 90.000 common troops combined with 40.000 trash centaurs. That's the army I leave you. I want you to claim the large forest outside the Icy Peaks natural path. Claim that territory in the mainland. Rid it of the hobgoblins that I know inhabits it. Fortify it. Make it ready for war if it comes to that!"
Jack boarded the flagship and waved to his family, foreign traders and thousands of his subjects who all saw them off.