Lines, drawings and measurements visible only to me appeared on the map.
I reached out and took a feather pen that had its tip incased in red ink.
I wordlessly started tracing over the lines that showed up after I used the skill on the map.
The feather pen slid over the paper, leaving red lines of ink in its trail, crossing through lines of the original map.
The first thing that could be made out on the map was the large shape of a octagon, drawn in perfect symmetry.
On top of all these sides I wrote "outer wall" and "gate", indicating that this will be the outer wall and that it with will have eight gates in it.
I drew two parallel lines from each of the gates that converged at a large circle in the center. The parallel lines are roads and the circle would be the city center.
In the city center I wrote the words "Domus Noctis"–House of Night–because that is where the castle was, in the middle of the city, with the city center around it.
The inside of the octagon was divided into 9 shapes: a smaller octagon in the middle and 8 pentagons.
I then added the measurements of the outer walls and the roads exactly as the skill indicated.
I stopped drawing and addressed the architects that was watching me with rapt attention.
"This is the outline of the city and our initial focus before we start building residence for the citizens and all the other essential buildings." I said.
The architects were staring at the paper in a daze, making calculations in their heads, showing their expertise in this field.
My words broke them out of their daze.
"May I ask the reason for this particular shape, Your Highness?" Rana asked, her calculating gaze traveling along the paper.
"That's because Drucalis is just the start." I had a smile on my face. "Since Drucalis is in the middle of the Vampire Continent, I'm planning on building 8 more cities around it, hence the shape."
"T-this is going to be a monumental task, your Highness." Rana's voice was filled with disbelief.
"Yes, and revolutionary once we pull it off." I sat down in the chair. "I am aware that this is going to take a lot of time and a lot of money. As of now, we only have time, leave the money side of things to me."
"By the looks of it, Your Highness." One of the architects stepped forward, his hand sliding over the paper. "You want to take down the inner wall and also demolish everything that is in the path of the roads."
"Mhm." I nodded. "After we finish the layout, we will build all the buildings we need and systematically break down the outer wall in order to expand the borders of the city."
The man nodded and raised the next question on his mind. "The streets, Your Highness, they appear uncharacteristically wide on the papers. I assume this is done deliberately?"
"You have a good eye." I praised. "The width of the roads have their purpose."
I didn't divulge into it any further and they didn't ask any more questions about it.
"This is going to acquire a lot of manpower, Your Highness." The man said.
"That is what I was going to talk about next." I turned towards Nala who has been quietly standing next to me. "How is the population looking?"
"We have a estimated amount of 50 million vampires with at least 5 million of those located in the capital and the rest scattered across the empire." Nala said. "But I expect that number to have decreased due to the frequent dungeon breaks and monster attacks."
"Damn." I sucked my teeth at the numbers.
The entire Vampire Continent is nearly as big as all the landmasses on earth combined and for it to have only 50 million vampires is a huge problem.
"How is the treasury looking?" I asked, pushing the topic of the population at the back of my mind.
"It contains at least a total amount of 10000 platinum coins (10 billion), Your Highness." Nala informed.
"Hmm." I ran a hand through my hair in thought, my eyes unfocused.
After making a few calculations in my head I turned towards to architects who have been patiently waiting for me to complete my thoughts.
"This is what you are going to do." I said, making eye contact with each of them. "Over the course of the next two weeks, all of you will hire ten thousand vampires, each. These vampires must be at least 15 years old and they must be commoners."
"You are going to give them 1 silver coin and 5 bronze coins (150 dollars) as a sign up bonus, I will give you the money for it.
You are going to write down all the details of the ones you hire: their names, surnames, age, gender, etc.
The vampires that you hire must receive a daily payment of 1 silver (100 dollars) for the duration of their employment.
If I find out that this is not the case, there will be serious consequences."
They nodded their heads, understanding my warning.
"I'm also going to be giving you money to buy all the tools and equipment you need, then I will split the wall into five sections, give five of you a section and I want it demolished in the given time period.
Then you, Rana." I said, pointing to one of the pentagons on the paper. "You are not going to be apart of the wall demolition squad. I want you here, taking down whatever is located here and build a new building."
The reason I'm giving Rana the task of building and the others demolition tasks is because I used the [Identification] skill to grade their expertise in their fields.
The others had a grade of C- to C+ while Rana was graded a whopping A-, making her the best candidate for what I want build.
"Before we start talking numbers, is there any questions?" I asked.
"Security, your Highness." One of the male architects said. "We are going to need the presence of guards to keep the lines straight and the masses in check."
"I believe that is going to be sorted out soon, my Prince." I looked at Nala inquisitively and she proceeds to explain. "Things are sure to calm down at the borders now with the blessing of the goddess and then those knights will return to the capital where we can use them as a means of security."
"You heard her." I said to the architect. "The knights should be back before long and I will sent them to you to aid in security, in the meantime you should get word out that you are hiring.
You will start as soon as the knights are in front of your doorstep, no later."
"Thank you, Your Highness." The architect bowed.
"The nobles will not be happy with these events, Your Highness, and certainly won't take it lying down." Rana spoke. "Do we have protection from them too?"
"Don't worry about the nobles, Rana, they won't dare act against any of you by the end of the week." My voice firm with confidence.
"Thank you for the reassurance, Your Highness." Rana bowed, genuinely thankful.
"Alright." I clapped my hands. "Now that that's out of the way, let's talk money."
I was well aware that they still had many questions but I didn't want the meeting to drag on longer than intended as I still had something to do before I meet up with Isadora.
"I'm going to give each of 365 platinum coins (365 000 000 dollars)." The architects eyes widened at the huge sum. "That is the combined annual salary of 10 000 vampires. With this money you are going to buy equipment, tools, pay salaries, pay the sign up bonus and whatever else you need.
The amount that will go to you depends on how you spent your money and how fast you complete your task."
The architects had a range of different emotions on their features. Some were already making calculations while others wore smiles that carried greedy intents.
"It doesn't take a genius to guess what's going to happen to them if I find out that you're wasting my money." I warned, my eyes glowing crimson and my teeth elongating.
The architects trembled, sweat coming from their pores, gulping down saliva in fear. Their eyes starting to glaze over.
This is the effect of my bloodline. Since their are commoners and I am a Imperial Rank Vampire, adding a little bit of my intent on them is enough to halt their entire being.
I dispersed my intent, freeing them of the invisible pressure that trapped them.
"I will not disappoint, Your Highness. You have my word." Rana was the first to gather herself, dropping down on one knee.
The others followed soon and also made promises and vows.
"I hope you remember your words." I stood up and strode to the tall windows, turning my back to them. "Nala will give you the money and I will have a member of the Shadow Legion discreetly follow you to ensure your safety."
"Thank you, Your Highness." They bowed one last time and followed Nala out of the room, eager to collect the money, and carry out my order.
"Let's get down to business." I sat down on the chair and took out the dagger for my inventory.
I stroked a finger along the blade of the dagger. My finger sliding smoothly over the dark metal and the rough ridges.
"Beautiful." I whispered, seemingly in a daze, swirling the blade in my hand.
I moved a bit of pure mana through my mana pathways and into my hands that the dagger instantly absorbed, sucking it as if it has been starved. The red lines in the blade glowed faintly.
A identical copy of the original blade appeared on thin air and I caught it with my other hand.
I closely examined the second dagger and found no difference between the two. It was an exact copy.
This was one of the dagger's functions I read.
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Masenshi(Epic)(Growth-type)–made of the core from a dying star and forged in moonlight fire. Can seamlessly conduct Moon and Star Mana.
Can make endless amount of copies that has the same qualities as the original. The amount and stability of the copies depends on the wielders mana capacity.
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