LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 71
<Protect the Empire> also has the characteristics of a city management game.
Primarily, it involves governing the city known as Crossroad.
Over a period of three years, players need to develop the city in their own unique ways.
As the city grows, so does its revenue. People flock to the city, and a positive cycle is created.
There are various methods to do this.
One could focus on agriculture and clear large tracts of land, or revitalize the city’s original specialty of magic stone processing to create an industrial city.
Despite the challenging location, one could grow it into a commercial city. A mix of various factors is also possible.
In other words, it’s up to the taste of the player.
During the course of playing this game and resetting it 742 times, I generally managed the city with a focus on industry.
It was the same this time around. I intended to go with the industrial specialization build I was very familiar with and had fully mastered.
But, a problem arose.
The issue was obtaining heroes.
Right now, the fact that heroes are not being recruited, makes the situation bad. Moreover, there’s no guarantee that this situation will be resolved later on.
While I was worrying about what to do, a city development build that I normally wouldn’t have considered occurred to me.
Specifically, a tourism specialization build.
The tourism specialization build involves constructing various facilities in the city to attract tourists, earning money through the tourism industry, and developing the city.
However, it was a type of entertainment build that hardly any player in the game would attempt.
For good reason, since Crossroad is a remote village situated in the farthest southern part of the continent.
Additionally, it’s a high-risk conflict area where monsters can invade at any moment.
Unless one ventures out on a simple boat, there are practically no tourists visiting for sightseeing purposes.
Even if you build expensive tourist facilities, there is insufficient influx of tourists.
Given this, I never considered the tourism build in all 742 attempts.
Only in the late stages of the game, I was forced to grudgingly build high-end facilities related to tourism tech to lure high-level heroes who would only appear if such facilities existed.
’That’s exactly the point.’
That’s the part I noticed.
Attracting high-level heroes.
’Tourist facilities are expensive and not particularly effective from an industrial point of view... but they significantly increase the chances of specific heroes appearing!’
Therefore, normally, they would only be constructed in the extreme endgame. But here’s the reverse thought.
What if tourist facilities were built in the extreme early game?
’The appearance conditions are met. Then, someone will inevitably be caught!’
Furthermore, the heroes attracted by the tourist facilities are mostly high-level.
They would be helpful in forming a quality squad.
’Of course, investing in tourism from the early game is inefficient.’
First of all, the cost of tourist facilities is not only higher than other facilities, but they do not have any connection to the city’s other essential industries. If you’re planning an optimized city development build, this is an absurd plan.
However, in this round,
"I have a lot of money."
My finances were abundant.
I still haven’t spent all the money I made from selling gems in the tutorial stage. I’ve been pouring vast amounts of money into operating the city, and there’s still a considerable amount left over.
I’m going to use this money to build tourist facilities. Facilities that meet the minimum hero attraction condition.
After much consideration, I decided to build a hotel. A luxury hotel with a casino facility inside.
In Korea, the perception of a casino might be quite gloomy, filled with gambling-addicted customers. But in other countries, there are quite a few casinos that are decent and exquisite social places.
The hotel I want to build is in this direction.
"Now, Lucas."
To Lucas, who was still looking at me with a subtle gaze from the stone bench, I, stuck in the carriage seat, gave a smirk.
"I’ll explain my plan. Listen carefully."
I explained the ’High-grade Hero Attraction Plan,’ but Lucas still had an unconvinced expression.
"So you’re saying that by building a hotel with a casino in this remote country village, extraordinary heroes will gather?"
"That’s what I’m saying. There are really such freaks."
That’s why I set up this huge money-spending plan.
"...Lord, if you need a real talent, why not establish a knight training academy?"
Lucas opened his mouth while driving the carriage in the direction I directed.
"I believe that talents you raise from the start will be superior in quality compared to the scoundrels attracted by entertainment."
"That would be the right choice if we consider the long term."
But the time given to me is only three years.
It will take at least ten years to build a knight training academy, find talent, and finish nurturing them. That would be too late.
"What I need are ready-made warriors who can be deployed immediately."
"..."
"There’s not enough time... time..."
After remaining silent for a moment, Lucas slowly muttered.
"If it really can’t be helped, I will do it all."
"Huh?"
"I’ll take on the role of the other heroes. Lord, I alone am enough."
"..."
"Just give me any command."
I let out a chuckle.
"Haha, you’re making a strong statement. But we need to be realistic."
"..."
"We’re at war, aren’t we? There’s a lot one can’t do alone. We need more troops."
Of course, Lucas is of the SSR grade. He’s the most dignified protagonist. But there’s a clear limit to what he can do alone.
It’s essential to augment our forces with quality troops. By any means necessary...
Lucas drove the carriage without uttering another word. I sunk into the seat, lost in thought.
***
Downtown Crossroad.
In this provincial part of town was the only inn in the city, the busiest place around.
The inn, named ’Etti’s Honey,’ had been operating for over a century by four generations.
Although small, it was famous for the innkeeper’s warm hospitality and delicious breakfast.
"The taste is indeed acceptable."
It wasn’t breakfast time, but the surprised innkeeper served me a meal and coffee as I barged in.
I did not refuse and quietly accepted the food. I was famished from wandering around, and it’s not in my nature to reject offered goods.
As I pushed the clean, empty plate away, the innkeeper smiled broadly.
"I’m relieved, no, I’m honored that it suited your taste, my lord!"
The innkeeper was a middle-aged woman in her fifties.
Her chubby smile alone made her seem like a person with abundant kindness.
"I was worried whether it would suit the taste of the royal family, so I’m relieved that you ate well!"
"It’s all thanks to your good cooking skills."
It might not have suited the tastes of Ash, the prince, but I was an average civilian in Korea.
I prefer these rustic dishes.
"However,"
I wiped my mouth roughly with the napkin and added,
"I think you should pay more attention to hygiene."
"Pardon?"
"Starting with this napkin."
I shook the napkin for her to see.
"It seems to have been used for quite some time. No matter how clean you wash it every time. If you don’t replace it frequently, these stains remain, right?"
The napkin was clean, but it bore the signs of long use.
To the flustered innkeeper, I deliberately used a more critical tone.
"Both the tableware and the tableware box are quite old. Are you cleaning them thoroughly every day? Especially the tableware box, there’s quite a bit of contamination left."
"But, um..."
"And."
I brushed the window sill with my finger. A faint trail of dust came off.
"When was the last time you washed the tablecloth? Do you clean the inn every few days?"
"Well, that’s...!"
"I also want to check the import ledger. And the guest list. This place is technically the front line of the Empire. You’re obligated to record all out-of-town guest names without fail. Have you been doing that?"
At my sudden interrogation, the innkeeper couldn’t gather her thoughts.
I clicked my tongue in disappointment.
"It seems the monopoly on honey made things too sweet, huh? Even with average management, customers had no choice but to stay here."
"..."
The innkeeper, who had been gaping, attempted to excuse herself.
"We, we strive to welcome our guests in a family-like atmosphere, to make them comfortable..."
"Does a family-like atmosphere mean unsanitary and unprofessional management?"
I blew the dust off my finger. The innkeeper’s face had turned pale.
"Anyway, I came here today to discuss something."
I sat cross-legged, resting my chin in my hand adorned with a ring, turning my head slowly to the side.
"I intend to build a national hotel in this city."
"...Pardon?"
"A grand, magnificent one at that. It will not only accommodate ordinary tourists, but also be able to host guests of the royal family."
A smug grin tugged at the corner of my lips as I gestured with my eyes.
"But that would inevitably bring about a loss for your inn, wouldn’t it? Who would want to stay in such a shabby, run-down place when they could go to a national hotel instead?"
The innkeeper thumped his chest in response.
"My, my inn has enough competitive edge!"
"That may be the case for a while. But wouldn’t losing even half of your current customers be a critical loss? Especially in a city like this, with its already scarce visitors."
"..."
The innkeeper, standing rigid and gritting his teeth, asked with a trembling voice.
"What do you want from me, my lord? Are you trying to intimidate me to take something away? Are you trying to force me to quit the inn business and drive me out of this city?"
"No, no, innkeeper. You’ve got it all wrong."
I changed the tone of my voice, making it softer.
"I came here to recruit you."
"Pardon?"
"Let me make a proposal. How about considering taking the position of General Manager at the newly built hotel?"
The innkeeper’s eyes widened. I nodded in response.
"All the employees of this inn would be hired, just as they are. Of course, we’ll need to hire additional staff in proportion to the hotel’s size."
"Ho, hold on. This is too sudden..."
"I can assure you that you’ll make much more profit than you are making now. However, your responsibilities will also increase. Sanitation, cleanliness, customer service, management..."
I didn’t make this offer because I particularly trusted him.
He was the only person in this remote town with any expertise in the lodging business.
As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t plan on turning Crossroad into a tourism-focused city.
Building the hotel was merely to meet certain requirements for the arrival of some heroes.
In other words, I want to keep the operating costs as low as possible, even if the hotel is built.
I could have hired a professional hotelier with proper training from the capital, but this would be cheaper.
"I won’t ask again. Make your decision here and now."
With a low push, I cornered the confused innkeeper.
"Do you want to spend the rest of your life as the owner of this small, cozy inn or do you want to embark on a new journey under me?"
***
The innkeeper accepted my proposal.
I agreed to revisit the inn in ten days to see if operations had improved.
It was a bare minimum test to see if he could handle the new hotel.
If he could manage to keep things rolling, I was ready to hand him this task.
’After all, the completion of the hotel is still a long way off.’
Inside the carriage returning to the mansion.
With my chin propped up, I continued to mull things over while gazing out the window.
Even if we managed to steal the Lake Kingdom’s magical architecture technology, it would take a considerable amount of time for the hotel to be completed.
And it would be even longer before heroes are attracted to the place.
’I suppose it won’t be less than two years.’
So, the only immediate place to recruit heroes would be...
’Free exploration, I guess.’
Encounter NPCs in the dungeon beneath the lake, somehow manage to recruit them.
Of course, the total number of NPCs living in the dungeon under the lake isn’t even a hundred.
And less than half of them are friendly.
’But there must be at least one, just one!’
I made up my mind. The primary objective of this free exploration is to encounter a friendly NPC and persuade them to join us.
’Once we’ve conquered all of the third exploration area, a safe zone known as the "base camp" appears.’
That place would serve as a foothold and base for subsequent dungeon explorations.
It’s also a gathering place for the scarce NPCs living in the dungeon under the lake.
Surely one or two of them would be willing to listen to my proposal. If not, I’d recruit them by showering them with money or items, whatever it takes.
’I’d love to depart right now if I could...’
I looked down at my left arm, encased in a cast.
Not just me, Damien has an injured eye, and Evangeline also has minor injuries.
Jupiter and Lucas must still be fatigued.
’No need to rush, take it slow.’
Though there was a bit of anxiety, the current situation was fairly good.
Step by step, diligently, laying stepping stones forward.
’The next tasks are to recover and recruit a new hero from the free exploration.’
With those thoughts, I closed my weary eyes.
Unaware of what would happen during this free exploration.
--TL Notes--
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