Ryo sat comfortably in the opulent guest room of the Vampire Lord's palace, across from both the Vampire Lord and the Dragon Emperor. The opulence of the room was undeniable—rich tapestries showing ancient wars covered the walls, and chandeliers made of crystallized blood mana lit the room with an otherworldly yet majestic glow. In spite of the opulence, Ryo couldn't help but feel somewhat self-conscious about the circumstances.
"Is it truly acceptable for the leader of a country to be residing in some other ruler's palace like this?" Ryo finally broke in, speaking up for his worry.
The Dragon Emperor smiled, brushing off Ryo's concern with a loose wave of his hand. "You're worrying too much. Technically, I am indeed the Dragon Emperor, but realistically, my grandfather still rules most of our business. I just hold the title in name currently."
Ryo cocked an eyebrow. "You're telling me you possess an emperor's power, but someone else bears the responsibility?"
"Exactly," the Dragon Emperor replied. "That leaves me with greater ability to act on my own initiative without the hassle of day-to-day rule. Now then, shall we discuss the matter before us?"
Ryo nodded. "Okay, I'm listening."
The Vampire Lord shifted forward, his red eyes with their piercing stare focusing on Ryo. "The territory we intend to bestow upon you is rich and fertile, but it is not danger-free. The region contains many strong monsters, many of which would be a threat to any colonists. It will take a great deal of time and effort to conquer them all."
Ryo folded his arms, a grin dancing on the edge of his lips. "That won't be a problem. I can handle the monsters myself."
The Vampire Lord and Dragon Emperor looked at each other before the Dragon Emperor spoke. "If that is the case, you can at least utilize the monsters you slay. Their bodies can be sold to merchants, adventurers, and alchemists for a significant amount of money. The resources from high-ranking monsters are especially valuable and would be enough to fund your nation's formation."
At that, Ryo's thoughts went back to his storage. His Infinite Inventory, bestowed upon him by his Infinite Mana, meant that he could stash anything without bounds, and time was suspended inside. That was to say, nothing he warehoused would rot, wither, or degrade. As he trained long and hard, he had warehoused myriad monster corpses, many of them rare and tremendously powerful. Far from an understatement, it wasn't overblown to say he had a treasure trove of resources just lying idly in his inventory, unfound.
"Hmm," Ryo thought, stroking his chin. "Now that you say that, I do have quite a large number of monster corpses lying around. I could sell them to get me initial capital."
The Dragon Emperor smiled in agreement. "That's a good idea. You will require resources to build facilities, employ talented people, and open up trade routes."
As Ryo thought about what to do next, a specific idea came to mind. Of all the corpses in his collection, one caught his eye—the Shadow Dragon. He had killed it during one of his intense training sessions, but at the time, he hadn't paid much attention to it. Now, he was curious if the Dragon Emperor had any information about it.
"By the way, did you ever hear of a Shadow Dragon?" Ryo asked in a neutral tone.
The second the words left his lips, the Dragon Emperor's face went dark. The relaxed look was replaced by one of seriousness. "Where did you hear that?"
Ryo remained expressionless. "Some rumors here and there."
The Dragon Emperor groaned, leaning back in his chair. "Shadow Dragons are among the Calamities of the world. There are quite a few known Calamities—ancient creatures of unbelievable power that have devastated entire countries. The bad news is that their whereabouts are unknown, and their appearances cannot be predicted. Even a single one is capable of destroying a mighty kingdom into rubble."
Learning this, Ryo felt a single bead of sweat run down the back of his neck. So I killed something that strong by accident? He kept his poker face, choosing not to reveal that he already defeated one—and had its corpse in his inventory.
The Vampire Lord, sensing the change in atmosphere, decided to shift the topic. "Well then, let's not dwell on the doom and gloom. You have three months of free time before your official responsibilities begin. Why not start planning the foundation of your nation?"
Ryo exhaled, leaning back against his chair. "That's easier said than done. I've never ruled anything before."
The Vampire Lord sneered. "So use this time to study. There are enough seasoned counselors you can ask for advice. First, you need to secure your territory and make it safe. After that, you'll have to concentrate on infrastructure—homes, commerce, defense, and administration."
The Dragon Emperor nodded in concurrence. "We can offer some initial guidance, but in the end, your nation's development will be your own."
Ryo pondered their statement. Three months… He had time enough to plant the seeds. He possessed the power, the wealth, and now he had the support of both the Vampire and Dragon nations. If he played carefully, he could create a kingdom that would be different from all the others.
"I suppose I don't have much of a choice," Ryo said at last, a smirk spreading across his lips. "Fine. I'll begin making preparations. But don't anticipate me ruling like a traditional noble."
The Vampire Lord laughed. "That's precisely why we're leaving this in your hands, Ryo. The world needs a leader who isn't held back by ancient traditions. We'll be observing your development closely."
The Dragon Emperor continued, "And don't forget, strength of arms alone will not make a nation. Strategy, leadership, and alliances are equally important."
Ryo nodded. He realized that mere force of arms would not make a nation prosper. He required people, economy, and stability. But before all that, he had to dispose of the threats in his domain.
"Appears I've got work to do," Ryo grumbled to himself.
As the conversation ended, Ryo relaxed in his seat, thinking over his next steps. The future was unclear, but one thing was certain—he was no longer a wandering knight or a lord by name. He was on the verge of creating something brand new.
And he was prepared for it.