Ryo had spent the whole night working on the layout of his kingdom. Not only had he planned the capital with precision, but he had also mapped out the infrastructure of the neighboring towns. Nevertheless, without the capital required to implement his dream kingdom, he had nothing to show for it. Ryo took care of his family's safety before proceeding with his plans. He built a strong fence around the mansion where his parents lived so that no one with bad intentions could set foot on the property. Having done that, he went out to look for experienced laborers to start building.
Ryo's search brought him to a community of dwarven architects, celebrated throughout the land for their unmatched construction and smithcraft skills. Reviewing Ryo's masterfully drawn plans, the dwarves were awestruck at the size of the undertaking. Gruff, bespectacled leader of the dwarves crossed his arms over his massive torso and let forth a soft whistle.
"Boy, this is no small undertaking," the chief said. "Constructing a kingdom of this magnitude will cost a fortune. A pretty penny, to be sure. And to construct it just as you see fit… you'll need a lot more."
Ryo was not taken aback. He had expected the expenses but was confronted with the problem of raising funds now. Since he remembered what the Vampire Lord and the Dragon Emperor had told him, he thought of selling the monster corpses he had gathered in his fights. With Selena and Seyra at his side, he headed for an organization that dealt in monster trade.
When he arrived, Ryo showed up with the remains of numerous high-rank monsters that he had defeated. The appraisers were dumbstruck at the number and quality of the creatures. The final worth was evaluated after close inspection—Ryo had gained a mind-boggling 110 million platinum coins.
"Is a lot?" Ryo asked nonchalantly, not knowing the currency system.
Selena grinned and added, "Ten small copper pieces make one large copper piece. Ten large copper pieces make one small silver coin. Ten small silver coins make one large silver coin. Ten large silver pieces make one small gold coin. Ten small gold pieces make a gold coin, and last but not least, a hundred pieces of gold equal a platinum piece." She glanced over at him, a humorous grin on her face. "To put it simply, with 110 million platinum coins, you can well afford to construct the fundamental buildings of your kingdom and even finish your castle."
Now that the financial problem had been temporarily solved, Ryo had to think about a crucial factor—creating jobs for the future subjects of his kingdom. As he thought about this, his mind was drawn to a discussion between two men in the organization.
"These days, hardly anyone hunts monsters anymore," one man groaned. "At this rate, our business is going to close down."
Curious, Ryo walked up to them. "Why aren't people hunting monsters?" he asked with interest.
Seyra replied first. "Monster corpses have different purposes. Some monsters offer edible meat, while others with thick fur can be utilized as clothing. Their fangs and claws can be purified into weapons, and their bones are often used as crafting materials. Every part of a monster is useful."
Ryo nodded, and then he turned his attention to Selena. "So why has monster hunting decreased?"
Selena sighed. "Because it's dangerous. A single hunter can't take down multiple monsters, especially when they move in packs."
"But we're not talking about humans," Ryo pointed out. "There are vampires, demons, dragons, and other strong races. Surely, they should be more than capable."
Selena nodded her head. "That is the problem. The majority of the influential races are from noble families, and nobles tend not to hunt monsters. They either despise it or see no necessity in putting their lives at risk since they already reside in luxury."
Hearing this, something came to mind in Ryo's head. What if he established a structured hunting system? If nobles wouldn't hunt, then why not offer rewards to others? There were definitely people with the strength and capability but no resources to earn their living. An organized hunting guild would not just give people work but would also guarantee a regular supply of monster materials for commerce and crafting.
"What if I create a Monster Hunter's Guild?" Ryo pondered aloud. "A system in which people who want to hunt can gain from their efforts?"
Selena and Seyra looked at each other. "That. could be viable," Seyra said begrudgingly. "If the reward is adequate and the danger is mitigated, plenty would adopt it."
Ryo smiled. "Then it's decided. As soon as my kingdom is constructed, I will also set up a guild. The guild would classify hunters in terms of how strong they are and provide them with missions based on their level. Strong hunters can go against greater dangers, while beginners start with weak monsters. If we give them sufficient training and support, it may become a self-sustaining profession."
Selena's eyes lit up with interest. "And if we have a ranking system with rewards, it would promote competition and development among the hunters."
"Right," Ryo agreed. "We'll ensure nobody's compelled to do so, but those willing will get an opportunity to create for themselves a future."
The thought thrilled him. Not only would this scheme fix the problem of dwindling monster-hunting, but it would also keep the materials for trade and growth coming. It was a two-for-one deal.
With that, Ryo addressed the dwarven chief. "Get your finest builders ready. My kingdom's construction starts today."
The chief grinned. "Heh, kid, with that kind of money, I guess we can start immediately."
And thus, the beginning of the process toward the emergence of Ryo's kingdom had officially commenced.