[A/N: Once again, my clumsiness strikes. I foolishly lost this chapter's manuscript, so I'll have to provide a summary of what happened.]
Two days have passed since Arthur and his group returned from Dwargon, bringing Kaijin and the three brothers—Dord, Garm, and Myrd—with them.
They were intense days.
A great deal happened in Dwargon.
For example, while Arthur was relaxing carefree under the attentive care of beautiful elves, enjoying the comfort and luxurious atmosphere, Benimaru ended up imprisoned alongside Kaijin after delivering a direct punch to Dwargon's minister, Vesta.
What began as a simple misunderstanding quickly escalated into something far more serious.
The situation grew even more complicated when, quite suddenly, guards appeared before Arthur to escort him into the presence of the king. The tension in the air was palpable, and for a brief moment, it seemed that a single poorly chosen word could turn everything into a diplomatic disaster.
Arthur nearly turned Dwargon into an enemy by displaying a stance many would consider far too bold—if not outright disrespectful—before the nation's royal authority.
However, against all expectations, the meeting with Dwargon's king, Gazel Dwargon, took a surprising turn.
After a direct conversation filled with hidden intentions, Arthur and Gazel Dwargon ultimately signed a treaty of peace and cooperation, officially establishing diplomatic relations between their nations.
What could have been the beginning of a war became the foundation of an alliance.
After resolving the political matters and ensuring everything was properly settled, Arthur returned to "Butterflies of the Night," the renowned elven hostess club, accompanied by Benimaru.
There, as if nothing had happened, he allowed himself to relax once more, enjoying the captivating atmosphere, light conversation, and impeccable hospitality the establishment offered.
Only after savoring that well-earned tranquility for some time did the group finally leave Dwargon behind and begin their journey back.
---xXx---
Nova Uruk—a name suggested by Angélica and considered rather strange by Arthur—urgently needed a stable source of income.
Thanks to the Dryads' assistance, obtaining high-quality seeds for cultivation was not difficult, ensuring a solid agricultural foundation for the future.
With the lizardmen, there was also a steady supply of fish and aquatic resources, strengthening the nation's food security.
As for the goblins, they would be responsible for animal husbandry, whether for food, mounts, or material production.
Under Arthur's orders, Shuna organized a small group dedicated to producing clothing, perfumes, and similar goods, laying the groundwork for a future light industry.
Nova Uruk's strategic location, at the heart of the Great Forest of Jura, was a crucial factor.
It bordered the Harpy Kingdom of Fulbrosia, ruled by Demon Lord Frey; the Beast Kingdom of Eurazania, ruled by Demon Lord Carrion; the Sorcerous Dynasty of Sarion, governed by Elmesia El Ru Sarion; the Puppet Nation of Jistav, ruled by Clayman; and even the Western Plains.
Through Blumund, trade routes to the western countries could be established.
A transportation hub meant a high flow of travelers.
And a high flow of travelers meant enormous profits.
Various industries—such as food, housing, transportation, and others—presented extremely promising business opportunities.
Naturally, Arthur had no intention of letting such opportunities slip away.
Given enough time, he could fully exploit the strategic advantage of the Forest of Jura as a major logistical center.
The only problem, for now, was security.
From the beginning of the city's construction until now, not even five months had passed, yet Nova Uruk was already beginning to take shape.
Thanks to the naming bestowed upon the lizardmen, they evolved into Dragonewts, strengthening both the city's defenses and its workforce.
Now, with the addition of the dwarf craftsmen, urban development accelerated considerably.
Even the Melammu Dingir defense system had entered its final phase of construction.
For a craftsman of Kaijin's caliber, such a structure posed no real technical obstacle.
What was truly lacking was the ammunition to be fired.
However, Arthur assured him that this would not be a problem, as he was the only one capable of supplying the necessary ammunition for that weapon.
After a moment of thought, Kaijin raised another concern:
"And what if enemies attack those long-range bombers?"
"That won't be a problem either. They wouldn't have the opportunity to destroy even a single Melammu Dingir bomber—let alone ten of them," Arthur replied with natural confidence.
"And what about its destructive power? How strong would it truly be?"
Arthur rubbed his chin before answering:
"Depending on the level of the weapon used as ammunition, it could easily annihilate seven hundred targets… or even more."
Kaijin's eyes shone brightly.
If that were truly possible, Nova Uruk would become a virtually invincible nation.
Although he found Arthur's ideas extravagant, the fascination of designing a weapon of such magnitude was irresistible to a craftsman.
Thus, Kaijin threw himself wholeheartedly into technical discussions alongside Arthur.
As Melammu Dingir gradually took shape, Kaijin and his assistants—especially Kurobe—grew increasingly excited.
---xXx---
City of the Forgotten Dragon
"What? Repeat what you just said!" a shrill voice echoed.
"Really? What you said is true?"
The young redhead bared her small fangs as her ahoge quivered with pure excitement.
"A tremendously powerful human has appeared in the Forest of Jura? A city of powerful monsters led by him? Interesting… that's very interesting!"
The moment she finished speaking, she leapt into the air and shot off at incredible speed toward the Forest of Jura.
---xXx---
Meanwhile, in a secluded location far from the City of the Forgotten Dragon, a clown dressed as a jester and wearing a peculiar mask slowly erased the image reflected in his crystal ball.
The message had finally reached Milim's ears.
It had not been an easy task.
The time invested was far greater than he had anticipated.
But the advantage was clear: safety.
As he imagined the possible battle between Milim and that man, the clown could not suppress a malicious smile beneath his mask.
Milim was one of the oldest and most formidable beings in this world.
And he was truly looking forward to what was about to unfold.
(End of Chapter)