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"And you want the people to give us their money?"

"We are not taking it but exchanging it with a promise. The citizens can buy whatever they desire using our financial system. This way, there will be less underhanded transactions or corruption, less cumbersome gold coins that take space, and fewer robberies."

"That is indeed a perfect system, but we can easily exploit it, Seika. The citizens realize that we will use their money."

"They can simply withdraw it. I want this system to give Runera the backing of the ultimate financial power: its citizens. Therefore, the system will be used as long as someone wants my artifacts."

"You are not accepting gold?" blinked Rosa as she stopped writing. "Are you saying the artifacts we have are going to be exchanged using the system?"

"Bingo! The customers can deposit their money using the offices we have built. We have left that option to the citizens, but the smart ones will realize the real profit comes from using our system."

"You are taking the maximum advantage from the artifacts," sighed Rosa. "Are we ever going to meet the Ghost Runemaster?" she said with awe.

"Are you an admirer?" asked Arthur with confusion.

"The man leaves no trace and seeks no applause. The Vault studies his artifacts religiously to understand how he achieved Natural Assimilation."

"Natural Assimilation?"

"The process of adding runes to the world. All runic lines usually created feel like an accessory, a foreigner. However, certain grandmasters have attained a perfect understanding of the runes that new things are birthed when they inscribe. This results in less rejection from the world and a higher effect."

"I thought you were a blacksmith, Rosa," smiled Arthur. The secretary huffed and turned away.

"My profession does not bind me," declared the woman. "I worked as a blacksmith because of my great grandfather. However, I was always more interested in learning because of my ability."

"That reminds me," Arthur placed down his pen and turned toward her. "I wonder if you can communicate with runes?"

"I can only communicate with living things," Rosa shook her head. "I cannot talk to this pen and make it write for me, sadly."

"I understand, but runes are alive. They may not be as alive as we are and are above the need to be fed, but they are a part of this world too."

"Everything you say is weird, Seika. However, those words are the weirdest you have ever said," Rosa looked at him with a smile. "I cannot communicate with them, sadly."

"Then, can you communicate with spirits?"

"That is..." frowned Rosa. "I tried talking to the horn, but it refused to say anything. But, on the other hand, I did have a feeling that it understands me."

"Well, someone is hated," laughed Arthur, and Rosa glared at him. "You need to act less serious and formal around spirits. Treat them like you treat kids."

"I tried, but even Hana is scared of me," muttered Rosa. Arthur felt like he needed to offer some advice, but he could not bother. Adults need to figure out their flaws.

Arthur looked at the stacks of papers and suddenly felt tired. Ever since he came back to Runera, he worked nonstop and studied. Well, his reading became the most enjoyable part of his day, but it still consumed him.

Arthur stared at the lifeless study, Rosa silently working before he felt suffocated. Then, his body disappeared, and he appeared above Rega, whose name was now Mother of Mana.

"I miss Diana," Arthur suddenly remembered her. After their earlier plan to be together and place great value on each other by being allies, the princess got busier than ever.

Furthermore, she was leading a part of the army now. A new division gathered highly compatible and powerful individuals in preparations for the upcoming war.

This made them grow apart, even if they tried to stay together. Arthur had no idea where she was now but only knew that she was building her forces in preparations of what was to come.

"I miss you," he looked at the starry night above the stream of people walking through his streets. Arthur could not believe that this land was empty when he first arrived here.

A presence appeared behind him, and Arthur turned around to see Rega\'s head peeking from behind a branch. However, she hid the moment Arthur looked at her.

"You can come out," laughed Arthur as the spirit hovered toward him, acting nervous. "I am alright. You needn\'t worry."

"I did not hear anything!" she waved her hands. "I was following a squirrel, that is all," she hid her head beneath her branchy arms while lying. Arthur smiled and gestured for her to come forward.

Rega looked nervous before darting toward him, hugging him into an embrace. Arthur was surprised, and he almost fell from the tree before steadying himself.

"Master," she rubbed her head into his chest. "We are here for you too. I miss her too, but we are all here for you."

Arthur was again reminded that Rega was not a child who could barely speak but an ancient tree that had seen its fair share of the world. However, it brought him comfort that she was here.

"Thank you, Rega," he said with a smile. "I know that you are taking care of my city and me all the time. I am here for you too, no matter what."

***

There was only one day before Runera opened its doors for trade. The auction houses were packed with knights protecting the artifacts, ensuring that no one would dare harm them.

Arthur was standing atop the tower that they had built. It was one of the suppliers of the Mana Network, and it would also double as the coordinator of the arrays in the city.

"Southern Bunker, check."

"Northern Bunker, check."

The reports came one after the other toward his device as Arthur stared at his city. This was a crucial aspect of their preparations because they were bound to attract troublemakers.

Arthur dedicated a lot of workforce and time to create this array. It would make sure that his city stays safe for the upcoming event.

"All bunkers are ready, Seika," reported Ori, and Arthur lifted the device.

"Good work, everyone," he transmitted. "This is all because of your efforts. You are all protectors of this city, and this is the fruit of your labor."

Arthur praised his team and turned away. Then, he walked inside the transmission tower, where he had to activate the final mechanism for the defensive array.

Arthur walked into an empty white room which lit up as he entered. Runic lines lined the room walls, all responding to his authority over them. Then, he spread his arms and closed his eyes.

Arthur could feel the runes that filled his city, and they were enough to give him a mental image of how his city looked. Arthur was standing at its heart. This was the biggest circle he had ever created, and it consisted of thousands of smaller circles.

The evolution of his runes made the array powerful enough to guarantee their safety as long as they supplied it with enough mana. Arthur was not worried about running out of fuel, not his efficient runes.

However, it was a giant project. First, Arthur connected the different focus points of the circle to the tower, creating an octagon. Then, he opened his eyes.

"Dear Citizens, and all those who followed me here," he broadcasted from the tower, and his voice reached the farthest corners of the city. "I promised you safety and glory. In two days, glory shall be ours. But, for now, we are ready to deliver safety."

After finishing his speech, Arthur raised his hands, and his mana exploded to activate the circle. The thousands of runes had to connect, so he had to start from the smallest and farthest ones and work his way upward.

The process was mentally draining, and Arthur found himself tired after finishing one bunker. However, he gritted his teeth and resumed. Runic lines filled the streets, all connected to the tower in the center.

The citizens watched with awe as the lights surrounded their city. Pillars of light exploded one after the other as an octagon of light was drawn on the ground.

Arthur opened his eyes, and the light exploded toward the sky, connecting the array and activating it. Then, a wall of light appeared around his city, shielding it from the outside world. Then, Arthur received a message from his system.

He was finally ready to evolve.