Chapter 282: Fortress City Remodeling Plan

“First, let’s seek opinions from Zetros and the others who have been managing this city. Having lived in this city, do you have any improvements or complaints?”

When Panamera announced that, Zetros and the others each showed a contemplative expression. After a few seconds of silence, the older man named Thomas opened his mouth.

“…Let’s see. It has been about forty years since this city was completed. The cobblestones within the city are chipped in places, and there are cracks and fissures in the walls. Should we repair those parts?”

“Hmm, let’s repair those. Anything else?”

Adopting Thomas’s opinion, Panamera sought further opinions. Thanks to one person taking the lead, everyone else began to voice their opinions one after another.

“Many buildings have also deteriorated, and some houses have leaking roofs. Also, there is the sewage issue; due to long years of use, the stench and sludge are terrible…”

While everyone was giving their opinions, a man who looked somewhat nervous spoke with a solemn expression. That was Barratt, if I recall correctly.

“Regarding the budget, until now we received a reasonable budget from the Kingdom of Yelenetta as a key point of national defense, but currently, the budget has been reduced by about 10% compared to that. City renovation is an important matter, but if we consider the operation of the Grosser Chivalric Order… no, the Cayenne Chivalric Order, I believe a reallocation of the budget is necessary.”

Hearing about large-scale city renovations, he seemed to be voicing an opinion out of concern for the budget. Having administrators for each field is convenient because opinions come from various angles. I listened while thinking that maybe I should increase the number of administrators in Seatoh Village a little more as well.

“Don’t worry about the renovation budget. Also, I anticipated the current situation of the territory’s people. As for taxes, they will be exempt for one year.”

“One year?”

When Panamera answered in a light tone, Barratt furrowed his brows, looking a bit anxious. Laughing at that, Panamera nodded.

“Rest assured. The tax imposed on each citizen will likely be less than during the time of the Kingdom of Yelenetta. Instead, taxes will be higher when large profits are made. The most affected will be the trading companies, but regarding this, the Bell & Rango Trading Company and the Mary Chamber of Commerce will be entering. Both are good trading companies.”

Panamera stated this as if to smoothly remove his anxiety. The anxiety wouldn’t be dispelled easily, but even so, hearing Panamera’s words, I felt the atmosphere brighten just a little.

After confirming that, Panamera turned her eyes to me.

“So, what does Viscount Van think? To make this city better… no, let me rephrase. If Viscount Van were to live in this city permanently, what would you want to do?”

Asked such a question suddenly, I answered with the concept I had been vaguely thinking about in my head.

“Let’s see. It’s a common problem in fortress cities, but they tend to become cramped because they are surrounded by walls. There are various reasons like population increase or an increase in shops, but I feel that being cramped also negatively affects convenience. Ah, do you have a map or something?”

“Yes, here it is.”

Zetros seemed to have prepared it in advance, and a map was immediately spread on the table. Looking at it, I found the castle gate we passed through earlier and pointed to it.

“Especially, I want to widen the main street continuing from this castle gate. Connect it straight to this castle, lay a road to surround the castle, and run the main street to the castle gate on the opposite side. Then, along the main street, arrange slightly taller shops and inns, and rebuild residences in an apartment style… no, rebuild them as two-story buildings or higher where about four households can live.”

While speaking lightly, I gave instructions by pointing on the map.

“I don’t know how it is currently, but by determining the zones, distribution becomes efficient, unnecessary movement is inevitably reduced, and it becomes easier to live. So, I want to make it like a commercial district, barracks and adventurer district, residential district, and industrial district. Also, I want to remodel this plaza into a park with a large public bath and a fountain. Regarding water, it seems to be drawn from the river, so I’ll build pumping and boiling facilities in this outer part and make several water tanks. As for sewage, it’s a form where water is drawn from upstream and returned downstream, right? If so, since I’m rebuilding the water intake facility, I might as well remodel the sewage structure as is…”

I explained the overall parts roughly. Hearing that, the older men managing the city had dumbfounded expressions. And Panamera was nodding in an extremely good mood.

“Mm! A wonderful remodeling plan! In addition to that, we should also renovate the walls, the gates, and the castle!”

“For the walls and gates, it’s just the surface, and for the castle, I’m just simply changing the appearance and layout, you know?”

When I answered that, Panamera’s face completely changed to one of despair.

“…What about the bath and toilet?”

“Ah, those are fine.”

When I agreed, Panamera showed an openly relieved appearance.

When the conversation paused, Zetros opened his mouth.

“…Excuse me. I think Viscount Van’s ideas are wonderful. The city will become easier to live in, and the residents will likely be happy. However…”

“It will take money and time, is what you mean.”

Thomas took over Zetros’s words. Thomas looked at Barratt with a difficult face.

“How much will it take?”

When Thomas asked, Barratt narrowed his eyes sharply.

“…The content is close to almost rebuilding the entire city. Thinking realistically, there is even a possibility that building it anew in a different location would be faster. Securing personnel, flattening the land, water intake and sewage construction, then constructing the castle, laying the main street, and building buildings around it. If we don’t build the walls first, damage from magical beasts is also conceivable, so assuming we do those in parallel… five years at the shortest. Depending on the construction period and personnel, one hundred to five hundred platinum coins will be necessary.”

When Barratt answered, Bellbeer, belonging to the Chivalric Order, cleared his throat once and spoke.

“I heard that in the previous battle, Viscount Van performed amazing fortification techniques. Will that technology not be used this time as well?”

“No, preparing a makeshift fort on a battlefield and building a city are different in content.”

“However, regarding architecture, he should undoubtedly possess state-of-the-art technology.”

“H-Hmm…”

Although not on the front lines, Bellbeer must have heard various rumors. He was accepting my proposal more positively than the other members.

Panamera watched the situation happily before speaking.

“Now, setting aside the construction period and cost, it seems there were no complaints about Viscount Van’s plan?”

When Panamera asked as if to confirm, everyone looked at each other but did not voice any opposing opinions. Nodding greatly in satisfaction at that, she turned back to me.

“You’ll do it all, right?”

“Ehh, doing it all is a bit… for now, let’s just do the water intake facility and sewage. And the castle, walls, and gates.”

“No.”

“Even if you say no~”

“Do it all.”

“I’ll do my best on the rest next year.”

“No.”

Having such an exchange with Panamera, I inadvertently sighed. Seeing Panamera saying “No” while laughing very happily, I gave up on negotiation.

“…Understood. In exchange, I’ll do it at my own pace, okay? Also, please help gather materials and various things, alright?”

“Ooh! You’ll do it! Thank you, boy!”

When I reluctantly agreed, Panamera rejoiced with a smile like a blooming flower. Being rejoiced at that much, I have no choice but to do my best. Thinking that, I returned a wry smile.