Great Basilica of Gaia

By the end of the week, Will's wound healed but left behind a long scar tattooed on his abdomen.

At the same time, the waves of demons forces attacked the Mistwood Keep less frequently.

With the net closing in around the demons, the Allied Army found itself fighting a scattering of demons but not a coordinated formal army.

With time on his hands and nothing to do until the recruits arrived, Will took to rebuilding the empty Mistwood City.

First, he demolished all the buildings inside the city by casting [Erosion]. Within an hour the entire city was a pile of rubble and weeds.

Then he began building a rectangular basilica 102.5 meters long, 30 meters wide, and 20 meters tall.

The building was part church, part monastery, and part episcopal palace. The basilica had a series of intersecting passageways and courtyards.

At each of the four corners, he built a square tower surmounted by a spire, and, near the center of the complex, a tall bell tower, and a round dome.

Will gave the building an ornate renaissance design, which only increases the building's grandeur.

Will sparely decorated the inside, except for a 16-meter statue of Goddess Gaia right below the basilica round dome, along with smaller statues of his mother Demeter, and sister Persephone.

After finishing the Great Basilica of Gaia, Will built the new city Centre adjacent to the keep's massive doors.

Will built commercial buildings, government offices, and merchant guild buildings.

He quickly, had Mei staff his newly built bank, auction house, casino, theatre, and horse track.

And former Cardinal vont Gaius agreed to temporarily oversee and staff his newly built basilica. While Kurosawa appointed a City Administrator to manage Mistwood City.

The Allied Army was thrilled to finally have an outlet to blow off steam.

By the time the recruits arrived, they were amazed to see the soldiers enjoying themselves at the horse track drinking imported beer.

What surprised Will was the speed at which the city filled with refugees who wanted to escape the congestion and discrimination of Fermion.

Mistwood City was not a large city. It was comparable to Guidon back in Fermion.

Thus, it didn't take more than 100,000 people for the city to start to feel lively again.

Like his own city Gadreel, Will built two-story apartments across the city.

Two families could live in the upstairs or downstairs apartment, or one family could use the first floor for their business and live on the second story.

The high-class neighborhood had their mansions closest to the keep and the low-class had their apartments closest to the city gates.

However, Will's favorite thing about the city was the tax revenue. It cost him zero to rebuild the crumbling city and he'd earn 60% of the tax revenues until his investment was paid back with interest.

Will finished the last neighborhood, just as his disciple Prince Lukas gave the order to move out.

As the army marched in columns down the new street and out the refurbished city walls, Jacques rode into the rebuilt city.

"It's true," he said marveling at revitalization.

"Welcome to your new capital!" Will said opening his arms wide.

"How did you do this in a month?" Jacques said his eyes wide like a child on Christmas.

"I'm a grandmaster terramancer. Building cities from stone is my specialty. Don't forget, I built my city as a journeyman mage. Compared to that, this was much simpler. Unlike my city, the walls and keep we're already built," Will advised.

"Once word of the basilica spread, it may become a pilgrimage site, like your Citadel of Demeter," Jacques guessed.

"According to Kurosawa, your advisers are in the way, the exception being Duke von Mueller's adviser.

Also, Make sure you listen to your newest Finance Adviser Zhao of Ding. He's an old friend and a wise money manager. When he arrives grant him a peerage.

I've told him great things about you, he is excited to be joining your administration

Finally, Miles shall also be moving into the keep to manage the Allied Army's supply line. Please treat him well," Will advised the young emperor before spurring the horse to catch up to Elder Thaddeus.

After Will rode out of sight, Jacques walked to the Mistwood Keep, his new home for the foreseeable future.

As he rode down the street with his soldiers and chamberlain, he watched the commoners bowing respectfully to him as he passed.

The last time he was here, he wrote the cardinals to rescind their decision announcing him the rightful ruler.

Now, he had grown more comfortable with that identity, but this was his first time ruling over a population.

For the first time, he looked at his people and realized how gaunt but full of hope they looked.

He watched the farmers getting seeds and the crafters building new furnishings.

They all had a tired and hungry look to them, but they smiled as they walked.

"Mathéo has the imperial guards serve free vegetable soup to the citizens. If possible, we'll add meet once a week as a bonus," Jacques commanded.

"Sire, I must inform you that this may conflict with your contract. Moreover, accomplishing your command shall require substantial funds. We have to import the food until harvest," Mathéo advised him.

"Just see to it, that it gets done!" Jacques replied.

"And if Marquis vont Ballard vetoes your idea?" Mathéo asked.

"Then we find a loophole or another backer to support my free food initiative," Jacques responded.

"I'll see that it gets done, your majesty," Mathéo said with a bow.

Just before Jacques rode passed the keep's gates, a middle-aged woman stepped in front of him and grabbed his leg.

"Your majesty, please sir, help me, my daughter is missing. Can you help me or tell me where to go?" the woman asked.

Jacques stopped and looked her over. She was in her middle years with dark weathered skin. She had spent her days toiling in the fields, eking out a living from sun up to sun down. Her husband stood behind her with his hand on her shoulder. He tried to pull her back, but she resisted.

"I don't know where your daughter is. I'm sorry. Too many children have gone missing over the last few months. I shall speak with my City Administrator and devise a plan," Jacques said truly unsure of the right course.

"Go home and don't go out after dark," said Mathéo as he reached into his pocket and gave the woman a silver coin.

She stared at the coin in her hand for a few seconds. Then took his hand and kissed it.

After entering the keep, Jacques set on the throne. The majestic throne he once felt undeserving to sit upon, now he felt comfortable and well deserved.

"Chamberlin read me today's events," Jacques said ready to rise to his mantle.

"Your majesty, first on the agenda is repatriation. Per your contract with Marquis de Ballard, you are contractually responsible for annually increasing the citizenry by 5% for the next 20 years," Mathéo replied.

"Hm. The Kingdom of Icer, and Principality of Suyuet, and we are all contractually obligated. Which means they are our competitors.

When the Marquis' ships arrive. Bribe the sailors to spread the news of Marquis's new Great Basilica of Gaia, our free feeding policy, and above-average wages.

Hopefully, our citizens repatriate out of duty. But a free meal and pilgrimage site in our newly rebuilt capital should also draw the world's poor and those looking for a new start to us," Jacques hoped.

"Above average wages?" Mathéo said easing an eyebrow.

"Yes, use that investment pool to increase reconstruction wages from 25 coppers to half a silver! At least until the new finance minister arrives," Jacques said.

"Next on the agenda, our reconstruction efforts. Currently, our empire stretches from Wolf Fang Fort to Mistwood Keep and out to our port town.

We are contractually obligated to reconstruct the port city and then build 10 cities along the coast, before we can push westward," Mathéo read from his dossier.

"That shall take years. All we can hope is that our repatriation efforts and wages, increase our labor force to meet our contractual obligations," Jacques thought.

"There is another way, your majesty, besides repatriation," said Mathéo.

"Mathéo, you have served me faithfully. Please speak candidly," Jacques said earnestly.

"We could incentivize population growth?" Mathéo advised.

"Are you saying we pay families to have children?" Emperor Jacques asked intrigued by the suggestion.

"Yes, we pay families 25 copper for every child and three silver for 10 children, plus medical expenses," Mathéo proposed.

"How shall we know if families are truthful? And how do we prevent families from stealing children?" Jacques asked.

"Tsk. I am not wise enough to know the answers. I just thought it a creative idea," Mathéo said clicking his tongue at his lack of forethought.

"Speed is of the essence. For now, let's announce the policy and mandate all children must be born at the basilica for health reasons.

Since the empire is paying for children's medical expenses, we should survey every child's sex, weight, and height; as well as, the child's name and lineage.

We can also use this policy to keep an accurate census of our population.

Mathéo contacted former Cardinal vont Gaius to let her know of the policy ahead of time," Jacques said.

"I shall. Last on the agenda is security. Our empire does not have a standing army. Without lords or fiefs, we cannot even call upon our vassals for support.

According to the contract, you are required to build a professional army that is 10% of our population. Furthermore, the army must secure the empire, Marquis de Ballard, and Duke von Mueller's trade businesses," Mathéo explained.

"Our most pressing need is securing the Wolf Fang Fort and the forts along the border with the Dukedom of Kro and Kingdom of Zhekid border.

Since our benefactor has yet to offer financial support to those sovereignties, we must assume they'll retaliate against us and the Kingdom of Icer and the Principality of Suyuet.

Investigate if there are any Rhaziesian soldiers stationed in those forts. Let's see if we can bride them to stay after the war ends or purchase mercenaries.

Even if we need to consolidate the forts down to five, as long as we hold Wolf Fang Fort, we can ensure the security of our borders.

Finally, announce the imperial army is recruiting. Set the wage at 10 silver for all recruits who pass physical and basic training. For each additional year they serve, we'll raise the wage by a silver," Jacques decreed.

"Thank your imperial majesty," Mathéo said walking out.