Amphitrite

Will visited the courtyard and on the floor was a painting of the world. Will didn't know if he ever saw a world map, certainly not one this scale and with such beautiful flourishes and details:

He saw all of Fermion provinces and his city Gadreel. The words 'Friendship Valley Duchy,' was written in wet paint.

Next to the map, imperial servants handed out different colored toy knights. Each knight had a shield that corresponded to their sovereignty and peerage.

He was surprised he was handed a toy knight with the imperial peerage of a Marquis. Historically, honorary nobles were not given fiefs, just administrative positions. Being the Crown Prince's master, was mainly an administrative position.

But he no longer served in an imperial administrative role, that's why he was surprised to receive a toy knight.

Elizabeth, Lingling Edward, and Camille joined him to observe the nobles frantically placing and arguing with each other over boundaries and fiefdoms.

Elizabeth set out to join a circle of high noble ladies discussing the latest gossip. While Lingling joined her father as he haggled with his former vassals for land rights.

Edward and Camille stayed by their father's side. Edward was captivated by the politics of factions working together to claim large swaths of land.

Camille on the other hand kept looking at Lingling in frustration. She disliked seeing or being around the woman. Regardless of the custom, she did not like polygamy. Nor the idea of Lingling or her son muscling their way into her life.

Even though Lingling lived in a separate manor in Gadreel, Camille could not shake the family a snake had crawled its way into her family. It was common knowledge this woman was using her feminine wiles on her father to help her family gain territory.

Will took his piece from the clerk, the on-lookers held their breath. Everyone knew the relationship between the new king and the honorary Marquis von Ballard. No doubt, King Pius II would give his master his first choice.

They watched as Will walked to the southern continent and put his toy knight on the mouth of the Yangtze River. The newly conquered imperial land was unclaimed and sat on the border between The Great Eastern Empire and the embattled Kingdom of Qhosnir.

However, what Will did next really surprised them.

Will drew a ducal-sized semicircle using the river's mouth as the focal point. Seeing this audience was astounded by the size of the request. He wanted to build a city that spanned both sides of the Yangtze River.

His request confused them. Did he make this request to defend the empire's borders from the warring southern lords? Or did he request to safeguard his mistress' family should they lose their territorial claim?

Will chuckled to himself. No one wanted this property, because they knew the Peace Treaty wouldn't last long and the southern lords would go back to fighting each other.

Building a city that large on the southern continent was an invitation to be invaded. The southern lords looked at Will's new city like a starving dog looked at steak.

Only the King Gaozong of Song felt excited. He welcomed Marquis von Ballard to his fledging kingdom like a long-lost son. With half of Will's city, within his kingdom, King Gaozong knew, Will would help secure and provide much-needed tax revenue.

"Interesting choice, master," Emperor Pius II remarked after walking into the courtyard.

"I think so as well," Will responded.

"Master, can you tell me your objective?" Emperor Pius II asked.

"I plan to control the mouth of Yangtze. While I cannot divulge my entire plans publicly, I'm willing to meet with you privately.

But I can say, my citizens, shall pay the imperial taxes," Will answered.

"And on the eastern riverbank?" the new emperor asked curiously.

"Military barracks and housing," Will explained.

"Would you and Lady Elizabeth care to have tea with me? I look forward to hearing your true purpose," Emperor Pius requested.

Over tea, Will laid out his plans to build a trade city, similar to Gadreel.

His city would trade over the Birmingham Sea, but also along the Yangtze River.

And to assert his dominance over the Yangtze River he planned to build a series of dams and locks.

The Yangtze River was the main waterway for the Theocracy of Ionic, Principality of Suyuet, and two-thirds of the former Qhosnir Empire. And if they wanted to trade on the river, they'd be forced to pay to use the locks.

After Will explained his plans, Emperor Pius II explained the imperial military also planned to patrol the river to protect their new settlements.

"Master, I don't know the right thing to do. Please advise me," said Emperor Pius II, with complete faith in his master.

Elizabeth smiled hearing the new emperor's plea. To her, he looked like the same rambunctious 20-year-old.

"Argh, fine. But you must learn to come to these conclusions on your own.

You should pay me to build and service the dams and locks, but the imperial army should be responsible for operating them," Will said.

"Chamberlin, inform our guests Marquis von Ballard's land grant has been approved," Emperor Pius decreed.

With every settled Will and Elizabeth left to find their children.

"Are you going to your new fief?" Elizabeth asked quietly so that only could hear.

He nodded affirmatively.

"Take me with you!" Elizabeth said holding Will's arm.

"Then who shall watch the kids?" Will asked. "Let them mingle. They're enjoying themselves. They have their servants, Samuel's there, and they know how to get back to the manor.

Please take me with you. I want to witness your divine powers," Elizabeth whispered.

Will sighed at that, and then teleported them to the Yangtze River.

"You didn't cast a spell?" Elizabeth said in shock.

"I did, it's just that I thought it instead of speaking the chant," Will instructed her.

"Is this where the Allied Army first clashed with the demons? When I read your article couldn't help but cry.

You've seen so many horrible things. But nothing seems to bother you, how? And can you not be disgusted by so much carnage?" Elizabeth asked Will.

"When you lived as long as I have, you learn to compartmentalize," Will said, not sure why he was affected like other soldiers.

"So, are you going to build the city now?" she asked excitedly.

"No, remember if I use my divine powers, it might alert my presence to other gods. First, I'll build a lighthouse in the stature of Pontus. For which my uncle has promised me a boon in return," Will explained.