Chapter 339: Rebuild and Reassure

"Oi! Move that to the side! We need to make space for the stone that's about to arrive!"

Mannis, a well built, dark toned man, barked at one of his workers, who single handedly placed a large stack of ceramic tiles in an open area.

"Yes, boss!" Without delay, the worker lifted the stack and moved it to a better location. He glanced back at Mannis, only to see that his boss had already turned his attention elsewhere, yelling at another worker for a mistake.

Mannis wasn't your average builder. He was an architect renowned throughout the kingdom for his immaculate work and exceptional service. He had designed and constructed numerous buildings and even had the opportunity to collaborate with multiple guilds. Rumor had it that anything he built could withstand the might of A-Rankers.

Though greatly exaggerated—he didn't even possess a law technique of his own—it spoke volumes about the respect his work commanded. With the destruction in the capital, Mannis was among the first called upon to help rebuild.

Many sent letters and even personal representatives to hire his construction company. Most were turned away because someone even more important than wealthy merchants or nobles had requested his service.

While Mannis managed his workers, a figure approached him.

"Mannis, I presume?"

Without turning to face the speaker, Mannis replied dismissively, "No, I'm not taking any jobs right now. Yes, I'll be available once this one is done, but with the number of requests I have, I suggest you hire someone else. Larry! What did I say about using the rune lift as your personal chair?!"

The figure behind him let out a low chuckle. "I'm not here to hire you for another job. At least, not yet."

Something in the man's tone gave Mannis pause. He turned, ready to scold whoever was bothering him, but the words caught in his throat.

Standing before him was none other than Zaman Secondhand, the esteemed Commander of the Royal Knights.

Mannis stiffened. Though they hadn't officially met, he knew exactly who Zaman was.

"C-Commander Zaman…" Mannis straightened his posture and wiped the sweat from his brow. "Forgive my rudeness, sir. I didn't expect… Well, what brings you here?"

Zaman gave a slight nod. "I happened to be in the area and wanted to check on the status of the wall reconstruction. Rather than reading it in a report, I prefer to hear it directly from you. No need for formality, just speak plainly."

Mannis hesitated for a moment before nodding respectfully. "Of course. Well, the wall's situation is… complex. The destruction wasn't just surface level. The battle between the A-Rankers destabilized the foundation beneath. We had to bring in a few earth mages to reshape and compact the ground before we could even begin proper reconstruction."

Zaman's gaze shifted to the crumbled palace walls. Workers scurried like ants, clearing rubble, while two earth mages moved about, casting spells to compress and flatten the ground.

"And how long will this take?" he asked.

"Under a week." Mannis replied without hesitation.

Zaman's eyes narrowed slightly, there was a hint of doubt in his voice. "Only a week?"

"Yes, sir."

Zaman crossed his arms. "Interesting. Before you were brought on, other builders estimated this would take at least three weeks. Yet here you are, claiming one."

"They weren't wrong. For most builders, it would take that long. But I've planned this down to the smallest detail. My crew knows how to work fast without sacrificing quality. I promise, the wall will be stronger than before."

Despite addressing someone as powerful as Zaman—who could have him removed from the city on a whim or worse—Mannis stood firm. If there was one thing he was confident in, it was his work. He always delivered what he promised.

A flicker of intrigue crossed Zaman's face. Most would leave themselves some room for failure, but Mannis doubled down. Not only was a week's timeline already unfeasible for most, but he also vowed to make the wall stronger than before.

"If you truly deliver on that promise." Zaman said, "I will personally put in a good word for you. The kingdom has many projects that could benefit from your expertise. You may even earn the position of Royal Architect."

Mannis's eyes lit up at the mention of Royal Architect, it was the dream for most architects to gain the prestigious position. He believed himself to already be qualified for such a position but it wasn't something one could obtain through skill alone, one needed luck and connections which was why he took this job to begin with. Though elated, he kept his tone professional.

"I appreciate that, Commander. I'll do everything I can to finish within the week and surpass your expectations."

Zaman gave a small nod of approval. "Good. I'll be watching."

With that, he turned and walked toward the palace.

Mannis slowly exhaled, only now realizing how tense he had been. Workers nearby stole curious glances his way, aware of Zaman's status but too wary to approach.

Mannis clapped his hands. "Alright! Enough standing around! Let's get this wall back up before anyone else thinks we can't handle it!"

The workers shouted in acknowledgment, returning to their tasks with renewed energy.

...

Zaman's boots echoed through the palace corridors. Guards and Royal Knights offered slight bows as he passed.

Eventually, he reached a guarded chamber. The knights flanking the door stepped aside and opened it for him.

Inside, Princess Valerie awaited.

The chamber was spacious yet modestly adorned. Sunlight streamed through high windows, illuminating the room. Valerie sat by a large table, papers and scrolls neatly arranged before her. She looked up as Zaman entered.

"Welcome back, Commander." She greeted with a polite smile.

Zaman offered a respectful bow. "Your Highness. I happened to see that the wall reconstruction had begun. The architect, Mannis, claims it will be finished within a week."

Valerie's eyes widened slightly. "A week? That's… ambitious."

"So I thought." Zaman smirked faintly. "But he seems capable. If he succeeds, I can think of many projects that could use his skills."

Valerie leaned back thoughtfully. "Good. We need to show a fast recovery. The people are still on edge after the attack. The sooner the capital is restored, the sooner they'll feel safe." She tapped her chin. "And what about the other matter?"

Zaman nodded. "It agreed to meet with you and will be here soon."

Valerie's eyes brightened. "It didn't come with you?"

"About that…" Zaman hesitated. "On the way here, it decided to explore the city. Said it didn't get much time to do that last time. I tried to dissuade it, but it was rather adamant about having some fun."

Valerie sighed. Given who they were dealing with, she didn't want to push it. "Alright. I'm calling them for a personal matter. As long as they don't cause trouble, it's fine. Thank you for arranging this, even though it's not your responsibility."

Zaman smiled. "Nonsense, Your Highness. I'm at your service. By the way, most of the arrangements are done. Have you prepared your speech?"

He referred to her inauguration speech for her coronation as queen. With the king's death and the recent vampire attack, the people desperately needed a beacon of hope. Her crowning would take place as soon as the palace reconstruction was complete.

Valerie nodded. "Yes, though I haven't had the chance to practice it yet. I'll make time soon."

"Good to hear, Your Highness." Zaman bowed. "If you need anything else, don't hesitate to call on me."

"Thank you, Commander."

Zaman gave a cordial bow and left, returning to his duties. Alone, Valerie leaned back in her chair and sighed.

Feeling the exhaustion of recent days, she retrieved an energizing potion from her spatial ring and drank it.

Once finished, she muttered, "Hopefully it comes soon. I just want closure."

"Closure? How do you expect me to help with that?"

Startled by the sudden voice, Valerie sprang to her feet, scanning the room. She couldn't see the source, but she knew exactly who it was.

"Shadow Crawler?!"