Lord: Starting with Biological Modification

Night fell in the study of the Lord’s Mansion.

Velin leaned back in his chair, observing the two men before him.

Before him, Ryo and Valerius were arguing nonstop over a matter crucial to the territory’s future: how to pave the roads connecting Newly Town to the outside world.

"No, absolutely not!" Valerius’s grizzled beard trembled as he pointed at the sketch Ryo had drawn. "Using the ’Earth Binding Skill’ to reinforce the soil and then inscribing basic ’Solid Runes’? Ryo, that’s a method for country bumpkin landlords!"

"A road like that will turn to muck within three days of the rainy season! And it won’t be able to bear the weight of heavy carriages. How are we supposed to transport our ore and timber out?"

Ryo’s face flushed red. He argued back in a low voice, "But Master, this method is the cheapest. We could quickly lay more roads..."

"Quickly lay a pile of trash?" Valerius cut him off bluntly.

"The proper way is to use the ’Molten Rock Core’ technique. Mix crushed stone with Black Glue Grass resin, then use an alchemical Array for high-temperature catalysis to form a road surface like Obsidian. Only that can guarantee it will be sturdy and durable for at least fifty years!"

Ryo’s lips moved, but no words came out.

He had only ever read about the ’Molten Rock Core’ technique in books. It involved complex material catalysis and energy conversion, far beyond the scope of his current knowledge.

He couldn’t even begin to calculate the costs Valerius was talking about.

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. ’My knowledge is already insufficient.’

Velin watched this scene unfold without interrupting. He knew this was good for Ryo; the young man needed to go to faraway places and see the wider world.

Just then, Caroline emerged from the adjoining room. She glanced at the embarrassed Ryo, then at the smug Valerius, before finally turning her gaze to Velin.

"Still discussing the roads?"

Velin nodded and took over the conversation. "Alright, you two. Let’s set this issue aside for now. I have a new idea for the road surface, which I’ll sketch out for you later."

He turned to Caroline.

"Any new information from the commerce association?"

Caroline’s expression was grim.

"Remember the Sea Serpent Commerce Association I mentioned to you?"

She didn’t answer directly, asking a question instead.

"The one that was competing with you for trade routes? Are they still causing trouble?"

"The trouble’s gotten bigger."

Caroline pulled a document from a stack of papers and handed it to Velin.

"I’ve been investigating where those hyenas, who belong scrounging in the gutters, got so many Golden Suns to dare wage a price war against my Golden Sail Commerce Association."

Her voice was tight with suppressed fury.

"And now, I’ve found out."

Velin took the document, his gaze falling upon the letter.

"What is it?"

"The Sea Serpent Commerce Association has found a powerful backer," Caroline said, her brows knitting together. "A master who devours people whole, leaving not even the bones behind."

She spoke a name, slowly and deliberately.

"The Bloodsail Brotherhood."

At the same time, Velin saw the name on the letter as well.

The name of a pirate organization, one that meant storms and death.

"They’ve been running rampant in the North Sea in recent years," Caroline said, pointing to the intelligence report. "My informant risked his life to get this back to me. The Bloodsail Brotherhood’s objective this time is to occupy the entire Southern Islands and completely seal off the exit to that sea!"

"How large are they?" Velin asked.

Caroline turned to an addendum in the letter. "According to our intel, the Bloodsail Brotherhood has at least twenty armed merchant ships, and even five warships."

"Their total force is over two thousand men, and they have several Level 5 professionals in their ranks."

"Two thousand men..." Velin calculated to himself.

A force of that size already surpassed the private army of a typical nobleman.

"What’s worse," Caroline continued, "the Empire’s new chancellor recently slashed the naval budget. The Duchy’s coastal defenses can’t cover the outer seas, which gives the Bloodsail Brotherhood a perfect opportunity to succeed."

Velin stared at the map, lost in thought.

The Southern Islands were located at the mouth of Gray Bay. If they truly took control of the islands, it would be a fatal blow to maritime shipping in the southern coastal region.

And his own Grey Marsh Territory was surrounded by sea on three sides... The consequences were easy to imagine.

If a band of pirates occupied those outer islands, his plans for land reclamation would be completely dead in the water.

Velin paced a few steps before the map, his resolve hardening.

"We’re applying for the development rights to the Southern Islands."

"What?" Everyone in the room was stunned.

"Since the Bloodsail Brotherhood wants the Southern Islands, we’ll beat them to the punch," Velin said, pointing to a chain of islands beyond Gray Bay on the map.

Ryo stammered, "But... My Lord, developing islands requires a huge number of ships and men. Do we... do we have that kind of strength?"

"Strength can be built over time, but an opportunity, once missed, is gone forever." Velin turned, sat back down at his desk, and took out the Duchy’s book of laws to flip through. "Let me see what conditions are required to apply for development rights."

Half an hour later, Velin closed the book.

"It seems there are no particularly strict restrictions. As long as you can prove sufficient financial resources and merit, you can apply."

But Caroline shook her head.

"Velin, it’s not that simple. The Golden Sail Commerce Association once assisted a nobleman with an application. Although the laws don’t explicitly state it, there are many unwritten rules in practice."

"What kind of unwritten rules?"

"Historically, people have indeed succeeded in applying for island development rights, but the successful cases all have one thing in common: the applicant’s direct domain must have a resident population of at least twenty thousand, and a mature port."

Hearing that number, both Ryo and Valerius sucked in a sharp breath.

Twenty thousand people? The entire population of the Grey Marsh Territory wasn’t even five thousand right now!

Velin said nothing, merely staring quietly at the map.

"My Lord, perhaps we should consider a different approach?" Valerius suggested. "For instance, we could ally with other nobles and apply together? That would at least spread the pressure."

"No." Velin shook his head decisively. "Alliances mean shared profits and endless squabbling. What I want is absolute control."

His gaze moved across the map, finally settling on the treacherous landscape named "Sharp Teeth Gorge."

His original plan had been to establish a town at Sharp Teeth Gorge, develop the population first, and deal with the port gradually.

But now, for the sake of the development rights to those islands, the port’s construction had to be moved up. The towering, steep rock walls plunged into the sea like the fangs of a great beast.

’Very well,’ Velin thought. ’This was always part of the plan, just moved up on the timeline.’

Moreover, they not only had to build a port on the sheer cliffs, but also possess the ability to defend themselves against pirates.

A magnificent vision began to take shape in Velin’s mind.

It was also a city built into a mountain, layered and impregnable—the city of hope hailed as the "Light of Humanity."

’A fortress of concentric, cascading rings... Isn’t this a natural bastion for a port city?’

Velin stood up, walked to the map, and picked up a pen, drawing a tower-like structure on it.

"Since we need a port now," Velin’s voice was filled with power, "we will build a port city right here! A vertical city extending down the mountainside, ring by ring. It will be both our port and our strongest fortress!"

The others were stunned for a moment, then their minds began to race, following Velin’s train of thought.

Ryo followed this line of thinking and raised a question.

"But My Lord, Sharp Teeth Gorge is too high above sea level. Ships won’t be able to dock..."

"We can build subsidiary docks on the coast below to moor ships and unload cargo," Velin replied, having clearly already thought of the answer. "Then, using a custom-built lift system, we’ll transport the goods up into the main mountain city. That way, we get our port, and we get our fortress!"

Caroline’s eyes lit up instantly. She understood Velin’s vision.

"You want to build a... vertical, tiered city-fortress?"

"Exactly." Velin nodded, his eyes shining. "A city the likes of which has never been seen. It will allow us to meet all the conditions for the development rights at once. A city with a population of twenty thousand, and a... one-of-a-kind port."

"Furthermore, it will become the most unique port in the entire Duchy, perhaps even the entire continent. The Bloodsail Brotherhood wants to try their luck? Let them first gaze up at our towering walls!"

Valerius was so excited his beard was trembling.

"My Lord, this idea... it’s so audacious! It truly solves the problem! If it could really be done..."

The room erupted into discussion, more fervent than any that had come before.

They were no longer simply stunned, but filled with a passion and confidence ignited by this magnificent and ingenious plan.

"My Lord, what will the city be called?" Ryo asked excitedly.

"Minas Tirith," he said softly.

"The Tower of Hope."