Chapter 1973: Meeting

The following day dawned with a sense of urgency as Terra City's major figures gathered for a meeting, including representatives from the Merlin shop. Anticipating a lengthy discussion, Emery decided to arrange for Gwen to have a guided tour of the city to pass the time. However, Gwen surprised him with a request:

"Can I sit in and listen to the meeting? I promise I won't distract you."

Emery, appreciating Gwen's keen interest, nodded in agreement. Together, they made their way to one of Terra's private halls, where ten individuals had already assembled. Among them were Klea and Morgana, the five Izta widows, Chief Beowulf, Cedric, and Aeon.

Reflecting on the past, Emery reminisced about how, four years ago, he would extend invitations to representatives from the Karat faction or Zodiac City for such meetings. However, as Terra City asserted its independence, the invitations became more exclusive, reserved only for inner members holding key positions. The transition spoke volumes about Terra City's evolution and its growing self-sufficiency in dealing with its internal affairs.

These monthly meetings, a customary fixture in the governance of Terra City, were indispensable for addressing various issues and making crucial decisions. However, the past three months had seen Emery absent due to his visit to the Khaos waypoints. This absence meant that, upon his return, the agenda for the meeting had grown significantly.

The room buzzed with a mixture of anticipation and focus, as these key figures prepared to delve into discussions that would shape the destiny of Terra City.

The first and pressing matter on the docket was the creation of artificial waypoints. Emery, having acquired the orb from the Alvanic kingdom, had entrusted Camilla, the head of technology development, with coordinating the design with Master Borin. The proposal was laid out before the assembly.

"Considering the materials and labor, it would cost 13 million with a one-month timeline," Camilla reported.

Emery, recognizing the urgency of having these artificial waypoints, given his decision to leave one of the Khaos guardians in the subterranean world, didn't hesitate. "Alright, do it," he said decisively, green-lighting the project.

The room murmured with a sense of acknowledgment as the decision was made. The creation of artificial waypoints would not only facilitate Emery's instant movement between Earth and Terra but also enhance the city's connectivity and strategic mobility.

The discussion shifted seamlessly to the critical topic of funds, a resource indispensable for the city's growth and development. The financial reports were presented by Magus Silica, who assumed her role as the city's financial overseer. The figures, stark and revealing, laid bare the economic intricacies of Terra City.

[Terra City]

[Last Month Revenue: 36,250,000]

[Last Month Expenditure: 64,110,000]

[Available Funds: 88,700,000]

Four years prior, Emery had made the strategic decision to pull the three widows—Rosia, Camilla, and Grisa—alongside the seasoned Terra warriors from the frontline and entrust the defense and development of Terra City to them.

This shift in focus led to a significant decline in revenue derived from battle and turned the city's primary income stream predominantly to tax collection and mining operations.

The expenditure side of the report painted a detailed picture of the city's financial responsibilities. More than half of the expenditure was attributed to monthly wages, a necessity to cover the growing force of 50-plus magus and warriors—

numbers that had increased tenfold since the strategic shift.

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The second-largest portion of the budget went toward purchasing equipment and armaments, limited to 20 million spirit stones monthly. This expenditure also includes the one needed in Earth's moon base. It was a reflection of the ongoing need to equip and outfit its expanding army with the tools necessary to defend against emerging threats and challenges.

Magus Silica concluded her report, emphasizing the consistent losses Terra City incurred monthly, and then handed the floor to Aeon, the individual responsible for overseeing the operations of the Merlin shop. The financial figures of the renowned establishment were then presented to the assembly.

[Merlin Shop]

[Last Month Sales: 612,778,000]

[Last Month Revenue: 105,220,000]

[Last Month Expenditure: 48,200,000]

[Available Funds: 100,000,000]

The sales figures, though not reaching the astronomical numbers witnessed during the shop's opening months, still reflected a robust and impressive performance. Despite Emery's reduced involvement in concoctions, the shop's monthly sales had consistently increased over the years, gradually climbing from 400 to the current 600. However, the earnings remained below the 20% mark, primarily due to the significant 5% tax cut imposed by the Qin faction.

The expenditure side of the Merlin shop's financial report outlined the operational costs and the distribution of shares among the shop's collaborators. Beyond covering the day-to-

day operations, a significant portion of the expenditure was allocated to shares distributed among the four masters and eight artisans contributing their expertise to the shop's success.

Such data starkly illuminated the financial dynamics between the Merlin shop and Terra City, revealing that the shop had been shouldering the city's losses. The narrow margin between the two entities, totaling only about 30 million per month, raised concerns, especially given the substantial expenditures of Terra City.

As the figures were absorbed by the attentive audience, Klea leaned over to Gwen, seated beside her, and whispered, "Emery… the breadwinner of the faction."

In response to this financial challenge, Emery proposed several solutions to expand the margin. First, he shared data about a new potential source of resources from the subterranean world. According to his calculations, this source could generate about 10 million in income per month. However, he emphasized that this task would be entrusted to Morgana, who would lead the initiative once the Terra City waypoints were completed.

The outlook of tapping into new resources delivered a glimmer of hope for bolstering Terra City's financial standing. The subterranean world, largely unexplored and potentially rich in valuable assets, held the promise of alleviating the strain on the Merlin shop and contributing to Terra City's self-sufficiency.

The next solution centered around a newly perfected recipe that Emery had developed over the past few months. He informed Cedric that he planned to dedicate time to teaching the recipe to both the master and artisan, a move aimed at enhancing the Merlin shop's products and potentially boosting its revenue.

Following this announcement, mention the one critical solution - the proposal to claim Merlin shop independence from the Golden City Association. However, Emery acknowledged the complexity of this endeavor and turned to Magus Rosia, the one responsible for handling the faction's diplomatic affairs.

"We have 8 months left. How far have we succeeded in this matter?"

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