After the surprise in Old Anderson's eyes, he immediately broke into a joyful expression: "Young master, this martial battle aura is truly formidable. Not only is it extremely destructive to the human body, but it also has a tremendous damaging effect on weapons. Although your battle aura is only at the level of a beginner bronze warrior, its power surpasses even that of silver-level battle aura. Young master, you’ve finally made it!"

Old Anderson was overwhelmed with excitement—no one knew better than him what kind of life Gaia had endured over the past fourteen years.

Gaia took a breath, withdrew the battle aura into his body, and was just about to speak when Roy ran in: "Lord, Strong the city administrator has arrived."

Although he had only reached the level of a beginner bronze warrior, for a child like Gaia who had been declared a cripple countless times, this was an incredibly exciting event. Moreover, his rate of advancement was likely unmatched even by the most talented youths in the Abyss.

Unfortunately, the fourteen-year-old lord had no time to celebrate and had to continue devoting himself to the construction of his territory.

Strong the city administrator returned with good news: "Lord, the preparations for the construction are complete. The stonemasons have started work, and I have paid them enough gold coins. The adventurer supply station is under construction. However, you will need to personally oversee the procurement. Besides that, there are two other matters."

Gaia sat in his own seat, displaying a bit of a lordly demeanor. He nodded slightly and raised his left hand: "What are the issues? Please speak."

Strong the city administrator reported truthfully: "First, my lord, you need a good merchant to help you manage your supply station." Gaia nodded.

"...Secondly, you also need to personally visit the nearest adventurers' guild branch, because if you want to build an adventurers' guild office instead of a tavern, you must have their cooperation."

Gaia stroked his chin and asked, "Where is the nearest adventurers' guild branch?"

"In the south, in Mein City, which is the fourth largest city in the Martinique province." Strong the city administrator faithfully offered his suggestion: "If you decide to go, I recommend you also purchase goods for the adventurer supply station along the way and establish good relationships with those suppliers..."

Gaia waved his hand: "I understand."

……

At the entrance of Greenland Town, a sign was erected, announcing the latest order from the Lord of Greenland: adventurers entering or leaving Greenland are exempt from the city entry tax. However, if Greenland is attacked, they must help defend the town.

This news had already spread, but still, few adventurers were willing to enter the Frozen Wasteland from here. Just as Gaia had expected, Greenland's disadvantages could not be reversed by a simple tax exemption policy.

The young lord was at this moment wearing a newly bought cotton coat, hands behind his back, inspecting the construction site. In this world, stonemasons were just basic stonemasons. When Gaia saw them shaping stones in the most primitive way, he gave up on the impulse to implement some of his own ideas.

Perhaps it was indeed because this place was remote and lacked skilled craftsmen, but Gaia felt it was already good enough that these stonemasons could build houses at all.

Although the stonemasons' skills were lacking, the houses they were building were not small. Gaia had already drawn up blueprints for them. Since all the land belonged to Gaia, there was no need to economize. In addition to the adventurer supply station and the guild office, there were also some extra houses being built at the same time. Gaia understood well how to save costs—building all the houses at once was certainly more economical than constructing them one by one. At the very least, the stonemasons would charge him a bit less for so much work.

Gaia was not worried about Greenland's current situation. He was only fourteen and had plenty of time to slowly develop his territory. The vampire clan had long lifespans, and his "father" Sean was the top expert in the family. Gaia's current situation perfectly echoed a saying from his previous life: "A gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years."

……

After the main structures of the adventurer supply station and the adventurers' guild office were basically completed, Gaia entrusted the affairs of the territory to Old Anderson, and took the city administrator Strong and the young Roy with him as he left Greenland for Mein City. He had two goals for this trip: to purchase necessary goods and to apply for the approval documents for the adventurers' guild office.

For a lord to personally visit a professional guild's branch was hardly a matter of pride. Although Greenland was just a poor little town, the entrenched customs of the Abyss were hard to change after thousands of years—most lords prided themselves on their status.

Gaia possessed the memories of his previous life, as well as the same persistent character.

He did not think it shameful at all for a lord to visit a low-ranking branch president of a professional guild to apply for approval documents. In fact, influenced by the philosophy of his previous life, he firmly believed that everything he gained was earned through his own efforts. Therefore, when everything was ready and it was time for him to personally apply for the approval documents, Strong the city administrator was worried that Gaia would be too proud to do it. But the young man had already prepared the ox cart in advance and sent someone to invite Strong the city administrator to accompany him to Mein City.