Devil's Rise 171 Lord Soulless, Mayor of Lakeview City!

I didn't know anything about the power structure of the Holy Rossen Empire, how as I supposed to be the one stuck distributing land allotments for our suburban sprawl. My mother had already headed off to another world, so I was on my own. I'll worry about it later then.

This plot of land on the main street though, I'm definitely shamelessly erecting a J-Mart there. I couldn't turn down such a juicy gift, even if I incited the rage of the masses. If they have a problem they can find this lord's grandfather.

J-Mart is a productive business that will surely bring glory to the Holy Rossen Empire!

Now that I was in this position, I wouldn't worry about "fair distribution". I would shamelessly erect as many residencies for my faction as I could inside our suburban sprawl. The other Empires would look down on us if we didn't build up our suburban sprawl.

I went back to my lackeys to figure out how I was going to handle this and even brought out my Aspects.

"Jurrath, do you know anything about city planning," I asked.

Since the fat cat was good at making money he might be good at this. I had no skills in city planning, this lord only conquered cities. This lord had never built a city before.

"Meow, why do you ask?" said Jurrath as he licked his paw.

"Well, I was just given a plot of land for a business on the main street. As well as a 3 x 3 suburban sprawl for the Holy Rossen Empire. As I am the only representative of the Empire here yet it is my job to make sure these 'assets' are properly claimed," I said.

"Meow, I'm making a new headquarters for J-Mart!" said Jurrath as he grabbed the deed to the plot on the main street.

"Bark, I'll handle the suburban area. Let the cat build his shop," said Dex as he grabbed the map out of my hands.

These two Aspects had no respect for this lord!

"Meow, all you Dogga Loggas get to work!" screamed Jurrath as he looked back at the halflings.

The halflings quickly got in line and followed him off to the middle of the city. No doubt he would work them like dogs to get a large building to start selling off wares erected as soon as possible.

"Everyone else, we are going to set up camp in our suburban sprawl," I said.

It didn't take long for us to make it to the suburban sprawl. The area a lotted to the Holy Rossen Empire for their suburban sprawl was quite good. It was undeveloped but there was plenty of nice scenery. There was even a large lake in the middle of it. My lackeys began work on making a rudimentary camp until we could plan how to set up this Suburban city.

I began to speak with Dex to discuss city planning. He was always helpful and wise. Much more useful than my shameless fat cat who only wanted to seek shinies.

"Bark, you should take it upon yourself to build noble residencies and sell them off to the nobles that come," said Dex.

"Do you think that's proper?" I asked.

"Bark, yes noble devils are arrogant and entitled. They much rather pay for a residence to be provided to them than to have to build one themselves. This continent is massive, no ones going to be diving into it to establish their own territories any time soon," said Dex.

"Why do you say that? Isn't this just a huge piece of meat waiting to be devoured?" I questioned Dex.

"Bark, simple intelligence. You shouldn't be the one running off either. You don't want to be the one that finds the death zones in this continent," said Dex.

"The first ones to go and cartograph the continent can find resourceful areas, but they also run the risks of seeking death. And the probability of seeking death is much higher than finding plentiful resources. Otherwise, the Emperors in your world would have just claimed it themselves."

"The people that explore early are considered high-class cannon fodder, that's probably why no one from the Holy Rossen Empire has shown up yet. The majority of nobles probably won't show up for a few years, which gives you plenty of time to build a great city."

"What about exploring the lands and building my own fief? I came here to establish my Soulless clan!" I said.

"You just got a deed to an area near the most populous city on this continent. You won't be able to find a better fief to establish your clan than this. I'm sure your lackeys will stay busy for a long time to come, with Jurrath's business acumen," said Dex.

"Establish yourself as the mayor of this future suburban city and mark your task of establishing a fief completed. Your time would be much better spent doing missions for the Labyrinth Sect than seeking death," said Dex.

When Dex put it in perspective it really made sense. The easiest way for me to increase my strength was to find "victims". I wasn't going to be someone else's disposable cannon fodder. Since I could now call myself the mayor of the city I marked my goal of establishing a fief complete.

I decided to name my unbuilt city Lakeview City. It was a simple city that would someday be known through all 20 Empires and Kingdoms within the Xertzul Abyss!

With the Crypt Keeper watching over this area, and the Holy Rossen Empire banner flying high, this was the safest place possible for me to raise a family.

I titled myself Lord Soulless, Mayor of Lakeview City. Everything within a three-mile radius was mine to manage by law. It wasn't much but it was a city that was mine. I would design and build this suburban city to my specifications. All the nobles from the Holy Rossen Empire would be under my jurisdiction.

If anyone wanted to complain they could just seek this lord's grandfather, the Holy Emperor!

Please go to to read the latest chapters for free

Chapter end