Using the powers of Adam and Shugl, the demolition and construction work was completed in the blink of an eye.
The old aqueduct completely disappeared, and a new facility soon revealed itself.
It was a structure much thicker and longer than before.
However, it did not look particularly impressive.
It was simply the result of melting rock and hardening it instantly.
Still, it is extremely sturdy and hygienic.
We can hire stonemasons later for decorations.
Of course, building the aqueduct was not the end of it.
I planned to lay ceramic pipes on top of it.
Since such delicate work could not be done with the powers of a half-god and half-demon, that was why I had hired so many laborers.
Shuuuuuu—! Thud!
Adam and Shugl’s joint operation finally came to an end.
Their job was simply digging huge ditches and creating paths with stone.
There would not be many occasions for them to meet again.
Unless I visited Adam’s workshop, that is.
—Let us not run into each other from now on.
—Oh? Using honorifics to sound like a gentleman now?
—A punk who cannot even last one punch keeps acting up.
I am only staying like this because it is comfortable.
Are you walking around in that form because you cannot transform?
—You really want to do this? The alliance is over.
Come at me!
—You think I would back down?
They should have just gone their separate ways, but these two were bickering again.
I grabbed Shugl and placed him on my shoulder, then nodded at Adam.
“Settle down and go back.”
You are much older than him.
Why do you always fall for this guy’s provocations?
However, Shugl suddenly jumped up and shouted.
—I am the senior here by far!
That guy has not even been here for a thousand years.
“Oh? Is that so?”
—So? Does your stomach twist?
A junior acting so arrogantly.
“You are not his direct superior though, are you?”
—Uh… well, that is true.
“Then you are just an uncle.”
—Grr!
The jab must have hit home, because Shugl growled and sat back down.
Of course, no matter how much a squirrel smaller than a fist growled, it only looked cute.
I patted Adam on the shoulder and said.
“I will speak to Mr. Martin separately, so take a few custom outfits.”
—Oh, really? Is that okay?
“Of course.”
I am a man who gives clear rewards.
—Thank you.
“It will take a few days to tailor them to your body, so set a schedule in advance.”
—Got it.
Take care.
Adam left with a bright smile on his face.
Then Shugl poked my cheek with his tiny front paw.
—What about me? What about me?
You said you give clear rewards.
“Of course I have something for you.”
Double spirit energy for three days.
Is that enough?
I am giving you a lot considering how busy I am.
—Yes!
Please use us a lot in the future, dear customer.
Shugl and Feltron could receive spirit energy from people who genuinely respected me.
Naturally, simply bowing their heads in front of them was not enough.
It required sincere respect to obtain high-purity spirit energy.
This was proof of how much trust the public had in me.
Look at them right now.
“That was the most astonishing scene I have seen in recent years!”
“How is something like this possible when he is not even a mage?”
“Come on, could mere magic build such a massive aqueduct?”
This is clearly the power of a god!
“Does that mean the rumor that His Grace the Duke is a saint is true?”
“A saint?”
We can call him a living god!
“A living god!”
This has never happened in any religious order before.
“Exactly.”
We need to establish a new religious order.
They had gone beyond simple praise and were now practically worshipping him.
If left like this, they really seemed ready to create a religious order, so I needed to give a proper explanation.
“Everyone, listen carefully.”
I am definitely not a god.
So do not even dream of creating a religious order.
“Then how did you accomplish this incredible feat?”
Someone asked a sharp question as if they were a reporter.
But I was not flustered at all.
The answer was already decided anyway.
“All of this was done by the half-god Adam and the half-demon Shugl, whom our Dapan Group has contracted with.”
I merely showed them the direction.
Half-gods and half-demons were not beings that only appeared in myths.
They were generally treated as very powerful and intelligent monsters.
Since the public already had some knowledge of them, I thought this explanation would be sufficient.
However, the result flowed in a completely different direction from what I expected.
“To be able to command half-gods and half-demons at will is proof that His Grace the Duke is a living god!”
“Indeed!”
There has never been such a case before.
We must establish a new religious order!
Faced with this unstoppable flow of consciousness, I slapped my forehead.
It seemed these people’s thinking had become completely rigid due to blind faith.
So what should I do?
The best medicine for a mad dog is the whip.
I took out Hector Punisher and beckoned with my finger.
Ah, of course I had no intention of smashing their heads with it.
I had lived so civilly until now.
Why would I do something like that?
“Those who are dissatisfied with my explanation, please step forward.”
If you continue to spread baseless rumors, I will sue every single one of you.
The people who had been shouting about creating a religious order finally fell silent.
The construction of the water treatment plant and aqueduct was completed in the blink of an eye.
Such a massive facility had been built in only one week.
There had probably never been such rapid construction in history.
Perhaps because of that, the nobles’ gazes began to change.
“Is… is something like that even possible?”
“Has there ever been anyone who could handle half-gods and half-demons so well?”
“Until His Grace brought that monster called the God of the Earth, I did not even know such beings existed.”
“Same here.”
Most people probably felt the same.
“What if the half-god and half-demon were just an excuse, and it was actually His Grace’s own power from the beginning?”
“Hah!”
Why would Aramid bestow two such talents upon the imperial family?
“My heir is the same age as His Grace, but that brat only causes trouble every day.”
Tsk tsk!
Regardless of their faction, most nobles shook their heads while thinking of their own children.
On the other hand, some began moving hurriedly with sparkling eyes.
“This is no time to hesitate.”
How old is my sixth daughter again…!!
“Are you planning to arrange a marriage with the Carius family?”
It will not work.
“Why do you say that?”
My daughter is so beautiful.
“I already tried.”
They do not even accept requests anymore.
As mentioned, there was probably no better groom than Abel Carius.
Of course, when it came to military power alone, he was indeed far behind the other ducal houses.
But Abel Carius was the person who received the emperor’s favor the most.
Moreover, he had recently accumulated enormous wealth through the Dapan Group.
Although he also gave away a lot.
As this perception spread strongly, a certain movement began within the imperial political circle.
“It has been a while.”
“Is this the first time since the incident with our friend Skyler?”
“Are you going to start checking me from the beginning?”
Let us act according to the purpose of this meeting.
“My apologies.”
There was no malice.
It just reminded me of that time.
Duke Diandre Giovanni smiled with an awkward expression.
On the other hand, Duke Planger Sierre frowned unpleasantly.
Skyler had been sentenced to forty years in prison.
Because of that incident, the Sierre ducal house’s succession structure had been thrown into chaos.
All the children after the second son were illegitimate.
If they could not properly establish a successor, their position within the noble faction would shake.
Additionally, the Midias shopping district was inflicting massive damage on both ducal houses.
“Because of that damned solid soap, the nobles are no longer buying liquid soap.”
I cannot understand why they are all flocking over just because the scent is slightly better.
“Our side is being destroyed in fabric, paper, and livestock as well.”
“And now he has even completed the water and sewage maintenance and waste disposal.”
His reputation has risen too high.
“We must be on guard.”
He is gaining popularity not only among the commoners and below, but also within noble society.
“That is exactly the problem.”
I am afraid he will one day talk about changing the heavens.
Last time, there were even rumors about establishing a new religious order.
Duke Sierre subtly brought up the topic of treason.
It was the most effective weapon of attack against any noble.
However, Duke Giovanni slowly shook his head.
“Doing it that way will not have much meaning.”
“That is true.”
It did not work last time either.
During the state council meeting, when Marquis Gilmore mentioned the possibility of treason, it had backfired on them instead.
The emperor had even ordered that the military strength of the Carius Duchy be kept lower than others.
Although the order was quickly withdrawn, the nobles clearly remembered the fear from that time.
After exchanging opinions for a while, the two dukes clutched their heads.
They had considered strategies from multiple angles, but no sharp solution came to mind.
Then, Duke Sierre raised his head with a chilling gaze.
“Let us go back to the basics.”
“How?”
“What do you think is the thing the Carius Duchy lacks the most right now?”
“Military power, of course.”
That cunning fellow is trying not to arouse His Majesty’s suspicion… Oh?
Duke Giovanni’s eyes sparkled with interest.
Just from that one question, numerous attack methods had come to mind.
It made sense.
These two dukes were veterans of power struggles.
How many things must they have experienced to reach their current positions?
Only thirty patrol soldiers and thirty imperial guards.
Even an average barony probably had more troops than that.
“But the defense of the Carius Duchy is not bad.”
I heard they surrounded the Midias factory area with walls.
“Even so, their security forces are pathetically insufficient.”
If we set fire to the fields or factories, how could they possibly stop it?
“How about spreading rumors that they received divine punishment for daring to trespass on the domain of God?”
“Kuhuhu!”
Now we are speaking the same language.
Let us plan this as discreetly as possible.
“Since all we need to do is start a fire, there is no need to use our own troops.”
In times like these, using the underworld is perfect.
The two dukes began plotting enthusiastically.
And then, a few days later, late at night.
There was secret movement near the Carius Duchy and Midias.
Dozens of masked figures suddenly appeared.
Like assassins, they moved without making a sound and evaded the surveillance network.
Soon, flames simultaneously erupted from the wheat fields and vineyards of the Carius Duchy and the factory district of Midias.
Fwoooooosh!
“Fire!”
There is a fire!
“Fire in the wheat fields!”
“There is a fire at the factory as well!”
People were running around in all directions.
The arsonists looked at each other and quickly exchanged hand signals.
Since the operation had succeeded, they were preparing to retreat quickly.
But they could not go far before they had to stop.
“Do not panic!”
Follow the manual!
“Water pumps ready!”
“Start pumping!”
“One! Two! One! Two!”
After an unknown chant, streams of water shot from all directions and began suppressing the flames.
The arsonists who were watching muttered.
“W-what do we do now?”
“What else?”
We retreat for now.
However, they could not go far.
A man had suddenly appeared.
“What is this?”
These thieves.
It was Cordell McNeil, the Black Agent of the Imperial Guard Knights.