Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Bilao quickly returned.

He hesitated and said, "The merchants from Deepwater City are asking if you really don't need this dock and warehouse.

If you truly don't need it, could you allow them to exchange it for some other land elsewhere?"

Hill was taken aback, "What do you mean? Which land?"

Bilao respectfully said, "They suggest that if you are just planning to invest, it might be better to directly exchange for a territory.

The development of Sword Bay has been rapid recently, and all the coastal lots suitable for harbors, good or bad, have basically been bought up by these merchant guilds.

The guild that was cleared out had once bought a piece of coastal land in Sword Bay.

If you are interested in buying it, they can exchange it for a larger piece next to it, whose future value can only be higher, not lower.

Otherwise, if you continue to bid like this, even if the docks are leased out at market price, you estimate it will take 100 to 200 years to recoup the costs.

If it's going to be centuries, you might as well bet on the future of Sword Bay."

Hill thought for a moment and understood what the Deepwater City merchants meant. They really wanted this dock and warehouse, but even if they gathered the funds, they wouldn't purchase it at the price Hill would eventually close at.

The subordinate of Valkin had been angered to the point of irrationality by Hill, determined to surpass Hill financially.

From his frenzied behavior, it was likely not his own money he was spending.

Which means, the money from Valkin Temple, that's not something ordinary merchants can compete with.

But for merchants, no one wants to engage in a losing trade, no matter how bright the future.

However, they also sensed that, while Hill might be wealthy, he seemed to have no interest in doing business.

In this terrifying world, the wealthiest people are definitely not those merchants.

And Hill was someone who dared to directly curse at Valkin! They couldn't afford to offend him either.

So they simply took out a piece of land that had been hoarded for many years.

A place they couldn't develop could just be a small effort for these terrifyingly powerful individuals.

After pondering for a while, Hill gestured to Bilao with a nod of his chin, "I need to know the exact location."

He continued to mechanically hit the +1000 button, waiting for Bilao to take out the map of the bay.

Hill glanced at it and immediately understood why this vast coastal territory was put up for exchange.

The location was considered good, situated between Deepwater City and Neverwinter.

But a third of the territory was actually the Swamp of the Dead.

Bilao drew a line on the map: "The piece they are offering to exchange with you is the best one, although it also includes some of the Swamp of the Dead's territory, but this is the only reason the countries and cities around Sword Bay are willing to let go of their own territories.

They are betting that in a few years, Neverwinter will have to expand its territory, and it can't possibly be in any other direction. If there's a bit of open space, it's all the manors and farms of nobles and powerbrokers. They can only expand southward.

The piece of land we were planning to sell at the auction is actually just for show. In fact, it is even larger than theirs, but two-thirds of it includes the Undead Swamp and part of the Sword Mountain Range. The only better part is a relatively large open space.

But to be honest, anyone who really reaches there would try hard to go to Neverwinter instead. Who would live near the Undead Swamp?

However, these two pieces of land can really be joined together, and I guess that's another reason this Deepwater City guild still wants to buy it back.

If we're talking about value, it's indeed comparable to your docks and warehouse; after all, the main road connecting Neverwinter and Deepwater passes through this land.

It could also serve as a trade route.

They believe you have the capacity to establish a camp in that place."

Bilao firmly believed that in the end, the dock and warehouse would definitely go to Hill.

Pressing the bid button so casually, even Elaströ, who owns a huge treasure vault, wouldn't be so arrogant.

It was the first time he had seen a mage who acted as if he could really produce gold himself.

But the auction house's executives had already checked the red gold brought out by the guest, which was the purest kind, definitely not fake gold produced by an Alchemist.

Bilao began to suspect that this guest, reportedly a Half-Elf Mage, might own a large gold mine at home.

Hill mechanically pressed a few keys, then suddenly raised his hand, as if he had been the one bidding both times?

He couldn't help but snort coldly. He had thought Valkin's people were full of money!

Every time he thought of the issue with Felunryel, he got so angry he couldn't calm down!

Why didn't Tyr just finish her off completely?!

He even left her with some dignity, not revealing his collusion with the Chromatic Dragon Queen. That Goddess of Joy, Miliel, must have intervened to help Valkin again.

This Goddess, famous for her passion and romance, has always had extensive connections. It made sense that she could preserve Valkin's life.

But Hill didn't think Miliel would continue to help Valkin in the future.

From the words of the bards, it could be discerned that the Goddess of Joy seemed to be starting to distance herself from Valkin.

Hill dared to openly confront Valkin's people not only because he heard the news of her dwindling Divine Power. He also sensed a banishment from the swaggering God's Chosen of that side.

Valkin won't be able to directly contact the Prime Material Plane for at least a hundred years.

Her Follower may look arrogant, but in fact, he's all bark and no bite.

They probably don't even know where Valkin's treasure vault is; otherwise, how could the followers of the Goddess of Wealth possibly lose a bidding war to someone who insults their deity by burning through money?

Hill looked up and glanced across at the opposite private room, which was deathly silent except for the terrifying wrath and murderous intent.

He couldn't help but let out a sneer.

A hundred years from now, not to mention whether Hill himself would still be on the Ferun Great Land, even if he were, Hill felt confident that if Valkin really dared to cause trouble, he could definitely send her back to Six Fingers.

She can't even leave her Divine Kingdom right now and thus can't recognize Hill, nor does she have any chance to convey a message to Talos, the Storm God.

Hill was not afraid for his safety, and even if Talos made a move, Hill wasn't worried.

The deities of this region, while indeed powerful, are so entangled with each other that they are extremely cautious each time they take action.

While one enjoys success here, their home base might be under attack there.

It's actually the Legendary Mages who act more decisively and swiftly.

The reason he was so cautious was related to the future of Agleya which was the most important issue at the moment.

In the midst of silence, Hill obtained ownership of the expensive dock and its adjacent warehouse.

He glanced at Bilao, who awaited his instructions with utmost respect, "Once I've acquired that territory, invite over the guests from Deepwater City! Tell them I'm considering it."

After Bilao left, he quickly returned, "The people of Deepwater City suggest that they could bid for the land on your behalf and exchange it with you.

They don't want you to bear the loss alone, and they're also concerned about Valkin's people causing you trouble.

You can rest assured, the value of the land is likely less than that of your estate outside the city.

For them, being chosen by you is a stroke of luck."

Hill pondered for a moment and realized that his apparent indifference to a deity made the merchants of Deepwater somewhat fearful.

They are accustomed to dealing with high-ranking figures and dread offending any powerful entity.

Even if Hill didn't mind the extra money spent on the dock today, if the value of the lands around Silvermoon City increased in the future, and Hill had only a worthless plot of land, he might become dissatisfied.

They weren't sure if Neverwinter would definitely expand as well.

Hill agreed decisively; he had no interest in entangling himself with these merchants. To his mind, the piece of territory was quite suitable indeed.

As for the monsters in the Undead Swamp, Hill wasn't worried—it was just a matter of taking time for purification.

Once he established the Puzzle Lock and the Magic Tower, he could then make use of the Holy Relic Painting.

Teraxil was actually already under the World Tree Pantheon; even if the deities of this world sensed it, they would likely have no reaction.

As long as the Sun God of Teraxil didn't come himself, the local Elaströ should be able to maintain the friendly demeanor.

The challenge here in Sword Bay is the complex interweaving powers, which might even face attacks from Beastmen.

No one wants to work hard only to hand everything over to someone else.

Hill looked over the extent of the territory.

He could place his Maze Forest Array at the far eastern end. Hill could use some Legendary Level materials to make this Magic Array permanent in this world, no longer fading away with Hill's departure.

His Magic Tower, however, would have to be positioned on this side, a bit closer to the main road.

The natural aura of where Hill stayed would naturally intensify; if on the west side, it could affect Agleya.

If he built the Magic Tower taller, he could use the Strike Evil Light from the painting once a day from above.

As for the ocean to the west, all he needed was to establish the Water Element Puzzle Lock—not necessary to include the entire Undead Swamp.

Deepwater would have to strive to purify that on its own.

Without making a contribution to this world, preaching here would only bring bad luck by the World Will.

Every foreign god that established a foothold in the Toril World, whether powerful or weak, had in fact made contributions to this world.

Sometimes evil deities concoct a tremendously wicked plan, only to see it fail over trivial matters—this actually relates to the world's inclinations.

In fact, this is true for any world, but the prerequisite is a complete world with sufficient strength to resist.

Hill decided to place Agleya's Temple on the west side of the main road, ensuring that no undead or similar threats could endanger the thoroughfare.

Passersby could receive the pure water bestowed by Agleya, the Sea Goddess.

If the traveler wished to offer Agleya a gift, they could receive Holy Water capable of resisting some of the undead and evil miasma.

Those daring to brave this dangerous path all had their own means. With the addition of Holy Water, they would be able to safely get through.

Hill nodded in satisfaction, now just waiting for the trade goods to be delivered.