After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World

”So this is what a level 3 Village center looks like...” Kimmy said, looking at the three-story building in front of them.

They entered and were met with a lot of people doing their own transactions. Seeing them, a lot of them stopped what they were doing and turned, looking at them curiously.

Kimmy looked fascinatedly at the decorations, and then to the chandelier and the sconce lights. They looked very good, almost like they had electricity.

She turned to look at the two other lords with fluttering eyelashes, blushing a little. ”Do your village centers look the same?”

The two men cringed a bit, unconsciously stepping back.

”No. We saw it when it was level two, and there are still differences.” For one, theirs were much plainer. It could be said that the Lord here tapped every chance of customization.

It was really, very, very rich.

Anyway, they weren’t exactly left to appreciate in peace as people noticed Althea, who had entered a bit later than they did.

”It’s Ms. Althea!” A yell from the crowd greeted amicably. This was a catalyst for the cacophony of greetings that followed.

”Hello, Ms. Althea! Fancy seeing you here.”

”Wow, good afternoon Miss!”

”Still as beautiful as always, Miss Althea!”

”How are the babies?”

Many people approached them, genuinely adoring the woman. Althea smiled and responded to what she could, temporarily leaving the visitors some meters away for their own comfort.

”She’s really popular and loved,” Yao said, smiling. This made Micheal smile beside him.

”Well, not only is she charming, she basically holds the economic lifeline of the territory.”

”Do you think the Lord here will…” Matthew couldn’t help but look at the woman worriedly. Historically, the kings didn’t like other people adoring others.

”I don’t think so,” Micheal said, ”Besides, if the Lord here is that type of person, he wouldn’t have hidden his identity in the first place.”

”Ah, that makes sense,” Matthew said, shoulders slumping in relief.

Similarly, the other two elders were also quite popular, chatting with the citizens casually and having fun, yet receiving the respect they ought to have at the same time.

It was quite envious.

Micheal’s rule, while fair, also had a tinge of force and fear in it. Matthew’s depended on charisma and the concept of ’unity against a common enemy’, though after Higson’s killings were revealed it had already been discounted. As for Kimmy’s…, she wasn’t entirely sure how her territory was so well-managed.

Speaking of Kimmy, it was here that she walked near the two men. ”Where does that go? Why isn’t anyone going up?” She asked, pointing at the seemingly unused stairs.

”The NPCs go down from there.” Althea, who had just gotten back to them, answered. She then led them to a free platform to seal their contract.

Matthew stared, ”Why are they called NPCs anyway?”

She shrugged, ”Gamifying when we can lighten up the pressure. We’ll ease out of the term eventually.”

”Does the choices of NPCs get better?” Micheal asked as he stepped forward to follow her lead.

Althea shook her head. ”Our NPCs said quality would improve after we became a town.”

”Hmn.. makes sense.”

”So this is where NPCs appear?” Kimmy mumbled, ranting at Raine beside her. ”I should’ve spent on it instead of the bathhouse! You should’ve warned me!”

Raine froze a bit, and nodded passively. ”I apologize, my Lord.”

She had forgotten this had been the latter’s advice all along. She just didn’t listen, saying something about needing a good bath after drowning in this hell hole for so long.

Althea took a moment to watch the three lords again, wondering whether she should inform them more of what she knew.

She’d rather their territories improve along with her than get buried in the next beast tides. Other than the fact that they were all humans and they should help each other out, there was an economic reason for it as well.

As they said, in terms of territories, rich neighbors could bring richer gains.

The characters of these three weren’t bad. They were also young and open to innovation. She could also see the sincere desire to improve their territories and the lives of the people.

After some thought, she came to a conclusion and looked at them with sincere invitation.

”After the signing,” She paused, ”Can I meet privately with the three Lords at noon, before you go?” She said, ”I’d like to invite you to a light after-lunch snack in my place.”

The people looked at her a little surprised, but seeing she was serious, they couldn’t help but be touched.

”It’ll be an honor,” Micheal said with an enigmatic smile, patting down his bodyguard Dig, who was about to speak. This man always thought of worst-case scenarios.

This was naturally a good quality for his job, but Micheal wasn’t having it today.

He could already imagine what he was about to say: They were outside their turf, anything could happen.

However, he still had an idea about the character of this woman. She could be trusted.

The groups settled around the panel. After Althea typed in some things, a glittery holographic screen appeared in front of all of them.

It summarised all that they had talked about earlier, including some punishments for breaching it (mostly in gold, though heavier transgressions could mean losing a building slot).

[Would you like to finalize this deal with Gaea Chamber of Commerce?]

Matthew and Kimmy were new and read carefully. Micheal had signed a contract with Ansel before, and this was just a further stamp to the deal.

At the same time, the three lords pressed enter, and an instantaneous light surrounded them all, catching even more attention on them.

Soon, an announcement echoed across the territory—to everyone, including the visitors.

[Gaea Chamber of Commerce: Our company has now secured partnerships with Terran Territories: Bright Villages, Vismont Village, and Belluga Village.]

This way, everyone would be aware of the new deals that had been happening, so they could plan their own trades accordingly. This would also signal other commercial teams like the Woodmasters to follow her lead and create partnerships with other territories as well.

Althea looked at the announcement in thought, thinking whether she should tighten the relationship.

Allied territories are different from subsidiary territories where the latter would give some tax to the leading territory.

However, allied territories were usually between territories of equal strengths or at least of equal advantages towards the other.

As it stood, she really didn’t have much advantage in allying with them.

However, humanitarian desires aside, she didn’t believe it would be useless in the objective sense.

She could just look at these four territories as an extension of her market. And a larger market meant money.

Formalizing the alliance would allow a smoother flow of people and resources, which would bring her quite a bit of gold in tourism.

Anyway, she’d be telling them a lot of what she knew already. She might as well formalize it.

[Territory Announcement: It has been detected that major commercial partnerships have been concluded with three territories.

[Elder Mathilda will be representing Altera Village. The territory system allows for the formation of allied territories at the judgment of the three existing Elders.]

Gru flinched and looked at the other two in surprise. Althea shrugged saying she was just as surprised, and Mathilda only chuckled.

”Well, better make friends than enemies, right?”

The other three lords watched their interaction with mixed moods. While excited, they were also apprehensive.

They were still self-aware. They didn’t seem to have anything to offer to warrant an alliance. It felt like they’d be taking all the advantages.

”I… is this alright?” They asked and Mathilda nodded.

”The Village System had spoken. I’m just here to represent.”

The other visitors gulped and looked at each other, a bit disbelieving at this good thing that dropped on their heads.

Anyway, at this announcement, people from all territories gathered to watch this momentous occasion.

The village center was packed but proper, with everyone watching closely as the lords and elders stood in a circle around the platform, no doubt seeing magic screens in front of them.

[A four-way alliance between Altera Village (Lv2), Bright Village (Lv2), Viamont Village (Lv2), and Belluga Village (Lv2) is being established, effective immediately]

[Each territory will now be able to communicate via Territory Centers (Lv3).

[Allied territories cannot go to war, but they can participate in allied wars of the same level.]

[Please confirm.

[Yes | No]

The four people—Mathilda, Micheal, Matthew, and Kimmy—selected their answers at the same time, and patterned circles appeared under their feet the instant they did so.

It was much brighter and larger than typical commercial deals, signifying its effect and importance. No one spoke and waited for it to pass.

When the light of alliance ebbed, everyone cheered. Even those who didn’t know each other from different territories patted each other’s backs.

Regardless of where they were from, they now had more allies—and this was a marvelous thing!