A strange world

Chapter 1173 Section 95. Can't cheat money

Annan had a dream. He dreamed of the future of Free City: with the help of the First Heart Fruit, everyone would be a warrior, a magician, and a professional who practiced both magic and martial arts.

Of course, there was no First Heart Fruit Tree in Free City, so Annan couldn't dream.

There were only 77 First Heart Fruits left in his hand. Giving ten to Dade would probably have no result, but even if the chance was slim, he had to try.

It was easy to choose between a bag of coins and an unknown gold mine.

The First Heart Fruit Tree was the future. Annan retracted his gaze and returned to the present.

Olmedo stood in front of a huge map of the western part of Middle-earth.

To the south of Free City were the Forest Mountains and the great lords on the other side of the mountains. To the east were the borders of the Empire and a bunch of small forces in the gap. To the north was the Principality of Montabullock, their so-called ally but actually their younger brother.

Olmedo's sight was focused on the gray line representing the city wall.

Currently, only the north side of the principality has a section of the wall that has just been built, and the other two directions are temporarily vacant.

Outsiders think that Olmedo is thinking about strategic issues, but in fact she is worried about the jobs of more than 100,000 unemployed vagrants in Free City.

Gem Bay is full of farmers who cultivate farmland, and factories and docks cannot absorb too many people. The best way is to build a wall.

For this reason, Olmedo sent letters to the surrounding forces, saying that Free City provides materials and workers to build the wall for them for free, and they just need to pay.

But even with such relaxed conditions, the surrounding forces refused.

No noble would be stupid enough to use their own money to build useless walls.

Fermi asked for a fight, saying that he had a way to knock on the door of these forces.

"Forget it, I just told the students of the kingdom that stability is the most important thing, and I'm going to play the hegemony game..."

Annan has no intention of creating panic in the surrounding areas. Who knows if the empire knows whether it will fight with them on the grounds of "the little guy has finally grown up and learned to show off his muscles", "what are you going to do to my vassal" or "you step left first when you enter the door".

"Let's send an invitation letter to the surrounding forces first, and I'll tell them."

Speaking of which, Annan has not had any contact with the Free City for so long - when it was weak, it had no time for diplomacy, and after it became stronger, Olmedo took over.

Soon, the invitation letter was issued in the name of "maintaining public security in the western part of Middle-earth".

The third mushroom house was under construction, the wizard tower was under construction all day, and the farmland in the Gem Bay was expanding...When there were changes every day, there was another major event that few people knew about in the city: Cathy was adopted by Idillia and officially given the surname Reeves.

The population of the declining Reeves family soared by 33% - from three people to four people.

"Sister Idillia, Sister Laila, I have a father!" Cathy said excitedly as she threw herself into her eldest sister's arms.

"Uh...you should still call me brother."

After all, Cathy is only ten years younger than Annan.

Before the adoption, the three siblings were familiar enough with Cathy, so except for Cathy who cried because she finally had a family, everyone else simply gathered together to enjoy a family dinner.

"Annan, you are not young anymore..."

Idyllia was about to say something, but Anan interrupted: "I suddenly remembered that I forgot to water the other world tree!"

Anan fled in panic, and there was a faint conversation coming from behind.

"Sister, didn't he find an elf woman?"

"Elves are difficult to give birth..."

...

In mid-April, the forces that received the invitation letter came to Liberty City one after another.

"That is Sir Sumant, and he is a great noble of the empire."

"He is the Great Knight Bernard, who governs a knight territory."

"The head of the Jemima family, the territory is a peninsula surrounded by water on three sides, and we have a lot of trade with us..."

Anan and Olmedo stood in front of the window, and she made up with her about the forces around Liberty City.

"What about that?" Anan looked at a young man in knight costume.

His demeanor was the most different, with some arrogance.

"The people of Ennius Franco are the great lords west of the Forest Mountains."

Annan had some impression that the population of the Franco territory in the west was about the same as that of the current Gem Bay.

"By the way, in whose name is the banquet held?"

"Not yours." Olmedo understood.

"That's good..."

In the afternoon, the banquet began.

Except for the envoys sent by the Franco territory, most of the other forces were led by their leaders in person or sent their children.

They were polite about the amazing Liberty City, but it was unknown how sincere they were. Halfway through the banquet, Annan mentioned again that Liberty City "helped" them build the city wall.

The noble lords hesitated.

"Everyone, you should know that we ended the war with the kingdom at the beginning of the year. At that time, the ratmen were already ready to move. As the northern borders become civilized, they may move south at any time... We need the city wall to protect ourselves."

"The empire will protect us..."

"Without the city wall to delay time, even if the empire arrives, it will be too late."

Annan's sincerity made some forces move, but seeing that no one around was willing to take the lead, they also kept silent.

The elves' betrayal inevitably had an impact: the surrounding forces of the Free City did not take Annan's words seriously.

"What's your name?"

"Bro, Lord Annan." The young knight from the Franco territory answered.

Annan made a last-ditch effort and asked: "Do you think the same as them? Bro, the rat people and demons are in the north."

"I am only attending the banquet on behalf of the lord, and have no right to make any decisions." The young knight raised his head and looked at Annan calmly.

Annan gradually frowned: "You have no respect for me."

Invisible depression came over, making it difficult for Bro to breathe. At this moment, he suddenly remembered that even if he had not formed an alliance with the elves, the boy in front of him had defeated a powerful lord of a kingdom.

His attitude became humble and he lowered his head: "I have no intention of provocation, but Lord Franco is a confident lord. He will not believe your warning unless he sees it with his own eyes."

Annan shook his head and completely lost the desire to talk: "Enjoy the banquet, I hope you like it in Liberty City."

"Thank you for your understanding." Feeling the invisible pressure disappear, Bro made a knightly salute.

Looking at the messenger's back, Olmedo said: "He is a smart man, and he deliberately came to test our confidence to see if we have become a soft persimmon."

"The result is neither soft nor hard?"

"Yeah, neither soft nor hard..."

They don't want to provoke Liberty City, but they don't want to listen to Liberty City either.

Other forces can't count on them, so they can only think of ways...such as spending their own money to build a city wall to surround the entire Gem Bay?