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Chapter 52: First Miracle [Kingdom Building System Protocol Activated] [Ruler: Justinian Alarys Thirell] [Rank: Duke] 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦 [Resources:] Gold: 683 KG Food: 20~26 Weeks Military: 725 Units [Map:] Snowkeep (Capital): Unrest (0.3%) Herdrin: Unrest (2%) Bridgeton: Unrest (5%) ’Whoa... everything’s gone up, I guess Matthias and Darius are really doing their best.’ [Prestige: 1675] ’I have a ton of prestige as well... and with my economy doing great, I need to be careful with my spending.’ Justinian walked alone towards his palace, the streets in loud celebration as citizens and soldiers around him sang praises and ate meals. It was a festive day, one that Justinian had wanted. ’Just a few more months and winter will come...’ Justinian looked upwards, the endless snow of Snowkeep continuing its relentless barrage. If it was already this bad, then what about winter itself? ’I’ll need to prepare for that.’ He opened his shop, scrolling through useful things to buy. He knew how to handle the winter, but he wasn’t smart enough to implement it. Again, he was a historian, not an engineer. ’Would be great if I had a craftsman from the capital... but that would be too expensive.’ Justinian sighed, entering his palace and heading to his office, where Darius was still sitting, sorting out laws and paperwork while the celebrations outside were ongoing. "My lord, what brings you here?" "Huh...? Darius? You’re still here?" "Why am I supposed to be somewhere else?" "Can’t you hear the commotion outside? Everyone is dismissed for the day to celebrate the end of the rebellion." Justinian replied, checking out books and ledgers sorted near shelves, seeing if anything was useful to his current objective of enhancing the mortality rate of his duchy. "Wait... a party!?" "You didn’t hear?" "N-no... haha" Darius scratched the back of his head, laughing slightly. "There’ll be food. I urge you to rest for a while." "Y-you mean it!?" Darius stood up from his chair, his eyes glinting at the prospect of being able to stuff himself. "Don’t make me repeat myself." Justinian smiled before placing his arms in his pockets, a sigh escaping his lips. "Are you looking for something, my lord?" "Do we have talented architects in the kingdom? Or at least, smart thinkers?" "I haven’t seen or read anyone with that description, unfortunately." Justinian pinched the bridge of his nose before waving his arms. "Never mind, enjoy yourself then." Darius nodded, departing the room and leaving Justinian alone to contemplate and more busy things to do. "I thought I’d be resting... but I forgot that dukes aren’t just made to win wars." Justinian leaned onto a window in his office that overlooked the city, seeing Cassia and Bjorn having a long-earned family time, while Lucan and the others were holding mock duels with betting. "At least they’re having fun." Justinian turned around and looked back at this prestige shop, once again scrolling for more useful things. "Using my once-a-week miracle could help... but is it really worth it using it now?" Justinian grasped his head, clearly irritated at having to think about all the specifics and logistics of ruling a kingdom. ’Why can’t I just be a good-looking prince instead!?’ Justinian yelled out inside his office, clearly losing it. "Whatever..." [False Divine Activated] "Let’s just risk it." His red eyes faintly glowed, small red horns forming on his head as he activated his ability, power flowing all around his body as he focused on the miracle he wanted to perform. His miracle? To grant someone a one-in-a-million epiphany about knowledge on city planning. It was specific enough not to backfire and vague enough to allow extra benefits; it was better than having to ’miracle’ a good sewage system out of thin air. "Did that work?" He mumbled, tilting his head as his form returned to normal. KNOCK! KNOCK! "My lord, someone wants to meet you." Justinian’s eyes widened, a disbelieving smile appearing on his face. "I guess it did!?" "Tell them to meet me at the throne room!" Justinian ordered, before fixing his hair, realizing he was still wearing full armor from the battle. "Gotta get changed." *** Snowkeep Palace - Throne Room *** "So..." A few minutes had passed since Justinian had prepared himself, now sitting in the throne room with his ducal attire. With what seemed like a normal, inconspicious citizen in front of him, usually, he would expect nothing, but with his ability activated, he expected everything. "What do you wish to talk about?" The inconspicious citizen in front of him was deceptively simple, with black hair, black eyes, and a simple brown tunic that could be seen everywhere. Even his physique was average, enough that Justinian even expected him to be named something like ’Joe’. "W-well... it might seem strange, my lord." Justinian raised a brow at his answer. "Go on..." "But I felt like the gods gave me a message... a message to turn this city into a metropolis!" The citizen shouted, hands clenched as his eyes were filled with determination. But for Justinian? It was like seeing a play where you already knew what would happen. "Ah... I see? That’s wonderful news! You’ll start immediately!" Justinian answered, trying his best to sound natural, but it was an impossible task trying to pretend you weren’t the one who granted him his knowledge. "M-my lord...?" A knight who stood beside one of the pillars asked, his disbelieving expression piercing through his helmeted face. Did his duke really just hire someone out of nowhere?