Return of the Max-Level Lord Chapter 80

It was Fusion and Conditional Formation.

To begin with, Fusion wasn’t that different from Synthesis or Synthesis–Formation.

It was an ability that allowed the user to employ both without needing to distinguish between them.

On the other hand, Conditional Formation was quite a tricky ability to use.

“Conditional Formation!”

[You may now set the conditions for the formula.]

Area Setting

One-Way Passage

Raion configured the two conditions.

Then, the radius within which the magic would unfold was drawn in midair.

“Is this enough?”

He expanded the mana barrier so that it stretched widely above Drak Gorge Village.

Then, with the one-way setting, he adjusted it so that only attacks directed outward from the inside would be permitted.

All settings were now complete.

He engraved the same formula as before on the surfaces of the other logs as well.

Once the work was done, a semi-transparent mana barrier spread across the sky above the village.

The dwarves and workers nearby, who were busy with their own tasks, stopped and stared in awe.

“Wow……”

“What did His Highness just do?”

It seemed they couldn’t tell what it was just from seeing the barrier.

Of course, the northern and southern entrances were left open so anyone could still come and go.

Since the village was being built between cliffs, the barrier was primarily a defense against possible aerial attacks.

Though, who in their right mind would climb over the monster-infested Clamen Mountains to attack was anyone’s guess.

“Phew… The mana consumption is quite something.”

His mana, which had exceeded 12,000, had dropped to 7,000.

It had cost him 5,000 mana to expand the barrier to such a wide area.

Of course, from then on, Steeloud would absorb mana from the ground to maintain it.

Raion finished his work and leapt upward.

“Are you all right, my lord?”

Since the scale of the work had been massive, Patrick had been worried.

“The mana consumption was a bit heavy, but I’m fine. From now on, there shouldn’t be any problem with aerial attacks.”

“It has truly become a fortress blessed by nature.”

“Yeah. And from here on, I’ll have Calsios take full charge of this place.”

Calsios had once belonged to the Red Sand Mercenary Corps—the very group that had tried to kill Raion.

Because of that, Patrick still found it hard to fully trust him.

“The position of commander at Drak Gorge is equivalent to the gatekeeper of Kanas Territory. It’s a post with great responsibility. I’m concerned about Sir Calsios’s background.”

“He’s a capable mercenary. To be a gatekeeper, one needs sharp eyes. I’m sure he’ll be able to pick out anyone who could pose a threat to the territory.”

“As expected, you always think several steps ahead.”

Patrick, in truth, had no intention of questioning Raion’s orders.

He only asked so he could better understand Raion’s intentions and make up for anything that might be lacking.

“Do you really have to keep asking questions you already know the answer to?”

“Please understand—it’s one of my small hobbies.”

“That’s quite a peculiar hobby.”

Muttering that, Raion fused together the concrete blocks he had prepared in advance in the warehouse using Fusion.

The block measured 5 meters in both width and length and was shaped like a cover.

As soon as the completed concrete cover floated in midair, it was placed atop the Steeloud and the device created through engraved formulas.

Thud—!

A heavy sound rang out, marking the end of Raion’s work.

“You’ve done well. With this, no one will be able to break through.”

The mana barrier technique would now operate automatically, twenty-four hours a day.

Since Steeloud would continuously absorb mana from the ground to replenish it, the device could be used semi-permanently.

“If we install these in the lord’s castle and the main areas, there won’t be any danger to worry about.”

“Your actions seem as though you’re preparing for war.”

Raion was planning to turn Kanas into an impregnable fortress.

Watching his lord’s movements, Patrick could sense the gravity of the situation.

“It’s just one year from now. After that, a great wind will sweep through the Canel Kingdom.”

“But Master, you’ve said before that you have no interest in the royal succession.”

Patrick had always found that regrettable.

Though he could also sense that Raion had other plans in mind, so he held his tongue.

“True. Though I doubt those who’ve been quietly watching me will stay still forever.”

“You mean the nobles of the royal capital. More precisely, Duke Alito Kright won’t stay idle.”

“Let’s just prepare as best we can.”

“I’ll make sure there are no obstacles, my lord.”

After saying that, Patrick quietly followed behind Raion.

Drak Gorge Village was steadily being built and was nearing completion.

Most of the people who would relocate there from the lord’s castle and nearby villages had already been selected.

Of course, no one would willingly move to Drak Gorge in the Clamen Mountains, a place crawling with monsters.

So Raion had granted them tax exemptions and the right to freely run businesses within the village.

At the same time, construction of the port in the western coastal village had entered its final stage.

The speed of shipbuilding had also increased, thanks to Dike’s leadership and the assistance of the dwarves who had newly become residents of the territory.

“Everything is coming together nicely.”

Raion spread out the maps and progress reports on his desk in the lord’s castle and smiled in satisfaction.

Knock, knock!

As the door was tapped, Patrick poked his head in.

“What is it?”

“Someone from the Eye of the Moon has come.”

“Really? Tell them to come in.”

Patrick stepped aside.

Then Regina Foster, who had been waiting outside the door, entered and lifted her skirt slightly in greeting.

“Regina Foster, Branch Leader of the Eye of the Moon’s Canel Royal Capital Branch, greets Your Highness.”

Her long ash-gray hair shimmered as she bowed.

“I’m not fond of formal greetings. Have a seat over there.”

At Raion’s words, Regina showed a faint, curious smile.

“You’re more open-minded than I’ve heard.”

“I just dislike unnecessary formalities. Anyway, has the branch in Kanas Territory been completed?”

“Thanks to your support, there were no problems.”

After the incident in Hasein Territory, the Eye of the Moon had followed Patrick’s suggestion and established a branch in Kanas Territory.

Of course, it wasn’t something that could be done overnight, so the necessary procedures and preparations had taken some time.

Raion had helped by providing both financial support and a suitable location.

“How is the village in Drak Gorge coming along?”

“It’s remarkably well-organized. We’ve set up our branch exactly where you indicated. With this, the overland trade route through Kanas is now complete.”

It was as if Kanas, which had been isolated for so long, had finally opened itself to the outside world.

If this fact were made public, even the royal capital would start to take notice.

Of course, Raion planned to keep this a secret for some time.

“All we did was open up a blocked entrance. More importantly, have you confirmed the situation in the royal capital?”

Although he could roughly guess, Raion still needed accurate information, so he had asked Patrick to request it.

At that, Regina smiled faintly.

“To be honest, things aren’t looking good. Recently, Duke Alito Kright has been contacting the nobles aligned with the royal faction.”

“That must be the result of His Majesty persistently pushing to make me the heir to the throne.”

King Laskan, the current monarch, still intended to designate Raion as his successor.

Naturally, that decision stemmed from the strong impression Raion had left on him before departing for the territory.

However, Raion hadn’t shown any visible political ambition to the outside world.

So the nobles had dismissed the king’s insistence as mere stubbornness and pride.

“Your Highness, do you truly have no interest in the succession?”

“Why should I?”

The answer was completely unexpected.

Regina’s expression turned puzzled.

“Do you mean you won’t accept the throne? Even after developing your territory to this extent?”

From her perspective, Raion had done far more to improve his land than any other prince.

Until recently, she had only heard reports—but after coming to Kanas herself and witnessing it with her own eyes, the reality far exceeded the rumors.

“I have no intention of engaging in a hollow struggle. If I sit on a filthy throne, all it’ll do is dirty my own seat.”

“But if Your Highness were to present tangible results, many of the nobles would surely rally to your side.”

Regina understood well how the royal succession trials worked.

Still, she couldn’t understand why, after developing Kanas so magnificently, Raion refused to make his achievements known.

“I’ve said it countless times—I’m not interested in the royal succession.”

“……”

“Who will be in charge of the Eye of the Moon’s Kanas Branch going forward? Are you handling it personally?”

“No. Since Zolav, the former branch leader of Hasein, was dismissed for corruption, I’m temporarily overseeing both branches.”

Raion looked slightly regretful at that explanation.

Having the Canel Royal Capital Branch Leader herself in the territory would’ve made information gathering much easier.

“So no one has been assigned to Hasein yet?”

“Someone will probably be sent soon by headquarters, but I don’t know how long it’ll take.”

In Hasein, the former branch leader had not only colluded with the local lord to leak intelligence, but had also embezzled clients’ goods.

There was no guarantee such an incident wouldn’t happen again, so caution was necessary.

“In any case, I’ll count on you for regular updates from the royal capital.”

“Of course. We’re simply grateful that you continue to use the Eye of the Moon’s services.”

Along with information, Raion also paid substantial sums to the organization for their services.

Though costly, the reliability and security were worth the price.

“I’ll make sure any information reaches you as swiftly as possible.”

“You may go now.”

“I look forward to continuing our cooperation.”

With that, Regina concluded their conversation and left.

Moments later, Patrick entered the room as if he had been waiting.

“Sir Calsios has requested an audience.”

“Send him in.”

Clack, clack.

At Raion’s reply, Calsios entered and bowed deeply.

“Knight Calsios…”

“Enough with the formalities.”

“...Understood.”

“What brings you here?”

“I heard from Patrick that you’re assigning me to oversee Drak Gorge Village.”

Recently, the knights and soldiers stationed there had been selected and assigned.

“And?”

“It’s too great a responsibility for me. I beg you to reconsider.”

“No.”

“...M-Master…”

Raion looked at him while lazily cleaning his ear.

“Do you think I assigned you as commander of Drak Gorge to make your life difficult?”

“I don’t believe that, sir. But I’m not confident I can bear the weight of that duty.”

“I believe in you. So do it.”

At those words, Calsios knelt down.

No one could have imagined that the prince he once tried to kill would grant him such trust.