Chapter 482: Drawing A Priceless Map
"I should keep an eye on them," Enly said, referring to sending off her boys out there to scout those damned insects.
"They should remain far away," I warned, "I don't want to start the fight earlier than planned."
"I'll make sure they got this message clear," she nodded and left, leaving only Dredly and Omad remaining there.
"Get me a piece of paper," I said to them, "large enough to draw a big map over it. and don't forget a pen or something to write with."
The two hurriedly went out to look for what I asked. When the system granted me the quests, I found a small map leading me towards the places of these quests.
Previously the system would lighten the way up for me, but these days were when he was gentle and nice to me. Now he decided to abandon any help and adopted a completely hostile status with me.
And I didn't regret that, in fact after seeing all these quest maps I had to thank him.
The maps were all drawn in small scope, but gathering them together gave me a detailed vision over the entire area and beyond. Four hundred quests spanned along a very wide piece of land.
Having such a map would be a real treasure. Forget these quests right now, I could plan my next expansions without the need to go and scout anything out there.
This map would be one of the cornerstones of my empire, and again it was presented to me as a gift from my enemy.
They hurriedly returned with many pieces of animal skin, dried and prepared to be written upon. "This is all that we found at Meck," Omad said while handing me a small brush, "and this is also what we got from him."
"They will do," I nodded before I started to stretch the skin over the ground and examined the quests I had for long silent minutes.
I tried to compare some together before I got a general view of an area spanning for over one thousand miles around me. There were mountains, rivers, hills, and even lakes. I even found a small sea on one side, and a large forest on another.
I started to draw, and the more I drew the less maps I had to examine. After I finally drew the entire topography on the skin pieces, I started to add more details.
Here lies a large group of monster clans, and there were many humans in some villages. Here were giant demons, and there were strange races that could fly like vampires but called giant bats.
I started to fill the spaces, add details and instructions about each spot on the map according to what I had in my quests. Luckily for me each quest came with a long description like a narrative was trying to give me some details over the nature of the quest.
I never cared about such a thing before, but now it looked like a treasure, hard to miss this time.
Despite this looking quite easy, it took me long hours to accomplish. "I'm done," I said before looking at the grand map I just drew and glanced at those two standing in daze and looking bored next to me.
And I felt at this moment it would be a waste to let this fall in the hands of these two hot headed giants.
"Go and bring Jack here," I said, "and summon your men, you'll ride out now."
I knew they were bored of staying here, but from the expression on their faces and the fast speed of their leave made me realize I underestimated their warring souls.
"Sigh, it seems I should decide my forces then," I sighed, "one to go on endless wars outside and one to be stationed in the empire and defend it."
For sure those two would be leading forces outside, never to return home but to bring back spoilers of war, replenish their losses and set off once again to fight.
"This map… it's brilliant!"
The moment Jack returned with a puzzled expression first at his face, it turned instantly into an amazed look when he saw my map. "How did my lady get her hand on such a priceless treasure?"
As a man of leadership qualities, I knew he would appreciate this map as I did. "I just took advantage of an opportunity," I shrugged, "now I need you to hurry and make two copies of it and give it to them."
I pointed towards Dredly and Omad before adding, "as for this original one you should hang it on here until you build me a mansion deserving of my state as an empress."
"Sure, I'll hurry to do that," Jack was very excited by this map more than I imagined. He paused, looked hesitant before I nodded to make him spill out what he had in his mind. "May I make another copy for the library?" he said before adding, "it's for planning for the future expansion, managing resources and such stuff."
I smiled as I casually waved to him, "do as much as you like." And I spotted a wider smile, one filled with content and excitement over his face before he turned around and left.
"Have you summoned your forces?" I turned my attention to my two leaders.
"They are on their way here," Omad said.
"My boys are coming faster," Dredly laughed, "they have mechas after all."
I ignored the ongoing under the table fight between these two as I pointed to the map before saying, "each one will take half of these quests and be ready to fulfill them in less than one week."
"One week isn't an issue," Omad confidently said.
"You should know I won't be available to help under any circumstances," I warned before adding, "and I won't tolerate having big losses. We have a big war coming up and every man counts."
The two nodded yet I felt they weren't fully aware of my words and were kinda busy with their personal fights. "If any of you dared to lose too much or succeeded to make me mad about not fulfilling the quests, I swear I would kill him myself."
This time they understood what I meant, and knew I wasn't just saying mere words. "We won't disappoint the lady," Dredly said and Omad nodded.
"Good, go back and arrange your boys then," I said before stopping them, "go to Enly and take enough vampires with you. I want news about the ongoing quests once in the morning and once at night."
"Sure, we will send the reports twice a day," Omad said before both retreated and left me alone.
"Damn it, I thought I would get some rest and finally relax," I took a deep breath while stretching out my body.
Strangely, I recalled my master's instructions and teachings about the spear from a long time ago. I didn't know why I recalled these distant memories at this time but retrieving these made me realize something.
I could train these days while they each did their tasks. I was previously alone able to face an entire army and win. So why not try to train and regain my former power again?
"Ding Dong! You can't do that," and suddenly as I had these doubts, the system said, "Ding Dong! You can only use a bit of that power but can't try to learn it again."
It hit me all of sudden as I realized something. "Damn you bastard! It was you who stopped me from training and regaining my former powers by telling these lies!" I screamed in deep anger when I realized the dirty scheme this system did and I fell innocently in his trap without even realizing it.
"Ding Dong! I'm not scheming against you, I'm just stating the rules that's all."
"Screw you and your lies," I didn't get any of his words in my mind. "I'll train and I swear I will regain my former power back!" and like this I firmed my resolve and decided to start training on spear techniques again.