Carlos’s eyes widened. He could connect this district directly to Ironroot.
Rowan could inspect the soil and crops. Mira could send meals. Blue could help with the water while workers and guards moved between both locations. It would become very easy and he wouldn’t need to travel a lot to make get to his territory.
But most importantly, Carlos would not have to abandon Ironroot to protect the district.
Cosmic looked at the connection line with open jealousy.
"Do you know how valuable a portal like that is?"
"I can guess."
"No, bro. You can move food from Ironroot directly into this place. When others come, you could put up a market to buy things in person rather than trade. It could be permanent too if the pocket dimensions stays here forever."
Carlos had been thinking about the crops and workers, but Cosmic on the other hand had already found the business hidden inside the same reward.
This is what it meant to have specific professions.
He selected the connection information.
--
[Warning]
[The Ancient Cultivation District will become an External Agricultural Outpost of Ironroot]
[Its development will be partially assimilated into Ironroot’s recognized development]
[Future territory threats may account for the connected outpost]
[Would you like to establish the Domain Portal?]
--
Carlos’s excitement disappeared. Cosmic read the warning beside him.
"Your raids are already insane..."
Carlos continued staring at the final question.
Connecting the district would allow Ironroot to use everything here. It would also increase the development considered by his future threats.
His first territory raid had already become many times harder because of his growth. The Warden had entered Ironroot because Hellbound made the danger even worse.
Adding a cultivation district larger than Ironroot could make the next raid completely unreasonable.
"You don’t have to decide right now," Cosmic said.
Carlos looked at the ten dry channels and hundreds of dormant fields.
"If I leave it disconnected, I have to choose between protecting this place and protecting Ironroot."
"You could abandon the claim."
"No."
Cosmic sighed.
"I knew that answer was coming."
Carlos had worked too hard to establish partial ownership. The district had surviving crops, water infrastructure and connections to an entire ancient region.
Giving it up because growth carried danger would be the same as refusing to improve Ironroot before the next raid.
The raids became stronger when he developed. Then Carlos needed to develop faster than they did.
Carlos stopped thinking for a second and let his heart do what he had been doing this whole time. He didn’t give anyone time to make him second guess things.
"Establish the Domain Portal."
--
[Confirmation accepted]
[Connecting External Agricultural Outpost to Ironroot]
[Current District Integrity is insufficient for unrestricted transport]
[Applying temporary portal restrictions]
[Access: Carlos Goldwin, registered Ironroot residents and approved guests]
[Military transport capacity: Limited]
[Large cargo transport: Restricted]
[Portal will become inactive if both restored channels fail]
[Loss of Partial District Ownership will sever the connection]
--
The ground beside the regulator began glowing.
Cedric and the other Lords moved away while Kaia placed herself in front of Carlos again.
Silver lines formed a circle over the stone before rising into the air. They joined together and created a doorway filled with white light.
--
[Domain Portal established]
[Connected destination: Ironroot]
--
Carlos didn’t enter immediately. He looked at Cedric.
"The agreement remains active. Don’t touch protected crops while I check the other side."
Cedric looked at the portal with obvious interest.
Right now was the only time he could be unreasonable enough to ask something like this, "Can we come to your territory too?"
"No, I still don’t trust you fully." Carlos said directly making Cedric nod with a chuckle.
If he could be direct, Carlos could also be as direct as he would be, maybe more.
Carlos looked at Cosmic next. Unlike Cedric, Cosmic had not asked even once despite staring at the portal with open curiosity.
That didn’t sit right with Carlos.
They had finally met after being thrown into this world and Cosmic was his best friend. Carlos wanted him to see everything he had built with his own eyes. He trusted him that much.
"You are coming with me," Carlos said.
Cosmic looked away from the portal and blinked. "To Ironroot?"
"Where else would this portal take you?"
"Bro, I know where it goes. I just didn’t think you would let me enter your territory this easily."
"Easily? I have known you for years."
Carlos opened the permission panel and added Cosmic as an approved guest before he could say anything else.
--
[Cosmic Merchant registered as an Approved Guest]
[Guest’s bound troops may accompany him]
[Military transport capacity will apply]
--
Cosmic stared at the notification before a wide smile appeared on his face.
"You really trust me that much?"
"Don’t make it weird. I just want to show you my territory."
Carlos tried to sound casual, but he was already thinking about Cosmic’s reaction to the walls, fields, barracks and everything else inside Ironroot.
Cosmic looked happier than Carlos had seen him since their reunion.
"I can’t wait to see it, bro."
The system allowed both Lizardmen to accompany their Lord but counted them against the limited military capacity.
Kaia, Brann, Nessa and One were already registered through Ironroot.
"I will enter first," Kaia said.
"It is my territory."
"That does not mean the other side is safe."
"What does that even mean?"
Kaia still entered before him.
Carlos waited for the portal to remain stable before following.
The white light covered his eyes for less than a second.
When it disappeared, he was standing beside Ironroot’s Conquest Portal.
A second silver doorway had formed several metres away from it.
The entire territory was already reacting.
The Bellvine rang a rapid movement alarm from the wall. The Burstpod at the southern entrance had turned toward the new portal while Garr and two Veteran Guards stood in front of it.
Farmers had moved away from the nearest fields while the Militia formed a second line behind Garr. Blue floated above them with Mana Water gathering around its body.
Ironroot had not waited helplessly for Carlos to return. Everyone had reacted to an unknown structure appearing inside their territory.
Carlos felt proud before remembering that the Burstpod was still pointed at Kaia.
Kaia had raised both hands to stop them from attacking.
"The portal belongs to Carlos," she announced.
Carlos stepped through next.
"Stand down. It is connected to an outpost."
Garr lowered his weapon right away.
"Lord return."
One came through after Carlos and moved toward the Burstpod. Nessa and Brann followed before the portal flickered once.
--
[Military transport capacity temporarily reached]
[Portal stabilization required before further troop transport]
--
Cosmic appeared alone a few seconds later. His Lizardmen had to remain inside the district until the capacity recovered.
He turned around slowly and looked at Ironroot.
The walls, guard towers, fields, barracks and production buildings were all visible from the portal.
"Bro... you built all of this?"
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter