It's genuinely shocking that Lower Reedham had changed so much in such a short time. But she guessed that's what a fuck ton of money can do when paired with magic. Schedules? Didn't matter, magic can make people build houses quickly. Resources? They have a lot of it.

  The longer she looked at the changes of Lower Reedham, the more she realized that she's about to get outclassed.

  A large part of her didn't want to back down and give the Dorric family what they wanted, she felt anxious at the thought of them taking over the town. She assumes that maybe she's the only one who's thinking like this but she won't know for sure unless she confirms it with her friends.

  Rottie will be her first target later, she'll ask him how he feels about the changes and then go from there. Fuzz will be the second opinion for everything and her words will decide just how far Wilona is going to take things.

  And she's willing to go to great lengths in the future. Assuming that her gut feeling is right and that handing over the control of the town to the Dorrics is actually a bad idea that will make things worse.

  Wilona won't say that she's good at being a leader or hell, someone who can manage a political party and campaign to get people's votes but she did have experience.

  ... Once during middle school where she ran for school president and several times in her childhood where she played in one of those kid cities. Yeah, she hated to admit it but her political experience centers around dealing with a citywide (translation: part of the mall) population of children. Twice.

  The other three had her as secretary and it may have just been because she was mayor two times before she got that role in particular but she managed to learn how to work the city's finances and stuff.

  Her siblings and parents called her smart at the time and maybe she was, but Wilona never thought it was impressive.

  Wilona stopped just outside of the guild that the construction workers have made and stared. There are multiple of these across the world and they're essentially the equivalent of schools back on Earth.

  Kids come into one of these buildings to learn the specific trade that's being taught there. The one in front of her is centered around construction work and as expected of such an environment, almost everyone inside is built like a brick. The only ones who weren't are the receptionists.

  There is almost no one who waited in line so Wilona was able to freely get access to one of them without waiting.

  "Hi! How may we help you today? Are you looking for someone to build you a house?" The woman sounded happy in a way that only exhausted retail workers can muster. She's blonde and blue-eyed. Pretty. Common features for jobs that needed to talk to people every day.

  Build a house? What? Wilona ignored that part and went on to ask what she came here for, "I'm asking for a bunch of magical gemstones I can use to enchant a magical staff? You guys have that right?"

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  "We do! Yes!" The woman nodded and gestured towards a door to the side, leading to some kind of gift shop?.. "Our workers often sell some of the things they find during the job, maybe you can find something you like there?"

  "Yeah, thanks." Wilona waved.

  "Good day to you miss! Lower Reedham will always welcome new mages into its fold! We need people like you around here!" The woman was enthusiastic to a fault, but also—

  "New mages?" Wilona looked back in confusion, "I'm a local witch."

  Wilona didn't know why, but the woman. Actually, not just her, but the other receptionists looked surprised after she said that, what, were they expecting her or something? Well it can wait until she gets her stuff. She'll talk to them later.

  It wasn't actually a gift shop, but more of like an actual shop. There are aisles and shelves complete with labels and everything, most of what they sold were construction materials but they also had artificially made gemstones.

  These are what Fuzz had asked her to find for the latest iteration of her magical staff. According to the myceloid, these gemstones are mass-produced in Brashavn and are commonly used for mid-tier magical staffs.

  Wilona picked out the flattest of the stones because she wanted her planetary alignment to be placed side by side at the head of her staff rather than going down vertically along its body.

  She wasn't planning on using it to insta-cast spells since she can just do that herself so a planetary alignment focused on gathering mana is the better option.

  Wilona picked out everything she can and just as she is about to pay for them, a large burly man in armor intercepted her. She tilted her head, "What do you want?"

  "Someone wants to talk to you."

  "Uh, yeah. I got that the first time. Who?" Wilona looked around, she knew that everyone assumed she's controlling Rottie or at least acted as the core's master so this is inevitable. "I'm not exactly on a time crunch but I have stuff to do you know?"

  "We know." The armored man nodded, strangely respectful of her. "Which is why we don't want to waste your time any longer and the items you picked out will be on the house. You do not need to pay for them."

  "Really?" Wilona beamed, that's the kind of deal that she would never refuse! She quickly moved out of the shop like she was somehow scared that the armored man would make her pay for the stones if she was too slow. "Okay, so, who wants to talk to me?"

  "You have already met him. His name is Rivleam."

  "Wait seriously?" That asshole? Wilona made sure she left out that last part. "He's the one managing this place?"

  "The Dorrics have secured a deal with the city of Rochelys and the only thing they ask is that they put Rivleam in his current position." The explanation sounded way too blunt for the knight to NOT leave out any information.

  "Uhuh," Wilona didn't hide the fact that she didn't believe him either. "So now he's here? Managing an entire guild branch?"

  "Yes. He says that he wants to talk to you and discuss the future of the core that you hold under your control."

  "Yeah, sure." Wilona swallowed the urge to roll her eyes. She can only hope that Rottie liked a Dom-Sub roleplay because she's gonna have to act as his master for a while. "Where is he?"

  "On the second floor, at the furthermost room across the hall. You cannot miss it." The armored man stopped by the stairs and stood in silent vigil. He almost looks like a decoration from Wilona's angle.

  Wilona followed his directions and knocked on the aforementioned door. She twisted the doorknob open when verbal confirmation resonated from inside and stepped into the room.

  The place didn't look like it got constructed two days ago, it feels like it's been here since ages. It's too well-decorated.

  But Wilona couldn't focus on that for long because across from her, sitting behind a desk, is a well-groomed Rivleam with an oily smile. "Wilona! I was expecting you!"

  Does she act formal here? She'd rather not. "I wasn't." Wilona drawled, "You know that you're still under Dorric and his wife right? I'll ally with them and follow their decisions on what the dungeon should become once they're here."

  She didn't, but the fact that Rivleam's expression turned sour at her words made her glad that she responded the way she did.

  "Straight to business huh?" Rivleam smiled mischievously, "I see what you are trying to do. And I respect you, I assume that you do not wish to hear what I want for the dungeon?"

  "Not at all." Wilona shook her head, "Is Raha telling you about what's going to happen or is your family the ones behind your decisions?"

  "The latter." Rivleam chuckled, he almost sounded relieved. "You want to know the truth Wilona?"

  "Sure, throw it." Wilona scoffed. Is he trying to butter her up?

  "I'm afraid that the only thing that I want for myself is to run away. I'm sure you've noticed have you? About how no regular person in my previous position would have gotten this kind of influence immediately."

  "Yes, I already guessed that your family is some kind of noble. Or at least important." Wilona scowled, "I don't want to hear about your daddy issues."

  "Neither do I wish to speak of them." Rivleam nodded, a cold glint in his eyes. "If you help me get what I want, I will gladly aid you in whatever it is you wish to do with the core. And I know you do. Don't you? You have your own goals."

  Wilona couldn't deny it. But she couldn't just admit that she wanted to make an amusement park either.