After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World novel Chapter 711

Meanwhile, Ero mapped out the sentries and gathered as much information as possible about the level of people here. Seto had just found where the Research Center was and wanted to get inside. However, the security clearance was high and he couldn’t even enter the premises.

"Tsk," he mumbled. He then moved to the library and found out it was exclusively accessed with contribution points.

"..."

Baltimore was also curious, looking around, and remembering details by the way. Walking here felt light and clean. When he took over, he would probably walk through here a lot.

He went to hire a guide, who then showed them the viewing deck as they requested. However, he only answered questions very simply.

For example, Piko would ask "Are those farms?"

The guide would say, "Yes."

"How many are there? What are the crops?"

"That’s confidential, sorry."

It was not confidential.

The person was quite quiet though, without the gregariousness he heard these guides had from the reports. Baltimore knew that they wouldn’t be able to get more information from this redhead.

"Go, leave us."

"Ah yes, enjoy your stay," Fred said and left, thinking he was cool except his steps had a spring to it, showing how relieved he was.

Baltimore and the others narrowed their eyes, though they knew it was not the time to teach locals a lesson, but they definitely took note of poor Fred’s face.

They were really not used to encountering obstacles everywhere in fellow villages. Even lords pandered after them because they were strong. Even if they were beyond the level cap, it didn’t mean their threats were gone.

"Wait," he said, making Fred freeze. He awkwardly turned, body filled with tension.

"Y-Yes?"

"That guy, Garan, is an Elder here?"

"Yes, milord."

"Get him to meet me."

"Yes, milord," Fred politely said, before scurrying away.

He almost lost his footing as soon as he was out of sight.

Damn, too tense! He almost peed himself, damnit!

…

Baltimore and Piko stood there for a while. In the meantime, they memorized the whole place as they could, their hearts fiery with what would be theirs soon.

However, as the minutes passed their mood slowly turned dour. They were expecting Garan to arrive within a couple of minutes.

The bastard arrived an hour later.

"Garan," the older man said, his sharp eyes tracing over the man who had undoubtedly looked fuller and cleaner since he had last seen him.

Much more powerful as well.

"Lord Baltimore."

"Where are the goblins?" he asked, direct to the point. "Who did you sell it to?"

Garan, who was aware of the line of questions the Guia people had asked their citizens, naturally surmised what they were looking for. "They escaped," he said, voice low and cool. "Sigh. We endured such a loss."

"How?"

"A few distracted us and they escaped by digging deep tunnels."

Baltimore narrowed his eyes. "Are you telling the truth?"

"If I sold them anywhere, I’d have told you," he said, "I do not have any reason not to tell you where they are if I knew. There is no advantage to me."

Baltimore frowned because he was right, but somehow he couldn’t help but feel something was off.

Well, he’ll find out eventually.

…

At this time, a certain mother-and-son pair had finally been released from detention. They looked even more horrible than they did 2 days ago, and their hearts were incredibly vindictive.

"What about professionals?"

"There are an amazing number of professionals here and elementalists," he paused, heaving a deep breath. "I have never seen so many milord. It’s like every one of them triggered something."

"They’re weak, but that’s because they have just awakened."

There was silence around them. The longer they stayed here, the more their arrogance got toned down.

Baltimore’s eyes were dark. "We have to attack before they gather strength."

The men nodded at this, already imagining the win.

Imagine defeating this place. At worst, they would get half as slaves. How many elementalists would that give them?

The greed in Baltimore and his men’s hearts heated up.

"What about the people behind the unique things here?"

"The main person to target, milord, is a woman named Althea Witt," Seto said.

"Oh?" Did they finally get some information?

"She is the elder of Plant Studies, and is responsible for a lot of the things we see in Alterra. Also, milord, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve seen."

Baltimore looked on with interest.

Although he could just force her to work for him, especially after the war, after so many years he had come to realize those who were not forced—or more accurately, those who believed they were not forced—worked best.

At the very least, they were the ones who didn’t kill themselves.

Look at Piko here. The first few years he became a slave, the number of times he tried to take his own life was innumerable. He usually didn’t complete it or survive by some miracle. But Baltimore realized the slave’s worth and made a promise he may or may not keep.

That was what he planned to do to that woman.

"Find out more about her," he ordered. "Find her weaknesses.

"I want her."