Chapter 443: Renovations Throughout the County (02)

Shortly after arriving in Fallenwinter, Ethan got to work.

He built a police station, renovated the barracks so they could comfortably house up to ten legions, and carried out the development plan Elena had prepared for the city.

His latest creation, of course, he saved for last.

Accompanied by Zael, Ethan made his way to Fallenwinter’s vast logging fields.

The air there smelled of sap and fresh sawdust, and the dull thud of axes echoed somewhere between the trunks.

There were four main types of wood in that region, all from tree species with magical properties and extreme durability.

The trees were tall, with trunks so thick that even the best lumberjacks took a whole day to fell a single one.

And the work didn’t end there, since refining that material was just as difficult as cutting it.

Its strength far exceeded that of any ordinary timber, and the quantity in Fallenwinter alone was already massive.

Much of the forest surrounding the city for dozens of kilometers consisted precisely of those four species.

Naturally, trees like these took a long time to grow.

Even if Ethan set up facilities to plant and cultivate them, it would still be a project spanning years.

That’s why Fallenwinter was so important.

That forest would be the foundation of Goldenveil. As they harvested, they would also replant, making the most of the Tree of Life’s influence to ensure a reliable supply.

Ethan stopped walking, letting his eyes sweep over the row of enormous trunks in front of him.

Then he opened his last instant-build slot for new structures, scrolling through the list until he found what he was looking for.

[Name: Sigmar’s Magical Tree Extraction, Processing, and Replanting Center

Description: The Forest of Sigmar was once one of the largest and most prosperous forests outside the elven sphere of influence, with a size that rivaled the territory of entire countries.

More than half of its trees were of magical origin, and the nation’s elite deemed it necessary to create a system to harvest, process, and preserve the forest.

This processing center was the largest of them all, with a capacity for up to ten thousand workers and all the facilities needed to transform freshly harvested timber into ready-to-use planks.

Effects: +300% logging speed, +200% worker vitality, +150% refined product quality.

Price: 1,500,000 gold coins]

Ethan didn’t hesitate for a single moment and made the purchase.

In the future, that center would serve not only to supply Goldenveil’s domestic market but also to export tons of lumber to foreign markets, reaping a fortune.

He clicked to confirm and spent another 500,000 gold coins on fortifications for the building—since it would sit outside the city walls—and on integrating it into Fallenwinter’s entire infrastructure.

That done, he took a few steps back and watched from a distance.

The ground shook beneath his boots.

The earth split open in wide fissures, tearing entire trees up by the roots with sharp snaps that echoed through the forest and sent up a cloud of dust and leaves. Birds burst from the canopy and scattered in every direction.

In their place, a gigantic industrial complex began to rise, covering more than one million square meters.

Warehouses, sorting centers, tracks for transporting materials—all surrounded by high concrete walls that rose block by block, closing in around the site as if they had always been there.

Beside him, Zael didn’t say a word, his eyes following each wall as it climbed higher.

When the dust settled and the construction was complete, Ethan handed control of everything over to Zael, instructing him to have Fallenwinter’s most experienced loggers start familiarizing themselves with the new facilities.

There were plenty of instruction manuals in the complex’s main office, so it wouldn’t be difficult.

That night, Ethan slept in Fallenwinter. Early the next morning, he set out for Greenleaf.

The trip was also short—less than an hour.

When he passed through the city gates and finally arrived in front of the Lord’s mansion, he found Faelith already waiting for him on the entrance steps.

The beautiful elven countess looked as stunning as ever.

She wore her hair pulled back into an elegant bun, with a single loose golden strand falling down the right side of her face and brushing her cheek.

Fine jewels adorned her long ears, catching the morning light, and a graceful smile played on her lips.

Her attire was modest, elegantly concealing her voluptuous figure, though the cut of the dress couldn’t entirely hide the full curve of her tits.

Ethan’s horse slowed, hooves clacking against the stones, until it came to a complete stop.

He swung down from the saddle and handed the reins to a maid who approached silently.

"Should I call you Lord Ethan or ’love’?" Faelith asked with a soft chuckle, tilting her head slightly.

Ethan shook his head, a smile already tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"I prefer ’love.’"

He stepped closer and wrapped both hands around her delicate waist, the narrow dip of it fitting neatly into his palms.

Then he pulled her toward him and pressed a kiss to her lips.

The two remained like that for a brief moment, her soft body molding against his, the plush weight of her tits flattening against his chest, before their lips slowly parted.

"Hmmm~ nice... my love..." Faelith hugged him tightly, pressing her face against his chest and taking a deep breath.

"When do you plan to give me a child? When it comes, I just want to hand the responsibilities of ruling Greenleaf over to it and go live by your side..."

"Hm... can’t you give that responsibility to other members of your family?" Ethan ran his hand slowly down her back, the warmth of her skin seeping through the thin fabric.

"No... they’re too greedy, and, well..." She lifted her face to look at him, her cheeks taking on a slight pink hue. "I want a child..."

"Well, then I won’t leave here without giving you one first." Ethan laughed.

Since the only eyes around were those of women, he didn’t hold back.

He ran his hand down the curve of her back, let it linger for a second on the small of it, then lifted his open palm and brought it down on that juicy elven butt with a loud smack.

His palm sank into her plump buttock, the soft flesh flattening under the blow. The whole cheek wobbled like jelly, a quick tremor rolling across it and into the other cheek before both slowly settled back into their round shape.

"Ah...!" Faelith gave a little jump against him, tightening her embrace at the same time, the tips of her long ears turning red in the blink of an eye.

A warm sting spread across her cheek where his hand now rested.

"Ethan...!" she whispered against his chest, though she couldn’t hide her smile.