◈ 071. [Side Story] City management game
<Defend the Empire> also has the characteristics of a city management game.
Basically, it is because he also manages the internal affairs of this city called Crossroads.
During the three-year period, players must develop the city in their own way.
Because when a city grows, profits increase, people flock to it, and a virtuous cycle takes place.
There are several methods.
You can reclaim all the land in the area with agriculture as the main, or you can revitalize it as an industrial city by taking advantage of the original specialty of Crossroads, magic stone processing.
It’s difficult because the location is bad, but it can be raised as a commercial city. You can even mix a few elements together.
In short, it’s up to the player’s taste.
While playing this game resetting 742 times, I usually managed cities with industry specialization.
It was also the most classic route, and it was a city development build that could bring in the most money in the second half.
It was the same this time too. I always tried to ride an industry-specific build with high proficiency and thorough knowledge.
But one problem arose.
It was a hero supply problem.
Currently, the supply and demand of heroes is not very good. And there is no guarantee that this situation will be resolved later.
While I was thinking about what to do, I suddenly came up with a city development build that I hadn’t even tried before.
A tourism-specific build.
Tourism Specialized Build is a strategy to build various facilities to attract tourists to the city, earn money from the tourism industry and grow the city.
However, in the game, it was an entertainment build that almost no player tried.
Crossroads is a remote village located in the southernmost hinterland of the continent.
In addition, the danger that monsters often invade is also a conflict area in MAX.
As long as the liver does not come out of the ship, there are almost no visitors for sightseeing purposes.
No matter how expensive tourist facilities are built, the inflow of tourists is insufficient.
Because of this, I did not consider the tourism build even once throughout the 742nd playthrough.
At least in the latter half of the game, it is built with a cry and a mess to lure high-level heroes who come only when there is a high-end facility on the tourism tech side.
‘This part.’
This is the part I was thinking about.
High-level hero attraction.
‘Tourism facilities are expensive and have low effectiveness in terms of industry, but… … Significantly increases the probability of certain heroes appearing!’
That’s why it was built at the very end of a normal upload, but here’s a reverse idea.
What if you build a tourist facility in the very early stages?
‘The appearance condition is met. If that’s the case, there will always be a fisherman!’
In addition, most of the heroes lured to tourist facilities are high-grade.
It will help you build a quality squad.
‘Of course, the efficiency of investing in tourism from the beginning is garbage.’
First of all, tourism facilities are not only expensive compared to other facilities, but are also not linked to other essential industries in the city.
If you make an optimized city development build, it’s a ridiculous plan.
But in this round,
‘I have a lot of money.’
A very well-funded situation.
I still haven’t spent all the magic stone sales I earned in the tutorial stage.
Even though he is running the city and pouring huge amounts of money here and there, he still has quite a bit of extra money left over.
Build tourist facilities with this money. A facility that meets the conditions for attracting heroes for a minimum amount of money.
After much deliberation, I decided to build a hotel.
It is also a luxury hotel with casino facilities inside.
When it comes to casinos in Korea, the perception is very dull and it feels like only customers who are addicted to gambling gather, but even overseas, there are quite a few casinos that are quite healthy and wonderful social venues.
The hotel I want to build is also in this direction.
“Come on, Lucas.”
I grinned at Lucas, who sat in the driver’s seat and still gave me a subtle look, with my butt on the carriage seat.
“I will explain my plan. Listen carefully.”
I explained a series of ‘plans to lure high-level heroes’, but Lucas still doesn’t understand.
“Just because you set up a hotel with a casino in a remote village like this, do you mean that exceptional heroes will really gather?”
“Because it is. There really are perverts like that.”
That’s why I came up with this big money plan.
“… … Lord. If you need genuine talent, how about setting up a training school for engineers?”
Lucas opened his mouth as he drove the wagon to the place I instructed.
“Rather than scoundrels who are lured in for entertainment, I think the decent talents raised by the lord from the beginning will be superior in quality.”
“If you look at it from a long-term perspective, that would be correct.”
But the time given to me is only 3 years.
It will take at least 10 years to build a knight training school, discover talented people, and complete training. Then it’s too late.
“What I need is a ready-made warrior who can be deployed immediately.”
“… … .”
“Time is running out, time is running out… … .”
Lucas, who had been silent for a moment, murmured slowly.
“If it doesn’t work out, I’ll do it all.”
“huh?”
“I will do the work of the other heroes as well. Lord, that one is enough.”
“… … .”
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“Give me any orders.”
I burst out laughing.
“Haha, you bastard. You are making a peculiar sound. But you have to think realistically.”
“… … .”
“We are at war. There are many things I cannot do alone. We need more troops.”
Of course, Lucas is SSR grade. Although he is the most dignified protagonist. There are obviously limits to what he can do alone.
The expansion of quality troops is indispensable. By any means… … .
Lucas said nothing more and drove the wagon in silence. I buried my back in the seat and thought.
***
Crossroads downtown.
There is the only inn in the city here, which is at least prosperous in this village.
The name of this inn, which has been in operation for over 100 years and for the 4th generation, is ‘Etty’s Honey’.
Although it is small, it is famous for the host’s warm hospitality and delicious breakfast.
“It definitely tastes good.”
It’s not morning time, but when I rushed in, the frightened owner brought me food and coffee.
I didn’t refuse and politely accepted it. When I went around, I was hungry, and I’m not the type to refuse to give.
The host smiled broadly as he pushed away the clean, empty plate.
“I’m so glad you liked it, no, it’s an honor! Lord!”
The owner of the inn was a woman in her mid-fifties.
Even just looking at him with a fleshy smile, he is a person with a generous heart.
“I was worried if it would suit the tastes of the members of the royal family, but I was relieved that you enjoyed it!”
“It’s thanks to the good skills of the owner.”
It might not suit Prince Ash’s taste. Because I was an ordinary commoner in Korea.
I like these local dishes more.
“but.”
I added, roughly wiping the corners of my mouth with a napkin.
“I think we need to pay more attention to hygiene.”
“yes?”
“Right now, from this napkin.”
I waved the napkin around.
“It looks like it’s been used for quite a while, no matter how thoroughly I wash it every time. If you don’t replace it often, won’t these stains remain?”
The napkins were clean, but the signs of age were evident.
To the bewildered owner, I deliberately raised a harsher voice.
“The cutlery and the cutlery are quite old. Are you washing thoroughly every day? In particular, the cutlery remains quite dirty.”
“No, there… … .”
“and.”
I ran my finger across the side window frame. A faint smudge of dust came out.
“When was the tablecloth last washed? The inn is cleaned every few days, right?”
“That, that… … !”
“I want to check the income ledger as well. A list of guests who have stayed so far. This place is the forefront of the Empire in name and color. I have an obligation to keep a complete list of foreign guests, have I done that?”
At my sudden questioning, the owner couldn’t come to his senses.
I clicked my tongue.
“I guess the exclusive honey was sweet? Even if the operation was moderate, customers would have no choice but to stay here.”
“… … .”
The owner, who was silent, tried to make an excuse somehow.
“I, we, try to welcome our guests comfortably, in a family atmosphere… … .”
“Does the family atmosphere mean unsanitary and unprofessional operation?”
I then blown off the dust on my fingertips. The owner’s face is pale.
“Okay, tell me about today’s business.”
Crossing my legs and placing my hands on top of them, I slowly tilted my chin to the side.
“I want to build a state hotel in this city.”
“… … yes?”
“I’m going to build it very big and fancy. Enough to entertain not only simple travelers, but also guests of the imperial family.”
I raised one corner of my mouth in an ironic way and winked.
“But if that happens, your inn will inevitably suffer damage. Who would stay at such an old, rundown inn? Everyone will go to the state hotel.”
The owner tapped his chest with his hand.
“I, my inn is competitive enough!”
“It will be like that for a while. But wouldn’t it be a fatal loss if only half of the existing customers were taken away? In this city where there are very few outsiders visiting.”
“… … .”
The owner, who was standing still with his teeth clenched, asked in a trembling voice.
“What do you want from me, lord? What are you trying to steal by being so intimidated? Do you want to get them out of the inn business and kick them out of this city?”
“No, no. owner. It was the complete opposite.”
I gently changed the tone of my voice.
“I’m here to recruit you.”
“yes?”
“Don’t make a suggestion. Would you like to take over as general manager of the new hotel?”
The owner’s eyes widened. I nodded.
“We employ all the employees at this inn as they are. Of course, we will hire additional staff according to the size of the hotel.”
“Now, wait a minute. Because it was so sudden… … .”
“I can guarantee you that you will earn a lot more than you do now. However, there will be an increasing number of areas to be directly responsible for. Hygiene, cleanliness, reception of guests, management… … .”
I’m making this suggestion not specifically because I trust this person.
This is because he is the only person skilled in the lodging business in this remote village.
As I have said repeatedly, I do not intend to develop Crossroads into a city specializing in tourism.
Building a hotel is to satisfy the appearance conditions of some heroes.
In other words, even if you build a hotel, you want to keep the operating costs to a minimum.
You could do something like bring in a well-educated hotelier from the capital, but that would be cheaper than that.
“I won’t ask twice. Decide here now.”
I pushed the owner, who was flustered and couldn’t help it, with a soft push.
“Do you want to spend the rest of your life as the owner of this cozy little inn, or will you start a new challenge under me?”
***
The innkeeper accepted my offer.
I decided to visit the inn again ten days later. It was to see if operations had improved.
It was a minimal test to entrust a new hotel.
If it was at a level where it was only going to roll, he was going to entrust this job.
‘Anyway, the hotel will be completed later.’
In the carriage back to the mansion.
Resting my chin on my chin and looking out the car window, I continued to roll my head.
Even if the Lake Kingdom’s magical building technology was stolen and used, it would take a long time for the hotel to be completed.
It will be a later thing for the heroes to come because they are possessed by it.
‘No matter how fast it should be in the second year.’
If so, where can the supply and demand of heroes be… … .
‘Is it just free exploration?’
He encounters an NPC in the dungeon under the lake, and somehow brings him to boil.
Of course, there are less than 100 NPCs living in the dungeon under the lake.
Among them, less than half of them are friendly.
‘Still there will be one, one!’
I made up my mind. The primary purpose of this free exploration is to meet friendly NPCs and attract them to our side.
‘After breaking through all three areas of this exploration area, a safe zone called ‘base camp’ appears.’
It will become a bridgehead and base for future dungeon exploration.
It is also a gathering place for the few NPCs living in the dungeon under the lake.
Hopefully one or two of them will heed my suggestion. If that doesn’t work, they recruit them by giving them money, items, or whatever.
‘I want to leave right now, but… … .’
I looked down at my left arm in a cast.
Not only me, but Damien’s eyes are injured, and Evangeline also has minor injuries.
Jupiter and Lucas will still be tired.
‘Don’t be impatient, let’s go slowly.’
There are no uneasy corners, but the current situation is very good.
One by one, steadily, stepping stones are released and moving forward.
‘The next thing is to recover the body and recruit a new hero from free exploration.’
Thinking so, I closed my tired eyes.
Without even imagining what will happen in this free exploration.
