Honestly, I really did expect an array of problems to be waiting for me at the other side of these missions that I ordered. Either somebody would get into a fight inside the city, or everyone I sent out to scout would run into something that got violent, or just something.

  Especially with the warnings the princess gave me from just being in her empire, I could not imagine that this one would be all that peaceful either. But I was proven wrong, and there were no problems, at least not yet. Everyone that I sent out came back without issue.

  Lirian was the first to give a report.

  And as expected, he got to the crux of the matter first.

  "Patriarch, there are many things my team and I gathered during our time in the city, but regarding a place for all of us to stay, unfortunately that will not exist in the city without problems.

  “There is no land that is available for sale or even to rent that would house everyone here. At most maybe a few hundred.

  "That would be it. If you wanted to house every single one of us, it would require a bit of violence and based on what I have learned that would not necessarily be the best path forward, as there are multiple mortals who live and have claim in that city. I have more information regarding that, or at least publicly available information.

  “But regarding where we can live or at least stay temporarily, I have gathered a couple of options.

  "Firstly, directly to the north there is a kingdom, and it has more than a couple cities like this one within its borders. Finding land there to live would not be the hardest.

  “Directly to the south but a good distance away is the northern reaches of a decently large empire. Perhaps we would have a bit more room to buy a manor of sorts in either of these two locations, but as you would imagine, they would come with political constraints.

  “No king or emperor will allow a force as large as ours to just pick up land within their territory, and even if the upper echelon of these two forces would have no problems with us, the local nobility likely would not feel the same way. But they are just options.

  "If it was up to me, Patriarch, I would make a move to the Ember Fields in the northwest. It is a location that is unclaimed by any official territory or force and is mostly ignored by mortals due to the cons of living there.

  “Ember grass is very hot, and since the open field where it is located contains ember grass in droves, the entire place is extremely hot. It is apparently a valuable place for flame-attuned cultivators, and ember grass itself has many uses, but no one lives there or at least no one officially.

  "At the moment, I am told it is being loosely controlled by a rogue cultivator from the High Flame Sect.

  "This cultivator is only in the Nascent Soul Realm, but he apparently has quite a few underlings underneath him and makes his business by raiding travelers and the like.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “From what little information I was able to gather, it appears no one has been sent to deal with him as of yet, since the High Flame Sect is quite busy with their own troubles and turmoil. And this rogue cultivator is not stupid. He does not attack those he should not touch and never takes more than what he can afford to take.

  "Obviously, this does not apply to mortals or those without backing, but instead to other higher cultivators and the like.

  "There are other areas which might also be suitable for making our own place to live, but getting rid of a criminal and laying claim to the land that they held seems to be enough justification that we would need."

  To think they managed to figure out all of that so quickly.

  "Then how did you come to this information?"

  "That was easy, Patriarch. The request with everything I just stated is currently posted in the Adventurers Guild within the city. There is a bounty on that rogue cultivator."

  Ah, makes sense.

  I then looked around at the rest of the group because they were responsible for scouting the surrounding areas of the city.

  "Did anyone else find these Ember Fields or come across them?"

  "I did, Patriarch. I did not make it all the way to the Ember Fields, but they are indeed in the northwest direction from the city, and it is made up of ruby red grass. Even the land that the grass sits on is tinged with a red hue. There is also a road that cuts through the Ember Fields."

  "How much is the bounty?"

  "Twenty thousand Rank 1 Spirit Stones, Patriarch."

  "That does not seem like a small sum. Why has no one taken it yet?"

  "For that answer, I did have to ask around quite a bit, and from what I can understand, it is all political. The High Flame Sect issued it to show the populace that something is being done about it, but they do not actually want someone to kill a disciple of their own sect."

  "...Did you happen to get any information on this High Flame Sect?"

  "Only what is public knowledge, and it appears the sect leader is a First Stage Immortal. And they are one of the smaller sects in the region."

  "Well done. It appears we are going bandit hunting.

  "But first, a few things. Firstly, save all other reports unless you think it is vital until we have secured a place to borrow, which will likely be for a couple of days. Depends on how fast you guys can build somewhere to sleep.

  "We are obviously going to need materials to do that, so go back into the city, buy all the materials that you can in a short time, and anything that could not be bought in a short time, let us put an order in. I want something that we can call home without worry, something defendable but at the same time comfortable for all of us here.

  “I have a feeling we are going to be here a while, so keep that in mind. Oh yeah, there is a kingdom to the north apparently, right? Let us go there. See if you can buy some materials as well.

  "Lirian, you will go back to the city. Frian, you will go north to the kingdom.

  "Black Dawn, I want the Ember Fields under control.

  "Do not kill the innocent if possible, and make sure this bandit is recognizable so we can turn his head in for the bounty.

  "Lidaz, go provide support, but only if necessary."

  Everyone took their orders once again and went off their own separate ways, though a good number of us still hung back since I only sent out the boys and their teams, which are about one hundred people total, and the members of the Black Dawn, which are also about one thousand people, meaning the rest of us were still gathered here.

  And honestly, I guess I did not really think that through. We were still pretty close to the city, and well, it was not like I was yelling my words and orders to everyone. I definitely was not whispering, and even a regular person, if they were close enough, could hear us. Let alone someone at the core formation realm.

  The guard was walking back over here, and he had a slightly exasperated expression on his face.

  "Listen, I could not help but overhear your plans. Are you sure 'bout this?"