Cole discuss important matters with Roger for quite some time before finally leaving.

The moment Roger leave, the mansion butler immediately enter the room and introduce himself, "New city lord, I'm Dian Wei, the city butler of Towering Tree City."

Cole nodded his head and ask, "Butler Dian, do you also have the intention of leaving city?"

"I'm afraid not, city lord. My Wei Family is tasked by the empire to supervise the city. Since the master of the empire didn't leave any instruction to us, I'm afraid that we'll have to stay in the city." He answered.

Then, Dian further introduce himself.

The position of the Lord of every city is always sought and fight for. That is because becoming a city lord means that they'll have the authority in the city as long as superiors didn't instruct them otherwise, and they'll also have access and control to treasury of the whole city. They might not be able to utilize or pocket the whole city resource for themselves but using it in the city means that they could create their own force or faction.

This is the usual reason why the longer the city lord sit on his throne, the harder it is to overthrow them since the majority of the force of the city become loyal to him due to resources he spend on them. But those resources actually came from the pocket of the city instead of the private pocket of the city lord. The city lord were only tasked on distributing it.

However, not every city is well sought by powerhouses. Towering Tree City is one of these examples.

Unlike any other city, Towering Tree City don't have any significance other than it was a city established beside the great resource point that is the Dark Forest.

However, after hundreds of years of constant plundering, the available resource that could be excavated in the Dark Forest become scarce. The exploreable area of the said forest has been plundered clean by everyone while the deeper part of the forest is a forbidden zone since it was infested with powerful beasts. Normal adventurers can't go deep in the area while those with appropriate strength won't casually explore the deeper area.

In addition, there is no any significant resource point in Towering Tree City like spiritual stone mine or any lode of special minerals. Even the trees in the area is normal and not spiritual tree.

In the end, the Towering Tree City become a barren land by any powerhouse of Heavenly Flame Empire that should be abandoned.

The Towering Tree City is considered poor and the population compose of 98% normal humans is enough to indicate that.

And most importantly, the city is just right beside the Dark Forest. Dark Forest is a great source of resources but it was also infested with beast that may cause beast tide. The possible beast tide is the one of the most dreaded catastrophe the lord could possibly face when taking over the city.

This puts the Towering Tree City in awkward position. No powerhouse contend to take the office of the city. There were times that city don't have city lord to control the situation and chaos ensue.

Although the city don't have much significance to the empire, it was still a stain in their name and reputation if they truly abandoned the city.

The solution they come up of is to appoint a official but they were only required to serve for certain amount of time.

Due to this resolution, the lord of the city change often which doesn't solve the vital problem of the city. In the end, the empire appoint the Wei Family to become the lord's mansion butler and their main task is to ensure a quick and proper control of the city to the new lord.

That is to say, Dian is the secretary of the city. Unofficially, their family is the true manager of the city.

Therefore, it could be concluded that the city lord don't truly know the state of city but Dian did.

After Dian introduce himself, Cole pause and digest the information he received.

If what Dian just said is true, then it explains why Pirro and even the Empire agree to trade the Towering Tree City and its near area, which is the Dark Forest, for his Water of Life.

Not only they exchange a treasure that could lenghten the lifespan of the dying Emperor, they also acquire a shield that'll face the brunt of dangers of Dark Forest.

It could be said that in their exchange, the empire acquire the deal that greatly favor their side.

The Towering Tree City is devoid of resources while the Dark Forest turn into source of threat than source of resources.

After thinking this, Cole can't help but thought that Pirro felt a little bad for him and the deal of Mother Center and Projection Stone is just a consolation.

However, eventhough he concludes that he's in the losing side of the deal, Cole don't really feel bad about it. After all, when he exchange the Water of Life, what he want is exactly the Towering Tree City. The empire didn't hand over the city with sly intention and Cole don't really consider the state of the city's natural resources. In any case, he has his own great source of resources — the [Inner World] and the four Shattered Reality Dungeon Monolith.

Cole could tell that Dian had a good intention when he brief him the general situation of the city. Perhaps he's worried that Cole would have a hard time on managing the city since it won't have a stable source of income that could be use for its entire operation.

In order to make things clear between them, Cole decided to inform Dian about his reason on choosing the Towering Tree City.

"Dian, don't worry about that. Let me tell you the reason why I request the independency of the territory; I want to create a haven for normal humans and give them a chance and space to develop..."

Almost instantly, Dian's face turned shocked and his gaze on Cole change for a better.

As a matter of fact, Dian and his family his wife don't have any cultivation. They were those that called as normal humans, or commoners in general.

He won't deny that Cole's intention is noble and every commoners that'll hear it will be emotionally moved. However, by the time Cole finish his speech, a trace of frown could be seen on his face.

"City Lord, you're intention is great and I believe that many commoners will believe in you too but to make it into reality, it needs a great amount of resources!" At this time, Dian tone turn into arguing tone in the end.

But despite that, Cole can't help but smile since it shows that Dian started to consider things regarding his plan. He manage to convince the latter; although not fully but at the least he shows some concern.

As for his tone, Cole is not offended despite being argued back by normal human. After all, he can't blame Dian about his view of the world and his common sense. In his opinion, the natural resources in the city is the main source of income of the city that'll support its overall operation.

He didn't know that Cole basically carry a thing that equates to this world's secret realm which was a seperate space or area that got isolated for a long time and nourish rich resources. And not just one but many treasures that equates to secret realm.

With a faint smile, Cole console the other, "Don't worry about the resources, I'll take care of it."

Dian is a qualified butler and didn't further cross the line, "I understand city lord."

Cole nodded his head, "U-hmm..." He hum in reply.

Suddenly, Cole remember something.

He send his consciousness inside the Black Ring, clean out a random spatial ring and fill it with huge amount of gold coins he acquire from Mikoes before.

"Here, take this. When that Fatty leave the lords mansion, he ransacked the treasury clean." He said.

Dian don't have an ounce of idea that what Cole is giving to him is a treasured spatial ring but when he heard what the former city lord did, the composed butler can't help but exclaimed in shock, "What?! That fatty..." Dian is so angry that he didn't know he subconsciously raise his hand and clench it as though he was about to punch someone.

"Don't worry about that. Just consider it that that Fatty help us on cleaning the last trace of the empire and this independent territory is truly starting anew. Just think that our city is a phoenix that's undergoing its Nirvana Rebirth." Cole console the angry butler.

And it work as the latter immediately try to compose himself.

Dian can't help but give Cole a questioning glance afterwards due to confusion. He don't get it why this new city lord don't worry about the resources of the city when all the city lord before him immediately ask him about the state of the treasury of the city before anything else.

And what makes Dian afraid is that he always subconsciously believe his words deep inside. The argument he's making is just his natural, instinctual response.

While he's still trying to understand himself, Dian accept the ring. He didn't know what it was and showed a confused expression upon accepting the ring.

"The same as I instructed, every commoner that intend to leave the city will receive two gold coins per head of family. If they have a land or property that can't be taken with them, they can sell it to the city lord's office and we'll buy it with 80% of its original price." He instructed.

But suddenly, Cole remember that Dian don't have any cultivation. It'll be consuming for him to use spatial rings.

"Oh, I forgot, you don't have any cultivation. You won't be able to use it at all."

This time, after Dian heard that the ring Cole is about to give to him were a spatial ring, his eyes literally turn wide in shocked!

Its no wonder the city lord didn't bother and mind the hateful action the former city lord did before he leave! Just the value of this single spatial ring is enough to eclipse the value of the whole treasury of the city by large margin!

After seeing the spatial ring, Dian were finally and fully convince that Cole do have enough resources on him that he don't have to worry about the source of income of the city.

He only need to auction that spatial ring and he could acquire a budget that could possibly support the whole city's operation for several years.

When he fully accept the fact, Dian immediately try to compose himself. In his eyes, he could now see the reason why Cole is always calm about everything. He was rich and might be even strong himself, strong enough that he still look calm about the possible chaos the city could face in any second.

After remembering the fact that Dian don't have the ability to use the spatial ring, Cole decided that he'll just ask someone, possibly Celia, do to the task of controlling the spatial ring. In addition, her presence will also ensure the peace for tomorrow's gold coins distribution. After all, a gold coins is a big amount of money and someone might want to rob the budget out of greed.

Dian definitely don't have the capability to protect it while the city guards can't be use since they'll be responsible for public security.

Moreover, Cole don't have the confidence to rely fully on the city guards. He greatly anticipate and he have a big plan for this newly acquired territory of his, he won't let chaos dominate the city and crumble right before his grasp before his great plan come into fruition.

It looks like he have to establish his reputation and he need some help on this matter.