Chapter 382 Temporary Shelters for the Newcomers

“And Larry—take your team and start patrolling the perimeter. Make sure no pesky monsters are sneaking around. If anything bigger shows up, don’t try to handle it yourself. Call for me. I’ll deal with it personally.”

Larry ran a hand through his hair, sighing as he thought about the logistics.

"Alright, I’ll get the goblins together and put them to work. I’ll also make sure Jacob and the dwarves know we need to speed things up. We don’t want our new allies arriving just to find themselves sleeping under the stars."

He turned toward the door but paused.

"I’ll send word to my team too. We’ll do a full sweep around the area, make sure no unwanted guests are lurking. Those damn monsters have been getting bolder lately, and the last thing we need is trouble while we’re trying to expand."

Suzuka nodded, a confident smirk playing on her lips.

"Good. Keep your eyes open, but don’t take any unnecessary risks. You see something too big for you to handle, you call me. I’ll tear it apart myself."

Larry chuckled dryly, shaking his head.

"Yeah, yeah, I know the drill. Just try not to enjoy it too much."

Larry gave a final nod before heading out, his mind already racing with everything that needed to be done. 

It didn’t take long for Jacob and the dwarf brothers to arrive at Suzuka’s office. Jacob strode in first, his tall frame filling the doorway. Behind him, Thorin and Dwalin followed. Thorin carried a rolled-up blueprint under one arm, while Dwalin had a hammer slung casually over his shoulder.

Jacob said, “We got a word from Larry that you needed to see us. Something about newcomers arriving soon?”

Thorin and Dwalin nodded in greeting, “Aye, we’re here,” Thorin said, his tone gruff but respectful.

 “What’s the plan, lass?”

Suzuka leaned back in her chair. 

“Yes, I’ve secured some reliable hands. We’ll have proper guards soon—lizardmen and cat people. They should start arriving by the end of the week. With them patrolling, we’ll finally have some real security. No more monsters sneaking in, and the goblins can focus on building the walls without jumping at every shadow.”

She stood, walking over to a large map of Luminesia spread out on the table.

 “Here’s what we need. The lizardmen and cat people will need their own districts. I was thinking we clear the forest by the river for the lizardmen—I imagine they’ll appreciate being near the water and having access to fish. As for the cat people, we can start building their district near the lizardmen. Any suggestions or questions?”

Jacob crossed his arms, his brow furrowing as he studied the map.

 “We’ll need to make sure the land near the river is stable before we start clearing it. The last thing we want is for the ground to erode or flood when the rain hits. I’ll use my earth magic to reinforce the area and make sure it’s solid. It’ll take some time, but it’s better to do it right the first time.”

Dwalin nodded, his voice a low rumble.

 “Aye, lizardmen prefer sturdy but simple homes. No need for fancy details, just good structure and plenty o’ space. And you’re right—they’ll want to be close to the water, so settin’ them up near the river makes sense. We’ll also need stone, lots of it, especially for the lizardmen’s district. Wood won’t hold up well near water, and I doubt they’ll want their homes rottin’ out in a few years.”

Suzuka nodded.

  “Right. Prioritize the stonework for them and use wood for the cat people’s homes—they’ll appreciate something lighter and easier to climb.”

Dwalin continued, "As for the cat folk, well, they like high places, don’t they? Perches, rooftops, that sort of thing. We should build their homes with plenty of vertical space—towers, maybe, or terraces.”

Thorin grunted in agreement, unrolling the blueprint he’d brought and spreading it out on the table. 

“We can section off two separate areas—one near the river for the lizardmen, one for the cat folk. That way, they get what they need. We’ll also need to plan for extra housing. Once word spreads about this place, more will start coming. We’ll need inns, market stalls, maybe even a proper trade quarter.”

Suzuka nodded.

 “Good. We’ll need to move quickly, but we can’t afford to cut corners. Jacob, you handle stabilizing the riverbank. Thorin, Dwalin, start drafting plans for the districts. Keep the designs practical but adaptable—we don’t know how many will come, or how quickly. And make sure the goblins are briefed. They’ll be doing most of the labor, so they need to understand the plans.”

Jacob tapped a finger on his chin, his eyes narrowing as he considered the logistics.

 “We’ll also need to set up temporary shelters for the newcomers while the permanent structures are being built. Nothing fancy, just enough to keep them dry and fed until their homes are ready.”

Dwalin smirked, a glint of humor in his eyes.

 “Aye, and we’ll need to keep an eye on the cat folk. They’re clever, those ones. If we don’t watch ‘em, they’ll be sneakin’ into the fish stocks before we know it.”

Suzuka allowed herself a small smile, though her tone remained firm.

 “Then it’s settled. Let’s get to work. Jacob, how many work-ready goblins do we have?”

Jacob paused, he mentally tallied the numbers. After a moment, he nodded. 

“Roughly 600, give or take. The rest are still learning the ropes—greenhorns, really. I wouldn’t recommend giving them any serious tasks yet. They’d just slow us down or, worse, cause a mess we’d have to clean up later.”

“600 will have to do. We don’t have much time, and I want this town ready to welcome its new residents—not scrambling at the last minute. Take all of them and focus on clearing the lands for the districts. When Thorin and Dwalin finish the blueprints, I want that land to be ready for building. No delays, no excuses.”

Jacob gave a firm nod. 

“It’ll be done. I’ll get the goblins organized and start on the riverbank first. We’ll have it cleared and stable before the lizardmen even set foot here.” He turned on his heel and strode out of the office.

Thorin and Dwalin exchanged a glance, their bearded faces breaking into grins. Thorin rolled up the blueprint he’d brought, tucking it under his arm as he clapped Dwalin on the shoulder. 

“You heard the lass. Let’s get to it. We’ll have those blueprints finished in no time.”

Dwalin chuckled, his voice a low rumble.

 “Aye, and it’ll be magnificent. Sturdy homes for the lizardmen, towers and terraces for the cat folk—this town’s gonna be a sight to behold once we’re done.”

As the dwarf brothers made their way to the door, Dwalin paused and glanced back at Suzuka.

 “And don’t you worry, lass. We’ll make sure the designs are practical and impressive. We won't stand for anything less. After all, we came to your town to make a name for ourselves.”

“I’m counting on it. Now get to work. We’ve got a lot to do and not much time to do it.”

As the dwarves and Jacob left, Suzuka exhaled, running a hand through her hair. Things were moving fast, but that was how she liked it—efficient, no wasted time. She turned her gaze to the map sprawled across her desk, tracing her fingers over the sections that would soon transform into bustling districts.

The lizardmen would need sturdy stone homes with proper drainage, maybe even underground pathways to keep them cool. The cat folk would prefer high vantage points, perhaps tiered housing or multi-level platforms to mimic the trees they were used to. It was all coming together, but there was still much to do.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

Larry poked his head in.

  “So, how’d it go?”

Suzuka smiled.

  “Smooth as butter. The dwarves are drawing up blueprints, Jacob’s got 600 goblins clearing land, and construction will start the moment the ground’s ready.”

Larry whistled, stepping inside.

  “That’s a lot of hands working at once. We’re going to need more supplies—food, tools, and definitely more drinks. I took it up on myself and bought a few barrels of beer, that will cheer the goblins up after hard days' work. I have to say, they really like it.”

 "You’re not wrong. A little morale boost will keep them working hard. Just make sure they don’t drink themselves stupid before the work’s done. Last thing I need is goblins passed out in the middle of the construction site, snoring like drunk pigs."

Then she gave him a pointed look. 

"And you—don’t let them rope you into a drinking contest. I know how that ends."

Larry grinned, raising his hands innocently.

  "Hey, hey, I learned my lesson last time. I still can’t believe those little green fellas outdrank me." 

He shook his head with a chuckle. 

"Never again. But yeah, don’t worry, I’ll keep ‘em in line. Work first, drinks after. I’ll have someone ration the barrels so they don’t go through ‘em like water."

Before Suzuka could respond to Larry’s teasing, a pathetic, almost hesitant knock interrupted them. It was so soft it barely registered, more like a nervous tap than an actual knock. Both of them turned their heads toward the door, and there stood Hermit, peeking inside with the miserable look of a scolded puppy. His ears drooped, his shoulders slumped, and his hands were clasped together like a child expecting punishment.

Larry took one look at the goblin’s pitiful state and sighed.

  "Well, that’s my cue to leave. We’ll talk later, Helen. Seems like the little guy’s got something important to discuss with you."

Without waiting for a reply, he strolled past Hermit, patting the goblin’s head as he walked by.

  "Chin up, bud."

Hermit didn’t even react to the gesture. He simply stood there, staring at the floor, his tiny fingers wringing together nervously. Once Larry was gone, an awkward silence filled the room. Suzuka leaned back against her desk, arms crossed, waiting for Hermit to speak.

"Well?" she finally said, "You look like you just saw a ghost. Don't just stand there. Spit it out."