When the sky just began to lighten, Jones stepped out wearing the Silver Moon Knight Order’s armor. He might be the only Blood Clan member on this continent who dared to move around during the day.
Yes, the only one. Which also meant he was perhaps the most diligent Blood Clan member on the entire continent.
The custom armor Catherine made for him employed Heaven’s craftsmanship. Hell could produce something similar too; it wasn’t particularly difficult. In fact, the Blood Clan could make it themselves, though it would be slightly more expensive. However, being able to make it is one thing, while being willing to wear it is another. The vast majority of Blood Clan members wouldn’t want to encase themselves in uncomfortable armor, much less walk around under the blazing sun in broad daylight wearing it. They revered a noble spirit tinged with darkness rather than the hard, bloody-knuckled valor of the Silver Moon Knight Order.
Except for Jones, who had emerged from the Silver Moon Knight Order.
Of course, there was also Dora, who was with him.
Upon arriving at the Dwarf Village, Jones gathered all of the dwarves and announced the first truly significant decree since he had gained this territory.
"From today onward, this place shall be named Giant Snake City, and we’ll adopt the banner of the Hydra. As for me, I will also use a new family crest."
"Why call it ’Giant Snake City’?" A puzzled dwarf asked.
"This is to express our gratitude to Lady Hydra for her assistance." Turning his face to the side, Jones bowed respectfully to the Hydra: "Thank you, my lady."
The Hydra nodded: "The giant serpent will protect you, little bat."
Approaching the barrel-maker, Jones handed over a design.
At a glance, it looked like a flower. But upon closer inspection, one would discover that it was, in fact, a Hydra—the nine snake heads entwined to form a floral pattern. A highly creative design.
"Create a batch of badges for me, one for each person. I’ll procure the materials. Of course, I’ll also have to trouble you to stitch flags; we need our own banner."
"The same design?" The barrel-maker asked.
"Yes, the same design." Returning to the high ground, Jones declared, "Starting today, Giant Snake City is not merely my domain but also your home. We will manage it together. I hereby proclaim: within the boundaries of Giant Snake City, there will be no slavery. Everyone is a free citizen. This applies even to those who might move here in the future—those currently living in some remote corner of the continent. If they choose to become my subjects, I will grant them freedom. This is our gratitude for your support; you are the founding elders of Giant Snake City. As for myself, from today, I am no longer anyone’s son. I, Jones Dracula, am the founder of the Dracula Family in Giant Snake City. I shall rule this land through my own merit rather than under anyone’s blessing."
The barrel-maker stepped forward from the crowd and respectfully bowed to Jones: "May Heaven bless you, my lord. Your generosity will be inscribed in the history of the dwarves of Giant Snake City. We shall never forget."
"May Heaven bless you, my lord!" All the dwarves bowed to Jones.
"And may Heaven bless you all, my loyal subjects. Your goodwill will also be recorded in the chronicles of the Dracula Family of Giant Snake City. The Dracula Family will forever stand beside you." Jones bowed respectfully to them in return: "Though this place has nothing now, starting today, let us join hands and strive for the future of this land."
The dwarves broke into enthusiastic applause. Cheers erupted; whistles pierced the air.
Dora stood quietly to the side, watching.
"And you too, Dora," Jones turned his face slightly and said softly, "I’ll work hard to earn enough money to redeem your contract. And your parents’ contracts, too. I want you all to enjoy freedom."
"Thank you, Lord Jones. My lord," Dora curtsied gracefully, lifting her skirt lightly.
"The road ahead is still long. As a lord, there is much I need to learn. I’ll need your help and guidance." Jones respectfully returned the gesture.
This marked a new beginning. A young heart began to sprout anew; the wandering Blood Clan member gathered his emotions, severed all lingering attachments, made promises, and set forth on his new journey.
Bravery was growing within him, and nothing could bind him anymore.
"If we aspire to establish a great city-state, gold mines alone won’t suffice. I need more industries. Before that, I’ll need to finalize the maps of my territory. I must intimately understand every detail of my domain."
Walking on foot, Jones, accompanied by a few dwarves who happened to have free time, began surveying his land.
Giant Snake City’s territory was vast, extremely vast—one hundred times larger than Count Dracula’s domain. It lay on the fringe of the Blood Clan settlement area of the Kolin Peninsula. To the north and east were Blood Clan territories, to the south was the Goblin Kingdom, and to the west, separated by a mountain range, lay the realm of humans.
Since the humans had no interest in the mountain range, the western boundary had not even been defined to this day. If Jones wished, the territory could theoretically expand by another half. However, this additional land consisted of barren wastelands or perilous regions teeming with magical beasts, carrying little practical value. Moreover, the Blood Clan didn’t particularly care about land size; large land areas and valuable land were two entirely separate matters.
Probably due to the land’s lack of worth, even the contractual documents of transfer did not include an accurate map. Jones had no choice but to measure it himself. Fortunately, he had a group of talented dwarf partners skilled in this task.