The need for expansion, which had once been a mere projection in Grayfia's reports, had become an undeniable physical reality. The marble walls of Avalon could no longer contain the constant pulse of life and industry. Sirzechs, observing the holographic map of Jura, pointed to the southeast sector, where the river met a natural elevation near the main railway line.
— Here — Sirzechs decreed, his voice resonating with the authority of the Visionary. — We shall establish New Alabaster. If the capital is the heart and the brain, this second city will be the lungs and the muscles of our nation.
The consolidation of the expansion was a coordinated effort among the pillars of the Duchy. Dietrich, the Marshal, led the first engineering convoy. The tracks were extended with supernatural speed, while Geld's High-Orcs laid the foundations of runic marble. Under Dietrich's supervision, the logistics of transporting raw materials from Dwargon to the construction site became a mechanical ballet of absolute efficiency. There was no room for error; every block of stone was positioned according to the pre-established design from Ulquiorra's Bureau of the Void.
Tier Harribel moved to the region to ensure the water stability of the new metropolis. With a gesture of her sword, she redirected underground water veins to create aqueducts that would feed not only the industries but the vast fields of crops that would surround New Alabaster. Where there had once been dense, wild forest, channels of crystal-clear water controlled by her will now emerged. She designated the Tres Bestias to patrol the perimeter, ensuring that no magical beast or Church scout interfered with the birth of the second city.
At the center of New Alabaster, the infrastructure was designed for the people. Benedict was already preparing the installation of an industrial bakery, capable of feeding the thousands of workers and new settlers who would arrive weekly. He did not see the expansion merely as territory, but as new mouths to feed and new minds to stabilize through the comfort of warm bread.
To manage this new cell of the empire, Sirzechs made a crucial administrative decision. He summoned Genevieve and the Musician to define the cultural identity of the satellite city. While the capital of Avalon would remain the political and scientific center under Szayelaporro's gaze, New Alabaster would be the hub for textile manufacturing, craftsmanship, and food processing.
— This city will not be a ghetto for laborers — Sirzechs stated to Grayfia, as he signed tax incentive decrees for human artisans moving there. — It will have its own beauty, its own conservatory, and its own soul. Dietrich will ensure the trains run every hour, and Harribel will ensure that life flourishes.
The impact of this foundation was felt throughout the Jura Federation. Rimuru, visiting the construction site, was impressed by the Arrancar order. In New Alabaster, the chaos of civil construction was replaced by gelid discipline. The evolved mid-level Hollows, under Dietrich's command, operated as perfect supervisors, eliminating any sign of laziness or corruption among the workers. By the end of the first month, the silhouette of New Alabaster already shimmered under the moonlight. Smaller than the capital but equally imposing, it was proof that Sirzechs' model was replicable and unstoppable. The Railway Axis now connected not just nations, but the vital points of an empire that was beginning to breathe on its own.
The inauguration of New Alabaster was not merely a civil event; it was a demonstration of force that silenced critics regarding the viability of Avalon's expansion. Where once there was only beaten earth and roots, now rose a metropolis of circular architecture, with marble buildings that seemed to sprout from the ground in organic, fluid forms.
The day of the inauguration brought a heavy delegation from the capital. The Alabaster Express, driven under Dietrich's rhythmic supervision, pulled into the central platform of the new station, releasing a mist of magical steam. Sirzechs disembarked alongside Grayfia, received by an honor guard of mid-level Arrancars whose white armor gleamed under the Jura sun.
In the center of the main square, before a monumental statue representing the union of marble and water, Sirzechs took the stage. The crowd was composed of thousands: High-Orcs proud of their construction, human artisans eager for new workshops, and monsters of various races who saw in New Alabaster the chance for a stable life.
— New Alabaster is not just an annex of our capital — Sirzechs declared, his voice amplified by magicule resonance. — It is the proof that our order can flourish in any soil. But a city of such logistical and productive importance cannot be governed from a distance. It needs an authority that personifies solidity and vigilance.
Sirzechs extended his right hand. He decided that for a city of production and discipline, he needed a Hollow who understood hierarchy but possessed an unyielding, almost metallic rigidity. The air around him began to vibrate with the sound of tempered steel. From the void manifested by the Visionary, a figure of imposing stature emerged, with spiked black hair and eyes that carried a gelid intensity.
«Notice. Creation of Administrative Unit complete.» «Naming: Coyote Starrk.» «Title: The First Governor of New Alabaster / The First Sword.»
Starrk walked toward Sirzechs with a calculated laziness that hid an absolute perception of everything around him. He needed no armies; his mere presence was a spiritual pressure that maintained order for miles. He was accompanied by Lilynette Gingerbuck, who would function as his direct connection to the population, being the more "human" face of his authority.
— Governing seems like a lot of work, Lord Sirzechs — Starrk murmured, though his eyes were fixed on the crowd, cataloging every face with a precision that rivaled Ulquiorra's. — But if you wish for this place to remain in silence and order, I will make Avalon's rules the only thing these humans and monsters hear.
The appointment was immediate. Starrk took over the Governor's Palace of New Alabaster. His dynamic of governance was unique: while Lilynette ran through the industrial districts ensuring Genevieve's artisans and Benedict's bakers had what they needed, Starrk remained at the highest point of the city. From there, he used his perception to detect any spark of betrayal or disorder before it even occurred.
At the inauguration banquet, served with delicacies Benedict had prepared specifically for the new city, Rimuru observed the new governor.
— You brought the "Lone Wolf" to look after your biggest factory, Sirzechs? — Rimuru asked, impressed by Starrk's aura.
— He is the perfect sentinel, Rimuru — Sirzechs replied, watching Grayfia hand Starrk the first production reports. — In New Alabaster, nothing moves without him knowing. The Church may try to send its saints and spies, but they will find that the borders of this city are watched by someone who never sleeps.
With the inauguration complete and Governor Starrk installed, Avalon ceased to be a point on the map and became a network. The marble empire now had two hearts beating in sync.