As instructed, the elder gathered the surviving villagers in the main square. Only those able to stand after the bandit attack attended—roughly five hundred people, a considerable number for a village. This suited my purposes: a substantial pool of human resources for my current needs and potential recruits for future soldiers. While I planned ahead, the elder, standing beside me, announced the new order to the crowd:
"Hear me! From this day forward, our village falls under the authority of this mighty lord!" He pointed at me. The crowd's reaction was far from enthusiastic; insults and jeers flew my way. I merely smirked. In the balance of carrot and stick, I always preferred the stick.
"Why should we obey some shady stranger? He's young enough to be my son! Let's drive this fool out!" A particularly vocal man emerged from the crowd. Younger villagers cheered his defiance, while older ones and most women frowned in silence.
"But the consequences of refusal…" I placed a hand on the elder's shoulder, shaking my head.
"Elder, I'll handle this."
"Of course, my lord," he replied, his gaze anxious as he stepped aside with a heavy sigh. His reaction amused me, and I turned to the rebels.
"So, you think I'm too young to rule you? Bold words from a man facing someone who single-handedly cleared your village of bandits. Ha, is this courage or ignorance?"
"Go to hell, you bastard! Saving us doesn't mean we'll serve—" I cut off his tirade. The man suddenly rose into the air, clutching his throat, gasping desperately. The villagers' faces twisted in shock and fear, unable to comprehend the spectacle. Their eyes darted between him and me, waiting in silence for the outcome. I raised my hand higher, lifting him further. The thrill of controlling another's life was intoxicating, amplified by the chance to wield my Sith powers. Many in my old world would envy such abilities.
"Fool, blind beyond your own nose. Your salvation from death doesn't make me merciful. You've lost control over your life; I decide your fate with a single thought. I am your lord, and you are my servant!" I declared with a villainous tone. The man, stripped of dignity, sobbed like a child. I wondered if my status attributes influenced him.
"Khh… please… let me go…" he choked out through tears. With a sharp gesture, I lowered my hand, and he crashed to the ground like a sack, coughing and too terrified to stand. The scene left the villagers stunned—some legs buckled, and the most impressionable fainted. I snorted, seizing the moment.
"ON YOUR KNEES! ALL OF YOU!" Instantly, they dropped, foreheads to the ground, murmuring, "We obey, great lord." The sight was pure satisfaction—the power I'd dreamed of in my past life. But a clone interrupted, approaching me.
"Your Majesty, what are your orders regarding the bandit prisoners?" While I'd been staging my display, my clones had lined up the captives, rifles to their heads. Some stared blankly at the ground, others wept and begged, and a few tried bargaining for freedom. I had no use for them and issued a curt order:
"Execute them. Burn the bodies."
"Yes, sir," the clone replied, turning to his comrades. "You heard the order—carry it out!"
Without hesitation, the clones fired, killing the prisoners instantly. They began piling the bodies outside the village for burning—I had no intention of wasting effort on mass graves. Turning from the scene, I approached the elder for further discussion, as if the executions were inconsequential. Before I reached him, the System chimed, and I mentally requested it to announce the notification.
"Congratulations, my Lord! You have subjugated your first settlement! You are awarded the skill 'Class Concealment' and a new combat vehicle: the AT-RT reconnaissance walker. Additionally, the remote building management function is now unlocked!"
The System's generosity thrilled me. I mentally opened my status panel.
USER STATUS
Name: Andrey 22,350 Cr
Class: Sith Lord (Supreme)
Health: 100 HP
Stamina: 100 (+50) SP
Might: 100 (+50) WP
Strength: 20 (+50) PP
Mana: 100 (+50) MP
Condition: Normal
Skills: Telekinesis (Level 1), Force Lightning (Level 1), Force Sense (Level 1), Sixth Sense (Level 10), Mind Control (Level 1), Class Concealment (Level 1)
Titles: Emperor (Mental influence on others doubled), Sith (Bonus +50 to all attributes except HP), Warlord (Units under command gain +10 to all attributes)
I had guesses about the "Class Concealment" skill but sought clarification to avoid confusion.
"The 'Class Concealment' skill allows you to hide your class for 10 minutes at a cost of 15 mana points. Higher levels increase duration and cost."
Its utility wasn't immediately clear, so I shifted focus to the remote building management function. Mentally, I asked the System to open the panel. A familiar 3D map appeared, showing my mining facility and barracks. Checking the facility—my cash cow—I was stunned: it had amassed 357,000 credits. Far more than the 150,000 I'd estimated since my last collection. I queried the System.
"The mining facility required time to reach full production capacity. Compared to its initial output, it now operates at maximum efficiency, accessing deeper, richer gold deposits."
I hadn't considered that possibility. The System's intricacies were many, but I hoped they'd all be as pleasantly surprising. After addressing the facility, I turned to the barracks. Seven clones from the wolf encounter and twenty-five patrolling clones were stationed there. I ordered seventy more 501st Legion clones, spending 7,000 credits. Eager for more upgrades, I opened the weapons tab in the shop.
After consideration, I purchased thirty incendiary and thirty fragmentation grenades for my army, ideal for battles against creatures like the wolves—a precaution I regretted not taking sooner. The grenades cost 14,500 credits. As I confirmed the purchase, a thought struck: why not expand my production? There must be other resource deposits nearby.
With this idea, I approached the elder. Passing the square, I was pleased to see my clones' initiative—a massive First Galactic Empire standard fluttered near the well. The elder, conversing with a villager, spotted me, hurriedly dismissed his companion, and scurried over, bowing repeatedly in a comical display. He dropped to his knees before me.
"May prosperity be with you, great lord! How may this old man serve you?" His demeanor had shifted since the square incident.
"Stand. I need information." He rose as quickly as he'd knelt.
"Elder, are there any nearby mineral deposits or mines?" He pondered briefly before replying.
"Hmm, there's an abandoned gemstone mine fifteen minutes north, near the forest between three hills. But it's overrun with dangerous monsters, so no one goes there. Sometimes, they raid us."
"Thank you for the information."
"It's the least this humble servant can do, my lord," he fawned, and I found his behavior oddly pleasing.
"What of the other villagers? Do they now understand who their lord is?"
"After your… demonstration, many respect you greatly, my lord. But they're uncertain about your promises of protection and food," he said, veiling their fear. Obedience, whether from respect or fear, was all that mattered to me.
"Of course. My soldiers are elite; they can protect you from any threat. However, you will pay a tribute of 35% of your grain harvest or its monetary equivalent. Your fields are vast—you should manage." The elder sighed mournfully.
"My lord, the bandits took most of our grain. We barely have enough to survive winter, let alone money to feed ourselves."
"Hmm." Could I buy grain in the System's shop? The System answered unprompted.
"Our shop contains all existing items, provided you can pay. One hundred sacks of grain cost 6,000 credits."
The price of sixty clones, but it would last. A fair deal. I ordered the purchase, instructing the grain to appear before me.
"Yes, my lord! Processing the grain purchase," the System confirmed. I turned to the elder.
"Old man, step back a few paces. You're about to witness extraordinary magic." I didn't want a hundred sacks falling on his head.
"Uh, yes, my lord…" He complied, confused.
Instantly, a hundred sacks of grain materialized from thin air. The elder's jaw dropped, his childlike wonder amusing for someone so aged. Overwhelmed, he fell to his knees, bowing repeatedly.
"Oh, merciful heavens! You're a true envoy of the gods! We'll serve you with our lives, great and generous lord!" His voice trembled, not with fear but with awe. The carrot after the stick worked perfectly.
"Rise. Summon your villagers to store this grain in your barns. I'm heading to the mine."
"Yes, my lord!"
Despite his age, the elder ran off energetically to spread the news. Soon, a crowd of men and women gathered, gasping, embracing, and laughing with joy. They thanked me profusely. Smirking, I joined my soldiers. As they reported their progress, the System notified me that the seventy clones were ready. I ordered them to march to the village. An hour later, they arrived in disciplined columns, evoking the scene from Order 66, with Anakin Skywalker leading the 501st to the Jedi Temple. I reveled in the sight. A clone approached with a report:
"Your Majesty! Seventy soldiers of the 501st Legion have arrived and await your orders!" He saluted.
"At ease. Inform them we're heading to a monster-infested gemstone mine. Assign a pilot to the AT-RT."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" He saluted and rejoined his comrades.
Fifteen minutes later, we were ready. Seventy clones formed two columns, the AT-RT bringing up the rear. Surveying my expanded force, I commanded:
"Forward march!" Leading the formation, their synchronized steps sounded like a machine army.
As the elder had said, we reached the mine in fifteen minutes. My Sixth Sense triggered as we approached. Raising a hand to halt the troops, I scanned them and ordered them to spread out, encircling the mine. The terrain—hills surrounding the site—allowed a stealthy approach. Within minutes, we tightened the perimeter and spotted our target.
A large mine entrance loomed, guarded by green, goblin-like creatures and three-meter-tall ogre-like humanoids. I counted fifty goblins and five ogres, the latter my primary concern. Handing my grenades to ten clones, I ordered fragmentation grenades first. They readied to throw on my command. I didn't keep them waiting. Ten grenades soared toward the monsters, who mistook them for stones, ignoring them and staring at the hills. Their fatal error—seconds later, ten explosions obliterated them. After a brief pause, I sent clones to check the area. Only shredded remains were left, no trace of the sentient life they'd been moments ago.
As clones secured the entrance, aiming at anything emerging, goblin screams echoed from within. My Sixth Sense detected a massive horde—likely a nest. I issued rapid orders:
"Soldiers! Take positions at the entrance and prepare for battle! A monster horde approaches—throw incendiary grenades on my signal!"
"Yes, sir!" The clones readied their blasters. As goblins, engulfed in flames, fled the cave in panic, precise blaster shots ended them. A burned, legless goblin crawled to a clone, wailing, only to have its head crushed underfoot, like Doomguy dispatching a demon in DOOM Eternal. Another reincarnated person might recoil in horror, but not me. I was ruthless toward obstacles, relishing their elimination. Goblins were no exception. Soon, all were dead—burned, shot, or suffocated by smoke.
I ordered the AT-RT to illuminate the cave with its spotlight. The entrance accommodated the walker, so I led fifty clones inside, ready to fire, while twenty guarded the entrance. Five minutes later, we entered a chamber twenty meters high and forty wide, filled with diamonds of various sizes. I recognized them instantly. The goblins had hoarded them here. Elated at the prospect of crafting a lightsaber—red-tinted diamond and System shop parts would make me a true Sith—I ordered a new mining facility built for 15,000 credits. With the gold mine, my daily profit now reached 250,000 credits.
To secure this wealth, I purchased wooden barricades, a machine-gun post, and three watchtowers with spotlights for 20,000 credits. One tower per hill, the gun post at the main entrance—the widest gap between hills. I assigned forty clones to guard the diamond mine, splitting the remaining thirty into two fifteen-man squads: one to reinforce the gold mine garrison, the other to the village with the AT-RT. I accompanied the village squad.