The heavy oak door of the study closed behind him, shutting out the last sounds from outside.
Dim light filtered through narrow windows, casting uneven shadows across dusty bookshelves and the massive oak desk. Grant leaned against the cold door, his heart still pounding—not from fear, but from unstoppable curiosity mixed with tension and wild excitement.
"System?"
He took a deep breath, carefully directing his question into that empty space deep in his mind, his voice barely above a whisper.
He didn't have to wait long. Almost the moment the thought formed—
"Hum—"
A cold, mechanical sound that seemed to vibrate directly from his soul exploded without warning at the center of his consciousness!
That voice carried no emotion, like two perfectly smooth pieces of metal striking each other in a vacuum. Immediately after, clear glowing text, like blue brands, filled his vision:
[User command recognized: Accessing main system.]
[Identity confirmed: Grant Augustus]
[Connection established: Online]
"You..." Grant's heart skipped a beat, then was overwhelmed by even greater excitement. "Can you... tell me about yourself?"
Though he'd encountered countless systems in novels from his previous life, when this "beyond reality" gift actually came to him, the impact still left his mouth dry.
The system's response came instantly, its voice flat and mechanical like the most precise clock:
[Query identified: System basic function overview]
[System Name: Imperial War System]
[Primary Goal: Accelerate enhancement of host's personal power, expand host's effective territory.]
[Ultimate Purpose: Help host establish their own imperial dominion!]
Calradic Empire?! Grant's eyes widened in shock!
[Additional info: Currently unlocked core modules: "Imperial Recruitment," "Potential Enhancement"]
[Activating "Imperial Recruitment" interface:]
[Background: Calradic Empire - Once ruled the continent for a thousand years as the ultimate imperial power. Though its glory has faded with time, the legacy of its great traditions and iron discipline can still serve you.]
[Core Function: Spend precious metals (base currency: gold dragons) to transform soldiers personally loyal to you (regardless of current rank) into standard imperial troops following the ancient Calradic Empire military traditions and honor code!]
[Currently available recruitment options:]
Imperial Recruit: x 13,000 (Source: territorial serfs and commoners, basic potential)
Imperial Infantry: x 100 (Base level: Black Iron Infantry Regiment)
Imperial Guard Recruit: x 100 (Base level: Black Iron Heavy Cavalry Reserve)
Imperial Citizen Cavalry: x 10 (Base level: Bronze Knight Guards)
Imperial Heavy Cavalry: x 10 (Base level: Elite Frost Knights [non-Gold])
(Note: This represents your initial available troop tree; unlocking additional tiers or units requires extra resources or meeting specific conditions)
"Holy..." Grant sucked in a sharp breath! Those incredibly familiar unit names—this was exactly the Calradic Empire troop tree from his previous life's favorite game, "Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord"!
"This is incredible..."
[Query identified: Host requesting detailed "Imperial Recruitment" transformation benefits]
[Transformation benefits:]
Standard Equipment: Transformed soldiers instantly receive Calradic standard gear matching their unit level, ensuring consistent basic combat effectiveness. Host may choose to replace this equipment later.
Experience System: Transformed soldiers earn "Experience Points" (EXP) through combat, training, or completing missions, used to gradually improve individual strength up to their unit tier's maximum.
Unit Potential:
Common troops (Recruits, Infantry): Maximum growth potential reaches—Gold level.
Elite troops (Guard Recruits, Citizen Cavalry, Heavy Cavalry): Maximum growth potential reaches—Earth Knight level (Lv. 1)
Breaking Limits (Special Authority): When individual soldiers reach their tier ceiling and accumulate enough EXP with acceptable aptitude for advancement, the system will notify the host. Host may spend specific resources or pay high costs to authorize "potential evolution," promoting them to rare units or hero-tier templates beyond their original tier!
"Equipment is optional... and they can break through their level caps by gaining experience?!"
Grant's last shred of doubt vanished instantly! A massive wave of joy that nearly burst his chest thundered through him!
In his previous life's games, top-tier troops were usually the end goal, but here, they could actually... advance even further?!
That smile couldn't be contained, like floodwaters bursting through a dam, ready to overflow from his eyes and face!
He bit his tongue hard, using the pain to suppress the cheer almost exploding from his throat, suddenly remembering something crucial!
"System!" Grant's voice shook with barely controlled excitement. "Open the starter pack!"
[Command received: Activate host benefit package - "Beginner's Bundle"]
[Processing...]
[Complete! You have received:]
Elite unit: Imperial Cataphract x 10
(Note: Rank - Gold Knight! All equipped with standard Gold-level horse armor, lances, heavy armor! Shields! Sabers!)
Universal currency: Denars x 10,000
(Note: Equivalent to 10,000 gold dragons in this world)
Personal enhancement resource: Universal Experience Points x 10,000
Basic population resource: Calradic Peasants x 10,000 (Can be directly integrated into territorial population)
"Imperial... Cataphracts?! Ten of them?! All... Gold rank?!!"
Grant's breathing suddenly stopped, as if an invisible giant hand had gripped his throat!
His eyes stared at the system's text, each letter seeming to glow like gold!
Ten Gold Knights! What did this mean?!
In Uncle Andre's famous Frostguard Knights, warriors of this caliber could each become captains leading hundreds of riders! They were honored guests of powerful lords ruling vast domains!
And now, ten whole ones! Had just fallen into his lap as a starter "bonus"?
This "generous gift"... was so abundant it felt like a dream!
Grant instinctively rubbed his face hard, as if making sure this wasn't some hallucination, his fingers trembling slightly with excitement.
"...System, how do I... how do I summon them?"
[Summoning process explained:]
Method: Open temporary dimensional portals for spatial teleportation.
Range: Host designates summoning location within clearly visible 1,000-meter radius.
Form: Summoned units and resources appear in complete physical form, following this world's natural laws.
Warning: Portal opening causes minor spatial disturbance; ensure privacy to avoid unwanted attention.
"Perfect... absolutely perfect!"
Grant's voice was rough with excitement. "Then... besides the Calradic Empire, how do I unlock other factions in the future? Like... Battanian archers? Aserai horse archers? Or... Sturgian axemen?"
[Multi-faction unlock system:]
[Unlock requirements:]
Major expansion of host's territorial control.
Significant advancement in host's noble status (noble assembly recognition/major war achievements).
Conquest or deep alliance with regions of specific cultures or religions.
[Upon meeting requirements, system will automatically evaluate and unlock initial troop recruitment for corresponding civilization trees. Greater expansion unlocks deeper, more diverse options.]
"Expand territory... raise noble rank... conquer and ally..." Grant repeated the system's requirements, the light in his eyes growing brighter, finally transforming into an unstoppable burning flood of power and ambition!
"Hahaha!"
Clear, almost wild laughter finally burst from Grant's throat, echoing thunderously through the empty, silent study!
This laughter wasn't just from the sudden cheat system and generous gifts, but because he could clearly see a path... a golden road to the supreme throne that truly belonged to him!
The ten Imperial Cataphracts in the starter pack, like ten incredibly solid pillars, instantly lifted his original foundation—which he'd called a "difficult start"—from swampy ground and raised it onto a... magnificent platform full of endless possibilities!
The imperial vision belonging to him, Grant Windsor, unfurled its first grand, vibrant scroll at this moment, in this dim study, accompanied by the phantom thunder of otherworldly cavalry!
====
Imperial Troop Tree Detailed Overview - Civilian Troops
Tier 1: Imperial Recruit
Tier 2: Imperial Infantry, Imperial Archer
Tier 3: Imperial Trained Infantry, Imperial Trained Archer
Tier 4 Infantry Branch: Imperial Veteran Infantry, Imperial Meneavlion
Tier 4 Archer Branch: Imperial Veteran Archer, Imperial Crossbowman
Tier 5 Infantry Branch: Imperial Legionary, Imperial Elite Meneavlion
Tier 5 Mounted Archer Branch: Imperial Bucellarii
Tier 5 Archer Branch: Imperial Palatine Guard, Imperial Sergeant Crossbowman
Imperial Troop Tree Detailed Overview - Noble Troops
Tier 2: Imperial Guard Recruit
Tier 3: Imperial Citizen Cavalry
Tier 4: Imperial Heavy Cavalry
Tier 5: Imperial Cataphract
Tier 6: Imperial Elite Cataphract
Tier 1 = Knight Squire level Tier 6 = Earth Knight level
No need to memorize completely—just giving readers an introduction. Only noble troops and infantry will appear frequently in the story.