Upon returning to the camp, Byrne could clearly feel the change in the knight squad's attitude toward him; they were more respectful, more reverent, and even a little awed.
"A few of you, come here."
Four knight squires stepped forward, taking the prisoners from Byrne's hands. Now, including the prisoners and the knight squad, there were twenty people in total. The knight squad was bound to stay by his side, while the prisoners could be assigned to labor.
Byrne looked at the prisoners, opened the Hall of Heroes with his mind, and selected a Heroic Spirit.
[Hunter]
[Level: LV3]
[Skill: Hunter's Hut]
[Hunter's Hut: The Hunter finds the area within the territory richest in food and builds a Hunter's Hut, hunting one beast daily.]**
[Heroic Spirit Value: 2 points]
[Currently, Heroic Spirit Value can exchange for five Hunter Heroic Spirits]
Between the mayor and food, Byrne chose the latter. He decided not to exchange for a Mayor Heroic Spirit for now, but instead selected five Hunter Heroic Spirits. After all, food was paramount, and having a full stomach was the most fundamental need. The villagers wouldn't care who was mayor—they would only care if they had eaten today and whether there would be food tomorrow.
He selected five of the seemingly more honest prisoners and had them enter the tent.
"This Lord is willing to give you a chance to start anew. No coercion."
Byrne toyed with a dagger in his hand. "Join my territory, become my villagers. Are you all willing?"
The key to inheriting a Heroic Spirit lay in whether the inheritor was a resident of the territory. If not, they could not inherit it, no matter what. As long as the prisoners agreed, they would be considered villagers, and Byrne could use inheritance to make them eternally loyal to him.
"Lord, we are willing." ×5
The prisoners were not fools. Watching the dagger being tossed and caught constantly, they knew refusal might end with it plunging into their necks.
"Good."
Byrne wasted no words and opened the Hall of Heroes.
[Hunter]
[Heroic Spirit Inheritance: 5]
[Heroic Spirit Points Consumed: 10 points]
[Proceed with Inheritance?]
[Yes]
Five Hunter Heroic Spirits appeared out of thin air and merged into their bodies. Their armor transformed into hunter attire, with a butchering knife and a quiver of barbed arrows at their waist, and a long horn bow on their back.
"Go find a place to build a Hunter's Hut. Hunt for food, and after ensuring you have eaten your fill, bring the food back."
"Yes, sir."
With that, the Hunters left the tent.
The remaining five prisoners stared in confusion, amazed at how their companions had transformed. In the eyes of the knight squires, a fervent flame burned once more. Was this the great power of the Lord? It was truly miraculous. If someone were told there were gods in the world, they would choose the Lord without hesitation.
At this moment, Byrne was checking the Heroic Spirit quests. He scrolled endlessly until he found a line of text that said checking this option would automatically match the current scenario to receive corresponding quests, which could be viewed or ignored.
"Why didn't you say so earlier? You made me painstakingly search for and receive quests every time."
After enabling the option, Byrne exited the Hall of Heroes and went outside the tent. He repeated the same process with the remaining five prisoners; they all agreed to join the territory and become Byrne's villagers.
"Since your awareness is so high, go clean the town. Take shovels and iron buckets."
Byrne sent four knight squires with the prisoners to the town, supervising them to prevent escape or harm.
After they left, Byrne noticed the little maid squatting on the ground beside the camp, her braided pigtail swaying slightly, a small flower pinned in her hair. She was drawing on the ground with a twig, occasionally letting out laughter, like a February plum blossom, full of vitality.
Flora was immersed in her own world when she suddenly noticed her shadow growing larger. Turning, she cried out, "Lord!"
Flora quickly stood, bowing her head and clasping her hands together. Her mother had told her before coming here not to be lazy, to work diligently, or risk a beating if caught.
"What are you doing?" Byrne asked.
"Look at me," she replied.
Byrne's tone was friendly and gentle, yet those amber eyes were filled with sparkling tears, large teardrops rolling down her fair, rosy cheeks. He pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to her.
"Your snot bubble is out, wipe it." He chuckled softly, "Don't cry, I haven't done anything to you."
Byrne looked down and saw a small duck drawn with a twig, accompanied by some crooked words.
"I didn't expect you could write."
"My father taught me," Flora said with a heavy sniffle.
This surprised Byrne. He hadn't expected a commoner girl to know how to read and write. Most people with literacy were nobles.
"Then you're very capable."
"Do you want to go home and see?"
Flora's eyes widened. "Really?"
Byrne nodded. "Go home, have a meal with your family, and then ask your father to come." He took out a piece of dried meat, about the size of two palms. "Take this back too."
"Lord, you are a good person."
The little maid eagerly ran toward the town, meat in hand.
"Remember to hide it well and only take it out at home."
…After dinner, Byrne opened the Hall of Heroes.
[Limited-Time Quests]
[Will not reappear after completion]
[Hunter's Hut construction completed, food problem temporarily solved]
[Received five Heroic Spirit points]
[Town cleaning completed, villagers are very happy]
[Received five Heroic Spirit points]
[Total Heroic Spirit points received: 10 points]
"Damn it."
He had hoped to continuously farm points with these two quests but didn't expect them to be one-time only, shattering his plan.
"Lord."
Clyde came before Byrne with his daughter. The little maid bowed, then discreetly left.
"The meat your Lord had my daughter bring back was delicious. Thank you for your generosity."
At first, Clyde thought his daughter had done something wrong and was sent back. But upon closer thought, that didn't fit. In his mind, if a maid stole or misbehaved, she would have been beaten to death immediately. Seeing his daughter's rosy cheeks, bright smile, and explanation, he finally relaxed.