After a long stretch of waiting, Jolan glanced at his resource panel. Thanks to the steady stream of trades, his supplies were piling up every second. Soon, he realized he had enough to upgrade the Summoning Gate.
---
[Building Name: Summoning Gate]
[Building Level: White—Intermediate]
[Function: Summon up to 10 native inhabitants of the Chaos Continent each day. They will become the Lord's subjects.]
[Upgrade Requirement: 200 Wood, 200 Stone, 10 Metal, 6 Chaos Gems, Lord's Cabin (White—Intermediate).]
[Hint: All requirements are fulfilled. Proceed with upgrade? Yes/No]
---
With a surge of anticipation, Jolan confirmed.
A brilliant white radiance engulfed the structure, the same dazzling spectacle he had seen before. After nearly a minute, the glow dimmed, revealing the transformed gate.
Its overall shape remained unchanged, but the intricate runes carved across its surface had multiplied. The deep azure glow emanating from it pulsed with greater intensity.
---
[Building Name: Summoning Gate]
[Building Level: White—Peak]
[Function: Summon up to 25 native inhabitants of the Chaos Continent each day.]
[Upgrade Requirement: 5,000 Wood, 5,000 Stone, 200 Metal, 100 Chaos Gems, Lord's Cabin (White—Peak).]
[Notice: Daily summoning attempt available. Summon now? Yes/No]
---
"Twenty-five subjects per day… Incredible! But—why did the upgrade cost skyrocket like that?!"
Jolan frowned. He could only assume that the leap from White Peak to the next stage marked entry into an entirely new tier of power. That alone was enough to explain the ridiculous demands.
Suppressing his frustration, he pressed Yes.
One after another, figures emerged from the glowing gate, kneeling before him in reverence.
---
"We greet our Lord!"
"Rise."
---
Among the twenty-five new arrivals, three were combatants: one at White—Peak, one at Green—Novice, and one at Green—Peak. Jolan assigned them to border patrols.
He had long been considering dispatching an exploration party to the south, but with only three fighters, it was too risky. He would wait until his military force grew stronger before committing to such a venture.
There were also two farmers, both at White—Novice. He placed them under Sarah's supervision. Another was a cook at Green—Novice, whom he sent to join Risha with six civilians, while four others went to assist Mira.
As the population swelled, so too did the strain on food, clothing, and agricultural demands. Jolan knew these sectors would require constant reinforcement. For now, he simply distributed manpower as best he could. Starting tomorrow, however, he resolved to bring Berho along during summonings. As Village Chief, Berho could personally assign nonessential roles—far more efficient than Jolan micromanaging everything himself.
When most of the new arrivals had dispersed, only nine remained: seven civilians and two with specialized professions.
The first was a lean young man in slightly refined clothes.
---
[Name: Lucas]
[Territory: Frozen Highlands City]
[Profession: Apothecary]
[Strength: Green—Novice]
[Skills: Proficient Healing (White—Intermediate), Potion Blending (Green—Intermediate)]
[Loyalty: 70]
[Potential: Blue—Peak]
[Overview: A commoner blessed with fortune. Taken under the wing of a renowned apothecary as a personal apprentice.]
---
'An apothecary! Perfect for both my territory and potential trade with other Lords. But… damn, I don't have the proper tools ready.'
Suppressing his regret, Jolan gave a directive.
"Lucas, for now, we lack a proper workshop for you. Instead, write down several basic medicinal recipes that don't require complex apparatus. Make a list of ingredients and hand it to me later—I'll try to secure them for you through the Global Market. Until then, take three civilians with you and report to Chief Berho for further instructions."
The youth bowed deeply. "Yes, my Lord!"
Choosing two of the young civilians, Lucas left.
Only one specialist remained: a rugged, bearded man in his mid-forties. When Jolan read his information, he blinked in surprise.
---
[Name: Bruce]
[Territory: Frozen Highlands City]
[Profession: Carpenter]
[Strength: White—Peak]
[Skills: Master Carpentry (White—Peak), Wood Joinery (White—Intermediate)]
[Loyalty: 70]
[Potential: Blue—Novice]
[Overview: A simple man who earned his livelihood with hammer and nails.]
---
At first, Jolan wondered what use a carpenter could possibly be. After all, most construction here was handled by blueprints—once the resources were gathered, the Will of Chaos would handle the rest automatically.
But then he noticed the tools Bruce carried: a hammer, nails, and other essentials.
A thought struck him.
"Bruce, I want you to craft a large wooden sled for transporting monster corpses. Can you manage with the tools you have? We don't yet possess a carpentry workshop."
The man scratched his reddish beard, hesitant.
"My Lord… I can fashion a simple sled with time, but forgive me—why bother with such labor? Isn't it easier to just drag the corpses directly?"
Jolan chuckled inwardly. The carpenter's confusion was natural. None of the other Lords would dream of hauling entire monster corpses back intact. Only his talent required it.
Still, he answered with calm authority.
"I need them brought back whole. Don't trouble yourself with the reason—just focus on the work. Perform well, and you'll be rewarded."
Bruce's eyes gleamed with determination. He thumped his chest. "Understood, my Lord! How large should this sled be?"
"Ten meters wide, twenty long. Design it so men can pull it with ropes. It must be light but durable, and move smoothly across snow and ice. You know your craft better than I—use your judgment, but meet those requirements."
The carpenter straightened, voice ringing with resolve. "I'll give it everything I've got!"
"Good. Take the remaining four civilians to assist you."
---
While Jolan was setting his plans in motion, far to the north—about seven kilometers from the territory—his patrol teams were already in the field.
Leonard and Anara simultaneously raised their hands, halting their squads. Their gazes locked on the skies.
"A flock of six… giant raptors," Leonard muttered grimly.
The two exchanged a knowing look.
"Form a square! Two meters between each of you! Weapons ready! Move toward the other team's position while keeping your eyes skyward—expect combat at any moment!"
The squads obeyed instantly.
But the raptors didn't give them the luxury of time. Splitting into two groups of three, the massive predators tucked their wings and dove like warplanes, their shrieks splitting the frozen air.
Leonard drew an iron-tipped arrow, bowstring stretched taut, eyes locked on the oncoming shadows.
Anara's violet eyes glowed as a sinister black flame danced in her palm, hungry to be unleashed.
Around them, steel and bone weapons were raised high.
The clash was inevitable.
---
To be continued…