He clicked the True Game icon on his computer desktop, and the game launched.
[Congratulations! The Player's role has successfully completed the first 100-day simulation. You have received a random item reward.]
[Item Distributed: Healing Potion - Medium Effect (Ten Batches)]
(Healing Potion - Medium Effect: One batch contains 10 vials. Has been sent to your inventory. Can rapidly heal moderate injuries such as flesh wounds, fractures, and bone cracks. It is also significantly effective on heavily injured individuals.)
[Congratulations! The Player's family faction has obtained the rank of Baron, receiving an exclusive reward: Noble Badge: Baron.]
(Noble Badge: Baron: Placed in inventory. A clan badge engraved with a Rock Dragon Giant Lizard. A soulbound item exclusive to the Patriarch. Meditation and Growth Level +10%.)
[Congratulations! The Player's family faction has entered a stable, early development phase. Unlocked the territory's 'Bird's Eye View' function and obtained the 'Descent' special ability.]
[All rewards have been distributed. Entering the game...]
The reward notifications quickly faded, and a clear image of the game immediately appeared.
The scene opened with a view overlooking the land from high in the sky, at an altitude of about one hundred meters.
The fixed viewpoint was centered on the area around the Baron's Mansion in the Swamp Territory.
After nearly two months of work, the construction of the Baron's Mansion castle was already taking shape.
A large number of workers could be seen bustling about nearby.
They included not only the people of the Swamp Territory, but also the construction team from a merchant guild contracted to build the Baron's Mansion.
In total, more than a thousand people were active around the Baron's Mansion.
Such a large-scale construction project naturally required guards.
During this time, York, the Lord of the Swamp Territory, had of course recruited a group of mercenaries.
There were fifty mercenaries in total, divided into five squads that constantly patrolled the vicinity of the Swamp Territory.
The squad leaders were the two Knight's Squires that Baron Eric had given to York.
Lince was very satisfied with the bustling scene at the Baron's Mansion in the Swamp Territory.
He had already learned about the situation in his Swamp Territory during the 100-day simulation through the game's video log.
However, carefully examining it back and forth through the game's viewport brought a much greater sense of accomplishment.
'Not bad at all.'
'This is the perfect opportunity to give York his so-called reward.'
'The Baron's badge has to go to York. Also, it's time to use the Bloodline enhancement on him. With such a thin Bloodline, I'm afraid he'll have a hard time even advancing to Tier Two.'
'Besides, the more I reward him, the more loyal and dedicated he'll be, right?'
'As for York's wife... she can also be rewarded. I'll give her a batch of Healing Potions. After all, she's a Baroness now. It's a small way to show my benevolence.'
After moving the Bird's Eye View back and forth for a while, Lince opened the clan panel.
[Clan] (Expand)
Clan: Smith of the Swamp Territory
(From the Smith Main Family of Gale Territory.)
Clan Functions:
1. Bloodline Enhancement (Weak); 2. Many Children and Blessings Level 1; 3. Clan Totem Level 1.
(Buffs: Fertility Rate +5%, Extraordinary Bloodline Activation Rate +5%, Potential +5%, Feedback Growth Level +10%)
Patriarch: York Smith. (Tier One Official Knight)
Title: Baron
Bloodline: Diluted Gale Cheetah (Low Tier, can be enhanced)
Spouse: 1
Lucia Callum (Magic Apprentice, Tierless)
Bloodline: Flaming Grey Wolf (Low Tier, unactivated)
Offspring: 1 (unborn).
Territory: Swamp Territory (approx. 124 sq. km).
Population: 624. (Including 591 Peasant Slaves, 1 spouse, 2 Knight's Squires, and 30 Militia.)
During the 100-day simulation, York purchased 500 Peasant Slaves, but 6 of them died for various reasons during the construction of the territory.
The Knight's Squires were a gift from Baron Eric, and the 30 able-bodied Militia members were part of his wife Lucia's dowry.
Looking at the current clan panel, Lince was quite satisfied.
After all, this was just the beginning.
Having such a good start was already impressive.
However, there were still plenty of troubles in the initial construction phase of his Swamp Territory.
After all, this was the Wilderness, and with its back to the Demon Beast Mountain Range, there were quite a few Demon Beasts around.
Most of the Tierless Demon Beasts just ran wild, going wherever they could find food, and unlike Entry Tier Demon Beasts, they had no sense of territory.
Furthermore, Entry Tier Demon Beasts didn't care if Tierless ones roamed or nested in their territory. After all, Tierless Demon Beasts were just good snacks and posed no threat, so naturally the Entry Tier Demon Beasts couldn't be bothered.
Of course, this was only from the perspective of other Demon Beasts. For the Swamp Territory, which was currently being developed, they were a threat of a considerable size.
Of the six Peasant Slaves who had died, four were killed by Demon Beasts.
Therefore, clearing the Demon Beasts from the Swamp Territory would still take some time.
Thus, since he could once again control the Rock Dragon Giant Lizard, he was definitely going to make a move today.
And Lince's first target was, naturally, to clear out a nest of Giant-toothed Rats to the south of the Swamp Territory.
In the 100-day simulation's storyline, York had approached the Rock Dragon Giant Lizard, hoping it would help clear out the Giant-toothed Rats.
However, the Rock Dragon Giant Lizard ignored him.
After all, Lince had chosen a conservative 'AFK' style.
The Rock Dragon Giant Lizard's conservative approach was *extremely* conservative; it hadn't moved from its lair once during the entire 100-day simulation.
During Baron Eric's 'visit', the Rock Dragon Giant Lizard had merely poked its head out of the swamp to cooperate with York a little.
These days, York had a huge headache.
This headache wasn't just from the Giant-toothed Rats harassing the Baron's Mansion encampment at night, but also from Demon Beast attacks during the process of carving out external roads.
Overall, however, things were still manageable.
With the Knight's Squires, the mercenaries, and even his wife Lucia stepping in to deal with the Tierless Demon Beasts, there hadn't been any major problems for now.
The biggest issue was the myriad of trivial matters during construction; that was what truly gave York a headache.
Building a territory isn't easy—this was York's most direct feeling.
If Baron Eric hadn't lent him the old steward to help manage these trivial affairs, York felt he would have collapsed from exhaustion.
——————
Swamp Territory, construction camp.
"Young Master York, the territory has spent a total of 763 Gold Coins, 8 Silver Coins, and 49 Copper Coins so far."
"The majority of that was spent on construction fees paid to the merchant guild and the purchase of living supplies. At this rate of spending, the territory can support itself for another month and a half at most."
"However, if the Black Iron Mine to the east can be completed by the end of the month, we should be able to break even, but that's just the best-case scenario."
"After all, during the territory's construction, we need to buy a lot of medicine for insect repellent and even for sick Peasant Slaves. Therefore, my suggestion is to sell the newly discovered Black Iron Vein in the west to the merchant guild. That way, we can obtain a large amount of income in the short term."
The old steward, Mo Wen, reported on their finances and suggested selling one of the western iron mines.
This, however, made York frown.
"The merchant guild wants to buy out the mine's profits in a one-time deal. That would be detrimental to the territory's future development."
"Besides, their offer is too low. We won't consider it for now. As for the money, I'll figure something out."
As York said this, his wife, Lucia, who was at his side, offered a timely suggestion.
"York, what if... I borrow some money from my father?"
'Borrow money from Lucia's father, Viscount Calum?'
'It's not out of the question, but if it comes to that, I'd be better off asking my own father, Baron Eric, again.'
'But that would probably be difficult. After all, the money in Gale Territory doesn't grow on trees.'
Borrowing six thousand Gold Coins over three years was already a huge burden on Gale Territory.
Therefore, York didn't answer Lucia right away.
He was trying to think of another way to break the deadlock.
'What if I lead the Squires and Militia to hunt some high-value Tierless Demon Beasts in the surrounding area?'
'But the risk is also high. It would pain me greatly if even one Militia member died now. That's all money! A single Peasant Slave costs three Silver Coins.'
'Or maybe I could use the Black Iron Mine as collateral to borrow money from the merchant guild? After all, that's better than selling the vein outright.'
However, just as York was pondering his options, a familiar voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
In the next moment, York shot to his feet, his expression filled with excitement and elation.