Urgent Announcement:
[Strict Policies]
[1] No Work, No Pay
- Every able-bodied individual is encouraged to work on rebuilding the ruined territory from scratch.
- This is not for free—your contributions will be appreciated and be paid accordingly.
[2] Health Maintenance
- Everyone's holistic health will be prioritized, but the workers will receive various exclusive benefits such as an additional month's worth of food atop what's already been distributed.
- Eating, as long as the daily quota is met, will be allowed during working hours.
[3] Worker's Tax
- Every family will be exempted from taxes for the next six months.
- If there's a legitimate soldier within the family, the tax exemption will be one year.
[4] MILITARY PERSONNEL URGENT RECRUITMENT
- If you are an able-bodied man or woman from 13-50 years old, then you will be encouraged to join the military force to stabilize the security of the territory.
- This will include rigorous training atop its exclusive benefits such as soon-to-be constructed homes.
[5] If you have decided to work in any field for the betterment of the territory, you will be asked to sign a 'contract'. Keep that in mind.
Every corresponding benefit written in this memorandum will be effective immediately.
- Signed by: Lugh of Eshu, Current Lord of Eshu County.
*
"Just kill us, young lord! Damn it!"
"W-what the hell is this... I-I can't do it anymore!"
"I doubt even a Republic's soldier goes this hard in training! This is hell! Huff."
Catching their breaths, as they sprawled on the ground, I, too, sat nearby and said,
"If you have time to complain, use it to stabilize your breathing."
Seeing them, I recalled my tough days during my military years. Albeit fleeting, it was the twilight of my previous life.
My gaze then landed on my sister, who was on the brink of death. But her fierce glare towards me seemed to rejuvenate her life force as she resisted fainting.
'You can do it.' I inwardly cheered before inspecting one of the talents I gained through the transmigrator's privilege.
*
Talent: [False Dragon's Physique (Growth)]
Description: ["In forgotten times, a half-human, half-dragon princess, pretended to be a true dragon. She was cast out from their realm, even abandoned by the epitome of Wisdom and Magic—the Goddess of Wisdom. As it was written, 'Don't pretend what you are not.'" — Scripture of Sophia Biblioteca.]
Unique Effect: Passively absorbs mana from the surroundings; it will automatically filter and segregate any harmful or contaminated mana to be excluded from absorption.
Current Growth Level: 0 (Raw)
Initial Effect: Draconic-like Toughness
Description: [Through rigorous training, and by absorbing mana lingering in the atmosphere, your body can become as tough as a false dragon's scales.]
Talent Uniqueness: [In exchange for body and soul strengthening through corresponding passive mana absorption, you will be forbidden from becoming a true dragon. Because of this, the original number of Growth Stages for this talent will be indefinitely sealed.]
...
'Talent Uniqueness, huh?'
I recalled what they meant in the original story; it's like a constant, unchanging condition attached to a person's talent—it couldn't be controlled; it's just there.
According to the texts of the heretics, those who were against the Orthodox Churches and were hidden in the shadows, 'Talent Uniqueness' was a flaw of the gods.
It served as a limiter in reaching the full potential of the talent.
That... Or it showed that the divine had favoritism among their creations.
'I could say it's the latter...'
Though not every talent possesses its uniqueness, it's still somewhat advantageous for those who have it, depending on how it's going to be utilized.
After scanning the huffing fifty soldiers—before the screening of those who were enlisting—I could say that Eshu County was bound to inevitably lose in the territorial war.
'It's like the Patriarch spoiled these bastards.'
'Only those five soldiers possessed Rare-tier Talent... thanks to [Discerning Eye] that Kaya possessed.'
Of course, I could also see them through [Eye That Witnesses Heaven and Hell]. However, the 'talent' that Kaya could see was not limited to the so-called blessing of the gods.
Rather it's the talents referring to their underlying potential.
"Yusbel, Azrabel..."
The two female-appointed squad leader instinctively looked at me as I called their names.
"Brasken, Rudgar, and Drevan..."
The three male-appointed squad leaders also followed my voice.
Our gazes met, and I chuckled at their seemingly innocent demeanor.
"You have a long way to go. Get back on your feet! 50 laps! How dare you not salute and say 'YES, CAPTAIN!?' when I called you by your names?!"
At that moment, their expressions darkened.
"It's the same for everyone in your respective squads! Because of your incompetence and slow to act, the others will be punished too!"
The members of the squads looked at their corresponding leader with agonizing expressions.
"Damn it! Leader Yusbel! The young lord already told us many times to say 'YES CAPTAIN' when he called us by our names!"
"What the fuck is this?! Why are they even the squad leaders?!"
"Fuck this! Let's die together!"
Before the five squad leaders could complain to me, their members already grumbled and spat out curses.
It's the necessary method to fuel their determination.
"That's right... Let's die together!" I shouted before running first.
Even if I punished them in this way, I also participated in every exercise. It's for their and my sake, to say the least.
Meanwhile, Kaya looked at them with a dumbfounded expression.
"T-they didn't complain to brother...?! T-they've gone mad!"
Though she eventually ran to follow behind.
*
The promised time of the slave delivery arrived.
Under the moonlight, Sohkran, along with his mercenary crew, and several coachmen, including the one who had personally driven Lugh's carriage, stopped at the perimeters of the dilapidated fortress walls.
With the slaves encaged in numerous caravans, Lugh, along with a few soldiers, addressed Sohkran, who also seemed to be the sole acting merchant.
"Is everything I've asked for, aside from the slaves, here?"
Before answering Lugh's query, Sohkran recalled his Master's playful smirk after he reported everything he had witnessed during the time they'd given this so-called special client a safe passage.
"If I may ask, Master, why's that man labeled as a special client?"
"Oh, I didn't tell you, right? I didn't know the hows, and it's not that important, but he provided significant information that was proven to be profitable..."
"..."
"In exchange for a mere ten thousand gold. Fufu."
"Ten thousand gold..." Sokhran could only mutter the amount Lugh received.
Even for a noble, it's an indispensable amount.
For a commoner, a family of four could live comfortably for ten years.
"Well, the guild had already raked in millions of gold due to the information he's provided. It's funny. If not for his family and territory situation, he could have taken care of it all..."
Even for someone who barely reacts to anything, hearing millions of gold caused Sokhran's eyes to widen.
Looking back, he couldn't help but think,
'Is this man just a fool...?'
"Yes, here's everything you've asked for." Sohkran finally replied.
"Well, that's good. That's really good." Lugh smiled.
For the bystanders, they sensed as if there was something ominous behind it—but only the soldiers under his watch could truly gauge what that smile meant.
Lugh then handed five pouches, amounting to a total of 5,000 gold, leaving the territory's finances dangerously low.
"I receive the payment. Then, let's proceed with transferring the slave ownership."
The slaves had slave collars on their necks, and there was a certain symbol depicting a cross tattooed on their right arms.
Seeing them, Lugh mumbled inwardly, 'Branded by Church of Luminary, huh?'
It signified that these slaves could not be spiritually reformed and that their conditions were verified and sanctioned by the Church worshipping the Goddess of Light.
"All right. It's done. Thank you for your service." Sohkran said before signaling his men to prepare to leave.
Hearing this, Lugh chuckled.
"Why do you sound like you'll never come back? Don't worry, we'll meet again soon."
Sokhran turned his head and stared at him in silence.
That evening, the fifty slaves were secured, as well as the other goods.
*
In the crudely renovated assembly hall within the Eshu Family's mansion.
"Brother... I didn't expect it, but you really are stupid, aren't you?"
Getting the report regarding the remaining budget, Kaya recalled the information on how I managed to secure ten thousand gold from the Golden Crown Merchant Guild.
"W-we could have profited millions..." Kaya couldn't help but grimace.
The others also had gloomy faces, prompting me to say,
"What can we do? It's already a done deal, anyway. I mean, why are you even concerned about those pieces of shiny rocks?"
"P-pieces of rocks...!? You! Are you insane?! Those runeshards could have salvaged everyone's situation by now!"
The old butler Wilfred, the new head maid Beatrice, and the other maids only fell silent. They understood Kaya's reaction.
Runeshard was a commodity far too important in a world that revolved around mana utilization.
Every hero throughout the continent; every blacksmith and alchemist... It's an item that everybody has a use for.
"Tsk, tsk. I get it. I get it... That's why..." I paused for a moment.
"...?"
"We're going to prepare for an expedition next month."
'If I have to say... about the profits Ravelle accumulated... She should just enjoy it while it lasts.'
*
The North Citadel, 'Thorn,' an exclusive military-mercenary base under the Golden Crown, which seemed different from its superficial reputation as a mere Merchant Guild, located in a very small area of the vast Dark Forest.
Deep in the runeshards mines that were continuously being mined by the Golden Crown miners, a palm-sized dark root buried underneath wriggled...
-before a human-like eye snapped open.