Only an hour had passed before Alistair stood in the palace courtyard, overseeing the preparation of a small group about to depart.
Only five men stood behind him. The rest, despite their anger, still lacked the courage.
But these five… their eyes burned with resolve.
He spoke to them calmly:
"This is not a combat unit. We are not an army… just five men seeking justice."
He pointed to a small table beside the servant, Garth:
"Take only what you need: an axe, a spear, or a sword… No heavy armor or too much food. Speed matters more than strength now."
Garth stepped close and whispered:
"Are you sure? We don't know their exact number… or what they're truly like."
Alistair responded, his gaze fixed on the distant forest:
"They attacked us because they believe we're weak. Tonight… I'll make them doubt that decision."
He pulled out an old map and pointed to the area near Dale Forest, where Julian had been killed.
"Bandits don't stray far from their sources. If they stole the wood, they'll either use it or sell it nearby. We'll start our search near the small river east of the forest."
Half an hour later, the group set off.
They moved in silence, avoiding broken branches and ducking low among the trees.
Alistair led with his sword strapped to his side, activating the skill 'Path Vision' from his system to trace any movement.
[Skill Activated: Tracking Success Rate – 42%]
[Human footprints – Direction: Northeast]
He signaled with his hand, "This way."
An hour passed. Then another. They delved deeper into the forest.
Finally… they heard laughter.
They hid behind a large rock and peeked over.
In a small clearing among the trees, seven men lounged. Some were lying down, others sat near a burning fire. A cart loaded with Brixton wood stood beside them.
One man sharpened an arrow while another drank wine from a cheap bottle.
One of Alistair's companions whispered, "Sir, they outnumber us."
Alistair replied with confidence:
"But they have no purpose. We do."
He closed his eyes for a moment, activated the skill 'Severing Strike', then slowly drew his sword.
"We'll attack from both sides. Cirque and I will go left. The rest, to the right. Wait for my cry… then strike."
They moved silently.
Alistair crept until he was just twenty meters away. When the nearest bandit stepped closer, he leapt.
"HYAAAH!!"
His strike was swift, aimed directly at the neck.
[Severing Strike – Rank F – Successful]
[Enemy 1: Eliminated]
In an instant, the calm field turned into a battlefield.
The bandits were caught off guard. Half were unarmed. The rest of the group stormed in like a whirlwind.
Alistair didn't stop. He moved like a dark storm, his blade flashing under the dim light—every strike calculated, every movement born of a week's worth of honed instinct.
Though some bandits fought back, the difference in will was clear.
In under five minutes… six bandits lay dead. The last one was running toward the forest in panic.
Alistair shouted:
"Don't let him escape! He might return with more!"
One of the men sprinted after him… but Alistair focused his eyes and activated his skill 'System Eye'.
[Fault Vision – Activated]
[Target: Fleeing – Weak Spot: Behind Right Knee]
He threw his secondary blade like a spear.
[Accurate Hit – Critical Injury]
The last one fell.
Silence.
Only the sound of the crackling fire remained.
Everyone gathered, breathing heavily, but their eyes burned with victory.
One of them, clutching a wound, said:
"We did it… we really did it."
Alistair looked at Julian's corpse still etched in his memory, then whispered:
"This isn't just revenge. This is the beginning of justice."
Then a notification appeared:
[Side Quest Complete: Restore Honor – Reward: +10 Stat Points – New Skill: 'Aura of Leadership – Rank E']
'Aura of Leadership – Rank E':
Increases allies' vitality by 10% during group battles. Activates automatically in combat.
Another notification followed:
[Level Up: Level 4 – Class: Unranked – Current Rank: E]
[New Passive Ability Unlocked – 'Flame of Resolve']
Alistair finally smiled.
He returned to Brixton at sunset, followed by the four who fought beside him—exhausted, wounded, but still standing.
Leading the procession was the stolen wood cart, driven by a villager who had volunteered to join them later in the forest. One of the bandits' bodies was tied behind the cart as a warning.
When the villagers saw the scene, everyone in the streets stopped.
Women emerged from their homes, children climbed fences, and men stepped forward hesitantly.
No one spoke.
Until a small boy approached Alistair, tears in his eyes, and asked:
"Did… did you avenge Julian?"
Alistair knelt down, placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, and said:
"Julian won't return. But from today onward, no one will fall without a fight."
Then he shouted clearly for all to hear:
"This is not my victory alone… it's ours. If you wish to rise… then step forward."
This time, no one hesitated.
The men who once doubted… raised their hats.
The women who once feared… began to applaud.
And in a deep, silent moment, the villagers knelt one by one before him.
He hadn't asked for it.
But they did it because, for the first time… they weren't led by a paper baron.
But by a man.
A new system notification appeared:
[Side Quest 'Earn the People's Trust' – Complete ✔️]
[Reward: +10 Charisma – Popularity Raised to: 'Inspiring Leader']
[Unlocked Trait: 'Civil Leadership']
Civil Leadership:
Reduces village rebellion and crime rate by 30%.
Increases the development speed of buildings and farms by 20% when directly overseen by the hero.
Then a brand new window appeared before him for the first time:
[New City Classification Unlocked: 'Starter City – Brixton']
Population: 8,909
Military Force: 5 / Required: 800 for current level security
Trust: 82%
Prosperity: Low
Regional Reputation: Limited
And a final notification appeared, with a different tone:
[Main Quest Unlocked: 'Build the Army']
Phase One:
– Train 20 soldiers (5/20)
– Build a basic training barracks
– Assign a head trainer (Optional – Increases training speed)
Late at night, Alistair sat in his study, staring at an old map pinned to the wall, his eyes locked on the small borders of Brixton… and dreamed.
"In the past, we were a village being attacked… now we attack those who attack us."
He closed the system window, stood from his chair, and stepped out onto the palace balcony.
The village was quiet. But this time, it wasn't afraid.
It was… at peace.
He lifted his head to the moon and said:
"Come on, System… show me everything you've got. Brixton will become a city… and I will be its true ruler."
And the moonlight fell upon him, as if blessing his resolve.