After speaking with Arora for a little while longer, Arthur closed the communication panel with a calm sigh. The night was quiet around him, only the gentle wind rustling the leaves nearby. His gaze drifted toward the inventory icon, and with a simple command, he accessed the list of corpses from their earlier battle.
He walked a fair distance from his house and, one by one, began tossing the monster corpses out of his inventory, forming a small mountain of twisted bodies under the moonlight. Then he raised his hand.
"System," he said firmly, "extract these monster corpses."
*Attention, Lord. Your Legendary Talent is in use.*
*Congratulations, Lord. You have successfully extracted 40 Black-rank Tier-2 Snow Goblins and 50 Black-rank Tier-2 Kobolds.*
*You have obtained a massive amount of resources and treasures due to your Legendary Talent (Luck). You have acquired:*
- *5,000 units of food and water*
- *500 Bronze-rank Soldier Summoning Cards*
- *100 Common Human Summoning Cards*
- *5,000 units of wood*
- *5,000 units of iron*
- *5,000 units of stone*
- *400 Tier-2 Frost Swords*
- *300 Tier-2 Bone Swords*
- *600 Tier-2 Shields*
- *500 Tier-2 Armors*
- *1 Silver-rank Skill Book: Mana Sense*
Arthur blinked in awe as piles of equipment and resources materialized in front of him. Weapons, armor, neatly stacked resources, and shiny summoning cards glowed faintly under the starlit sky. He didn't waste any time and quickly stored the valuable loot back into his inventory.
His eyes then landed on the **Silver-rank Skill Book**. With eager hands, he retrieved it and flipped open the glowing tome.
---
**Mana Sense** *(Silver-rank Skill)*
*Allows the user to manipulate mana for sensory and defensive purposes.*
- **Area Sense:** Spread your mana to detect movement, lifeforms, and magical fluctuations within a certain radius.
- **Mana Shield:** Coat your body in a thin layer of mana, reducing damage from sudden or surprise attacks. The effectiveness of this barrier depends on the user's strength and the attacker's power.
---
Arthur's eyes widened as he finished reading. This was a survival skill. A powerful one.
*"With this... I finally have a way to protect myself when I'm out hunting. My only real weakness so far was my vulnerability to sneak attacks. But now, I'll be able to detect threats before they reach me—and even block them if they're fast enough. This skill could save my life."*
He clenched the book tightly, then stored it in his inventory. He'd study it thoroughly when he had more time.
The moon was high in the sky now, its pale silver light casting a gentle glow over his growing territory. Stars sparkled overhead, and the night air was cool and serene. Arthur took a deep breath, then made his way toward the summoning portal.
He reached the glowing structure and pulled out **100 Common Human Cards**. With one fluid motion, he tossed them into the portal. The stone floor beneath it hummed, and an intense light radiated upward like a beacon in the darkness. A moment later, the light began to fade, and figures started stepping out.
One after another, people emerged—men, women, and even a few children. Most of them were young adults, clearly in their prime, strong and capable.
Arthur raised a brow, thoughtful. *"It seems the system understands that I need manpower to build this territory. Or... perhaps this is another blessing from my Legendary Talent."*
As soon as all one hundred individuals had arrived, they dropped to one knee before him, their expressions solemn, eyes filled with reverence.
Arthur stood tall before them, his voice firm and resolute. "My name is Arthur. From this moment forward, I am your Lord. I do not tolerate laziness—but those who work hard will be rewarded."
The crowd replied in unison, their voices thundering across the silent night:
**"We will follow you until death, my Lord!"**
Their response echoed like a war chant, filling the night with energy and purpose. Arthur couldn't help but smile.
He then looked over them and asked, "Is there anyone among you with a specific occupation or profession? Speak now."
Five hands were raised slowly, respectfully. None of them dared to stand without permission.
Arthur nodded. "Stand and state your occupation."
One by one, the five individuals rose and introduced themselves.
"My Lord," said the first, a stocky man with rough hands, "my name is **John**. I was a Tier-2 blacksmith. I can forge and repair both Tier-1 and Tier-2 weapons and armor."
Next came a middle-aged man with a composed demeanor. "My Lord, I am **Joseph**. I used to manage territory affairs. I am capable of administration and can oversee the territory in your absence."
Then, a couple stepped forward. The man spoke for both of them. "My Lord, I am **Ash**, and this is my wife, **Lisa**. We are farmers. We know a great deal about cultivation and managing crops."
Finally, a tall, thoughtful man introduced himself. "My Lord, I am **Robin**, an architect. I can design and construct various buildings as needed."
Arthur studied them carefully. All five were middle-aged, and it dawned on him just how much time and experience it took to develop true mastery.
*"So it's true... experience takes time. The young may be strong, but the skilled are shaped by years."*
He looked at the group and spoke with authority. "Starting tomorrow, each of you will be assigned your roles."
He turned to Joseph. "You'll begin immediately. Scout the territory and arrange shelter for everyone here. Assign jobs based on skill—farming, construction, supply management. You're in charge of overseeing their tasks and giving daily reports. Do you understand?"
Joseph's eyes lit up with responsibility and pride. "Yes, my Lord. I will not disappoint you."
Arthur nodded, then turned to Robin. "Robin, if there are not enough houses for everyone, you have two hours to build more tonight. In the morning, you will begin work on a blacksmith shop, two soldier camps, and one large training ground for our troops. Use as many workers as you need. Is that clear?"
Robin straightened his back and gave a firm nod. "Yes, my Lord!"
Arthur gazed out at the people—his people. A village was taking shape. A force was being built. And with every passing moment, his empire grew stronger.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges.
But tonight, under the cold and watchful moon, Arthur had taken another giant step forward.
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