As the sun began to rise, Arthur stood in front of the Village Hall and inspected it.
The interface greeted him with its familiar layout:
[Village Hall (White Grade)]
[Territory Information: 500x500 meters]
[Population: 914/1000]
[Endurance: 10000/10000]
[Village -> Town, Upgrade Requirements:]
[The population reaches at least 900 people (914/900): Requirements have been met.]
[Rebuild the Lord Manor (0/1): Requirement haven't been met.]
[Village Hall (White Grade) -> Town Hall (Blue Grade), Resource Requirements:]
[500 units of White-Tier Spirit Crystal (973/500): Requirements have been met.]
[5000 units of wood (7043/5000): Requirements have been met.]
[5000 units of Gravel (7809/5000): Requirements have been met.]
[5000 units of Sand (7122/5000): Requirements have been met.]
[5000 units of stone (8254/5000): Requirements have been met.]
Arthur saw each detail on the screen, and then he focused on the requirements. Except for the requirement to rebuild the Lord Manor, all the other requirements have been met.
He could now clearly see the village's growth over the past 5 days, the swelling population, the fortified structures, and the growing resources.
If it was another human lord, it would be impossible for them to reach this stage this quickly unless they had extraordinary luck and considerable Lord Talent quite like him.
As for the requirements for building the Lord Manor, he had given the blueprint yesterday for Kroos to work on. And for the Soulforged Quill, he also left it with Kroos since he was more suitable for using it at the moment.
Arthur gathered his key figures in the village – Elara, Mor'kith, and Kroos – in the meeting room. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation. Arthur cleared his throat and looked at Kroos.
"Kroos, how's the blueprint coming along?"
Kroos, however, looked exhausted. Dark circles framed his eyes, a testament to his sleepless night. But there was a spark of accomplishment in his gaze. "My lord," he began, his voice carrying a mix of fatigue and excitement, "I've done it. I've modified the Lord Manor blueprint into something more."
Arthur's curiosity was piqued. "What do you mean?"
Kroos straightened up, a glint of pride in his eyes. "I managed to advance it to a Foundation-level Lord Manor blueprint with the Soulforged Quill you entrusted to me, my lord."
"What?!"
Arthur's surprise was evident. Foundation-level buildings were rare even in the Main World. They represented a significant leap in structural complexity and functionality of a lord's entire territory. To have such a blueprint at this early stage of village development was remarkable.
"You've achieved a Foundation-level blueprint?" Arthur couldn't hide his amazement.
Kroos nodded, a proud smile gracing his lips. "Yes, my lord. Also, I have successfully advanced my class and become a Grand Architect."
Arthur was struck by the enormity of Kroos' achievements just after entrusting the Soulforged Quill to him. Foundation-level buildings weren't just structures, they were buildings with special effects that could determine how great the foundation of a lord's territory. And also succeeding in advancing his class without a mentor is an extraordinary feat that cannot be done by ordinary people.
[Name: Kroos Copper]
[Race: Dwarf]
[Epic-Class: Grand Architect]
[Strength: Blue-Mid Tier]
[Skill: Masterful Blueprinting(Blue-Mid Tier), Materials Expertise(White-High Tier), Aesthetic Design(White-High Tier), Infrastructure Planning(Blue-Low Tier), Spatial Optimization(White-High Tier), Legacy Design(Blue-Low Tier), Ancient Blueprinting(??)]
[Item: Soulforged Enigma Quill]
[Loyalty: 95]
[Background: Kroos Copper, a determined and skilled artisan, had forged his path under the mentorship of the renowned architect Thoren. As Thoren's disciple, Kroos harbored aspirations of surpassing his master's legacy, aspiring to become the foremost architect across the vast expanse of the Main Plane.]
Arthur was beyond happy, as he tried his best to hide his greedy smile. With this, Arthur had already secured the future of his territory construction.
With Kroos and the Soulforged Quill working for him, they would be able to provide Foundation-Level blueprints for Arthur's territory on a constant basis.
Arthur's curiosity was piqued as he leaned over the table, his eyes locked on the [Foundation-Lord Manor Blueprint(Blue-Grade)]. Kroos had managed to advance the blueprint to an impressive level, and Arthur was eager to see the details.
"Kroos, show me the blueprint," Arthur requested, his anticipation growing.
Kroos carefully unfolded the blueprint, revealing the intricate design of the [Foundation-Lord Manor]. As the parchment unfurled, Arthur's eyes widened in surprise as he began to inspect it.
[Foundation-Lord Manor Blueprint(Blue-Grade)]
[Territory Effect:]
[1. Increase Territory Area by 100%]
[2. Increase Summoning Subjects by 100%]
[Territory Special Effect: Generate barrier for the territory]
[Endurance: 5000/5000]
Arthur's eyes darted across the information displayed on the blueprint. The potential of the [Foundation-Lord Manor] was extraordinary. The territory's expansion, the increase in summoned subjects, and the added barrier effect were invaluable assets for his village.
A smile crept across Arthur's face as he realized the implications.
Arthur's thoughts raced ahead as he considered the [Foundation-Lord Manor]'s applications. The barrier, in particular, intrigued him. He knew it would be a valuable asset when the Monster Feast event arrived in five days. With this added layer of defense, their village would be better prepared to face the challenges ahead.
However, Arthur's excitement was momentarily dampened as he glanced at the resource requirements.
[Building Requirements:]
[50 units of Blue-Tier Spirit Crystal (35/50): Requirements have not been met.]
[2000 units of wood (7043/2000): Requirements have been met.]
[500 units of Rare-Woods(0/500): Requirements have not been met.]
[2000 units of Gravel (7809/2000): Requirements have been met.]
[500 units of Rare-Gravel (0/500): Requirements have not been met.]
[2000 units of Sand (7122/2000): Requirements have been met.]
[500 units of Rare-Sand (0/500): Requirements have not been met.]
[2000 units of stone (8254/2000): Requirements have been met.]
[500 units of Rare-stone(0/500): Requirements have not been met.]
"Rare-type resources," Arthur muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "It's quite expensive."
Rare-type resources were listed, each requiring a substantial amount. The numbers were significant, almost twice that of the resources needed to upgrade the Village Hall.
He was well aware of the value these rare resources held. They were sought after for their great quality to enhance buildings and equipment.
"As expected from a Foundation-Level building," Arthur mused. "It's expensive, but the benefits are worth it."
Fortunately, he had the Advanced Shop at his disposal. The rare-type resources required for the [Foundation-Lord Manor] could be purchased there. While costly, it was a necessary investment in his village's growth.
Turning his attention back to Kroos, Arthur inquired about the construction timeline. "Kroos, how long do you estimate it will take to complete the [Foundation-Lord Manor]?"
Kroos pondered for a moment before responding, "Approximately ten hours, Arthur."
Arthur nodded in understanding. In Main Plane, building a structure would indeed take longer than upgrading a building. It was a new knowledge that he learned through his experiences after becoming a lord.
With the timeline set, Arthur decided to take action immediately. He knew that his village's foundation hinged on this Foundation-Level building. "Elara, Mor'kith," he addressed his trusted advisor and general, "I need your assistance. Gather all available hands in the territory to aid Kroos in building the Lord Manor, don't worry about the lack of resources, I'll take care of it in a moment. We just need this done as soon as possible."
Both Elara and Mor'kith nodded in agreement. They understood the importance of the task at hand. Every hand, every effort, counted towards their village's progress.
Kroos affirmed, "We'll make sure that the construction proceeds smoothly, my lord."
After the trio's departure, Arthur opened the Advanced Shop, his fingers dancing over the interface.
He needed to secure the required rare-type resources for the [Foundation-Lord Manor Blueprint(Blue-Grade)]. As he opened the resource list, he was greeted by a large selection of resources.
[Advanced Shop - Rare Resources]
[100 units of Yewwood: 3 Blue-Tier Spirit Crystals]
[100 units of Permafrost Gravel: 50 White-Tier Spirit Crystals]
[100 units of Tundra Silt: 2 Blue-Tier Spirit Crystals]
[100 units of Northern Obsidian: 20 White-Tier Spirit Crystals]
[100 units of Arctic Quartz Sand: 1 Blue-Tier Spirit Crystals]
[100 units of Glacier Marble: 4 Blue-Tier Spirit Crystals]
...
His eyes scanned the list as he calculated the total cost in Spirit Crystals. The numbers blinked tantalizingly on the screen, and he couldn't help but let out a soft whistle. Each resource came at a high price of Spirit Crystals. `a princely sum indeed.`
As his fingers deftly tapped on the system, he began to add up the total expenditure. The sheer expense was daunting, especially considering the upcoming need for Spirit Crystals to upgrade the Village Hall. he wouldn't have enough Spirit Crystals left for the upcoming upgrade of the Village Hall.
In a moment of clarity, he remembered that he hadn't yet utilized his daily Dungeon attempt for the past two days.
Without hesitation, he made the decision. He immediately bought all the required resources for the Lord Manor, using up a significant portion of his Spirit Crystals.
[Total: 320 White-Tier Spirit Crystal and 12 Blue-Tier Spirit Crystal]
[Confirm to buy this product (Y/N)]
"Yes"
~Ding
[You have purchased 500 units of Avalanche Oak]
[You have purchased 500 units of Glacial Gravel]
[You have purchased 500 units of Arctic Quartz Sand]
[You have purchased 500 units of Labradorite]
The Advanced Shop confirmed his purchase with a satisfying chime, and he felt a sense of relief wash over him.
With the Lord Manor's resources secured, he gave the resources to Kroos and the other. After that, he then turned his attention to the Dungeon attempt. And for the next three hours, he battled against the monsters of the Dungeon.
Fortunately, the effort was worth it. When the Dungeon had been cleared, he found that he had obtained 312 White-Tier Spirit Crystals and 38 Blue-Tier Spirit Crystals.
With a sigh of relief, he knew that all the required resources for the Lord Manor and the upgrade of the Village Hall had been met.
Soon, seven hours later, Arthur received a notification that the Lord Manor had been completed.
[Congratulation for successfully build a Lord Manor]
Without hesitation, he made his way to the Village Hall, anticipation building in his chest. The transformation from a Village Hall to a Town Hall was about to take place.
[Requirements have been met, upgrade Village Hall to Town Hall? (Y/N)]
"Yes"
As he watched, the once-familiar structure shifted and expanded. Walls grew higher, rooms multiplied, and the entire building seemed to take in more space.
~Ding
[Congratulations! Your Village Hall has been upgraded to a Town Hall!]
[Town Hall (Blue Grade)]
[Territory Information: 10,000x10,000 meters (100% Increase)]
[Population: 914/10,000]
[Endurance: 50,000/50,000]
~Ding
[Congratulations! Your Territory has been upgraded to a Town-Level Civilization!]
[Reward: Basic Defense Building Blueprints]
Soon, after the building was completed, a system notification popped up, giving an announcement in the Earth World Chat.
[Congratulations to Arthur, for becoming the first Lord on earth to elevate his territory to a Town-Level Civilization.]
[Reward: Creation Building Blueprint]
~ding
[Lord Mission II has been triggered!]