Ryan momentarily put his side quest on hold and decided to upgrade his system from level 1 to level 2.
[Do you want to upgrade the system from level 1 to level 2?]
[Yes] or [No]
Ryan pressed the "Yes" button. As soon as he did, a new screen popped up, displaying the message: [Congratulations! You've successfully upgraded the system from level 1 to level 2!]
[Ding!]
[New features have been added to the system!]
Unlocked Features: Attributes, Fiefdom
Attributes:
- Strength: 6
- Agility: 8
- Intelligence: 13
- Wisdom: 9
- Charisma: 12
- Luck: 8
System Points: 5 (These can be used to increase the level of the skills that require 4 or more points. As the required points for skill upgrade increase, so does the number of system points needed. It's advised to allocate system points primarily towards boosting attributes as there is a one-to-one transfer rate. However, they can also increase skill levels.)
XP Points: 0.30 (XP points can improve either skills or attributes. It's recommended to use XP points for skill upgrade or system upgrades.)
Seeing this, Ryan was both surprised and thrilled. He thought that using system points just to enhance skills, or spending XP points on attributes, might not be the most efficient use of resources. However, the system did suggest using XP points primarily for skill and system upgrades and system points for boosting attributes.
Ryan decided he would only use system points and XP points to improve skills or attributes if absolutely necessary. Essentially, the system was offering him options, leaving it up to him to decide the best way to utilize them.
Ryan then turned his attention to the system's fiefdom features.
[Fiefdom: Bathsheba
(Current Status: Village.
Potential: Host's Stronghold and a Magnificent City Fortress.)
Please note that with the system's assistance, the city's potential could far exceed expectations!]
Ryan explored the "fiefdom" feature further by tapping on [Read more>], unveiling even more about the feature. Right next to the "fiefdom" section, he found a detailed map of the city of Bathsheba. The map, brimming with information, captured Ryan's amazement.
"This is fantastic! With this, I can get to know every corner of the city as if it were the palm of my hand!" Ryan said, his voice filled with excitement.
He quickly covered his mouth and glanced around, realizing he was alone. Gilbert, Ryan's steward, was out on a mission assigned by Ryan himself. Gilbert's task was to uncover why the laborers and farmers hadn't received their payments, a side mission prompted by the system. Ryan suspected that the corruption wasn't limited to the previous lord alone.
Understanding the full scope of the corruption was crucial for Ryan. It would allow him to complete the side mission, earn a reward, and unlock a major mission. More importantly, if he could identify the culprits behind the corruption, he could devise a plan to reclaim the money and redistribute it to the city's impoverished laborers and farmers. However, Ryan acknowledged that planning was one thing; executing it was another.
Dwelling on these thoughts would only sap his energy. So, with a sigh meant to calm his nerves, Ryan decided to leave these concerns for another time and turned his attention back to the map of Bathsheba.
The map offered far more detail than what Ryan had observed during his walks through the city with Gilbert, Feran, and others. He noticed a river near Bathsheba, just outside the city walls.
Ryan also noticed a river near Bathsheba, just beyond the city walls. The dots on the map, which he inferred to represent the current locations of the citizens, led from the city to the river and back again.
It appeared that the river served as a crucial water source for the city, supplementing the community wells Ryan had observed during his walks around the area.
As a lord, his residence was equipped with its own private wells, a mark of his status.
Moreover, the map, with its bird's-eye view, provided detailed annotations and depictions. Ryan could discern that the city also boasted a spring, adding another layer to his understanding of Bathsheba's water resources.
In the city square, there was a spring, but it seemed to be malfunctioning—perhaps due to shoddy construction or other unknown reasons—as Ryan noticed it wasn't flowing properly during his visits.
Meanwhile, the map revealed another spring located within the city but situated in an area designated as [Elders Hall: This is the meeting place for the city's council of elders. As the Lord of the city, and in line with tradition, the host must first consult the elders' before implementing any changes within the city. (The system recommends that the host devise a strategy to deal with the council of elders, or they might obstruct the development of the host's fiefdom.)].
Upon discovering this, Ryan couldn't help but furrow his brows.
The spring lay within "Elders Hall," indicating that the council of elders had exclusive control over its fresh waters...
And from the system's recommendations, Ryan inferred that the council of elders might be less than cooperative.
Lost in thought and navigating the city via the intricate map interface, Ryan was interrupted when Gilbert walked into the office.
"Your Highness, I have returned, along with the servants who were out gathering information from the unpaid laborers and farmers," Gilbert announced as he approached Ryan.
Ryan, immediately intrigued, inquired, "Were you able to uncover any crucial details?"
Gilbert, wearing a grave look, replied, "Your Highness, the payments to the laborers and farmers were supposed to be managed by a man named Gouru, the overseer of public works and agriculture." He paused before adding, "Gouru is poorly regarded among the townspeople, especially the laborers and farmers. Additionally, Gouru is the younger brother of the city treasurer, Gura."
Ryan, deep in thought, stroked his chin and murmured, "I see..."
The absence of a system notification signaling the completion of the side mission indicated to Ryan that the issue extended beyond Gouru or Gura; the corruption was more widespread.
Ryan then scrutinized the map of Bathsheba provided by the system. Among the hundreds of dots representing the city's populace, he noticed that some of the dots were labeled with names. He spotted the names Gouru and Gura. This could be his chance to uncover deeper layers of the corruption.