The City gate section was turned off.
Kane hesitated before clicking on the guild, security, or agriculture sections.
It was due to the reputation system.
'Should I assign characters to the new buildings randomly?'
The quality of incoming residents depends on reputation points.
The higher the points, the better the residents.
In other words, not the basic or trash characters, but rare-level residents would move in.
'If I just build anything randomly, there's a high chance only basic characters will come in….'
Clearing the settlement quests would guarantee good characters, but it takes a lot of time.
Since Kane didn't have the time to do quests right now, he excluded this option.
'To get the 4-star promotion quest, I need to construct as many buildings as possible. If basic characters try to move in, I should deny them entry.'
Anyway, this western territory belonged to the Rehinar family.
Anyone wanting to settle would need Kane's permission.
He could overuse the right to deny entry.
'Reputation might drop, but this is the best method.'
Kane would just build the structures and stock the necessary items in the shops.
He could temporarily dispatch managers.
That way, there would be no worries about supplies during monster battles.
'Alright, let's start building.'
Now that he decided to spend money, his hands moved without hesitation.
[Used 1 million gold.]
[A monastery is being built in the western territory. (Construction time: 10 days)]
[Used 1 million gold.]
[A lumber mill is being built in the western territory. (Construction time: 5 days)]
[Used 1 million gold.]
[A farm is being built in the western territory. (Construction time: 5 days)]
[Used 1 million gold.]
[A tavern is being built in the western territory. (Construction time: 5 days)]
[Used 1 million gold.]
[An inn is being built in the western territory. (Construction time: 5 days)]
[Used 1 million gold.]
[A mill is being built in the western territory. (Construction time: 5 days)]
[Used 10 million gold.]
[A stable is being built in the western territory. (Construction time: 10 days)]
Out of 24 million gold, Kane spent 17 million gold.
Only 7 million gold remained.
"I need money to recruit soldiers and buy military supplies. This is tight."
It was a defensive battle against mutant monsters.
The more military supplies, the better.
"It's overwhelming to try and develop the Rehinar territory from its fallen state."
He suddenly recalled when he played this game and led the story as Ray Hatzfeld.
Except for being a bastard son, everything was perfect.
Even without drawing characters, there were many hidden characters to acquire by progressing through the story.
For example, the Captain of the Dark Sentinels, or the Witch of Lightning.
But the only hidden character Kane could obtain through the story was Cedric.
However, Cedric's utility was low compared to his stats.
He prioritized the Duke of Rehinar above all else.
Cedric was only useful within the territory.
Outside the territory, his utility was low.
For a hidden character, he couldn't be used as a subordinate.
It was more efficient to acquire other characters.
'I need to stir up the mutant monsters quickly to unlock new characters and increase reputation as a bonus.'
It was a defensive battle he had to face anyway.
It was better to handle it quickly and move on to the next story.
"I think I've answered your question sufficiently."
"..."
Daniel just blinked, unable to speak.
His cheek wrinkles trembled.
Kane assigned tasks to him, who was overwhelmed by the significant changes in the western territory.
"Use this money to buy equipment and food supplies."
With that, Kane returned to the family estate.
* * *
Around that time….
The head of the Black Crow exchange, Gillip, was having a headache.
"Did another girl get broken and come out of the room?"
The third member of the Black Crow exchange answered with an angry voice.
"This time, she came out unconscious."
"That makes five already! Damn it, the bastard needs to take it easy."
Curses spilled from Gillip's mouth.
He thought the customer was a VVIP, but it turned out to be a real problem.
"What do we do if he asks for another girl?"
"Do we have any girls better than the ones who went in first?"
"…No."
"He's deliberately trying to mess with us."
Gillip ground his teeth.
"He's saying he wants something from us."
"If he wants something, he should say it. Instead, he's just hurting innocent girls… damn trash."
Unable to contain himself, Gillip left the room.
His subordinate followed, trying to dissuade him.
"Boss! What are you planning to do? You said we can't solve this with force."
"If we negotiate, at least the girls won't get hurt."
"But what if he harms us instead?"
Gillip hesitated.
Then, with determination, he spoke.
"No matter how low we live, we can't just stand by and take this kind of treatment."
"Even so…"
"You all trust and follow me, so I have to protect you."
Gillip resumed his steps.
He arrived at the entrance to the secret room reserved for VIPs.
The scene was already a mess.
Upon Gillip's arrival,
"B-boss is here."
The Black Crow's gathered there showed expressions of guilt.
At that moment,
"Aagh!"
A sharp scream echoed from inside the room.
"Who do you think you're saying no to?!"
"S-sorry. I was just trying my best to serve you, Mr. Aren… aagh!"
The woman's head whipped to the side again.
Her disheveled blouse, tangled hair, and bruised face clearly indicated what had happened inside.
"You just need to stay still and do what I tell you. How dare you act out of line!"
Aren's hand struck the woman's cheek again.
She was hit so hard that her body was flung out of the room.
"Gah!"
She hit the wall and coughed up blood.
As the battered woman raised her head, she saw Gillip.
"Gillip… sir…"
"Take her and treat her immediately!"
Gillip's stern voice was interrupted by Aren.
"Where do you think you're going without my permission?"
"The girl is badly injured."
Gillip knelt down and pleaded.
"So what?"
"If she isn't treated immediately, she may be crippled for life."
Aren's hand was infused with mana.
How could an ordinary person withstand such a touch?
He was far above a 3rd-class knight.
Just a touch could be fatal.
"That's your problem, isn't it?"
Aren looked down at Gillip with a sneer.
Gillip ground his teeth at Aren's expression.
"You're doing this because you want something from us, aren't you?"
"As the head of an intelligence organization, you're quick-witted."
"If you tell us what you want, we'll do whatever we can…"
Gillip's words were cut off by Aren's voice.
"I want you to come under my command."
It was not an invitation but a threat.
"That's…"
"You better think carefully."
"Ugh!"
The air around them filled with killing intent.
The faces of those nearby turned pale.
Even Gillip, who was a mid-tier3rd-class knight, found it hard to breathe. It must have been even worse for the others.
"We… we cannot come under your command."
At Gillip's refusal, Aren's eyes gleamed menacingly.
'Damn it. Are we really going to die here? Is it really okay to say what Kane Rehinar told me to say?'
Kane had given Gillip several pieces of advice before leaving.
It was time to use one of them.
"Then I have no choice but to destroy this place."
Just as Aren was about to move, Gillip urgently spoke up.
"We are under the protection of Duke Carl."
"…What?"
Aren was stunned.
Duke Carl was the head of the Rehinar family, one of the Twelve Stars lords of the continent.
He was slowly dying from mana crystal poisoning.
"…How did you manage to grow such a large organization under our noses?"
This unexpected news caught Aren off guard.
"Are you saying you're under the protection of the Guardian Lord?"
Aren muttered to himself, then his eyes flashed with even more killing intent.
"In that case, I definitely can't let you live."
"Right now, Duke Carl is bedridden. If you eliminate him, we can certainly switch allegiances!"
Gillip revealed a crucial piece of information.
Aren's grin spread from ear to ear.
"Is that true?"
"It is. The Guardian Knights have not left the family grounds."
"You're quite a useful fellow."
"Can you eliminate Duke Carl?"
"Of course."
Duke Carl was a wounded tiger.
Though he was always surrounded by fierce beasts, Aren had a way to handle it.
"If I take care of the Black Crow exchange and assassinate the Grand Duke, my reputation will skyrocket when I return."
While Aren mumbled to himself, Gillip observed his pleased expression and felt a wave of relief wash over him.
'Everything is going according to that Dullard Kane Rehinar's predictions…'
Even Aren's reaction was anticipated.
Of course, he had been half-doubtful at the time…
'I've taken a gamble on you, Kane Rehinar. Now it's your turn.'
Now he could only hope that everything Kane had said would come true.
—
Meanwhile, Kane was walking slowly toward the family estate, as if on a leisurely stroll.
"By now, the Black Viper must be pressuring Gillip. If he comes to Rehinar, we can eliminate him easily."
A Beginner-tier 5th-class Assassin.
Eliminating such an enemy would be a great fortune for Rehinar.
"He probably thinks he can deceive Cedric. But that's a miscalculation. Cedric won't leave father's side, even for a moment."
Removing Aren would also put Gillip in Kane's debt.
It would be like placing a noose around his neck.
Gillip wouldn't realize that in trying to avoid the wolf, he was stepping into the tiger's den.
Before he knew it, Kane had passed through the main gate of the estate.
As he crossed the garden, he sensed a familiar mana from the training grounds.
'Seems like she's working hard.'
Not wanting to disturb Sara's training, he quietly walked into the main building.
"Welcome, my lord. Have you just returned?"
The guardian knights on duty appeared as if they had dropped from the sky.
"Is Sir Cedric inside?"
"He is currently guarding the Duke."
Kane nodded and proceeded to the Duke's quarters.
He walked down a long hallway and opened the firmly closed door.
"You've returned already, I see."
Cedric greeted him with a slight bow.
Kane nodded slightly and observed the Marquess.
"The mana hemorrhage has stopped, and his strength is improving. It will be at least another month before he wakes, even briefly."
"My concern is… if the Duke doesn't appear, there will be rumors."
People would speculate that the Duke's condition had worsened.
They would say that Rehinar was beyond recovery, and that no one could protect it anymore.
Such rumors would spread.
"That works to our advantage. Following the rumors will reveal who our enemies are. It will be a chance to weed out traitors."
"I trust you, my lord."
"Also, the weapon was very useful."
Kane handed the spear to Cedric.
"Have you finished using it?"
"Yes. It was a good spear."
A rare expression of emotion appeared on Cedric's usually stoic face.
It was a gift from his master, and for Cedric, it was an invaluable weapon.
However, Kane's next words spoiled the moment.
"But it doesn't suit you, Sir Cedric. I think you should find a different spear."
"What part of it doesn't suit me?"
Cedric wasn't offended. He was merely curious.
"What's wrong with it?"
"This spear belonged to the former head of the McCarty clan, didn't it? It's more suited for someone with the fire rune. You might have noticed that the mana flow sometimes gets disrupted when you use it."
A slight crack appeared in Cedric's otherwise unchanging expression.
For someone like him, it was a significant reaction.
"It was so subtle that I didn't pay much attention to it."
"If you fight someone of equal skill, this could be the factor that leads to your defeat."
Cedric nodded as he looked down at the spear in his hand.
It was a trophy that Duke Carl had obtained after killing the former head of the McCarty clan.
For Cedric, it was unthinkable to discard something his master had given him.
Kane understood this sentiment as well.
"Go to the estate and visit Mikhail's forge. The blacksmith there can remove the fire energy from the spear."
"Mikhail's forge? Is there such a place?"
"It's a newly opened forge in the western estate. The blacksmith there is the best in Rehinar. You can trust him."
"Is that why you went to Philaec?"
"Yes, to hire him."
Confidence radiated from Kane's face, along with pride in the new recruit.
"I'll have to meet this blacksmith named Mikhail."
"You won't regret it."
Kane stood up.
"Are you leaving already?"
"I've finished my business here, so I must go."
As he was about to exit the room, he turned back to Cedric.
"Oh, I almost forgot."
"Please, go on."
"Rehinar will be quite tumultuous soon. The Guardian Knights must stay here and protect my father. No matter what happens."
"If that is your command, I will gladly follow it."
Cedric didn't ask for a reason.
Kane was the acting head of the family.
Questioning him would undermine his authority.