**Chapter 140: Tina's Future May Not Be So Blissful**
"Tina, how did you manage to pass the advanced secret realm? That level of difficulty isn't a joke!" Margaret looked at Tina with disbelief.
As a top-level Tier 3 powerhouse herself, Margaret had only managed to conquer the intermediate secret realm, and even that wasn't easy. The advanced realm was far beyond her reach. Seeing Tina accomplish it—someone nearly a decade younger—left her reeling.
"Actually, I owe it all to Nemesis here. Without his help, I wouldn't have made it through," Tina admitted, her eyes filled with gratitude as she looked at Su Yu.
She went on to recount every detail of Su Yu's assistance within the secret realm: from the devastating 40% health reduction he inflicted on three mini-bosses with a single strike, to his timely [Bacteria Mourning] spell that helped her sustain herself in the fight against Kassadin.
Listening closely, Margaret's gaze shifted toward Su Yu, now full of admiration. Initially, she hadn't given this low-tier mage much thought. But now it was clear: with his strategic mind and powerful spells, he was destined to become a formidable presence.
"Still, it's a bit of a shame that he's just a mage and not a druid who can transform into a bear. His utility is limited, and Tina's future may not be as smooth because of it," Instructor Gretel remarked, casting Su Yu a regretful look.
Su Yu, noticing her expression, felt a bit puzzled. *Why's she looking at me with such regret?*
Nearby, Legion Commander Gracie had been listening intently to Tina's tale, observing Su Yu with a newfound sense of respect. She strolled over, clapping a hand on his shoulder in approval.
"Nicely done, young man!"
"Oh, it was just my duty to support and help my knight," Su Yu replied humbly.
"Modest, are we? Regardless, you brought Tina back safe and sound, which is no small feat… I don't have much to reward you with, so here, take this." Gracie pulled a glowing scroll from her ring and handed it over.
"Ding! [Gracie Windsor] favorability +1. Current favorability: 'Cold.'"
"Ding! You received [Secondary Fireball] skill scroll x1 from Gracie."
*Wait, even the Legion Commander has a favorability system?* Su Yu thought, mildly surprised. Then, realizing she was both older and married, he felt any interest in raising it further fizzle out.
"Thank you, Commander!"
Gracie gave a short nod before turning back to Tina. "Remember, Tina, tomorrow you need to report with your belongings to join the Unicorn Knights!"
"Yes, Commander!" Tina responded with a determined look, her small fists clenched in excitement. Joining the Knights had been her dream, and it would finally come true tomorrow.
"Nemesis, we'll be fighting side by side from now on!" Tina exclaimed, throwing herself into Su Yu's arms, burying her face against his chest.
"Ding! [Tina Garcia] favorability +3."
"Yes, let's do our best," Su Yu said, gently patting her back.
With the seventh segment of Tina's storyline complete and two hours left until the next quest, Su Yu decided to head back to his territory to enhance its infrastructure.
As he sailed his small cargo boat down the Moonlight River, he enjoyed the cool river breeze while mentally tallying his recent gains: skills like [Ice Barrier] and [Secondary Fireball], eight [Blood of Tina] items, and a [Fortress] architectural blueprint. He was quite satisfied.
The [Blood of Tina] items now totaled 21. Su Yu's plan was to open an enchantment request and let Sky Dragon attempt to gild his [Tier 6 Temporary Experience Scroll]. Once that was complete, he'd feel more secure even outside the game.
His boat glided swiftly along the river, and ten minutes later, he docked at his territory.
At the shoreline, a newly built, ten-meter wooden dock awaited him. With this addition, he could soon bring in medium-sized cargo ships to transport necessary supplies and materials, helping the territory flourish and laying the groundwork for future trade with Oran City.
Cole, his butler, greeted him warmly as he stepped ashore. "Welcome back, Master!"
"Good to see you, Cole! How is the territory's progress?" Su Yu asked, walking alongside him toward the village.
"We've been building at full speed…" Cole's eyes sparkled with excitement as he described the recent developments.
First, the population: in the four hours Su Yu had been gone, 11 new refugees arrived, two with rare talents. This brought the total population up to 28. At this rate, they could upgrade to a medium-sized village within days.
Then, there was the matter of resources. With the players' hard work, heaps of supplies had been gathered, enough to fuel further growth.
The updated territory stats were as follows:
**[Apuhi Village]**
- Level: Small Village
- Population: 28/200
- Prosperity: 97/100
- Livability: 100/100
- Resources: Food 635, Wood 1171, Stone 147, Gold 12
The abundant resources boosted the territory's growth potential significantly.
Finally, the buildings. From six [residential houses], the village had expanded to 20, sufficient for 60 residents. They'd also added one [Lumberyard] and one [Quarry] near key resource points. Most importantly, [City Hall] was almost finished.
The completion of [City Hall] was Su Yu's primary reason for returning. With it, he'd be able to start upgrading the territory's technology. This would improve construction efficiency, unlock new building blueprints, and enhance the villagers' quality of life.
His vision extended far beyond the basics. With early advancements in technology, he aimed to unlock late-stage feats like [Nuclear Fusion Technology] and [Manned Moon Landing], advancing the game's storyline into an information age.
In his past life, the first significant territories didn't emerge until the end of the second expansion pack, with their technology limited to tanks and warships. Humanity hadn't survived long enough to delve into more advanced tech. But this time, Su Yu had started enhancing his territory on the ninth day of the first expansion—almost three months earlier than most.
In this life, he was determined to reach the endgame, to master the ultimate technologies, and perhaps even command a fleet of [Doomsday Mecha] someday.
*(End of Chapter)*