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It was a day of reckless investment. I spent 10,000 gold setting up a laboratory for Barn Jones, the alchemist, and another 5,000 gold to expand my army from 100 to 600 troops.
With 69,300 gold in my coffers, I figured it was time to repay my loan. After clearing my debt, I was left with 6,600 gold—a paltry amount compared to the scale of my ambitions.
But luck smiled on me once again. With my land valuation soaring to 100,000 gold and a spotless credit history, I secured a new loan: 70,000 gold at a 3% daily interest rate.
It felt like a jackpot. I could barely contain my excitement.
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Spending gold was draining, but what truly exhausted me was the endless math. Browsing the forums, I saw others boasting about taming dragons and mastering magic. The buzz of the day was about the Coalition of Lords—a group established by someone with a support talent.
Apparently, talents were divided into three categories: Support, Combat, and Craftsman. My own title, Insatiable Profit, fell squarely into the support category:
"Title: Insatiable Profit
Effect: Gain 20% daily turnover from any specified item, capped at 100,000 value. Amass wealth quickly—but watch the limits of your greed!
Grade: C (A stepping stone to fortune... or ruin!)"
As I browsed the coalition members, a new notification jolted me:
"An invasion of your territory is expected to occur within the next week. Prepare yourself."
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Goosebumps crawled across my skin. Just as I was celebrating my loan jackpot, fate threw me another curveball.
By nightfall, I still hadn't seen signs of the invasion, but I knew better than to doubt the system. With 91,900 gold in hand, I decided to expand my defenses.
If my inner walls were maxed out after seven upgrades, I'd build two outer walls. The first cost 1,000 gold, the second a whopping 5,000 gold. It wasn't much, but it was all I could do for now.
Three days later, the report came in. My blood ran cold:
"An army of 70,000 is marching toward your territory. Estimated arrival: 3 days."
Seventy thousand troops. I felt like a fool. My meager 132,600 gold was nothing compared to the fortune backing that army. The very ground seemed to tremble with their approach, shaking the morale of my troops.
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Desperate, I scoured the official lords shops for something—anything—that could tip the scales. Most items were too niche or impractical:
Enchanted Quill of Truth: 7,000 gold. Not useful right now.
The Evershifting Tome: 25,000 gold. Interesting, but irrelevant.
Gorgon's Gaze Mirror: 30,000 gold. A powerful item that could paralyze enemies for 30 seconds, but against an army of 70,000? Useless.
Then, I saw it:
Pocket Portal Stone
Price: 25,000 gold
Description: A smooth, glowing stone that opens a two-way portal to any previously visited location. The portal lasts for 100 minutes.
Special Effect: Creatures can pass through the portal freely.
A wild idea formed in my mind. My troops had once reported encountering a monster horde deep in the forest—a horde so large they couldn't subjugate it.
What if I lured the horde to the battlefield?
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With no better options, I purchased the Pocket Portal Stone and called for an emergency meeting. My commanders listened in stunned silence as I outlined the plan.
"We'll open a portal to the forest," I said, gripping the stone tightly. "And we'll guide the monster horde straight into the enemy's path."
It was a gamble—a desperate, reckless gamble—but it was the only chance I had against an army that outnumbered us over a hundredfold.
As my troops prepared for the operation, I stared at the glowing stone in my hand. This was it. My wealth, my walls, my troops—they all meant nothing if I couldn't protect my land.
"Let's hope the monsters are hungry," I muttered, steeling myself for the days ahead.
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