The rising sun bathed the camp in golden light as Adam walked the perimeter of his territory. The reinforced barricades stood tall, the spike pits hidden and lethal, and the palisades gleamed with fresh repairs. His NPCs were hard at work: the builder expanded the northern defenses, the craftsman forged new weapons, and Ignis patrolled the southern boundary with her staff sparking faintly.
Adam opened his **Resource Management** interface to assess the state of his empire.
---
> **CURRENT RESOURCES:**
> - Gold: 1,050
> - Wood: 80
> - Stone: 60
---
The gold reserves were climbing steadily thanks to the relentless pace of his auction sales. The system chimed, pulling Adam's attention to the updated auction logs.
---
> **AUCTION SALES:**
> - Reinforced Halberd: 400 Gold
> - Masterwork Longsword: 450 Gold
> - Crude Shield: 90 Gold
> **Total Earnings:** 940 Gold
---
The global chat, as always, buzzed with speculation.
**PLAYER 22:** "Another halberd? Whoever's supplying these must have an army of blacksmiths."
**PLAYER 45:** "At this point, they're richer than half the server combined."
**PLAYER 34:** "I just want a basic spear, but the prices are insane. No way to compete with whales."
---
Adam smirked, closing the chat. The desperation in the market only worked in his favor. Each transaction fueled his **Lord Merchant** ability, ensuring his resources remained abundant.
---
> **LORD MERCHANT ACTIVATED:**
> - Resources Refunded:
> - Wood: +40
> - Stone: +20
> - Gold: +200
---
Satisfied with the influx, Adam called for a meeting at the central hut. His NPCs gathered quickly—Ignis, the craftsman, the builder, and the guard.
"We've made progress," Adam began, his tone firm. "The auction has secured us the resources we need. The defenses are holding. But the invasion will test everything we've built."
Ignis stepped forward, her amber eyes glowing faintly. "Your preparations are unmatched, my lord. But will the weapons and walls be enough?"
"They'll have to be," Adam replied. "But we're not relying on defenses alone. Strength in numbers is our next step."
---
That afternoon, Adam opened the **Weekly NPC Reroll** menu. He had been hesitant to spend gold on the feature before, but with over 1,000 gold in his inventory, the time was right.
---
> **WEEKLY NPC REROLL AVAILABLE:**
> - Next Draw Cost: 100 Gold.
> - Roll Now?
---
"Yes," Adam confirmed.
The orb of light appeared, spinning rapidly. The warm glow intensified before shattering into fragments, revealing a new NPC.
---
> **NPC SUMMONED:**
> - **Name:** Armin
> - **Class:** Archer
> - **Rank:** A
> - **HP:** 90/90
> - **Strength:** 12
> - **Mana:** 5
> - **Luck:** 15
> - **Power Ranking:** B+
---
The figure materialized as a tall, lean man with sharp eyes and a longbow slung over his shoulder. He saluted with military precision. "Armin, reporting for duty, my lord."
Adam inspected the archer's stats, noting his high luck and respectable strength. A ranged combatant was a valuable addition to the growing force.
"You'll take up position at the northern boundary," Adam ordered. "Coordinate with the guard and ensure no monster slips through."
"As you command," Armin replied, his tone crisp.
---
With the addition of Armin, Adam reviewed his NPC roster, noting their growing strength and diversity.
---
**LOYAL NPCS:**
- **Ignis:** Fire Mage (S)
- **HP:** 120/120
- **Mana:** 150
- **Strength:** 8
- **Power Ranking:** A
- **Armin:** Archer (A)
- **HP:** 90/90
- **Mana:** 5
- **Strength:** 12
- **Power Ranking:** B+
- **Guard NPC:**
- **HP:** 90/90
- **Strength:** 15
- **Power Ranking:** B
- **Craftsman NPC:**
- **HP:** 60/60
- **Strength:** 12
- **Power Ranking:** C+
- **Builder NPC:**
- **HP:** 65/65
- **Strength:** 10
- **Power Ranking:** C
---
The new additions bolstered Adam's confidence, but the countdown in his interface reminded him there was little time left to waste.
---
> **MONSTER INVASION TIMER:** 2 DAYS REMAINING.
---
As the sun set, Adam climbed the lookout tower, surveying his fortified territory. The barriers, traps, and growing roster of powerful NPCs formed a stronghold unlike any other.
Ignis joined him, her staff glowing softly in the dim light. "The invasion draws closer," she said.
Adam nodded, his voice calm but resolute. "Let them come. They'll find nothing but fire and steel waiting for them."