Harmony City, one of the three primary strongholds in the Northern Frontier Region, sat atop the sprawling Gornath Hills. Despite being labeled as "hills," the terrain was more like a series of elevated knolls. Ten thousand years of renewal after the Cataclysm had allowed the planet to recover, leaving only the Starter Zones as haunting remnants of the devastation.
A green canopy blanketed the hills, its serene appearance concealing countless dangers beneath.
Within Harmony, rows of grand buildings showcased a regal, old-world charm. These rare architectural designs, steeped in history, were distinguished by their warm golden-red hues. At the city's northernmost edge stood a towering spire of pure white, surrounded by nine colossal statues, each hundreds of feet tall.
The statues depicted the ultimate champions of the Survivor Faction, nine legendary heroes hailed as the protectors of Azure.
The spire and its statues were iconic features of every Survivor stronghold, symbols of resilience and hope.
Harmony's strategic location on the Gornath Hills made it a bustling hub, equipped with countless teleportation points connecting to cities, towns, and villages across the continent. A simple payment and the utterance of a destination allowed for instant travel.
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Ding…
[System Notice: Congratulations! You are the first player in the world to reach a main city. Reward: +200 Reputation Points for all main cities. Additionally, you have earned a top-tier land deed for this city.]
Ding…
[System Notice: You are the first to reach Harmony City. Reward: +200 Reputation Points for Harmony City.]
Ding…
[System Notice: As the world's first player and a Level-2 Guild Leader to arrive at a main city, you are awarded a guild estate.]
Ding…
[System Notice: The City Lord has summoned you. Please proceed to the Town Hall to receive your reward personally.]
Ethan smirked at the notifications. He had rushed to reach the city for these rewards, but the City Lord's personal summons was a pleasant surprise.
The streets of Harmony were eerily quiet. Apart from the patrolling NPC guards, there wasn't a single soul in sight. Each guard was an elite soldier above Level 120, a reminder of the city's fortified status.
Standing in the heart of the city near the teleportation array, destined to become the busiest area in the future, Ethan made his way north toward the towering spire. This was where the Town Hall resided.
At the spire's entrance, the guards didn't challenge him. His impressive 400 Reputation Points ensured they treated him with courtesy. One of the guards stepped forward and offered to escort him inside.
Ethan followed the guard through the towering spire's grand entrance. Almost immediately, a figure in gleaming gold armor approached, a commanding presence.
Ethan instinctively cast his Basic Appraisal skill. Only the NPC's level 210, appeared, while the rest of the details were obscured by question marks. His name, however, was visible:
Roland Carter, Captain of Harmony's First Guard Squadron (Elite)
"Honored traveler," Roland greeted with a polite nod. "The City Lord is expecting you. Please, follow me."
Reputation Points were a marvelous thing. In his previous life, Ethan had never managed to accumulate this much, even after years of effort. Naturally, he had never received such VIP treatment.
The guard captain led Ethan into a vast hall. At its center, a holographic projection of Harmony's terrain glowed faintly. Standing before it was an elderly man in simple, unassuming clothes.
Ethan glanced at the name hovering above the man's head, which revealed his identity:
Gregor Darnell, City Lord of Harmony (Demigod)
Seeing the name, Ethan struggled to suppress a laugh. Gregor's name sounded strangely mundane for someone of his stature.
But the title Demigod left him speechless. He hadn't expected the leader of a Level-5 city to possess such immense power.
Curious, Ethan cast another appraisal skill.
It failed.
Gregor turned to face him, a knowing smile on his lips. "Young man, though age has taken its toll on me, the divine aura of a demigod still protects me. Perhaps you should reconsider using such basic tricks on someone like me."
Ethan scratched his head awkwardly. "Apologies, City Lord. I was merely curious as to why someone of your caliber would lead a humble city like this."
Gregor chuckled heartily. "Ah, youth. You're bold enough to ask an old man about his regrets. Are you not afraid I might revoke your reward?"
For a fleeting moment, cold light flashed in Gregor's weary eyes. Behind Ethan, Roland instinctively placed a hand on the hilt of his blade.
Ethan thought to himself, When did NPCs start acting this lifelike? His memories of them were nothing but mechanical responses and scripted dialogue.
Despite his thoughts, Ethan bowed slightly and said, "Lord Gregor, your rebuke is deserved. My ignorance led to offense."
As he spoke, he observed the City Lord's reaction carefully. While Gregor's tone carried the weight of authority, Ethan wasn't too concerned. The system's reward didn't technically require the City Lord's involvement, which meant the summons likely had more to do with triggering a hidden event. Lowering his posture might yield an unexpected opportunity.
Gregor let out a hearty laugh. "A sharp tongue and a flexible will, traits that promise great achievements. If only I had such patience in my youth, perhaps I wouldn't have been ousted from Central Dominion."
Ethan caught a glimpse of Captain Roland easing his grip on the hilt of his blade. Straightening his posture, Ethan grinned and replied, "You flatter me, Lord Gregor. Truthfully, I'm just afraid of dying!"
Gregor chuckled again, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Come, lad. Pick a plot of land as your reward," he said, gesturing toward the holographic map in the center of the hall.
Ethan stepped forward eagerly. He had meticulously studied the city's prime locations in his past life and already knew where to stake his claim. The teleportation hub and the surrounding properties were destined to become the city's busiest and most valuable areas. Three plots encircled the hub in a triangular formation, and Ethan had his eye on one of them.
Pointing to the plot closest to the hub, Ethan declared, "I'll take this one."
Gregor's eyes gleamed with a sharpness that belied his age. "A fine choice, young man. This is the most coveted golden zone in all of Harmony, valued at 1,200 gold. You've got an eye for opportunity!"
Though the official price of land wasn't exorbitant, the city's main source of income came from future taxes, 1% of daily revenue paid to the City Administration.
Feigning confidence, Ethan replied, "Is the Lord unwilling to part with it?"
Internally, however, he was uncertain. The system may have promised him a land deed, but the specifics of which plot remained at Gregor's discretion. After all, in his previous life, the first player to reach Harmony had settled for a plot near the southern gate rather than in the prime location.
Instead of answering, Gregor pointed to two adjacent plots near the teleportation hub. "What do you think of these two instead?"
Ethan frowned slightly, confused. "Are you asking me to choose between these two?"
The alternate plots, while smaller than the one Ethan had chosen, were still prime real estate. In his original plan, Ethan intended to purchase these plots after accumulating enough gold, as they were priced at 750 gold each.
Gregor leaned back slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "If you can accomplish a task for me, I'll give you both plots as well."
'Here it comes, a hidden event!'
Ethan's excitement surged. Two prime plots worth 750 gold each were no small reward. At current market rates, their combined value was close to $3 million in USD, and their future value would skyrocket at least fiftyfold.
"What task would you have me undertake, Lord Gregor?" Ethan asked, his eyes alight with interest.
Gregor's smile widened. "Do you know of the two other main cities north of Harmony? I want you to travel there, purchase the golden properties in those cities, and transfer the ownership to me."
Ethan's mind raced as he processed the implications. This old fox wasn't just ambitious; he was looking to control the economic lifelines of the entire region!
He recalled a similar mission from his past life. A player had once taken on a similar land-transfer task, only to suffer severe consequences. Their Reputation Points in the targeted cities had plummeted by 300, leaving them a pariah. While they avoided imprisonment or execution, they couldn't walk the streets without harassment. NPCs refused to sell goods or provide quests, and shop prices were inflated by 30%.
It was a miserable existence.