The feast was still raging on, but Mike? Mike was done.
With a belly full of meat and a head full of evolution points, he stretched his arms and let out a satisfied yawn.
Then Loran casually said, "Oh yeah, your house is done too."
Mike froze mid-stretch.
"Wait. What?"
Loran nodded toward the back of the village. "Your house. The Gremlins finished it."
Mike blinked. "I have a house?"
Loran grinned. "No, my lord. You have a mansion."
Mike nearly choked on his drink. "EXCUSE ME??"
Kiera smirked. "Yeah. Turns out, while were out hunting, the Gremlins—"
Loran cut in, smirking. "Actually, let's have a flashback."
---
Flashback: The Mansion Scam
Loran stood before a group of eager Gremlins, rubbing his hands together.
"Alright, boys. Today… you're gonna build something legendary."
The Gremlins perked up.
"You've already made the Great Wall, right? That means you're master builders now."
The Gremlins nodded proudly. "Yeah, we are!"
Loran grinned. "So it's time for your final test."
A Gremlin gulped. "A final test…?"
Loran nodded dramatically. "Yes. Only the greatest builders in history can construct a hero's mansion. And lucky for you guys… the lord is a hero."
The Gremlins gasped.
Loran continued, laying it on thick. "Do you want future generations to look at this mansion and say, 'Wow, those were the greatest builders ever?'"
The Gremlins nodded rapidly.
"Do you want your names to be written in history books as the ones who built the most magnificent structure known to man?"
The Gremlins screamed in excitement. "YES!!"
Loran smirked. "Then GET TO WORK!"
And that was how Mike got a free mansion.
---
Back to the Present…
Mike grinned as he approached his new home.
And… holy hell.
It was a three-story mansion, made of stone and reinforced wood, with decorative torches, massive doors, and even a balcony.
"… I can't believe that worked."
Loran chuckled. "You underestimate Gremlin desperation."
Mike opened the front doors and stepped inside. Spacious. Luxurious. A bit too much for a former dinosaur.
But hey. Who was he to complain?
---
The Gamble Begins
Mike flopped onto his massive bed, letting out a satisfied sigh.
Then, with a flick of his fingers, he opened his status window.
STATUS WINDOW UPDATED
✔ Territory Growth: +150 Evolution Points
✔ Farm Success: +50 Evolution Points
✔ Wall Completed: +100 Evolution Points
✔ Warrior Training Success: +75 Evolution Points
TOTAL EVOLUTION POINTS: 375
Mike grinned. "Ohhh, baby, I'm RICH."
Then, a new system notification popped up.
NEW FEATURE UNLOCKED: RANDOM BOX SHOP!
[ NOTICE: The Spin System has been upgraded! You can now buy Random Boxes instead of spinning. Enjoy your gambling addiction responsibly. ]
Mike sat up instantly.
"… GAMBLING? BUT WORSE?"
He immediately opened the Random Box Shop.
---
The Gamble Begins
Mike purchases his first Random Box.
[ DING! You have obtained: Mage Skill - Arcane Blast! ]
Mike froze.
"… A MAGE SKILL?!"
Kiera would lose her mind if she found out. Magic wasn't easy to learn, but now? He just... got it.
He grinned. "Oh, it's my lucky day."
Then he bought two more Random Boxes.
[ DING! You have obtained: Wooden Hoe! ]
[ DING! You have obtained: Rusty Spoon! ]
Mike stared at the items in disbelief.
"… What the hell am I supposed to do with a spoon??"
He glared at the system window.
"…Okay. Fine. One more."
[ DING! You have obtained: Reinforced Pickaxe! ]
Mike sighed. A good tool, but not for him.
"…Alright, last one. If this is another spoon, I'm rioting."
[ DING! You have unlocked: TRADE SYSTEM! ]
[ Your village is now recognized by other settlements! You may begin trade routes. ]
[ NOTICE: Please enter a village name. ]
Mike paused.
"… Wait. We're official now?"
The village was now on the map.
Mike sat there, staring at the prompt.
"…Huh."
He grinned.
"Guess I should name this place something… cool."
TO BE CONTINUED…