The Wandering People

Main Quest: He who would wear the crown must bear its weight! Build a fully developed city to fulfill your name as a king. Required facilities: city walls at least 5 meters high, at least 10 defensive structures, a blacksmith shop, mill, tannery, and other buildings; at least 500 soldiers; at least 5,000 Lagrange Civilians.

"Holy shit!" Roland was dumbfounded. What the hell was this? Were the requirements for becoming a king this low now? Any small town could call itself a kingdom? Then again, it was not impossible. Bard had already proclaimed himself king in River Valley City, so it did not seem like a big deal if he did the same. But those 5,000 Lagrange Civilians were a real headache. This was Middle-earth! Where was he supposed to find Lagrange civilians?

"System, what's the deal with these civilians?" Following his principle of asking the system whenever he was at a loss, Roland tentatively asked.

"Please check the territory page yourself!" The system's icy voice somehow carried a trace of disdain.

"Territory page?" Roland had not known he had unlocked another function.

Roland opened the territory page as instructed. The moment he looked closely, fury surged through him. Look at this! Was that even something a human would say?

Territory: Flowing City.

The lone Flowing City appeared on the page. That was fine; after all, he had only just started out. But what came next was going too far.

Flowing City:

Area: One kilometer radius.

Buildings: Ruined Lord's Castle ×1, 100 crumbling houses, a dilapidated stone wall in desperate need of repair, and a well that barely produced water.

Troop strength: 203

Population: 0

Evaluation: A lonely king led his remaining subjects back to their homeland. This ruin, barely capable of sheltering them from the wind and rain, brought them a small measure of comfort. Darkness still threatened the newly risen king. Compared to this lifeless town, perhaps its formidable military strength was the only thing worth praising. Note: There are no civilians in the town!

Abilities: 1. As Lagrange Kingdom's sole territory in Middle-earth, it will attract Lagrange survivors. Every day, the system will guide a group of wandering Lagrange Civilians here. It is hoped that the lord will settle them properly.

2. Civilians here may be recruited and trained as Swift River Infantry.

"Uh..." His anger was replaced by surprise. Although the system's evaluation had torn him apart without mercy, the building ability that attracted Lagrange Civilians moved Roland deeply. Since when had a system more ruthless than a capitalist become so generous? The civilians in Swift River Town could be converted into Swift River Infantry at any time. That meant Roland possessed an endless Recruitment Pool.

"Hey? Those are our wandering kinsmen!" A Bannaria Archer on watch spotted a group of refugees carrying large bundles. Though they looked utterly bedraggled, they still held aloft a crudely made Lagrange Dragon Banner, allowing the Bannaria Archers to quickly identify them.

"Damn it! System, can I take back what I said about being moved?" Roland grimaced at the refugees the system had drawn here.

Their numbers were pitifully small. There were only seven of them, with just two adults; the rest were half-grown children. They looked like a family... Roland frowned as he thought.

Thud! The entire group suddenly dropped to their knees, startling Roland. Just as he was about to tell them to rise, the man at the front spoke.

"Dragon God above! There are still imperial troops and lords in this world... We... we thought all the lords had perished! We wandered for so long, and now we finally see the Lagrange Dragon Banner flying once more..." The man choked back sobs.

"..." Roland reached out to help them up, feeling for the first time the weight of responsibility resting on a king's shoulders.

"You are safe now! The empire's troops will protect you! You... will never have to leave your homeland again." A thousand words became a single sigh as Roland patted their shoulders.

When Roland checked the territory page again, he found that the population had changed from 0 to 7.

"Waiting for 5,000 civilians will take until the year of the monkey!" Roland complained helplessly.

"Stay alert!" Reno suddenly shouted. Everyone swiftly dropped their planks and stones and hurried up onto the wall. The newly arrived family of civilians instinctively huddled beside a ruined wooden house, trembling. Roland's heart ached at the sight. How much suffering had they endured to become so practiced at hiding in corners for shelter...?

"What is it, Reno?" Roland leaped onto the stone wall and looked at Reno.

"A War Mage is coming! I can sense the magic of a Fourth Tier Mage!" Reno said gravely. Though a War Mage could do nothing to Reno, the Paladin Captain, or Caslo, the Wyvern Great Knight, the other soldiers and Roland himself would never be able to withstand terrifying war magic.

"A War Mage?" Roland suddenly thought of the griffons and Earth Mage he had purchased.

"Don't get too worked up. Maybe they're one of ours. After all, more and more Lagrange survivors are returning now." As he spoke, Roland pointed at the refugee family that had just arrived, concealing the truth that he had bought a mage at a high price.

"Perhaps you are right, but we must still be cautious. Flowing City is still very fragile. A single high-level spell could doom us beyond recovery." Reno did not relax his guard.

"Honored King of Lagrange! Ladyl is at your service!" A booming voice rang out. An old man in an earth-yellow mage robe rode toward them from afar on a skinny horse. Though he was a thousand meters away, his voice clearly echoed by everyone's ears.

"Oh! Honored Highness, your radiance shall forever shine upon the sun and moon. The Lagrange Empire shall be restored in your hands, and you shall rise from Highness to Majesty!" The old man solemnly arrived beneath the wall and bowed to Roland atop the stone rampart.

"Welcome, Mage Ladyl! May the empire's radiance shine upon us both forever!" Roland replied with a smile, studying him curiously at the same time.

"Hahaha, Your Highness, let these griffon eggs be this old man's greeting gift to you." Ladyl grinned as he pulled a cloth sack from the bundle strapped to his horse's back. Judging from the horse's reaction, it was no light burden.

"Oh! Dragon God above! There are five griffon eggs!" Caslo leaped down from the wall and excitedly opened the cloth sack, staring at the griffon eggs inside.

"Come, Mage Ladyl. Let's arrange a place for you to stay. Caslo, you take care of these eggs." Roland descended from the wall, pushed open the gate woven from branches, and invited Ladyl inside.

"A Wyvern Knight? Your Highness, you truly have received Lagrange's favor!" Ladyl was astonished that a Lagrange Wyvern Knight still existed, and offered Roland his blessings.

"Hahaha, you flatter me. This place still needs your help with construction." Roland complimented him. After all, every Earth Mage was a qualified builder. They could use magic to create stone bricks inscribed with magical runes for constructing cities.

"All right, everyone, disperse. Try to clear this place out as soon as possible. And arrange a safe, clean house for the civilians who just arrived." Roland met the grateful gazes of the refugees.

"Thank you, my lord..." The refugees choked up with excitement.

"It's all right. Tomorrow will definitely be better..." Roland chuckled softly and looked toward the surging Swift River.

Today, I received a contract offer. I'm excited, thrilled, and happy. Thank you all for supporting me, and thank you for your recommendation votes. (ω)