The territory's so-called "self-growth" trait was actually easy enough to understand.
As the territory continued to be built and developed, it grew stronger with every passing moment, even when Zong Shen himself was not there to oversee it.
All kinds of powerful buildings continued to perform their functions, while the hero-level talents under his command carried out their duties according to plan in an orderly fashion.
The territory and Zong Shen had gradually become two independent entities developing on their own.
As its Lord, Zong Shen was still everything to the territory, but the territory was no longer everything to him.
In the future, he could freely explore farther reaches of the world. Sooner or later, the territory would change from a bond that constantly weighed on his mind into a home at his back.
After reining in his sentimental thoughts, he turned his attention to tallying the resource gains.
Meanwhile, the reconstruction work within the area enclosed by the teleportation gate was proceeding in an orderly fashion. Only then did Colby and Zoe seize the opportunity to approach Zong Shen and report on the exploration of the Shadow Poison Assassin Alliance branch Ruins, while also handing over the related spoils.
Seeing the two arrive, Zong Shen paused his tallying work and led the way to the temporary command camp set up within the area marked out by the teleportation gate. The sturdy [Double-Story Stone House] shut out the noise outside.
He sat in the seat of honor and casually took out a bottle of aged wine from Lord Mars's ancestral wine cellar. Then he brought out three horn cups and poured each of them a cup of crimson wine.
"Sit. Let's drink while we talk."
Zong Shen lifted his cup and took a small sip. Then he closed his