Although he really wanted to return to Midstream Village and report to the village chief, the thought of the lifeless atmosphere of Midstream Village, which was no different during the day and night, made Fasi feel that the castle was obviously more vibrant or more "human".
He made up his mind to only observe for a short while, to roughly confirm the number of Elite Warrior, before returning to Midstream Village.
So he watched for most of the morning, forgetting his fatigue, his hunger, and even the village chief who was still waiting anxiously in the village, immersing himself in the activities of the players in the open fields and by the river below.
Humans sometimes become engrossed in watching phenomena like ants moving house, and Fasi is doing the same thing now. The fact that the players he's observing aren't ants but highly creative humans makes the spectacle even more captivating.
During the two hours that Fasi observed, seven or eight players were still constantly dredging wood from the river. The rest of the people were divided into two groups: one group used saw blades to process the wood, while the other group kept digging something on the ground with shovels, making this piece of wasteland a dozen meters from the riverbank particularly lively.
He also saw some of the Elite Warrior learning something from the "traitors" whose misunderstandings had been cleared up, and two of the traitors had even joined the timber-moving team...
For the first time, Fasi experienced what true liveliness was; the energy emanating from humanity made him feel exceptionally warm.
What are you looking at?
Before Fasi noticed, Ed had already come up behind him.
I knocked on the door, but no one answered.
Ed shrugged, indicating that although this was his own castle, he still respected his guests.
Fasi felt a little embarrassed for his absent-mindedness. He looked at Ed and pointed outside again:
"Your Excellency, what are they doing?"
Ed followed the direction Fasi pointed and saw the newly developed construction site, replying with a smile:
"The monsters destroyed the Upperstream Village, leaving nearly a hundred villagers homeless. I promised to build a new Upperstream Village for them on this riverbank, so they can have a home to return to."
"Home...?"
Fasi pondered this seemingly ordinary word. He looked outside, at the fine timber, at the straight trenches dug by the Elite Warrior, and a feeling called jealousy quietly grew in his heart.
For decades, due to the existence of Dragonborn Village as a "public enemy," the Upperstream Village and the Midstream Village have maintained a good and harmonious relationship. Even after the incident of the apostates, Fasi's first thought was to go to the Upperstream Village to check on things.
But now it seems that although they lost their homes, they have actually benefited from the misfortune.
Anyone with normal vision looking at that orderly construction site from this position can see that a row of high-quality, neat wooden houses will appear on that land.
Then think about those dilapidated houses in Midstream Village that are older than my grandfather...
Why... did such a good thing fall into their laps?
Just because they were attacked by a monster?
Fasi didn't think he was being hypocritical, but at this moment he was genuinely a little jealous.
Is there a problem?
Ed's tone was gentle, but the question seemed to have a hidden meaning.
Fasi felt a chord in his heart, and his gaze began to linger between the construction site and the bishop.
But he knew that such hesitation and jealousy would only breed resentment. Fasi took a deep breath, made up his mind, and looked Ed straight in the eye, asking:
"This place looks lively and safe. If I, or rather the villagers of Midstream Village, wanted to move here, would you accept us?"
Ed smiled knowingly.
"Young man, although you live in harmony with the trees, you seem to have never heeded the teachings of the Tree God."
"You shouldn't ask me this question. You can ask Kaping, ask the people of Upperstream Village, ask Captain Duolin who is currently instructing others... You will get the answer."
Fasi left his room and, guided by Ed, walked out of the castle and onto the ground.
As the number of players and NPCs increases, some small paths formed by human footsteps have now appeared near the once desolate castle.
Fasi spotted Kaping standing by the roadside in a daze. He walked over and looked at the old man, who was probably only twice his age.
" Kaping, what are you looking at?"
The young people born and raised in Midstream Village naturally had no sense of etiquette, but Kaping was not angry about it at all:
"Looking at... our new house."
Kaping, hunched over, looked at Fasi, his voice hoarse, like a murmur or a chant:
"Sometimes I wonder how great the Tree God truly is. Although I never heard His teachings, I was able to spend the last few years of my life in His glory."
"I... I want to join you."
Fasi suddenly said:
" Midstream Village is so lifeless every day, I don't want to stay here any longer."
A smile suddenly appeared on Kaping's aged face:
"Great! As long as His Holiness the Bishop agrees, we'd be more than happy to oblige. After all, isn't it common sense in this wilderness that the more people there are, the safer it is?"
After receiving an affirmative answer, Fasi then began visiting other villagers he knew in the Upperstream Village and obtained similar answers from them.
He mustered his courage and interrupted Captain Duolin, who was instructing several Elite Warrior on Directed Alienation, asking the same question.
Duolin's answer was the most unique; he neither agreed with nor opposed Fasi's idea, but simply stated that no matter where one is, one should always remember the great Tree God.
As for the impetuous and boisterous Elite Warrior, they agreed with Fasi's idea while saying things like, "A new NPC is coming?" and "Do we still need to repair the roof?" which left people with only a vague understanding.
With almost everyone's approval, Fasi, without even bothering to eat, jogged towards the direction of Midstream Village.
Behind the window of the guest room above the castle, Ed looked down at the players enjoying themselves, as well as all his subjects, subordinates, and allies, and felt a similar sense of exhilaration.
Looking down at the tiny figures bustling about reminded Ed of a game he played in his past life called "The Age of Zero," and he wished a cursor would appear in front of him so he could micromanage each worker or engineer.
Farming games are indeed addictive.
Ed muttered to himself, while simultaneously looking towards the direction of Midstream Village through Fasi's eyes—
Will they come? Will they choose to abandon their existing homes and join this ever-expanding new settlement?
I hope so.
Ed knew that to ensure the next step of his plan went smoothly, it was imperative to integrate all the population within the baronial territory.
His next plan is actually quite simple: to make the blasphemers and perpetrators pay the price and to let the White Wax Town Parish be bathed in the glory of the Tree God once again.
Whether he is a real Son of God or not, he is still far better than those guys who capture people for human experimentation.