Chapter 180: Village Stage 4

Upon hearing the question, William hesitated, his lips caught between a bite, his gaze lowered in contemplation. When his eyes met his son's, Thorian immediately inquired, curiosity lacing his tone. "Is something amiss?" 

"It's just that... we weren't certain you'd appreciate the compromise we've come to," Tristan chimed in hastily.

Taking a moment to regain his composure, William began to unravel the predicament. "The crux of the matter is Tristan's indispensable role in Locksley's development, particularly in shaping the military framework. His presence here is non-negotiable."

Thorian, understanding yet inquisitive, nodded. "I see. But my offer extended beyond Tristan. Robert, too, was considered for this mantle."

William exhaled a weary sigh. "That complicates matters further. Robert is entrusted with safeguarding my son, James. He believes his duty to James precludes accepting such a charge. Furthermore, his humble origins make him question his entitlement to the position."

Pensively stroking his chin, Thorian considered the situation. "So, Robert's involvement is contingent upon James's. Could they not undertake the role together?"

At Thorian's suggestion, relief washed over Tristan and William. "That was precisely our next proposal. James himself wishes to assume the vassal lordship. Although parting with him would be difficult for me, knowing Robert would remain his protector offers some comfort," William admitted.

Thorian's smile then dispelled any lingering tension. "It appears there is no issue after all. As for your concerns regarding your son, rest assured, visits can be frequent since he will be stationed nearby. He may even bring along his friend, Little Roo, to keep him company."

William's response was a nod of gratitude. "Thank you for your understanding and flexibility.”

"The matter is settled, then," Thorian said, his smile reflecting satisfaction. "However, let's shift our focus to today's significant event for Locksley. The election - have there been any complications?"

William's expression grew contemplative before he replied with a gravity that matched the seriousness of the situation. "Just as you anticipated, a noble attempted to tamper with the election. They are now detained, stripped of their privileges and rights."

Thorian's response was laden with a cautionary tone. "This issue isn't isolated to a handful or two of nobles. It appears a faction within your city would have preferred if Nalia had succeeded in her attempt on your life."

"We're fully cognizant of that threat," Tristan interjected, his voice tight with barely contained anger, his fist clenched in resolve. "And we intend to eradicate that corruption at its root."

There was a brief silence, punctuated only by the weight of their shared resolve, before William allowed a measured chuckle. "As my son has indicated, we're well aware of the problem. Now that I have reassumed control, their schemes will find no foothold. I plan to methodically dismantle their influence, eradicating them one by one."

"Excellent," Thorian approved with a nod. "You possess the necessary resources, including access to my dungeons. With these at your disposal, you'll amass strength more rapidly than any of them could anticipate. The key is to utilize this power effectively."

"We're grateful for the support," William acknowledged with a nod of his own.

With that, Thorian wrapped up their discussion. "It appears we've addressed everything on my agenda. Alacritas will introduce you to Ventus's group shortly."

Following the conclusion of the meeting, Thorian, Tristan, and William exited the room. Thorian delegated the task to Alacritas before joining Zogarth to deliberate over the integration of the new orc recruits.

"We've formed new squads to manage the influx. This has somewhat skewed our military composition, creating discrepancies in unit sizes, but I foresee no issues. Each unit remains capable of navigating both the Verdant Labyrinth and the Thunderous Citadel," Zogarth explained.

"Admirable efforts," Thorian commended. "While future adjustments may be necessary, we'll hold off on any major military restructuring until we've bolstered our ranks further. Continuously altering our formation with each new wave of recruits would be inefficient."

Thorian returned to the Village Hall, immersing himself in the practice of water manipulation. With the day's urgent matters addressed and nothing but time on his hands until William's return from the dungeons and Forlune's arrival with new inhabitants, he seized the opportunity to sharpen his abilities.

Two hours swiftly elapsed as Thorian advanced to the point of effortlessly orchestrating eight orbs of water to encircle him, a dance of fluid precision. This practice confirmed his theory: there was indeed a synergy between different forms of elemental manipulation.

As he ventured to command a ninth orb, Alacritas materialized beside him with news. "My lord, William has returned to Locksley after a successful excursion into the dungeons. Meanwhile, Forlune is en route to our village with a significant assembly of kobolds and kobloids."

A broad smile broke across Thorian's face upon hearing this update. Today marks a pivotal moment for Wolvendale's advancement, he thought, energized by the prospect.

Without delay, Thorian accompanied Alacritas to the outer wall, where Forlune awaited, flanked by an impressive gathering of more than two hundred kobolds and kobloids.

"You've surpassed expectations," Thorian praised as he approached Forlune, “I did not anticipate you to bring this many, considering how small some kobold communities are usually.”

"Luck was on our side," Forlune replied with a chuckle. "Most of these individuals came from a single large settlement. Their leader was exploiting them severely, expanding without respite. His downfall at my hands made them eager to join our cause."

"Well done," Thorian responded with a laugh, surveying the crowd.

After delivering his customary address to bolster morale and articulate the village's culture to the newcomers, he instructed Forlune to guide them into the Village Hall for official registration as citizens.

While the cohort was making its way to the Village Hall, Thorian quickly counted their numbers.

Around 250 strong, it seems. The moment they’re properly registered, I can upgrade the village.

Standing in front of the Village Hall, Thorian observed the lengthy procession of kobolds and kobloids making their way through the registration process. With some time to spare, he resumed his water manipulation practice, eager to maximize every moment.

An hour and a half later, mastery over the ninth water orb was his, and the attainment of control over a tenth orb soon followed, mirroring his experience with fire manipulation.

[Congratulations. Your skill "Water Manipulation I" has been upgraded to "Water Manipulation II"]

Water Manipulation II

Description: Advancing from the core competencies acquired in Water Manipulation I, this upgraded ability empowers users with heightened finesse and variety in manipulating water. With Water Manipulation II, practitioners unlock first-advancement level water skills, marking a considerable enhancement in both prowess and manipulation. This stage enables the creation of more complex and powerful water-based techniques, limited only by the practitioner's imagination, increased mana capacity, and enriched comprehension of water manipulation.

Proficiency: 0%

Thorian's lips curled into a smile, a reflection of the satisfaction brimming within him. The upgrade to his skill, though marginal, marked a significant leap forward. This newfound mastery over the water element didn't just add to his arsenal—it transformed him into a force of great versatility.

Casting these thoughts aside, Thorian's gaze drifted back towards the Village Hall. The scene before him had undergone a stark transformation. The once teeming line had dissipated, now replaced by the last few kobloids completing their registration process within the hall's walls. They trickled out one by one, eager to gain the new classes that they were promised.

As the final individual stepped out, Thorian decided to check his territory upgrade conditions.

Upgrade Territory.

Upgrade Conditions

1000 registered citizens.

50,000 gathered experience.

Upgrade all available buildings.

[Condition Fulfilled]

[Do you wish to upgrade the Wolvendale Village to stage 4?]

"Yes, I wish."

[Realm Advancement]

The same familiar sweep of blue light engulfed the village, making Thorian smile in anticipation.

Display Territory.

Wolvendale Village.

Realm: Village stage 4

Resources:

Gathered Experience: 141.7k

Wood: 65.2k

Available Upgrades:

Stone Village Hall (Stage 3)

The Stone Village Hall upgrades to stone construction, enhancing resilience and security. It introduces an Information Center for real-time village demographics (villagers' professions, classes, races, and levels) and a Secure Refuge Room for emergency protection. These enhancements solidify the hall as a central hub for administration, planning, and safety, marking a significant evolution in the village's infrastructure and commitment to its inhabitants' security and well-being.

Cost: 4000 Stone Units

Stone House (Stage 3)

The Stone House, advancing from the Upgraded Wooden House, provides a robust and secure living space with its high-quality stone construction. Offering enhanced protection against weather and threats, it features two bedrooms, a cozy living room, a kitchen, and a convenient toilet. This house caters to growing families or those desiring extra space for guests and culinary activities.

Cost: 500 Stone Units

Stone Wall (Stage 3)

The Stone Wall, evolving from the Reinforced Wooden Wall, offers superior protection and fortification for the village. This enhanced barrier is constructed from durable stone materials, significantly upgrading the village's defense capabilities beyond the wooden iterations. The Stone Wall includes additional architectural features such as thicker walls for improved resistance against siege tactics and natural disasters. Integrated watchtowers and reinforced gates remain pivotal for surveillance and controlled access, ensuring a formidable defense layer with strategic advantages over previous versions.

Cost: 5000 Stone Units

Outer Wooden Wall (Stage 2)

The Reinforced Outer Wooden Wall, building upon the foundation of the Outer Wooden Wall, delivers superior security enhancements to protect the village. This fortified barrier utilizes hardened timber and strategic reinforcements, significantly increasing its resilience and defensive capabilities. Extending the original circular perimeter with a radius of 400 meters from the Village Altar, this upgraded wall integrates advanced watchtowers and reinforced gates, ensuring robust surveillance and fortified access control. This enhanced structure serves as a formidable defense, safeguarding the village against external threats with greater efficiency.

Cost: 8000 Wood Units

Advanced Blacksmith's Forge (Stage 2)

Upgrading to the Advanced Blacksmith's Forge introduces high-quality tools and high-temperature furnaces for crafting superior weaponry and armor. This expansion accommodates more artisans and apprentices, increasing productivity. It features specialized sections for weapon forging, armor crafting, and tool making, alongside a secure storage for materials and products. This upgrade enhances both the village's production capabilities and its status as a hub of craftsmanship and learning in metalworking.

Cost:

4000 Wood Units

2000 Stone Units

Advanced Alchemist's Lab (Stage 2)

The Advanced Alchemist's Lab upgrades with superior equipment for distillation and extraction, enhancing concoction precision and potency. It expands workstations for increased productivity and introduces dedicated areas for researching new potions and herbal synergies. A climate-controlled storage system preserves sensitive ingredients and creations, reinforcing the lab as a hub of alchemical innovation and knowledge.

Cost:

4000 Wood Units

2000 Stone Units

Carpenter's Workshop (Stage 1)

The Carpenter's Workshop serves as the primary center for woodworking, crafting everything from essential household furniture to intricate architectural elements. Under the leadership of a Master Carpenter, this space not only facilitates the production of wooden goods but also offers apprenticeship programs for those interested in learning the craft. Equipped with a variety of hand tools and basic machinery, the workshop enables the creation of durable and aesthetically pleasing wooden items, catering to the village's needs while also supporting the development of carpentry skills among its inhabitants.

Cost: 4000 Wood Units

Tailor's Atelier (Stage 1)

The Tailor's Atelier, overseen by a Master Tailor, is equipped with tools essential for traditional tailoring and the crafting of light armor, such as sewing needles, looms, spinning wheels, and specialized leatherworking tools. This workshop serves as a learning hub for apprentices to master tailoring, from fabric weaving and garment sewing to the creation of durable light armor suited for protection and agility. It produces a wide range of products, including everyday clothing, custom fittings, and lightweight protective gear.

Cost: 4000 Wood Units

Attributes:

Ether Line Nexus: A powerful convergence of ether lines lies beneath Wolvendale Village, creating a nexus of magical energy. This nexus enhances the potency of magic used within the village and accelerates the recovery of mana for magi. It also promotes the growth of magical flora and fauna within the Shelderwood Forests, offering unique opportunities for research and discovery.

Soothing Rest: All existing and future houses within your territory, as well as those of your vassals, shall now grant a timed boost in experience gain. The duration of this boost correlates with the amount of time spent within the house, while the percentage increase in experience depends on the house's tier and quality.

Upgrade Conditions

2000 registered citizens.

200k gathered experience.

50k Wood Units

10k Stone Units

100k Arcane Coins

Upgrade all available buildings.