A royal decree arrived at dawn.
It was sealed with the king's golden crest.
Two guards delivered it personally.
Arin received it in his room.
He broke the seal and read quietly.
"By order of His Majesty…
Prince Arin Eldoria is granted temporary governance of Blackridge Outpost and its surrounding lands…
Effective immediately."
His eyes narrowed.
"A territory…"
Rynor, Jaren, Lyra, and Kelsin stood beside him.
Kelsin adjusted his glasses.
"Blackridge is a border outpost."
"Poor land. Low population. Frequent raids."Jaren laughed.
"So… a mess."
Lyra looked worried.
"Isn't that dangerous?"
Arin folded the decree.
"They're testing me."
Or discarding him.
He knew the truth.
Blackridge was far.
Isolated.
Underfunded.
Easy to abandon.
Duke Ravenholt's influence was obvious.
The system activated.
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Territory Management Unlocked]
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Lord Authority Activated]
New information flooded Arin's mind.
Tax systems.
Supply chains.
Defense layouts.
[PLAYER PROFILE – ARIN ELDORIA
STR: 6
MAG: 5
SPD: 6
END: 6
INT: 9
CHA: 8
Growth Potential: SSS
System Authority: Level 2
Territory Authority: Level 1
]
Arin smiled faintly.
"They gave me land."
"Good."
"I'll turn it into a fortress."
Three days later, they departed.
Two wagons.
Thirty recruits.
Basic supplies.
Minimal guards.
The road was long.
Dusty.
Dangerous.
Bandit remains were seen along the way.
Burned carts.
Broken weapons.
"This place is lawless," Rynor muttered.
After a week, Blackridge appeared.
Stone walls.
Cracked towers.
Wooden gates barely standing.
Inside—
Broken houses.
Empty shops.
Thin villagers.
A tired captain greeted them.
"Welcome, Your Highness."
"I'm Captain Bren."
Arin observed him.
[ STR: 42 | MAG: 6 | SPD: 30 | END: 45 | INT: 22 | CHA: 18
Talent: Veteran Soldier ]
"Still loyal," Arin thought.
"Good."
"How many guards?" Arin asked.
"Forty-three," Bren replied.
"Most injured."
Arin closed his eyes briefly.
Worse than expected.
That evening, he called a meeting.
In the ruined command hall.
"We rebuild," Arin said.
"No excuses."
Kelsin spread maps.
"We need walls first."
Lyra added.
"I can strengthen structures with magic."
Rynor slammed his fist.
"We'll patrol day and night."
Jaren cracked his neck.
"I'll train the militia."
The system responded.
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Territory Development Initiated]
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Settlement Growth Rate +15%]
That night, Arin walked alone on the wall.
Cold wind cut his face.
Dark forest stretched endlessly.
"So this is my starting line," he whispered.
In the distance…
A pair of red eyes watched.
Monsters.
Bandits.
Or worse.
Blackridge was not empty.
It was waiting.