Chapter Ten – The Plan
[ Ding... Ding... Ding ]
{ Message from an Unknown Source }
{ Oh, new Lord.. I am glad you repelled the minor attack from my reckless follower.. what do you think... let us forget the grudges.. and trade. }
Well, this is somewhat surprising.. after his follower's attack.. here he is, opening a path for trade.. I could believe what he says and open a door I desperately need for exchange with the outside world..
"My Lord."
Or I could simply not believe him.. and even so, I could ignore that and open the same door..
"My Lord."
Two hours have passed since his follower's return.. that must be enough time for him to have listened to every detail of my space.. my points of strength and my massive points of weakness.. they are all in his hands now.. and since his follower's attack was essentially for self-interest.. when the door of forgiveness closes, the door of consultation opens.. well.. that's what I would have thought if I were in his place..
"My Lord."
"Yeeeeees.... Suman.. what is the matter?"
"I apologize, My Lord, but is this window the Lords' Portal?"
Haaa.. can they see it??
"Can you see it?"
"Yes, of course, My Lord, but.. it is just a blue window in front of me."
"Why didn't any of you mention this before?"
Suman suddenly fell silent.. while
"My Lord," Monali spoke..
"This fool does not know the rules.. it is improper for someone to speak of the Lords' Portals.. they are portals for them alone, and those like us should not interfere or speak regarding them."
So that's how it is.. they view the system interface as something celestial that raises the status of the Transmigrators.. what a foolish thought.. well, not entirely foolish.. those who own an expensive car might be sanctified by some people on Earth.. so why not sanctify those who possess a system interface here?
But.. the fact that others can see that interface is truly bad.. however...
Quickly.. I directed my gaze toward Monali to ask her and gather my scattered thoughts..
"Monali.. can Lords recognize other Lords?"
"I didn't understand, My Lord?"
A look of slight confusion appeared on Monali's face.. to the point that I thought the system had returned to suppressing information from me.. but.. Monali soon gathered her thoughts again and continued..
"But My Lord, if you mean when the portal is visible as it is now? Yes, everyone can see it. us, the Lords, and the rest alike.. but no one other than the Lord himself can see what it contains."
"No, that's not what I mean.. if my window is closed.. can Lords recognize each other?"
"That... yes and no. I am sorry, My Lord, but I do not have detailed information."
"It's alright, tell me what you have.. I will take care of piecing those thoughts together."
"As you command." Her face showed signs of relief.. well, I can't say I haven't started to understand this girl's personality.. she is a proud warrior who puts forth her ideas with confidence.. her knowledge is vast.. and yet..
Anxiety and shyness.. invade her quickly when she faces an intellectual crisis or a lack of knowledge.. some might simply say "I don't know".. for others, it causes embarrassment.. such are the fluctuations of human nature.
"My Lord, Lords of the Fourth Rank and above.. can see the marks of 'Accumulation' on the body of another Lord.. but the other Lord must be of the Fourth Rank or above as well.. Lords of the Third Rank and below.. they..."
Hesitation invaded her features once again..
"What about them, Monali.. speak freely."
"It is said that their accumulation is similar to the rest, therefore they cannot be recognized."
"Alright.. I understand."
"Could you tell me.. My Lord."
"Yes, of course.. it's your first request, haha, of course, I will grant it.. listen."
I sighed with confidence.. and then released it.. the explanation I had always heard in web novels.. haha.
"The Fourth Rank means the Lord's ascent to a higher plane.. above the rest of humanity.."
Well.. I don't know if that's what it means here or not.. but.. I will tell them this for now.. and it seems my words succeeded in sparking their curiosity.. seeing their faces as they heard something so basic as if it were a monumental matter.. makes me want to laugh..
"Well.. would you like to know what is currently in your Lord's portal?"
"We wouldn't dare ask for that," Monali replied with reverence.. while Suman and Jo remained silent.. yet their shining eyes said everything.
"Haha.. alright, I'll tell you.. Monali's 'kind' brother whom you met, haha.. told his master everything about what exists here in our humble space.. and it seems his master, after two hours of thinking.. decided to send us a message."
"A message?" Everyone's eyes were glowing with surprise.
"Yes.. a message.. that Lord.. wants to trade with us."
"How dare he!" Jo had been silent for a while.. and now he finally decided to speak with gravity.. while Suman's words were closer to an outburst:
"That... ...! He attacks our Lord and now he wants us to trade.. what arrogance!"
"What do you think, Monali?.."
"I have no opinion, My Lord.. Lords' thoughts are different from ours.. one cannot read what they are thinking."
She is right.. it's not that we are of higher status or anything.. but our worlds are different.. and when the world that molded you is different, your thoughts are different as well.
"Well, let's see together.. what that Lord wants."
The Lord's message was different in part from the mysterious message I had received previously.. that message only had an Accept or Reject button.. but this message contained a window to send a reply.
{ System - Messages }
{ What kind of trade are you talking about? }
{ Redirect }
"Alright, everyone, now we wait.. and let's see what he desires."
[ Ding... Ding... Ding ]
{ Message from an Unknown Source }
{ It has become clear.. that you have not yet unlocked your Rank.. perhaps you do not know.. so let me tell you this as an apology for my follower's attack.. Rank is only unlocked through a high Accumulation from the Lord.. or a blessing from a Lord of another Rank.. as for you.. you are far from obtaining the required Accumulation.. you have a lumberjack, a warrior, and a servant.. a house but no livestock pen.. and your space.. is still at the first level.. you must have been there for more than a year.. to achieve what you have achieved..
I regret to say.. that you need five more years of building to move to your next space.. only then will you be able to unlock your Rank.. what I offer you.. is.. granting you the required blessing to unlock your Rank.. in exchange.. I want 10% of your Accumulation for a period of five years... }
{ Accept } { Reject }
Well.. well.. he is a clever Lord.. only two hours.. were enough for him to analyze and understand what I need.. as if he were inside my head..
All I'm thinking about.. is unlocking the Rank and seeing where it will lead me.. he is applying.. the carrot and the stick.. he gives me the carrot as a blessing and a direct solution to the Rank problem..
And at the same time.. he strikes me with the stick of reality which says that relying on myself will consume all that time to move to another space.. well.. he is clever.. but
Intelligence.. can be foolishness when you do not know the most important things about your opponent..
You just told me, without even realizing it.. the direct path to reaching the Rank.. all I have to do now is expand my space..
You bastard.. you think you're giving me the carrot and the stick... but you don't know that you've already given me two carrots, haha!
You think I need five years to move to the new space.. what a fool.. with the Exponential Wallet, I won't need more than weeks.. off with you!
{ Reject }
So.. should I tell them what happened.. I want to tell them.. but.. some matters must remain private..
[ Ding.. Ding.. Ding ]
{ Message from an Unknown Source }
{ Rank blessing in exchange for 200,000 Dinars.. in case the amount is not available, 10% of your daily income will be taken for repayment.. until all installments reach the specified amount. }
Well.. here it is.. the talk I will tell my companions, haha.
"Listen.. the Lord wants to grant me the blessing that allows me to unlock my Rank.. in exchange for 200,000 Dinars.. what do you think?"
"You don't have a Rank yet, My Lord? I thought you already had it," Suman asked quickly.. while Jo affirmed the question.
Monali spoke differently, emphasizing something important:
"It is an excellent trade.. in case we want to build our strength quickly to repel any unexpected attack as happened.. this time we survived thanks to the space's unique power.. it reduced my brother's strength and eventually expelled him.. no one knows what will happen in the next attack."
She is right.. so.. it's a successful deal.. but... that scoundrel.. he is truly clever.. by my rejection of the first trade only.. a doubt crossed his mind that I already have a fast way to obtain the Rank.. and to confirm that, he decided to lure me with this option.. well.. I am clever too.
"What will you do, My Lord?" Jo asked.
"Wait and see.. I will get the best deal from that bastard."
{ Reject }
"I rejected it, haha!"
"But My Lord.. where is the deal?"
[ Ding.. Ding.. Ding ]
{ Message from an Unknown Source }
{ What deal do you desire? }
Haha.. alright.. now it's a trade between equals.. I am not your follower for you to toss offers at me to either accept or reject.. you will treat me as an equal whether you like it or not...
Alright, what shall I ask for...
{ I want 5 Level 5 Farmers.. while I give you 200,000 Dinars upfront.. and 10% of my daily income for a period of 30 days. }
{ Redirect }
Alright.. now we wait..
I have the title 'The Man Known by the Shadows'.. it allows me summons from the Forgotten Moon people.. but.. what about summons of this type that come as a trade?..
Will the same condition apply to them?.. I need different kinds of people in my space.. even a fool would know that's good for any country.. diversity brings prosperity.
[ Ding.. Ding.. Ding ]
Alright.. you took a little while, let's see what you have..
{ Message from an Unknown Source }
{ I will give you one Level 5 Farmer.. in exchange for 200,000 Dinars.. and 10% of your daily income for 30 days. }
{ Accept } { Reject }
{ Note: In case of rejection, your communication with the person concerned will be cut off. }
So.. it's my final decision.. either accept, or reject and all communication is cut.. I was truly thinking of stalling more.. and even a rejection that doesn't cut communication.. until the time comes when I am a true equal to that Lord for a fair exchange..
So.. acceptance means I get a high-rank farmer.. with the consumption of an amount that can be compensated in a few days..
I can already buy several workers.. but workers of the Fifth Level.. is a different matter entirely.. up until this moment, I have no knowledge of how to develop them.
So there's no other choice but to accept...
{ Accept } { Reject }
"What do you think then?.."
"I think acceptance is a good thing," Monali replied.
"I think so too.. we need someone who possesses high evolution," Jo's voice was also for acceptance.. and Suman followed with the same opinion.
So.. all of you think the best choice is to accept..
Alright.. I will choose { Reject }.
"It seems you are taking the path opposite to our opinion," Monali spoke without hiding her displeasure.
"Haha.. not exactly.. you said before that the Lords' thinking is different.. well, let me explain my decision.." I smiled lightly and continued.
"Why didn't you ask yourselves?.. Why would a Lord who possesses a Rank bother himself with trading with a beginner Lord like me? Well, I thought at first he was seeking to know what I hide and build a cooperation between us.. then he quickly discovered indeed that I have a way to increase my rank.. and the matter of building friendly relations? I don't think he is foolish enough to expect our agreement after his attack, so why is he still continuing?"
"Why?" Monali murmured.
"After that, I rejected the trade once and twice.. and he is still insistent on trading? Why? The most confusing matter was when I proposed an illogical trade.. five Level 5 farmers.. in exchange for an amount that is barely a respectable sum.. so.. "
I decided to remain silent for a while.. to enjoy the looks of admiration and anticipation more.. haha, alright, I must enjoy myself a little.. alright, alright.. I'll tell them.
"Yes, everyone.. his real goal is.. to have an agreement on any transaction between me and him.. "
"Why?" Monali asked strangely.. her eyes holding a lack of understanding.
"It's a simple matter, my dear... because the transaction remains in the system forever.. at any time he can return to it.. perhaps through other ways he can monitor me even through it.. in this vast world.. there are no limits to the sky and no limits to attributes.. who says there isn't a way to exploit that transaction and reach me at any time?.."
"So that's it.." she stated with admiration... "You are truly clever.. we were all looking in one corner.. and you were diving deep into the other corner from the beginning.. "
"I am.. happy that you are my Lord.. you are truly clever as the Princess said," Suman said quickly.
"Thank you, everyone.. I couldn't have discovered the matter without consulting you."
Well.. I can't tell them the truth.. hhhhhh.. in fact, I didn't discover the matter or anything.. it's just that my viewing of the last note about cutting communication felt like a good thing for me to prevent any future way for them to reach us..
I don't even know if such a way exists or not, haha.. as for stalling.. it was of course an attempt to obtain greater privileges.. and if not for that note, I would have been more than happy to obtain a Level 5 farmer..
But of course, I won't tell these poor admirers the truth.. let them see me as something high they sanctify, haha...
Alright.. now it's time to reach the Rank and build my strength.. it's time.. to conquer those rabble..
But first.. the farm.. and the livestock, it's their time..