Chapter Eleven: It is Time to Move Forward
No matter how hard you try, words cannot express happiness as well as that comforting sense of achievement... when all your anxious thoughts settle, and you smile with a deep, inner calm.
My life on Earth was never easy. I might have felt a sense of accomplishment a few times, but they were nothing more than small flickers that ended almost as soon as they began.
But here... things are different. To be like a king, surrounded by people at your service, is truly wonderful. However... to have everything be the result of your own handiwork, your planning, and your perseverance—that is beyond description.
Since that day, everything has changed.
The attack that was planned to eliminate me and end the Space became the spark of unity that brought us all together. Jo and Suman's efforts doubled, and the Exponential Wallet hardly released an amount before it doubled again in the following ten days.
Monali became more interactive with everyone, and with me as well. For the first time, she decided to cook for us today, haha!
"Food is ready." Her words rang out like a beautiful temple bell, and everyone stopped working.
Everyone?
You might wonder; "everyone" is a big word for a group of fewer than four people. Yes, you are right.
It seems I forgot to tell you guys...
I have already bought a farm. No. three farms, to be precise. I'll tell you later why three and not one. But for now, let's
continue with the details of our latest updates.
I summoned a farmer to fulfill one of the conditions for evolving the Space and building a barn. The farmer was also from the People of the Forgotten Moon, but it wasn't a male; it was a beautiful, yet strange, female.
How so? Haha, you'll find out what I mean later.
That beautiful, strange female was named Lois. She insisted that she wouldn't work for me except on one condition...
She wanted to be the primary and sole person in charge of agriculture. To quote her:
"I will never work for a new master unless I am his Absolute Lady of Agriculture. I hold a higher rank than everyone else, so why shouldn't I hold a higher position?"
Yes, she said that literally. Even Monali, the princess, spoke to me with respect. Jo as well, and Suman from the very first moment. But Lois... yes, she was different, haha!
Well, perhaps it was because she was a Second-Rank Farmer, unlike the others. To be honest, I can't say I didn't sense a great energy of expertise from her. After all, she was the one who set the condition for the three farms.
Why did she do that? Well, let's go back a few days to my conversation with her...
"Lois."
-"Yes, Master. I am working; I hope it is something important."
"Is it a good thing to address your master in this manner?"
- "And why shouldn't I? Being my master doesn't mean you can drive me however you want. I work for you; I am not owned by you."
Haha... her tongue is quite sharp. But for some reason, I have no objection to her words. In truth, I don't think of the others as servants or slaves, but merely as assistants.
" It is important. Come, tell me why you wanted three farms at once."
- "Master, I am the one in charge, and any decision I make naturally has a reason."
"Lois... my sense of humor is starting to fade."
- "Fine, fine. You men are so impatient. Master, do you see my rank is Second? When I obtained it, my previous master held the title 'Giver of General Traits.' That title granted every person working for him an evolutionary random trait. Upon my evolution, I gained the title 'First Farm Manager.'"
"A master who owns the 'Giver of Traits' title... that is truly a great thing."
- "Master, we are talking about me. Why have your thoughts wandered to my previous master? You masters are truly obsessed with one another."
"I'm sorry, haha. Continue."
- "So, that trait granted to me only works under one condition: that the master grants me those powers. Unfortunately, the previous master had given that designation to someone else long ago. And now, since my master has passed away, I can have a new master. which is you."
Lois's expression flickered with a hint of sadness at the mention of her previous master. Should I ask her to speak more? Or should I let it pass?
"Alright, continue."
- "Master, the 'Lady of Agriculture' trait grants me privileges. The first is that the work of those under me increases by +10%. The other privilege is 'Appointment.'"
"Appointment?"
- "Yes. I have the right to request hiring workers for the farm. If I request one-time workers for the first time, I can immediately increase their rank by one degree to be direct supervisors of independent farms they manage without my oversight. For this, I first need three farms. Then, I need 60,000 to contract worthy workers."
"That... is excellent, Lois. You shall have it. But... didn't you say previously the amount was only 30,000?"
-"Yes, Master. But I decided to give the rest to them so they could summon their families as well. Another thing: you don't have a Recruitment Messaging Hub here? How am I supposed to do it?"
Hah...
{ Ding... Ding... Ding }
{ Your Head of Agriculture requests the following permissions for a limited time: }
{ Summon 3 Farmers + their families }
{ Accept - Reject }
So that's how it is... once again, the System returns to action. It was like a video game. I thought those restrictions had been broken during the attack, but here it is, functioning as it was. As soon as I finished talking to Lois, that option was activated directly.
I still hate this. It makes me feel like I'm in a game again. Damn it.
{ Accept }
- "Thank you, Master. I will begin work now."
So, five days have passed since that incident. Three new families have joined us. Eleven people suddenly joined the Space. Some were children, and some began helping their parents. The three farms were all for agriculture, of various types.
I already bought a cattle barn with three cows. Before I could summon a farmer to manage it, Lois decided to assign the work to the children of those farmers instead of them playing all the time.
Well, that's a good thing, haha.
The most important thing in all of this is that the three families were all acquaintances of Lois.
This makes me think... could the solution to the mystery of Jo's family quest be related to this?
Returning to the promised day:
today, we are ready for the upgrade. Since morning, the System has been glowing with my ability to obtain the additional Space. For this reason, Monali and I decided that today would be special—a party for everyone.
Everyone gathered. Several tables were scattered in the middle of the Space. The loud voices of children echoed in celebration. Meats and non-alcoholic drinks were spread in abundance across the tables. More than ten dishes of Monali's choosing were served, in addition to the main ceremonial dish:
A turkey the size of a cow! Haha... I don't know how Monali managed to roast it, but it smells truly amazing.
Now, it is time to stand and start the party.
Okay, nervousness is a good thing... a good thing. I braced my knees and stood with dignity.
Everyone suddenly fell silent. Their eyes turned toward me.
"Everyone... let me welcome you all to this party. I want to say a few words. We are here, together, to develop this small Space, so it may become a large home for us... a city... a country... an empire."
I smiled, and my voice rose:
"I am Ali. I may be a 'Master' to you, but you are not my slaves. If at any time my treatment of anyone is not good, they can tell me directly. And no, I will not tell them to leave. Instead, I will discuss it with them, understand their point of view, and I will adjust the behaviors that offended them."
"I am Ali. My dream is to be an Emperor of this land and beyond. But I will not be an emperor who ascends over the bodies of everyone.
Rather, I will be an emperor lifted up by your hands.
Today, we begin developing our Space for the first time, and later, we will achieve even greater things together.
I hope this is a good party for you and the children. Enjoy!"
A heavy silence fell over everyone. All that shone above their heads...
Was the Trust Meter, which had increased significantly for everyone. All of them, without exception. Their trust indicators toward me glowed with a rising green light.
Then, a moment later, Jo stood up with thunderous applause, followed by everyone else.
In truth, I am happy. Happy that those simple words reached their hearts. It might be easy to reach the heights alone by stepping on everyone.
But I will not make that mistake just to make things easier for myself. Instead, I will walk through the thorns, until I make my future bloom with roses.
It became midday. It was time.
{ System }
{ Request Expansion }
Well... what happened?
Everyone is looking at me. They are looking at the surroundings, looking at the forest. Nothing is happening. No sound, no sign. Total silence.
{ Ding... Ding... Ding }
{ Space Expanded Successfully }
Just like that? Without anything, just a message? What the—
{ Ding... Ding... Ding }
{ Special Trait Obtained: Prophesier }
{ Ding... Ding... Ding }
{ General Trait Obtained: Prophesier }
{ Ding... Ding... Ding }
{ Unique Trait Obtained: Prophesier }
What?!
What the hell is going on?
What are these identical traits? Has the System malfunctioned?