Lord of the Myriad Worlds

Chapter 324: Flooding the Board

"Damn it! That insufferable Li Wei — flooding the board every single day. Does he think this is funny? Does he?!"

Somewhere, in an unnamed Level 4 Scavenger Camp, a group had been in the middle of a meeting when the territory-wide announcement hit. Nearly everyone nearly lost their composure. The tense atmosphere they had carefully built up evaporated. The resolve they had finally gathered — gone.

What could they do? If they had been low-ranked pioneering branches from the start, just along for the ride, making it this far would already be a miracle.

But they were Seed Players. Number three.

In the center of the room, Hathaway pressed her fingers to her temples, beyond words.

To her left sat Lu Ziming, a Five-Star Cross-Border Player from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. His expression was equally resigned.

On the other side: the bald blacksmith Parya, Level 4 Armorsmith Creed, Level 4 Farmer Carson — all acquaintances of Li Wei, and among the Ministry of Internal Affairs' finest this cycle. Add in Little John, who had been eliminated last month, and this was essentially Hathaway's core team.

In terms of strength, they weren't lacking. Their development had been going smoothly across the board. And yet now there was a grey, hollow, cheaply-made ending playing out in front of them.

Nothing felt worth doing anymore.

Especially now that everyone knew Night Owl, the Ministry of Internal Affairs' chief internal officer, had been reassigned and promoted. The feeling was like children who had lost their mother — nothing but confusion and helplessness."Parya — watch your mouth."

Creed shot the bald blacksmith a look. If they weren't currently in a meeting with a Four-Star Conspiracy Card active, she'd already be in trouble.

The room fell silent for a full minute. Then Hathaway steadied herself. "Whatever the others are doing — that's their business. For the next battle, I'm asking everyone to give everything they have. We can still close the gap."

At those words, the bald blacksmith glanced at Hathaway again, as if she wanted to say something — but Hathaway's firm gaze shut it down immediately. She knew what Parya was thinking. That was absolutely not happening.

She wasn't even trying to fight for the top three and the hidden rewards anymore. Just complete the pioneering mission as best she could. Kill the second year's hidden boss. Get the rare title. Then find some obscure small camp, wipe it out, merge the Pioneering Cards, lock the territory area at ten square kilometers. That would be enough.

As for Li Wei — whatever they'd had was over.

Maybe friends someday. But never what it was before.

It was a little despairing. A little painful.

So she had to rely on herself.

The next two years were her only window. If she returned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs after the mission ended without results, she'd either have to go to Thorns Pass and throw herself under Night Owl's wing, or face being sidelined and suppressed.

But Hathaway didn't know that in this moment, she wasn't the only one feeling grey.

Zhao Kewu was sitting in an electric truck, staring at the heavy clouds on the horizon. More snow coming. Probably the last snowfall of winter.

Spring was almost here. But his heart was full of wounds.

He was in agony.

Alice's death had nearly broken his footing. His grand strategic vision had to be abandoned in a rush. He gave up Little John's camp — he had genuinely intended to build a fortress there and establish a knightly order.

Yes, he had intelligence that no one else knew about.

But with Alice gone, he couldn't manage two territories simultaneously. So ten days ago, when the temperature began to rise and the ice blocking the roads started to melt, he had begun relocating — stripping Little John's camp of everything, every supply, every person, pulling everything back, consolidating his forces, reducing his exposure.

Holding second place should be manageable. He was capable of fighting a Five-Star Cross-Border expert.

And his teammates were all with him now. The Magic Ore Vein, the Three-Star Tavern, and the Enchanting Blacksmith Workshop — all three special buildings completed. That kind of foundation wasn't something anyone could dismiss.

If offense wasn't viable, then defense.

This year's goal: build another fortress within 50 kilometers of his territory. A proper fortress. Then establish a knightly order. The best way to develop Freemen.

As he thought it through, the weight in Zhao Kewu's chest began to ease. It wasn't the end of the world. This was only the first year. He still knew about a hidden storyline. He was even prepared to push mission difficulty to 180% in the second year. Could Li Wei say the same?

In the first year, Li Wei had the Widow and the Scorpion backing him. What about the second year? But Zhao Kewu could do it — when it mattered, strength was everything.

For a moment, he felt his fighting spirit returning. And then several lines of text slammed into his vision.

A territory-wide announcement?

Li Wei again?!

Zhao Kewu's vision went dark. He nearly collapsed.

It took a long time before he recovered, expression stricken.

"Maybe this is just fate. Why were we both born into the same world?"

But then — you think you're the only one who can flood the board?

Before, he had chosen to keep a low profile. Now he'd show everyone what flooding the board really looked like.

He had barely finished the thought when more lines of text appeared. A territory-wide announcement — but this time it wasn't Li Wei. It was Socrates.

Are you serious.

[Territory-Wide Announcement!]

[Valley Baron Socrates has established the Gale Knights.]

[...]

[Valley Baron Socrates has completed the binding of his territory. He has received the Light of Divine Favor. He may now construct a Level 2 Temple within his territory. Once a Temple Priest is appointed, his Barony's legitimacy will receive the blessing of the gods!]

[Valley Baron Socrates has triggered a hidden storyline. His territory's range has expanded. Current maximum: twenty square kilometers. He may now construct a city.]

—

Unbelievable.

This was deliberate.

Zhao Kewu's face darkened. Establishing a knightly order was a secret — with many prerequisite conditions. But once a knightly order was established, binding the territory with a rare title would trigger the Light of Divine Favor, allowing the introduction of divine faith and unlocking the hidden mission: city construction.

Only by reaching that step could the hidden final boss — the Frost Duke — be triggered.

Of course, the intelligence they had received wasn't this detailed, and there would be many variables. But this was roughly the sequence for triggering the hidden city-building mission.

And now Li Wei had broken through the ceiling. Socrates, that opportunist, had gone all in — which was essentially pointing the way for Hathaway and Ron.

Fine. Let everything go chaotic. He was pulling back, regrouping.

Zhao Kewu gritted his teeth and steadied himself. And then — more territory-wide announcements.

Seriously.

[Territory-Wide Announcement]

[Pioneer #4, Ron, successfully killed the Desert Duke three days ago. He has obtained the rare title of Desert Baron.]

[Today, he successfully killed Pioneer #13, Judy.]

[Pioneer Ron has established the Golden Sand Knights at Tark Fortress.]

[Pioneer Ron has bound his rare title. He has received the Light of Divine Favor. The hidden city-building mission has been unlocked!]

—

Zhao Kewu stared at the announcements. And then, strangely, he felt calm. Detached. Indifferent.

Whatever. He didn't care anymore.

Even if Li Wei and Hathaway also received the Light of Divine Favor and unlocked the hidden city-building mission — fine.

New starting line. Everyone competes from here.

Two years left.

—

It had been a genuinely turbulent day. Even Li Wei was stunned. All he could say was that everyone had accelerated at once. Now only he, Hathaway, and Zhao Kewu had yet to receive the Light of Divine Favor and unlock the hidden city-building mission.

The next day — the last day of the month — Li Wei made his arrangements, then drove the Enchanted Chariot back to the territory with Leon.

He felt reasonably confident leaving the bastion in Javier and Seth's hands. Offense might be limited, but defense was solid.

As soon as he arrived at the territory, Liang Yuzhi came out ten kilometers to meet him. She had the look of someone who had escaped purgatory.

"Really, Second Aunt — I think you've actually lost weight."

"Have I? Do I look younger too?"

Liang Yuzhi laughed, genuinely pleased.

"Wei, you're really something. I didn't even know you could establish a knightly order. These Freemen have so much untapped potential. Could you set up a caster organization next? Or an adventurer's guild?"

"Second Aunt, it's not that simple. How's the Three-Star Tavern coming along?" Li Wei asked. He needed to leave Thomas stationed here.

"No problems at all. Every condition is met."

"You've worked hard, Second Aunt."

"Ha — you always know the right thing to say." Liang Yuzhi's smile spread wide. The oppressive air that had been clinging to her seemed to lift considerably. Clearly, putting her in charge of internal affairs for too long was a bad idea.

Fortunately, that problem was about to be solved.

Li Wei immediately applied to construct the Three-Star Tavern.

Lines of text appeared.

[Weir City Ducal Decree]

[Pioneer Mission Player #11, Li Wei, has applied to construct a Three-Star Tavern. The following conditions must be met:]

[1. Possess a Level 1 Territory with a Magic Ore Vein.]

[2. Possess a Three-Star building to serve as the Tavern's main structure.]

[3. Possess no fewer than 500 civilians, sufficient food to feed 500 people for one year, at least three different types of alcohol with a total stock of no less than 100 units.]

[4. 5,000 standard gold coins.]

[Verification complete. All conditions are met. You are hereby granted the right to construct a Three-Star Tavern, along with all associated rights.]

[Friendly reminder: You may invite a Lord-type player to serve as the Tavern's manager. They will become a member of your territory and share your difficulty level in Conquest and Cross-Border missions.]

[Friendly reminder: You now possess three special buildings. Tax payment is now required. However, you may choose an alternative: if you can guarantee delivery of 100 Universal Gold Cards within three years, tax payment may be deferred for three years.]

[Friendly reminder: Your rare title may now be bound to your territory. From this moment, you will be the Flame Baron. Your territory will become a Barony. Do you wish to complete the binding now?]

[Warning: Once completed, this process is irreversible. Your territory will undergo fundamental changes.]