Zen walked in to his sanctuary and saw Bena standing there smiling at him, and he was surprised that she didn’t already tease him about the three people he had just brought under him, or praise him for getting the 5 retainers needed. She just stood there and then suddenly an alert popped up.

You are now eligible for creating your first outpost, and expansions tab of your interface is now unlocked. Each outpost will need a commander or heir to oversee it, and their training and actions can directly affect your title. To place an outpost, you need to first by more than 25 leagues from your main village and have place an altar. You currently have 1 alter available.

“Great job on getting the necessary retainers, and but you are truly still far behind even those that are just becoming a lord.”

“What do you mean?”

“When a person starts as a lord they are typically given at least a small town to rule over, which includes the five retainers already under them. They typically have at least twenty already trained soldiers and functioning well protected town. You on the other hand stripped everything and started with a barely maintainable village deep off the beaten path. No retainers, no soldiers and not an orderly structure to a village. Since you’re a platinum VIP you probably would have got a small city at the very least, but you went ahead and changed the starting position in an extreme way. This is something the system isn’t used to, because it falls outside the standard. So, it has pushed you along trying to get you to the proper starting position. That is why the retainers found their way to you so quickly, and you will have an increase in random occurrences. It is the system’s way of pushing you forward.”

“Is this why you act so bizarre all the time?” Zen asked.

“No this is my personality, and typically people that are Platinum VIPs start out by ordering quashing our personality. We are duty bound to follow, but you didn’t give those orders and just let me be myself. You have the options to change my appearance, authorities and personality in the interface, but you didn’t even attempt to.” Bena explained. “I actually find the way you do things interesting, so I work in the background and let you find your own way. It has been proven to make the lord stronger in the long run unless you’re a total idiot.”

“Are AI’s supposed to have so much personality?”

“Your brain creates an algorithm and that guides your personality.” Bena laughed. “We have similar algorithms as well, but on a limited scale. I did tell you I was one of the highest tier AI’s.”

Zen thought about what she said, and it was true. He really didn’t investigate her functions all that much because he was worrying about creating his village. He just smiled and sat down at the table and realized he was acting like a chicken with his head cut off. He realized he made it difficult on himself for going so extreme at the start, but he was finally making some headway.

“Bena I want you to give me a list of what normal lord’s start out with, and we will work from there.” Zen finally said. “I understand more why others bring in groups of players to help them, because it just is so much work I can’t even work on my own skills.”

“You have a monstrous amount of coins and tokens to use, and I think building the necessary buildings for this to be an outpost is a good start.”

“Maybe we need to bring in some administrators or work leaders to help guide the slaves, and projects.” Zen mused. “That way I can focus more on the internal things and bettering myself.”

“That is a good idea.” Bena agreed. “Especially since you took on those three new retainers and you have to build you strength slower than others. Do you want to make the order to the Heaven’s Step or should I?”

“You take care of that, and also have the blueprints of the outpost and the new settlement village drawn up so we can show them clearly on what we want them to do.”

“Alright.” Bena said as she went over to her spot on the terminal and relayed the orders to the Capital.

Zen also went over to his seat but of instead of just hap hazard planning he tried to focus on what he wanted to do first. He has the work force now so how should he use it, and to what extent. There were no others that were worth making retainers, but did that mean he couldn’t use them in other ways like he did the three he just released from bonded slavery, and if so how does he control them.

“Bena is there a way to turn a bonded slave into a loyal servant?” He asked.

“Not if they don’t make the choice too.” Bena stated. “You can take of there bonded mark, but it doesn’t guarantee loyalty, because the moment the mark leaves if their personality is bad. They can find ways of making trouble, because they all can’t become retainers. No other person in the group has met the system requirements and since they are bonded there is no way they can reach it.”

“Is there something that they can reach that we can use as motivation to increase personal loyalty and respect?”

“Well you do have a mage now.” Bena mused. “She is also a Zealot, which makes her more loyal. She has the binding level at 8, and she could make temporary marks, but the marks would get weaker over time and would have to be refreshed. You could take the bonded mark off them and replace it with a binding magical mark and if the person regresses you can deal with them in other ways.”

Zen nodded and pulled of Delenda’s information, and a 3D image of her and her stats came up in front of him.

Information

Name: Delenda Abaradel

Sex: Female

Age: 27

Status: Retainer

Territory: Coral Heights

Race: Human

Special Status: Zealot

HP: 80

Mana: 600

Stamina: 75

Spirit: 75

Experience

Combat: 10

Trade Skill: 5

Diplomacy: 9

Attributes:

Physical:

Strength: 8

Endurance: 15

Dexterity: 10

Agility: 7

Mind:

Intellect: 31

Wisdom: 13

Comprehension: 19

Awareness: 17

Charisma:

Charm: 16

Intuition: 26

uck: 9

Aura: 13

Spirit:

Fighting: 6

Blood: 0

Willpower: 11

Elemental: 31

APA: 0

Skills:

Summoning: Level 14

Mana Manipulation: Level 16

Binding: Level 8

Fire Element: Level 25

Earth Element: Level 7

Staff: Level 18

Dagger: Level 7

Meditation: Level 16

Literacy: Level 23

Language: Level 18

Talismans: Level 7

Runes: Level 5

Etiquette: Level 9

Spells

Summon Lower Elemental

Summon Lower Beast

Flame Ring

Fire Arrow

Earth Wall

Earth Darts

The attributes and skills seemed to be a little unbalanced toward her magical class, but overall, she seemed to be focused in summoning, fire and earth magic. She had no blood magic, which meant she wasn’t of noble blood and was probably brought from the commoner ranks. She also had some knowledge in talismans and runes which could be very beneficial to him.

“She is only 27 years old?” Zen said surprised.

“Hard labor does a lot to your body.” Bena reminded him.

“So, for this to work we will have to first gain their trust and loyalty, and then reward them with a different type of servitude and temper it with magical bindings?” Zen summarized.

“Yes.”

“Well we can start there now.” Zen stated. “We can set the expectations by treating them better by giving them new clothes and a steady diet of food. That is something we should do anyway to keep their strength up.”

“That would be a good start.” Bana said. “It would also be good for Narata to see to there needs and share her faith with them. She is your concubine and they would relate that with you as well. Faith is a much stronger influence then just kindness alone.”

“I will have to discuss it with her.” Zen sighed. “Do you think it should be her that brings the clothes to them, and if she says it is from me. That would help ease any worry of it not being a part of something nefarious.”

“It will be more likely they believe her, and it will help her convert to her goddess. It is a good strategy to raise respect and loyalty towards you, because they will know that you had to agree to this.”

“Let’s give them a good night’s rest and food and then we will start with the housing projects.” Zen said to himself.

It had been a long time since he took the time to look at his own stats, and he pulled them up.

Information

Name: Rozen Martell

Sex: Male

Age: 18

Status: Lord

Territory: Coral Heights

Race: Human

HP: 33

Mana: 14

Stamina: 33

Spirit: 39

Experience

Combat: 11

Trade Skill: 7

Diplomacy: 10

Attributes:

Physical:

Strength: 7

Endurance: 8

Dexterity: 6

Agility: 5

Mind:

Intellect: 5

Wisdom: 10

Comprehension: 5

Awareness: 7

Charisma:

Charm: 9

Intuition: 5

Luck: 11

Aura: 5

Spirit:

Fighting: 2

Blood: 5

Willpower: 7

Elemental: 2

APA: 25

Skills:

Rally: Level 1

Swordplay: Level 4

Archery: Level 6

Intimidate: Level 1

Linguistics: Level 3

Literacy: Level 2

Lord’s Aura: Level 4

Spear: Level 3

Tracking: Level 1

Command: Level 2

Meditation: Level 0

Strategy: Level 1

ASA: 5

Spells

His stats had improved especially in charisma, where he picked up several attributes, but overall, he still looked like a wimp. That would change if he added his free attribute points, but he didn’t want to do that. It was much more efficient to do that later when the levels would be harder to obtain.

His skill levels progressed a bit, and most of it had to do with his training and hunting in the very first part of his time here. He had Banick to support him, and help raise his levels. Most players didn’t have that advantage. He would have to take this much more seriously, and because of that he had to move some of his power off to others that he trusted. Narata and to some extent he trusted Delenda, but the semi mad alchemist Ashlam. He didn’t quite trust that gleam in his eye, and he still needed to watch him.

He had plans for Narata, because she would be a good representative of him to the villagers, and that meant Delenda’s responsibility would have to increase. She had the highest Intellect of the three, and she did teach students. He finally decided he would explain everything and bring her up to speed on what he wanted.

Bena I was thinking of letting Delenda take on some responsibilities in management till we bring in some real city officials. Then when they are settled there I can let her go to the new village site and help guard and put a group of soldiers under her care. What do you think?” Zen suggested.

“She’s a zealot.” Bena stated. “She will do what ever you ask so she will probably be a good choice.”

“What does a Zealot actually mean?”

“Zealots basically have lives to you.” Bena stated as she was still looking through something in front of her. “You ask her to kill herself and she would. If you ask her to bed you and she would. The second one would probably be more enjoyable for her though.”

“What made her turn in to a Zealot?” Zen asked.

“A little bit of madness and a burning desire to get revenge most likely.” Bena giggled. “Though most mages are a little mad anyway. So, I will guess it was the revenge you promised her to help with if it is possible.”

“It seems like Cora and Elina don’t match up well with these three.” Zen murmured.

“I wouldn’t be so sure though.” Bena said with a smile. “They are young, and you can guide their growth from the start.”

“Did you talk to our representatives at the Heaven’s Step?”

“Yes, I have both Paxton and Amelia searching for competent officials that have loyal personalities.” Bena smiled. “The one that provides the best one gets a little extra coin and recognition.”

“Good.”

With a thought, Zen brought up three five screens and saw the locations of his five retainers. Elina and Cora were going over a book and then taking time to write something down on a slate in front of them. They were doing what Zen has asked them to do, and he could only smile broadly at that. He then turned to Ashlam and he was cleaning himself half buried in a tub of water, but occasionally, he looked to his hand where a reddish yellow flame burst out and he could only smile.

“I swear he is a little creepy.” Zen said shaking his head a little.

He moved then to Delenda, which was currently cleaning her self up with the help of one of an elven female slaves. They were both naked as the female slave was rubbing down her bare back with a cloth. He could only let out a small breath before he turned to Narata, which was already clean and had put on a set of robes. She was in meditation and her skin was glowing slightly and Zen knew she was communicating with her goddess.

“It looks like all of them are all enamored in regaining their powers and skills.” Zen said as he turned to Bena and smiled.

“You know you’re going to have to deal with Narata, because she has made an oath and become your concubine. You can’t avoid it for long.”

“I won’t.” Zen said with a helpless breath. “I understand there is a difference between being a pervert and doing what I must.”

“I don’t know when you looked at Delenda and the made you looked sort of like a perv.” Bena laughed loudly as she turned back to her screen before asking. “You will want to have a meal with all five of them tonight correct?”

“I better.” Zen said as he got up and left his sanctuary.