The First House & The Cost of Land

The forest trembled under the weight of axes and sweat. The sharp crack of splitting wood echoed through the clearing as players—real people, hired with real money—hauled logs, sawed beams, and hammered together the foundation of Solva's first player-built home.

Serana stood at the edge of the site, arms crossed, watching the labor unfold. This was her investment. Not just a shelter but a foothold, the first piece of real estate in a world where nothing was free—at least, not anymore.

She had paid well. Not in the usual way—not with in-game currency, because that economy didn't exist yet. Instead, she'd used real money, hiring players 

"Oi, lift that beam higher!" a burly man barked. His name was Grayson, a former construction worker from Earth, now a full-time "gamer."

"Shit's heavy, man!" another groaned. "What the hell is this made of, iron?"

Serana smirked. No system-assist here. No auto-building. No magic. Just manual labor.

The logs they had cut were thick, Solva wood—denser, heavier than anything from Earth. It took six men to lift a single beam, another four to position it. The house took shape in sweat and curses.

First, the walls.

Then the beams.

Then the roof.

Every step burned through their stamina, their patience. But the pay kept them going. Serana knew exactly how to keep them on the hook—just enough reward to keep them from quitting, just enough exhaustion to keep them from thinking too hard.

The house wasn't just a house.

The first floor would be a shop, a supply hub where Serana would control the flow of resources, tools, and essentials.

The second floor? That was her space. A private room, a place to retreat while the rest of the players still slept in crude huts and makeshift shelters.

A symbol of power.

And Serana wasn't stupid. This wasn't about comfort. It was about control.

A place to sell necessities at prices she set.

A place to rent out storage space when others realized they needed security.

A place to leverage debt, deals, and influence.

This wasn't just the first house.

This was the first step toward an empire.

As the last nails were hammered in, as the final piece of the roof was set in place, Uncle Bai arrived.

He walked slowly, his cane tapping against the ground, his face unreadable. His presence alone was enough to silence the workers.

Serana turned to him. She knew that look.

Something was coming.

"You did good work," Bai said, voice even. He looked at the house—really looked at it—taking in the structure, the materials, the craftsmanship.

Then he smirked.

"But you forgot one thing."

Silence.

Serana felt a cold weight settle in her chest. Here it comes.

"You're on my land." Bai's voice was calm, matter-of-fact. "And land ain't free."

The tension shifted. Some of the players—those who still thought this was a normal game—looked at each other, confused.

"Wait, there's rent?" one of them muttered.

Bai tapped his cane against the wood. "Of course there's rent. You think just because you built something, you own the ground beneath it?"

Serana exhaled slowly. She knew this was a test.

The price?

1,000 logs per week.

10 silver coins.

A brutal tax. Not impossible—but deliberately steep. Enough to hurt. Enough to make her prove she could sustain her claim.

She had two choices:

Accept the rent, adapt, and find a way to make it profitable.

Refuse—and lose everything.

Serana didn't hesitate.

"Fine," she said. "I'll pay."

A flicker of amusement crossed Bai's face. He was testing her, seeing if she'd crack. But she wouldn't.

Because Serana wasn't just going to pay rent.

She was going to make everyone else pay it for her.

Serana turned to the gathered workers, the squatters, the drifters, the players still living in tents and shacks.

"Well, someone has to cut those 1,000 logs."

The smarter ones realized what she was doing. She had just established the first economic system in Solva.

She owned the first house.

She controlled the first store.

Now, she controlled the price of survival.

If others wanted to own land, they'd have to pay the same rent.

If they wanted to avoid being taxed, they had to work for her.

The system had begun.

And she had just placed herself on top of it.

The moment rent was declared, everything changed.

Supply & Demand Shifted:

Players hoarded logs.

Logging groups formed—but without a clear way to earn silver, desperation crept in.

Land Became Power:

More players wanted houses.

But now they knew they had to pay for them.

Serana? She was already ahead.

She set up contracts:

"Cut logs for me, get paid in real life."

And she controlled it.

As players scrambled, argued, and fought to understand what had just happened, Bai simply watched.

He'd done what he came here to do. He had given her an obstacle.

And she turned it into leverage.

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Smart girl."

Then he walked away.

The players? They were still trying to figure out how they had just lost before the game even began.

Serana needs to make enough profit to sustain her rent.

Players must find ways to pay for their own land.

Conflict will arise as landowners emerge and try to set their own rules.

The first 'government' of Solva is forming—whether players realize it or not.

The game has changed.

And Serana is already playing it better than anyone else.

Final Thoughts: The Birth of an Empire

This wasn't about building houses.

This wasn't about survival.

This was about power.

Serana had taken the first step toward owning Solva's future.

And the best part?

Everyone else had already started working for her.