Awakening the Lord’s Talent

"Perfect timing. I can bring some wine to sell. I'll label them as rare treasures—which they genuinely are—and weave in some outlandish tales. They'll sell like hotcakes."

"Like a dragon's hoard?" Ashina asked, only half-understanding.

Field snapped his fingers. "Exactly, Ashina! Even if it's just a boot, if it's found in a dragon's lair, it becomes a dragon-guarded boot."

"And we wouldn't be lying. Those fine wines *were* indeed guarded by powerful corrupted creatures—even if the creatures had zero interest in wine." Ashina covered her mouth, stifling her laughter.

"The carpentry isn't urgent. First, clear all the junk out of the Great Vineyard. Haul out the rotten equipment and the stones from the collapses. Then give it a thorough cleaning. I expect this will take three days. Once it's done, I'll reward each of you with 20 copper coins."

"My Lord, your generosity is unmatched!"

Field's generosity was already legendary within the territory. Outside Nightfall Territory, even a freeman working for a month might not earn 20 copper coins.

For Field, the coins he scattered would quickly find their way back into his coffers. It was nothing.

He even hoped the slaves would swiftly become freemen, as only freemen had the right to marry and raise families. Of course, freemen also bore significant responsibilities, like paying taxes.

As he pondered this, Field felt an intangible force surge within him.

No increase in strength, but he instantly sensed the difference. He had advanced to become a Rank One Lord!

In truth, signing a contract with a Chosen One held the potential to become a Lord. Field had always possessed the innate talent for lordship; this ascension felt like a natural progression.

In this world, it wasn't just transcendent knights, mages, or Chosen Ones who possessed ranks. Lords could have levels too—though theirs held little direct combat prowess.

A Lord could perceive the general state of their territory.

**Name:** Field

**Class:** Lord

**Territory:** Starlight Vineyard & Surrounding Farmland

**Contracted Chosen:** Ashina

**Population:** 217

**Development Level:** 1 (Bare Bones)

**Happiness:** -32 (Despondent & Oppressed)

**Environment:** -89 (Heavily Corrupted, Uninhabitable)

**Chosen One Probability:** One in a Hundred Billion

**Lord Talents:**

- **Mini-Map** (Detects nearby lifeforms; Unique Talent)

- **Status Panel** (Visualizes biological attributes; Unique Talent)

- **Prosperity Domain** (Disperses Death Mist within territory; Accelerates mitigation of corruption effects)

**Chosen One Granted Talents:**

- **Beast Tamer** (Easier to breed war beasts within territory; granted by Ashina)

- **Knighting** (Advance 50 Wolf Cavalry to Rank One; granted by Ashina)

Field's eyes lit up. He couldn't suppress a wide grin, bursting into delighted laughter.

"My Lord, what's so funny?" Ashina scratched her head, curious.

"Nothing. I just thought of something amusing."

Field ordered the territory's mist-repelling lanterns extinguished. The command shocked everyone, making them fear he'd lost his mind.

"Alright, I won't scare you," Field said, spreading his hands with a smile. "I've awakened my Lord's Talent. I no longer need the lanterns to protect the territory from corruption."

Skeptical but not daring to argue, the people watched nervously as Field extinguished the lanterns. When the mist failed to encroach even slightly, collective relief washed over them, followed by ecstatic celebration. After all, the lanterns only lasted about a month. Without the coin to buy more from the Church, death was inevitable. But with the Lord's mist-repelling power, they had truly driven a stake into Nightfall Territory.

"Double rations tonight! Everyone gets meat stew and two loaves of bread!" Field announced in a booming voice.

Saving one lantern meant saving 25 gold coins—equivalent to a staggering 250,000 black bread loaves. This was a massive win.

"Hooray!"

Cheers erupted.

Scissors, the maid with the booming voice, shouted, "This is wondrous news! No wonder I dreamed of my grandmother smiling at me last night! Lord Field, you're nobility born and bred! The blood of lords flows in your veins!"

Flattered, Field turned to Kao. "Give my maids, manservant, and cook an extra honeyed cake each."

"Heavens, My Lord! Our honeyed cakes are scarce!" Kao protested, true to his habit of offending everyone. "The maids can eat the scraps from your and Lady Ashina's plates! That's already the best food in the territory! No need for extras!"

*Gnash!* Scissors ground her teeth, looking ready to leap and claw Kao's face off. Even Sparrow, the quiet maid, looked furious.

"Enough. It's a rare occasion for joy. Scissors, why are you standing there? Go to the pantry and distribute the cakes." Field never skimped on small rewards.

"Long live the Lord!" The two sweet-toothed maids cheered, hopping with joy like sparrows as they dashed toward the storeroom.

Kao sighed, mentally tallying the territory's dwindling supplies.

To the southeast of the Northern Province lay Dawnwind Province, home to Field's estranged father. To the southwest lay Highcastle Province, a mountainous region governed by five earls. North of the Northern Province lay the Orc homelands. Field decided to head for Highcastle Province.

Sitting at a rickety wooden table, the incessant *creak* of the broken window grating on his nerves, Field tried to maintain inner calm. He carefully opened a book titled *Grey Mist and Death*, worth a hefty 10 silver coins, written by Lucas, a renowned Imperial scholar and explorer.

*"Twin Calendars, Year 147, September 1st. Today should be the Empire-wide celebration of the Day of Awakening. Yet, for the Empire's future, I, Lucas! Resolutely entered the forsaken, cursed lands of the Northern Province. Thankfully, I am not alone. Two Royal Chosen accompany me, as does the fallen noble Daren and his Chosen daughter."*

Field leisurely picked up a slice of apple from the plate before him, popped it into his mouth, and chewed.

The sweet juice invigorated his taste buds, sharpening his focus as he continued reading.

*"With three peerless beauties for company, this journey promises much amusement. Though the Royal Chosen are terrifying Fifth Rank, that won't stop me from enjoying the eye candy. The three outer baronies of the North—Cloudveil, Nightfall, and Dawnveil—I visited in my youth. They were lands of fine wine and fair maidens. Now, they are overrun with corruption. One frequent attacker is an ugly bat-woman. I suspect they were courtesans corrupted, for their limbs still bear distinctive tattoos and jewelry. My guard, Trident, tested the depth of one such bat-woman—truly a brave and explorative fellow! May the Goddess bless him."*

"Pfft—"