Chapter 24: King

The coded message burned softly in Lee-oh's hand, its paper laced with a trace-detection spell he quickly nullified. His expression remained calm, but inside, wheels spun faster than ever. He glanced out the window of the Sect Hall, where the once-quiet village now pulsed with life—workers hauling crates of refined potions, wagons loaded with enchanted tools, merchants bargaining in spirited tones, and banners of his sect fluttering across newly built watchtowers.

From a once-forgotten village, Lee-oh had built a thriving trade hub. And at its heart stood the man no one could ignore anymore.

Lee-oh stepped outside, his robes a mix of practicality and subtle prestige. He passed by an open plaza, where sect members oversaw stalls filled with brightly colored vials—strength elixirs, defense boosters, speed enhancers—all stamped with the glowing sigil of the sect. Beyond them, blacksmiths struck steel enhanced with mana-infused minerals. The air smelled of inked contracts and heated metal, of coin and ambition.

He passed by Jinyoung, who was tallying crates bound for the eastern border.

"Sales up again?" Lee-oh asked casually.

"By 28%, Sect Master," Jinyoung replied, grinning. "The stealth cloaks alone sold out before they hit the stalls."

Lee-oh gave a short nod. "Triple production. And assign two runners to follow the caravan routes. I want eyes everywhere."

The alliance had opened doors, yes—but Lee-oh never forgot that not all doors were meant to be walked through. Some were meant to be guarded. Others? To be watched until they became threats.

Inside the main chamber, a glowing interface hovered before him. His system's shop tab blinked with activity—new blueprints, facility upgrades, regional influence metrics. He had accumulated more points in two weeks than the first two months combined.

[Current Points: 1,024,500][Upgrade Available: Sect-wide Crafting Facility (Tier III)][Upgrade Available: Advanced Defense Array – Jungle Perimeter]

He didn't hesitate. One tap and the sect shuddered slightly under the weight of new construction commands. Near the mountains, enchanted forges began assembling themselves under the control of automatons born from system tokens. Across the eastern forest, a wave of energy spread—an invisible detection net now surrounded their outer defense line.

It wasn't just a sect anymore. It was an empire in disguise.

Lee-oh turned to his personal vault. Inside, gold coins gleamed in the candlelight. But more valuable were the chests filled with rare herbs, enchanted beast cores, and forbidden blueprints acquired through obscure trades.

He had become a merchant king—his wealth rivaling that of regional governors. His influence stretched across cities, clans, and even black markets. Yet none of it had changed his ultimate goal.

"Begin production of the Tier II war potions," he said to his assistant, who bowed. "Mark the shipment under moonleaf trade. If the scouts are watching, let them see what we want them to see."

Just then, a new notification appeared.

[New Trade Offer: Eastern Marsh Sect requests permanent supply chain. In exchange: Exclusive Rights to Wind Crystal Mines]

He narrowed his eyes. "Interesting."

The riches were flooding in—but so were the eyes.

Lee-oh walked out to the elevated cliff near the watchtower. Below him, the village now looked like a bustling miniature city. Lights burned well past nightfall. Traders came and went. Young cultivators trained under lanterns, shouting battle cries. The sect's banner glowed faintly under the moon, now lined with gold embroidery.

But not far from that sight, a faint pulse of mana flickered in the trees.

He turned slowly, gaze sharpening.

Scouts. They had gotten bolder.

He returned inside, sealing the chamber behind him. From a hidden drawer, he pulled out a map marked with tiny, blinking dots—every scout location, every delayed caravan, every strange silence from allied posts.

Then he tapped a small rune on the table.

A soft voice responded, projected from a hidden formation.

"Yes, Sect Master?"

"Activate contingency plan 'Crescent Fang.' Quietly. Begin relocating outer residents and secure the vaults. No alarms. No fear."

"Understood."

Lee-oh looked at the map once more.

They saw him as a rich fool. A supplier. A pawn.

But what they didn't realize was that every potion sold, every coin gained, every alliance formed—was a part of his design.

Let them come.

When they marched on his gates… he'd be ready to sell them their own defeat.

And at that moment, a final notification appeared.

[Warning: Southern Alliance—Movement Detected | Estimated Forces: 3,000+]

Lee-oh smiled.

"Let the storm come. I've already sold the rain."