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With the new Civilization Trait that came out of nowhere, the plans for the future of Elderbridge may change. If people begin to really start making babies quicker, and those babies can grow very fast, then the entire population will skyrocket in a matter of months. To accommodate this incoming wave of citizens, Paul started to consider the expansion of the city, probably creating another district outside the walls and then building another set of walls around it.
He was thinking of simply creating walls that divided various districts as they expanded, as that would be safer than leaving people exposed to the dangerous wilderness… Although at some point there were farming villages outside, which were somehow managing to survive, that wasn't the case anymore with the circumstances of the present day.
It seemed that before he joined in the game, or rather, before the game started, the number of wild creatures was much less than right now, making it possible to live in the open wilderness without as many risks as now.
Paul then glanced back at the system notifications he had gotten just now, analyzing them.
Ding!
[Your Citizen: [Player: Alitheus Lilithie] has become your first Vassal!]
[As your first Vassal, they have received the Special Title: [First Vassal Of The Crimson Moon Empire's City: Elderbridge]!]
[All of your First Vassal's Stats have increased by +10.000 as a Bonus!]
[Your First Vassal Inner Potential has Awakened into a new Trait: [Mystical Beast Tamer (Epic Grade)]!]
[Your First Vassal Inner Potential has Awakened into a new Racial Skill: [Demonic Love Bond (A): Lv1]!]
[Additionally, as your first Vassal possesses unique powers, their very existence benefits your Civilization even further.]
[Your First Vassal has granted your Civilization with the Trait: [Devilish Love Nest: Lv1/10]!]
[You can now assign your First Vassal as a Combat Unit as they meet all requirements.]
[Your Civilization Power has increased by +200!]
[You gained +200 Governor EXP!]
[You gained +200 Civilization EXP!]
Apparently choosing someone as a vassal did a lot of things for them and the civilization. First of all, it granted them a special title, gave them bonus stats and new traits and skills, and based on the race of the vassal, their class, and history, the civilization gains a Trait.
Additionally, the civilization gains power and the two types of Experience Points, making it a worthwhile thing to do. Especially because it seemed to be absolutely free.
This was the power of being a ruler in this world, apparently… The Civilization System was simply out of the charts… However, it also required a lot of micromanagement and resources, not something many players even cared about or would ever like to engage in doing.
"Seriously, this vassal thing is pretty dope!" Chris said. "I got ten thousand stats on everything, a bonus skill, a new trait, damn! It's really quite nice."
"Hmm, it does seem to be that way…" Paul nodded.
"W-Wait, can I become vassals as well?" Gofumina asked. "If I can get stronger… And it doesn't cost you anything, right?!"
"Unfortunately…"
Paul glanced at the list of people in front of him and their Trust Levels.
[Alitheus Lilithie: Trust Level 100/Loyalty: 10] (First Vassal)
[Ermelinda Clearvalley: Trust Level 100] (Special Citizen) (Available for Vassal!)
[Teressa Von Sange: Trust Level 100] (Available for Vassal!)
[Camilla Von Sange: Trust Level 100] (Available for Vassal!)
[Insecta: Trust Level 100] (Available for Vassal!)
[Corpse-Eating Crimson Beetle x250: Trust Level 100] (Available for Vassal!)
[Heracles: Trust Level 92]
[Gofumina: Trust Level 72]
[Argentia: Trust Level 66]
[Ashtaya (Goblin): Trust Level 60]
[Memenine (Goblin): Trust Level 59]
[Kentauros (Orc Soldier): Trust Level 50]
[Silvian (Dhampir Soldier): Trust Level 44]
[…]
"Huh? What the hell? I can even turn those bugs Insecta summons into vassals? I don't think I'll ever do that, though…"
"Your Trust Level is only 72, Gofumina. So I can't add you as a vassal; it only works on Trust Levels of 100 or above… Oh, Ermelinda can be added right away, though."
"R-Really?!" Ermelinda's eyes shone brightly.
"E-Eh? Does it require trust levels? What? How can I increase that?" Gofumina wondered. "Wait, how does a game measure whether I trust someone or not? That's weird."
"It's probably based on behaviors the AI of the game detects; if you start acting nice, even if you're pretending, it might increase trust levels over time," Paul explained.
"Oh… Ugh…" Gofumina didn't like the idea one bit.
"Hehehe, if you don't like the idea, then just don't do it?" Chris mocked her. "It's not like he needs anyone else other than me~"
"Tsk…! It's not like I don't want the power I could get from that…!" Gofumina complained angrily. "Ugh, whatever…" She crossed her arms while looking elsewhere; she was a rather rough girl around the edges.
"Don't get so mad, Gofumina…" Ermelinda sighed. "Um, could I become a vassal too? I-It's fine if you don't want to…! In fact, I guess you wouldn't want to; if you rejected Chris before me, then it makes sense that you wouldn't do it and—"
"Sure." The Vampire Prince said nonchalantly.
"R-Really?! Yes!" Ermelinda celebrated, raising her arms; Vlad found her cute.
"EH?!" Chris glared at Paul in disbelief, his entire body suddenly going pale, becoming like a gargoyle, paralyzed in shock.
"Well, I already did it once, so I'll do it again and see if anything changes," Paul said. "Don't be jealous…"
"I-I am not jealous, idiot!" Chris said, as he kicked Vlad's head, although it didn't really hurt. "D-Do whatever you want! Hmph!"
"I-I really don't want to get in between you two… I'm so sorry, Chris…" Ermelinda cried, looking rather sad.
"Ugh, just get over it, it doesn't really matter, it's a game…" Chris sighed. "You better work hard for this place, though, understood?"
"Y-Yes ma'am!" Ermelinda nodded.
"M-Ma'am? I'm a man! You better say, "yes sir!" next time, alright?" Chris said angrily.
"Y-Yes, sir!" Ermelinda muttered nervously. "I'm so sorry, it's just that your Avatar looks exactly like a cute tomboyish girl… It's hard to think you're a boy, hehe…"
"It's not like I choose this Avatar… It was just randomly picked—ugh, whatever! Is she becoming a vassal or what, Paul?" Chris asked.
"Yes, yes, stop nagging; I'm looking into it," Paul nodded as he grabbed Chris' sensitive tail, making him let out a little cry.
"Gyaaah! D-Don't touch my tail…!" He grew redder as he pulled his tail back towards him, wrapping it around his torso.
"Alright, where do I… here, right? Hmm…"
Ermelinda glanced at the vampire prince with expectation, and then.
Ding!
[You have assigned your Special Citizen: [Player: Ermelinda Clearvalley], as your second Vassal!]
FLAAASH!
A ray of bright light encompassed her body once more.
"Woah!"
"There it is."
The light engulfed her entire body as she slowly absorbed it, and then, like Chris, she felt a connection with the ground she was standing on.
The civilization, this entire territory, its people, everyone.
It was only for a glimpse, a small vision, but that was all she needed to feel surprised and slightly tired.
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