4
While Giorgi's people worked in the villages, they focused on helping with daily tasks. Their primary attention was on preparing for winter: they reinforced houses to protect them from the cold, delivered firewood for heating, and, when possible, allocated funds for the villagers' needs. In the village of Edi, their assistance proved especially vital—funds were directed towards repairing roofs, purchasing warm clothing, and solving minor household problems, such as fixing stoves or installing additional wind barriers.
The locals, seeing their sincere care, began to treat them warmly and respectfully, sometimes even offering small help in return: some shared food, while others provided tools. There was plenty of work to be done, but the efforts of Giorgi's people noticeably improved life in the villages, even if only in small ways.
Success and a Surge of New Members
This drew the attention of not only the surrounding villages but also the residents of Tbilisi itself. Locals, especially young people, began to show keen interest in this organization. Within two days, about 50 individuals, primarily energetic youth, decided to join the movement.
Why did it all happen so quickly? The answer was quite simple: the people Giorgi had recruited through the system's shop possessed extraordinary abilities. They were practically superhuman—needing no rest, food, or water—and could work tirelessly around the clock. These people were free from human limitations, allowing them to accomplish tasks much faster and more efficiently than regular individuals.
Giorgi noticed this phenomenon while observing the work of his builders and blacksmiths at the estate. Construction tasks that normally would have taken several weeks were expected to take no less than ten days. However, his workers completed the job in just two days, demonstrating incredible speed and skill. This convinced Giorgi that his recruits indeed had exceptional capabilities.
The speed and efficiency of their work quickly became known, and in Tbilisi—where rumors about superhuman workers spread like wildfire—people began to see the organization not only as a way to improve their own lives but also as a chance to be part of something greater. Residents of the city were eager to join the ranks of the Patriots, wanting to contribute to this new and powerful movement.
Problems with Production
Giorgi began organizing raw material supplies to his estate to start manufacturing military, medical, and engineering equipment. However, a problem soon arose.
"What did you say?" Giorgi asked the blacksmiths, clearly surprised.
"Unfortunately, we cannot produce most of the items on your list," one of the craftsmen replied.
Giorgi had known that blacksmiths wouldn't be able to create anything too advanced, but he had hoped they could at least handle technology from the Second World War. However, it turned out that this was beyond their capabilities. Instead, he discovered that the blacksmiths operated within a sort of system.
The Blacksmiths' Skill System
The blacksmiths' system regulated their access to technologies and production capabilities depending on their mastery level. With each new level, they unlocked more advanced technologies and production methods from different historical periods. Here's how it worked:
1. Levels 1-5: At this stage, blacksmiths could produce weapons available up to 1920, including classical melee weapons (swords, axes) and firearms from World War I, such as pistols and rifles.
2. Levels 6-10: Upon reaching level 6, they gained access to more modern weapons from 1920 to 1940, including those from World War II, such as machine guns, assault rifles, and grenades.
3. Levels 11-15: At level 11, they unlocked weapons from 1940 to 1960, such as automatic rifles, various types of armored vehicles, and more advanced artillery systems.
4. Levels 16-20: At this level, they could produce technologies and weapons from 1960 to 1980, including modern assault rifles, anti-air systems, and new materials for armored vehicles.
5. Levels 21 and above: At the highest levels, blacksmiths could create weapons and technologies used in modern and future wars.
Currently, Giorgi's blacksmiths could only produce items from the era of World War I. The real problem, however, was their speed. For example, manufacturing the Renault FT tank—a model that took the French one to two weeks—would take Giorgi's blacksmiths one to two months, even with all necessary resources. This was due to their low skill level.
Finding a Solution
Giorgi pondered how to speed up the process. The blacksmiths proposed two solutions:
1. Hire more blacksmiths—the more workers, the faster the production.
2. Increase the blacksmiths' levels, which would improve their efficiency. However, experience would then be divided among all workers, slowing individual progress.
After some thought, Giorgi checked the number of points he had accumulated so far.
Current balance: 9850 points.
He decided to allocate them as follows:
1500 points to hire 15 soldiers.
2000 points to hire 20 blacksmiths.
400 points to hire 4 merchants to ensure steady raw material supplies.
400 points to hire 1 electrician to maintain stable factory operations.
The New Workforce
After these changes, Giorgi's workforce consisted of:
50 followers/allies.
100 regular people.
25 soldiers.
30 blacksmiths.
5 merchants.
2 medics.
1 doctor.
2 electricians.
With this team, Giorgi hoped to establish stable production and significantly reduce the time required to create the necessary technologies.