level seven

————

Castle: Level 5

————

Effect: Double EXP for all citizens, every citizen speaks the same language.

Aura: An almost divine aura that instills awe in outsiders. Citizens have unwavering loyalty to the royal couple due to the aura.

Attribute: Only high class (A and higher) can damage the castle.

Advantages: 5 SP per year for each citizen.

Hit Points: 20,000/20,000

Residential Area Size: 30km²

Garden: 20km²

Treasure Chamber: 1000km³

[Required Resources for Upgrade:]

Food: 7,031,024 / 50,000

Wood: 50,005 / 50,000

Stone: 50,002 / 50,000

Iron: 50,024 / 50,000

Gold: 8,626,421 / 50,000

Special: 50,000 medium-class mana stones

Extended Requirement: 10,000 residents, kingdom radius of 200km

[Requirements for the Next Level: Met]

[Upgrade]

————

I cracked my fingers and confirmed the upgrade.

The earth trembled, and after the sixth blink, it was done.

[Successful]

"What has changed, Assistant?"

[The garden has increased in size. The treasure chamber has expanded. The castle has become much more stable.]

"Ah," I said, "then show me the conditions for the next upgrade."

————

Castle: Level 6

————

Effect: Double EXP for all citizens, every citizen speaks the same language.

Aura: An almost divine aura that instills awe in outsiders. Citizens have unwavering loyalty to the royal couple due to the aura.

Attribute: Only high class (A and higher) can damage the castle.

Advantages: 5 SP per year for each citizen.

Hit Points: 60,000/60,000

Residential Area Size: 30km²

Garden: 30km²

Treasure Chamber: 1500km³

[Required Resources for Upgrade:]

Food: 6,981,024 / 60,000

Wood: 5 / 60,000

Stone: 2 / 60,000

Iron: 24 / 60,000

Gold: 8,576,421 / 60,000

Special: 60,000 medium-class mana stones

Extended Requirement: 20,000 residents

[Requirements for the Next Level: Not Met]

———

I nodded and replenished the treasure chamber with the required materials, noticing the significant size difference of the treasury compared to before the upgrade.

Then I proceeded to upgrade the castle to Level 7.

As always, the earth trembled, and this time, after the seventh blink, the upgrade was completed.

[Successful]

I now looked at the overview, which showed the castle at Level seven, and noted with regret that I now needed 40,000 citizens.

I shook my head in concern; it seemed almost like an exponential increase.

Now I only need 40,000, then 80,000, then 160,000, and so on.

The thought shook me, and I asked my assistant again if anything was new.

[The treasure chamber has increased in size. The residential area has expanded. The garden has increased in size. The population main branch of the skills tree has expanded. Hit points have been increased.]

I inspected the castle from the outside but noted nothing except for the size. The walls had shifted slightly, and the enclosed area had expanded a bit.

"A larger treasure chamber is always good," I murmured, then happily exclaimed, "Oh! A new expansion in the skills tree?"

I had to check that immediately! I turned briefly to Roswita, who was leaning

against a tree, looking out over the lake.

"You'll have to wait a little, but it won't be much longer."

"Alright, Boss! No hurry." she replied calmly.

I nodded and sat down on the stone steps leading up to the entrance gate.

I opened the skills tree and saw the addition under the population.

"[Welcome!]" I read thoughtfully and immediately unlocked it.

It lit up and became colorful. I read the description and couldn't help but feel delighted.

A smile spread across my face; "This is perfect!"

I immediately opened the population status subpoint, and without hesitation, almost intuitively, I entered the small black marble, took all the mana stones, and invited 400,000 refugees.

[Confirmed]

[Calculating]

[Materials being used]

[4,000,000 portions of food have been used, 400,000 medium-class mana stones, ...]

[Please wait]

[Successful]

[Invitations have been sent and will appear before the eyes of the people at the optimal time.]

I nodded in satisfaction.

After that, I only had 300,000 medium-class mana stones left, and if I didn't have my little world, I would be broke by now! Crazy... my work of almost 19 years!

I shook my head, informed Roswita briefly that I was entering the throne room, and intended to activate my new skill there.

This time, it was indeed a skill that allowed me to create a clone of myself.

However, this clone required half of my mana.

"My first real skill!" I exclaimed and activated it; "~Welcome!~"

I felt and saw the sudden outpouring of mana, human-shaped particles forming before my eyes. The more mana it absorbed, the clearer the details became, and in the end, there stood a replica of me.

However, this one didn't acknowledge me at all, walked past me, and sat on the throne, where it seemed to merge with it, leaving only a sparkling outline behind.

I scratched my head; was that it?

"Assistant?"

[Positive. If invitations are accepted, it will materialize and act as you would. However, after 100 activities, the mana is depleted, and the skill must be cast again.]

I nodded, already knowing the end, but the beginning was insightful.

Very convenient, this system! This is a real strong Kingdom system! I laughed and returned to Roswita.

...

"The bridge is really gigantic!"

I turned to Roswita, who was looking over the railing with wide eyes.

I nodded and bridged the distance between us.

She looked at me, "So, how high is it?"

"Wow. Good question." I briefly followed Roswita's gaze towards the water. I shook my head, "I could only guess. It's 1.5km at the highest point, so here maybe...1km."

I shrugged and was about to move on.

"Hehe," I heard her softly, "Do you think it's crazy that I want to jump down?"

"Hmmm."

I glanced again towards the water and saw it shimmering peacefully in the sun, looking quite serene and alluring.

"Do whatever you feel like,if you can't resist. But you have to swim if you can't walk on water."

She grinned widely, took a few steps back leisurely, and asked me, "Can you walk on water?"

I nodded.

"How?" she grinned.

"You have to infuse mana into your feet and..."

"Alright, Boss! See you in a bit!" she called out as she ran and leaped over the railing.

I shook my head, laughing, and followed her with my gaze, hearing her joyous shouts as she descended and her clothes and hair fluttered behind her.

"WOOHOO ASS BOMB!"

*Splash*

I heard the cool, clear lake water as she landed. It splashed high and rippled.

Thoughtfully, I looked towards the cool, clear water.

I clicked my tongue. It looked really tempting.

"Oh, to hell with it!" and I jumped in after her.

The wind rushed past me, cooling my body, and I somersaulted forward, assuming the cannonball position.

I saw the cool water getting closer, grinned, and *splash*.

*whhouehejd*

I heard the gurgling water in my ears.

The refreshing feeling on my body.

I opened my eyes and rose to the surface.

"Haaa!" I surfaced, shaking my hair, and smiled at Roswita, who was laughing and shaking her head.

"And how was the cannonball?"

"Fantastic!" I laughed and floated on my back, "almost to the bridge."

I swam a bit, about ten kilometers, and reached one of the bridge's pillars.

The water lapped against the foundation, and the first algae formed. Small schools of fish grazed it but scattered as we approached.

The pillar obscured the sun and seemed to rise to the sky, disappearing beneath us into the lake's darkness.

My heart beat faster, and I moved away from the pillar a bit. Roswita, on the other hand, swam closer and seemed to sense the surface.

I climbed onto the water and sat down, watching her, who seemed like a small child besides the Burj Khalifa.

"Shall we continue? I wanted to arrive today," I called out to her.

She turned to me and nodded.