Preface

The outback of the southern plains was located to the southeast of the Karazan Mountain range. To the west lay Nidoria River, which flowed into the distant sea. To the east was the territory of the gnolls. This was once a lush forest that was the territory of the Wood Elves. However, when the dwarves vowed to exact revenge, the elves had no choice but to concentrate their defenses and abandon most of the outer forests.

The gnolls had always lived in small-scale clans. Even if they wanted to attack humans, they were no match for them, since the humans had established a town network. But for reasons still unknown to most, a mysterious, strong force had influenced the various gnoll clans. Since last year, they had started to conform to a tribe system—the Kazats Gnoll Tribe.

Since the previous year, gnoll attacks against human towns had become ever more frequent. But it wasn't until the gnolls attacked one of the largest human towns, Western Morton, with their army of 18,000 gnolls, did the human town-states wake up and realize that they had an unprecedented threat right next to them!

Even after the city-states formed alliances, they still suffered defeat little by little in their battle with the gnolls. Their enemy was no longer ignorant beasts. The gnolls possessed a large number of primitive weapons and used them to force the humans to gradually pull back their defensive perimeter. In the end, the humans could only depend on the three buildings built during the Southern Plains period to stabilize their formation. But even then, they were barely able to hold back the advancing gnolls.

In the war with the gnolls, humans realized that the gnolls weren't attacking in a disorderly fashion. In the short span of three years, these primitive demi-humans had acquired a certain level of discipline and had even tamed a pack of wargs. For the first time in history, the gnolls were able to showcase the gnoll cavalries that they had trained!

The sudden and powerful rise of the gnolls caused the human town-state to doubtfully turn their eyes to the orc tribes, who had been banished to the Loess Plateau.

Realizing that they were encountering a series of unprecedented threats, the human town-states decisively sought reliable allies to take control of the situation. They finally turned their attention to the powerful dwarves, who had risen strongly after returning to the surface world.

The dwarves needed food, and humans needed weapons.

The two ended up forming a perfect union!

Just as the humans and dwarves formed an alliance, the gnoll tribe was resolutely and forcibly advancing. They had opened a passage to the southern wilderness and suffered numerous causalities in the process. Even though this passage was still being blocked by the humans' strong counterforces, a part of the gnoll tribe had already entered the southern wilderness. A crisis was approaching, like a powerful, brewing storm.

The southern wilderness was a barren land, in which there were a large number of the Kobold clan. There was even another subspecies of the gnolls there–grey gnolls!

The gnoll tribe's intentions were obvious. They intended to bribe and subdue the Kobold clan and also form an alliance with the other gnoll clans. They would conquer the Kobold clan and gather them and another jackal clan into their tribe to form a north-south front. This would allow them to attack the town-state from both the front and back.

The weapons from the dwarves were still on the way, but a large number of kobolds had already appeared at the rear of the human town-state and caused chaos. These kobolds attacked the village and destroyed the farmland, turning the town-state into an absolute mess!

Just as they were in the middle of these turbulent times, in the depths of the outback in the southern plains appeared a small village that seemed to have fallen from the sky.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Year 343, Second Era.

A large-scale battle broke out between the orcs and the descendants of the giants, involving nearly 800,000 people. The orcs, who were once the slaves of the giants, took advantage of the Behemoth's attack on the giant descendants' front defense line. For the first time, they were able to take victory in a frontal battle with the giants!

After the Battle of Martha, the Orc clan was renamed Behemoth.

Year 365, Second Era.

The dwarves, who had been expelled by elder elves and forced to hide in the mountains for thousands of years, had returned to the surface. After nearly a thousand years, the dwarves had refined more high-quality metal and relied on this rare metal called [Refined Gold]. Fully armored in this metal, the dwarves raced forth to attack the elder elves. Eight thousand dwarves in heavy armor carried battle-axes and marched toward the elves. They easily destroyed the wood elves' defense lines and forced them to give up their territories and retreat to the birthplace of the elf clan–Jadeite Forest.

After the strong counterattack, both sides entered a stalemate, during which the rest of the dwarf clan began to migrate to the surface world and form towns.

Year 372, Second Era.

The gnoll clan that had been active on the outskirts of the human town-state had been drawn together under the influence of a mysterious force. More than 100,000 matured gnolls were gathered, and they carried out a surprise attack on the humans' villages. The humans' defense line collapsed, but with the city-state's system, they eventually managed to stabilize the defense line by forming an alliance with the dwarves. A large number of soldiers were continuously sent out to the frontlines. The gnolls' offensive attack was contained, and the war between the two sides reached a standstill.

Year 373, Second Era.

The gnolls forcibly broke through the humans' southern defenses and inflicted huge casualties. With the grey gnolls following right behind them, a group of gnoll troops entered the southern wilderness. More than half a million kobolds became vassals of the gnolls and caused trouble at the human city-state's rear.

Dark clouds covered the sky. Something was coming!

There were several villages near the Nidoria River, as well as a large town with a dock and port.

Because of the gnolls' attack, the area spanning the front line was desecrated, and it was now just a barren land. The land had been abandoned by the human town-state, which had turned to defend the territories of the outback of the southern plains.

In the early days of the gnolls' attacks, the humans had suffered catastrophic losses. Many towns were unable to retaliate before they were captured, and many people were robbed. Some even became the gnolls' slaves or food. It was only after West Morton had been captured by the gnolls did the humans finally react. They quickly relocated their population and rebuilt new defense lines. As a result, this place had become a barren land as early as a year ago.

The gnolls didn't know how to farm, so they could only rove around the surface world as nomads and fish to survive.

Since the place was uninhabited, there were fewer signs of gnoll activity, which made the area safe for the time being.

The human town-states in the southern plains consisted of 36 large cities. If one totaled all the cities together, including the town villages, the population would be more than 100,000! Even so, the city-state's mobilization during the war was flawless, and a large number of troops were sent from the rear to the front. Relying on their fortifications, they successfully contained the gnolls' attack, even if temporarily, and the gnolls were unable to advance further.

There was originally a town called Hilton on the southern side of the Nidoria River, but after the gnolls' attack, the place had turned to ruins, just as the other areas had.

But at the moment, these ruins offered a refreshing sight.

Two squads of soldiers armed with spears and hoplons were patrolling the town ruins. A large number of civilians were repairing the damaged houses in the town center, and more than 500 young laborers were at work cutting down trees. They were using sharpened wooden piles to build a wooden palisade, which would surround the town.

In the town square, which was in the center of the town, a group of soldiers dressed in red robes surrounded a black-haired youth, who was wearing black clothes. They vigilantly watched their surroundings with stern, solemn expressions on their faces. The black-haired youth with dark eyes was standing in the center of the square and was directing people to clear the debris on the street.

Everyone was nervous but busy.

When night fell, the entrance of the wooden palisade was finally repaired, and a burst of cheers came from the civilians in the town. At that point, the serious-looking black-haired youth returned to the most spacious and luxurious house in the town.

"Sigh, it's been a week. The wooden palisade is finally fixed," Murphy said, sighing as he collapsed face-up on the bed. He let out a long sigh.

It had been a week since he'd traveled to this dimension, and what had happened when he came here still weighed heavily on his conscience.

When he first came to this world, he had encountered a group of gruesome humanoids. These humanoids were as tall as humans, and their bodies were covered in fluffy grey-green fur. From the neck up, they looked like hyenas, with yellow teeth and bloodshot eyes. They were blood-thirsty and ferocious! The moment these hyena-like humanoid creatures saw Murphy, they immediately started howling and rushed toward him.

At that moment, Murphy thought he was done for!

Just when he thought he was going to die, a group of soldiers, who were dressed in bright red robes and were holding golden-yellow hoplons and five-meter-long spears, suddenly appeared beside him. These warriors wearing bright red robes all had well-built physiques and bulging, veiny muscles. They looked firm and determined as they lined up in front of Murphy and swung their spears at the hyena-like humanoids pouncing toward him!

"Pchhh! Pchhh!"

The sound of the soldiers' weapons tearing into flesh could be heard, and more than ten of the fierce hyena-like humanoids fell in front of Murphy.

"Spartans!"

The red-robed soldiers, armed with hoplons and spears, roared. Then, they put down their spears, drew the daggers at their waists, and rushed forward.

By the time Murphy had come back to his senses, all the fierce-looking creatures had already fallen before him.

In a now blood-stained red robe, the head warrior approached him and respectfully said, "General!"

Thinking about this moment still gave Murphy a chuckle.

After coming back to his senses, Murphy immediately remembered this dream-like scene.

It was like something from the game . After this scene, someone with an electronic-sounding voice asked him to choose the initial civilization town.

Murphy had just happened to be playing that day and had used Greece to unify the world. Because he thought that he was dreaming, he answered the electronic voice with "Greece!" without so much as hesitating.

He remembered it all clearly. He had been playing until 3 a.m. in an attempt to unify the world before turning off his computer and going to bed.

But even he didn't know what had happened, because after his strange dream ended, he woke up and arrived in this unfamiliar world.

After trying to remember what had happened, Murphy was sure that he had definitely crossed dimensions.

And had brought along the auxiliary system of with him.

After having a simple meal, Murphy went back to his room and immediately started to meditate: "Show me the town attributes."

After he thought this, a data screen appeared in his mind.

City Management Interface:

City: Athens (Large Town)

People's sentiment: Loyalty (Loyalty, Doubt, Rebellious)

Tax rate: medium-rate tax

Revenue: 100 (silver coins, half a year) 2000 (crops, half a year)

Treasury: 4600 (silver coins) 6000 (crops)

Population: 2000

Social security: 165% (Garrison + 115%, Agriculture + 30%, Culture + 10%, Sanitation + 5%, Medium-rate tax + 5%)

Population growth: + 6.5% (Agriculture + 5%, Medium-rate tax + 1%, Sanitation + 0.5%)

Population required for upgrade: 6000

Armies owned: Two teams of Greek infantry (160 people), one team of Spartan infantry (0 people), one team of general guards (24 people).

Officers possessed: Diplomat (1)

Amount of sustainable reserve crops when the city is surrounded: 12 rounds (One round is equivalent to one month in real-time. One unit of crop weighs about 100 kg per picul. Soldiers will consume about 2 kg per day, while ordinary citizens will consume about 1 kg per day over two meals. 2,000 people will consume about 6,000 piculs in one year.)

List of existing buildings:

Governor's Mansion: The Governor's Mansion is the place where officials carry out administrative duties, and it also gives citizens a look into the magnificence of Greek culture. It can be considered as the basic administrative center. The Governor's Mansion also represents sovereignty over the area and stability. The Governor's Mansion allows the city to develop rapidly, and it can upgrade existing buildings. (Recruitment: Farmers. Increased recruitment: Diplomats.)

Town military barracks: The town military barracks have good facilities for training and accommodating troops. The barracks are clean and tidy, but not comfortable, because the soldiers are there to protect their homeland, not to vacation! The town military barracks can be upgraded to more advanced military barracks as the city develops. (Recruitment: Citizen Hoplites, Greek infantry.)

Wooden palisade: Tall fences were built around the city with sharpened wooden piles, giving citizens a sense of security. However, it can't stand up for long against an enemy's siege weapons. It's obvious that a defensive structure such as this can easily be made by workers. The palisade makes people feel at home, and that the area it protects is somewhere they can live, work, and grow.

Cultivated land: This piece of land is made by cutting down trees and setting fires to clear a space. Cultivated land can produce a large number of crops for the soldiers, citizens, and slaves in the city, thus promoting population growth. But this type of self-sufficient agriculture can only feed the farmers and their families, and only barely allows them to maintain their livelihoods. If agriculture develops, the city can be quickly upgraded.

Roads: Combat engineers build bridges in swamps, rivers, and hills, and also build stone roads. They maintain and repair these simple small roads and remove overgrown vegetation. The roads aren't ideal pathways, but they're better than nothing.

Units recruitment interface:

Unit: Farmers

Recruitment Rounds: (1)

Unit size (120), experience (0).

Attack (1), charge bonus (1), weapon (light).

Total defense (1), armor (0), defense skills (1), shield (0)

Vitality (1)

Morale (0)

Recruitment cost (100), maintenance cost (100)

Ability: Can dig tunnels.

Explanation: The farmers aren't soldiers for fighting. They merely make for a large, cheap defense on the battlefield. They don't have any military capabilities and are reluctant to fight. They're just a group of pitiful people trying to protect their homes.

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Unit: Citizen Hoplites

Recruitment Rounds: (1)

Unit size (0), experience (0)

Attack (5), charge bonus (1), weapon (spear)

Total defense (8), armor (0), defense skills (3), shield (5)

Vitality (1)

Morale (2)

Recruitment cost (230), maintenance cost (100)

Ability: Can form a phalanx, can dig tunnels

Explanation: Citizen Hoplites are soldiers recruited from the city and sent to the battlefield after little training. They're spearmen equipped with spears and round hoplons, hence their name. As a type of infantry, the hoplites have existed for centuries with little change in their tactics or equipment. These people don't wear armor, because they're recruited from the lower classes. They even have to provide their own combat equipment. The Greek state has always been a city protected by its own people, and the spearmen's' spear military formation best displays that fighting power.

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Unit: Greek infantry

Recruitment Rounds: (1)

Unit size (0), experience (0)

Attack (7), charge bonus (2), weapon (spear)

Total defense (16), armor (0), defense skills (3), shield (5)

Vitality (1)

Morale (4)

Recruitment cost (440), maintenance cost (150)

Ability: Can form a phalanx, can dig tunnels

Explanation: All military forces in Greece are almost entirely supported by the Greek infantry. They fight in a phalanx formation, and they're most powerful when fighting against infantry or cavalry. The Greek infantry's tactics are simple: when the infantry advances toward the enemy, the phalanx formation is formed to protect each soldier by overlapping shields. Then, they approach the enemy and start fighting. They are well-trained, have excellent stamina, and are one of the most effective armies in the world. Greek infantry usually voluntarily supply equipment. Therefore, they aren't recruited from the lower classes. They wear hard armor and carry spears and round shields (hoplons). The spears' composite copper tips can penetrate deep into the ground and don't rust as easily as iron. If the spear is broken, it too can be used as a combat weapon.

The Greek infantry is well-equipped, and its terrifying formation (though slightly inconvenient) is the most powerful.

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Special Units:

Diplomat

Recruitment rounds: 1

Explanation: Diplomats have received strict professional training in compliments, seduction, rhetoric, and intimidation. A diplomat is responsible for negotiations with other factions. His work includes bargaining, negotiating peace, signing agreements, and even surrendering.

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Murphy looked at the data screen that appeared in his mind and thought about it silently.

Although there was an auxiliary system for , this world wasn't a game, after all. There were many things that couldn't be solved by game data alone, so at most, the system could be considered supplementary.

Take for example how the original game only had tax and agricultural revenue. But after arriving here, the system clearly separated tax and agricultural revenue. And after Murphy's research during this period, it was found that the data provided by the auxiliary system would greatly fluctuate with reality.

When the wooden palisade was being constructed, the system indicated that it would take one month to build it. After Murphy issued the order through the herald, the town automatically assigned about 300 people to cut down the trees for the construction of the wooden palisade. The wooden palisade was a town-level building that could be built when the population was over one thousand. The time required to build it was one round, or one month. At this rate, the construction of the wooden palisade was too slow. As such, Murphy personally appointed more people and increased the total number of people cutting trees and constructing the wooden palisade to 1,200!

As a result, work efficiency was greatly improved, and in just a week, the wooden palisade was built.

Obviously, the system was only a data-oriented system, but the specific details were still based on reality.

Another example was the cultivation land, which Murphy had visited outside the Greek town.

After a rough visual inspection, Murphy found that it was barely on par with the lowest level of cultivated land, as marked by the system, due to the yearlong destruction and barrenness caused by the gnolls. Although the originally fertile land was now barren, as long as it was repaired and irrigation canals were dug, it could still quickly be restored for use. Murphy, who was currently sorting out the fields, inspected the land and found it was about 1,000 mu.

If 1 mu of land was equivalent to 4 piculs, then 1,000 mu was 4,000 piculs, which, according to the data, was the exact same as half a year's worth of crop revenue. However, it would be difficult to feed 2,000 civilians and soldiers with only 4,000 piculs worth of grains per year. Therefore, it was necessary to open up more land for cultivation.

For the Greek infantry's two units, a month's worth of pay plus maintenance costs would add up to 300 silver coins, and 6 months would add up to 1,800 silver coins. Even though the Spartan infantry troops couldn't be recruited, despite being included in the system, they required a maintenance cost. One month would cost 400 silver coins, and 6 months would cost 2,400 silver coins. To sum up, it would require a total of 4,200 silver coins to maintain the army for half a year.

Adding the half-year tax on the 100 silver coins given by the system data, the total tax collected added up to 6,000 silver coins, which was exactly 1,000 coins per month. In the absence of commercial trade, when this was divided among 2,000 townsmen, this would be exactly 0.5 yuan per month per person according to the medium-rate tax.

6,000 silver coins in taxes for half a year was a small sum, and after deducting military expenses, there would basically be nothing left.

But this was just the medium-rate tax. If Murphy were to adjust the tax to a high-rate tax, then the tax per person every month would be one silver coin. Then the tax for half a year would be 12,000 silver coins, resulting in a surplus of 700 silver coins.

That was a significant amount!

But since the town had just been built, and the people's loyalty was still wavering, it wasn't a good time to raise taxes.

Rubbing his head, Murphy opened the construction interface again and looked to see what he should build next.

The citizens also needed to sleep at night. Generally, construction orders were issued during the day. If he were to allow the herald to issue an order in the middle of the night, waking up the people from their sleep, then the citizens were bound to be angry the next day.

Buildings currently available for construction:

Wooden Wall (Construction Rounds: 2): A simple wooden wall's defense is better than that of a wooden palisade, but it still has nothing against an organized attack. However, it provides hardwood city gates and strengthened wall protection, which can slow down the enemy's attacking speed. Thus, it's a good defense against raids. Silver coins required for construction: 800.

Horse stable (Construction Rounds: 3): This is the basic building needed to train cavalry troops. Horses are a precious resource during war, and horse stables are where they're trained for battle. As the city grows, the stables can be upgraded to recruit stronger and more diverse troops (recruitment: javelin cavalry, tameable horses). Silver coins required for construction: 1,200.

Shooting Range (Construction Rounds: 3): The shooting range is the building needed to train light infantry. It's especially needed for javelin throwing practices. (Recruitment: Javelin Soldier). Silver coins required for construction: 1,200.

Stores (Construction Rounds: 2): Merchants can sell some local specialties to other cities and make a small fortune. There are risks in doing business, but it's a good way to increase wealth. Trade between cities can provide mutual benefits, allowing cities to prosper together when self-sufficiency alone makes it difficult for the city to develop. (Provide: increase traded goods, increase the population growth rate by 55%). Silver coins required for construction: 600.

Public farms (Construction Rounds: 3): When the "fire plowing" farming method exhausted the land, public farms appeared, allowing citizens to participate in farming. Public farms produce a small-scale economy and concentrate on the means of production. Everyone works together to obtain a "bumper" harvest. Using this method, personal losses can be reduced to a minimum, while production can increase, thereby increasing population growth. Silver coins required for construction: 1,200.

Pavement (Construction Rounds: 3): These repaired stone roads allow the army to quickly assemble and march. So, the construction of paved roads will primarily aid the military, but merchants or farmers can also benefit from them. The construction of paved roads requires careful surveying, as well as various auxiliary lanes and frequent road inspections. No matter how complicated the project is, at least the roads won't become muddy during the rainy season or dusty during sunny days. Silver coins required for construction: 1,200.

Port (Construction Rounds: 2): The port increases sea trade and creates wealth for the city, and it also allows for the construction of small warships. For all long-distance trades, shipping is one of the most important methods. Shipping is the fastest route of freight transportation at this time, and transporting goods by ship is the most cost-effective. From a military point of view, the port is also very important because the construction of naval fleets requires a port, personnel, and equipment. (Provide: trading fleet establishment, construction of fishing vessels). (Recruitment: double-row warships). Silver coins required for construction: 1,200.

Temple of Guidance: This temple is dedicated to the goddess of wisdom, war, and craftsmen–Athena. She's also the patron saint of Athens, the birthplace of democracy. Athens not only gave mankind many advanced craftsmen, but it also gave birth to many all-around warriors. People feel happy and satisfied when they worship the gods and receive spiritual support. When the city is growing, the temple can be expanded. (Because happiness raises social security by 5%, and law raises social security by 5%). Silver coins required for construction: 20.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

The Greek cavalry was basically just for show, and the long-range troops were pretty average. Therefore, the stables and shooting ranges need not be considered for the time being. As for stores, because other human towns weren't yet founded, trading wasn't possible.

As for the rest, roads could be excluded first from the list of things needed to be done. Roads could be built at a later date. The public farm also wasn't in a hurry to build them because they missed the winter wheat crop.

As a result, what was really needed at the moment was the wooden wall, the port, and the temple.

There were a lot of creatures similar to gnolls in the previous games, so defense was key. However, because the wooden palisade was already established, the current demand for the wooden wall wasn't as strong for the time being. If it was only to stop the gnolls, a three-meter tall wooden palisade would be enough for the time being.

After putting the wooden wall on hold temporarily, the next most-needed item was the temple of the goddess of wisdom, Athena, and the port.

Since the town was named Athens, Murphy didn't intend to create temples for the other Gods, such as the god of love, the god of wealth, or the goddess of victory. It took only one round to build the lowest-level temple. If there were more working people, it could probably be completed in a few days.

Since coming to this world, Murphy had developed a deep sense of respect for the Gods, so he preferred to build the temple first.

However, at present, food self-sufficiency was still a pressing concern. It would take a long time until the spring wheat could be harvested. The food stored in the treasury wouldn't last long. There was a large river to the west of town, and water plants were fertile, so there wouldn't be any problems developing fisheries. And in the auxiliary system, the port brought with it an obvious option.

That option was building fishing boats.

In this way, before the crops were harvested, the river that could rival the Nile could feed thousands of people.

Murphy had led a group of cavalry to investigate the river named Nidoria. The river was wide, and the water was smooth. The grass on either side was lush, the fish were plump, and the waters were almost motionless. There would be many plump fishes in the dense reeds. As long as the fishing boats could be scaled up, their source of crops wouldn't be so limited for the time being.

And Murphy reckoned that this river flowed west into the sea, which meant there were probably many urban villages along the way. If they could find other human beings, they could start trading, which would undoubtedly be another source of income. There were traces of human civilization here—remnants of human towns. Murphy surmised that the people who had originally lived here had left because of creatures like the gnolls.

The port couldn't be completed in just a quarter of an hour.

So, after thinking about it, Murphy still decided to build the temple of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, tomorrow.

In this unknown world, he also needed spiritual sustenance, even as an interdimensional traveler.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

"Goddess of Wisdom, Athena, if you really exist, bless me so that I can successfully resist the gnolls' attack," Murphy murmured to himself as he slowly slipped into a dream.

He dreamt that all of this was a dream, and that once he opened his eyes he would return to earth, where he would continue to comfortably live out the rest of his days eating and playing games until he died.