Chapter 2. A new Personnel.

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The night passed without incident, or so Ace thought.

He stretched lazily and stared at the glowing system screen in front of him.

Gold: 11,772 coins.

It was surreal. Just yesterday, he had gambled away everything: money, property, even his life. But today? He was earning gold just by existing. His newfound talent was already proving its worth.

Ace opened the system, swiping away the buzzing notifications from the World Chat. It was the same endless stream of lords bragging about their talents, flaunting their rankings, or strategizing alliances.

"Maybe they're even teaming up," Ace muttered, dismissing the chat entirely. That wasn't his concern right now. His focus was building a future, not posturing in a chatroom.

After some browsing, Ace found what he was looking for:

Village Token (Human)

Price: 500 gold coins

Effect: Attracts a group of humans to settle in your territory, establishing a new community.

"This is perfect," he thought.

He purchased the token without hesitation. Next, he scrolled through the shop for something just as critical—housing. After all, who would settle in a village with no place to stay?

20 small houses. Cost: 1,000 gold coins.

With the houses secured, Ace opened the scroll containing the Village Token and activated it. He waited eagerly. A minute passed. Then an hour. Still nothing. Frustrated, he almost opened the World Chat to complain but stopped himself.

He recalled a line from the system's introduction:

"Settlers would only arrive if the territory met certain basic requirements, including security"

"Right. I need guards," Ace realized.

Without wasting time, he purchased 10 troops for 10 gold coins each. Clad in simple armor and wielding spears, they appeared before him, standing in formation and awaiting his orders. Their loyalty was absolute.

Ace didn't stop there. Troops needed food. Spending another 100 gold coins, he purchased enough provisions to keep them well-fed. "Can't have my guards starving on duty," he mused.

Still, the settlers didn't appear, and night fell. With a sigh, Ace decided to rest. "Maybe tomorrow," he thought as he drifted to sleep.

---

The next morning, Ace woke up feeling refreshed. Stretching, he instinctively opened the system to check his gold reserves.

Gold: 12,086 coins.

"Not bad," he thought. It was becoming a habit, this morning ritual of checking his wealth.

Rising from bed, Ace heard unfamiliar voices outside. Curious, he rushed out to see what was happening.

At the gate, the guards were chatting with a group of people—settlers. Families with carts full of belongings, farmers with tools slung over their shoulders, and children clinging to their parents.

"They've come," Ace murmured, a wave of satisfaction washing over him. His investment was paying off.

Opening the Loan Page, Ace checked his updated land value:

Land Value: 30,000 gold coins

Available Loan: 25,000 gold coins

Daily Interest: 3–7%

Ace wasted no time. He repaid his existing loan in full and took out a new one for the maximum amount: 25,000 gold coins at a daily interest rate of 5%.

With a total of 26,486 coins in hand, Ace decided to take the next big step. He browsed the personnel section of the system shop.

There, he saw her.

Name: Lucia (Human)

Price: 100 gold coins

Profession: Assistant (manages tasks efficiently, provides advice, and is completely loyal.)

Lucia's portrait displayed a young woman with soft, kind features. She wasn't strikingly beautiful but had an aura of grace and quiet strength. Her gentle expression and calm demeanor seemed to promise competence and reliability.

Ace hesitated, his heart fluttering unexpectedly. "She's charming," he thought, "not just as an assistant but… maybe more."

He shook his head, embarrassed by his own thoughts. "It's just a purchase," he told himself, but a small blush crept up his face as he finalized the transaction.

A moment later, a soft golden light filled the room, and Lucia materialized before him.

She was even more stunning in person. Her long, dark hair framed her face perfectly, and her eyes sparkled with quiet intelligence. Dressed in simple but elegant attire, she carried herself with poise.

Lucia curtsied gracefully. "Master," she said softly, her voice melodic and soothing, "how may I serve you?"

Ace was momentarily speechless. He felt his cheeks heat up, and for a moment, he forgot how to speak.

Lucia tilted her head slightly, a faint smile on her lips. "Master, would you like me to assist with finances, or is there another task you wish for me to undertake?"

Her words snapped him out of his daze. "Right! Yes, I… I need help," Ace stammered, then cleared his throat to regain composure. "We have settlers now, but there's still so much to do. What would you suggest as our immediate priorities?"

Lucia's smile widened, and she stepped closer, her tone calm and professional. "Master, I recommend focusing on agriculture. If we can establish self-sufficiency, it will attract more settlers and reduce costs in the long term. Additionally, clearing monsters from the surrounding lands and expanding the territory will make space for future growth."

Ace nodded, impressed. "That makes sense. How much gold do you think we'll need for these improvements?"

Lucia paused, her gaze thoughtful. "One thousand gold coins should suffice for now. With proper planning, we can allocate those funds to essential areas like farmland, defenses, and infrastructure."

Ace smiled. "Efficient and practical. I like that."

Lucia bowed her head slightly. "Thank you, Master. Shall I draft a detailed plan for you?"

"Yes," Ace replied, feeling more confident than ever. "Draft the plan. I'll provide the funds tomorrow."

---

After Lucia left the room, Ace leaned back and opened the system, scanning for more useful items to enhance the growing settlement. Eventually, his attention settled on housing—a vital need for the influx of settlers. Spending 1,000 gold coins, he purchased an additional 20 houses, reducing his balance to 25,386 gold coins.

He couldn't have Lucia staying in his house. The thought of it made his face flush, and he shook his head to clear his mind. "Focus, Ace," he muttered, forcing himself to think logically.

The numbers comforted him. By tomorrow, his talent alone would generate a surplus of 5,000 gold coins. The steady influx of wealth was reassuring, and a satisfied smile crept across his face as he lay down on the bed. "Just a little more patience," he thought, closing his eyes and letting the anticipation of tomorrow lull him to sleep.