Ashen materialized atop the citadel balcony, flanked by twin statues of hydras carved from obsidian and marsh stone. Below him, hundreds of NPC citizens moved like ants—constructing homes, digging irrigation channels, and setting up arcane infrastructure.
[System Notification: Your Kingdom's Population has increased to 3,480]
[Kingdom Morale: 91% | Economy: Basic | Infrastructure: Developing]
[New Objective: Appoint Administrative Advisors]
Rewards: +10% Resource Efficiency, +15% Construction Speed
Ashen stood quietly, taking it all in.
He had territory. He had soldiers. Now, he needed society.
___
Inside the throne hall—recently built with [Abyssal Stone] and [Luminous Ivy]—his core allies assembled.
Jaecar stood in his hunter garb, one hand on his curved beastbone blade. "If you ask me, we need hunting lodges on the border. Food stocks are already thinning."
Michael crossed his arms. "And I say we need a standing garrison. Conquered land's no good if you can't hold it."
