Incredible.
Thank you, Neanderthal friends. You were genuinely generous. The drop rate — absolutely explosive.
Li Wei sat alone in his room. He tried to hold it together several tis and finally let out a couple of quiet laughs.
He genuinely coveted the second Neanderthal's transformation ability. But he hadn't expected to get the core card for it — this was clearly no ordinary Profession Card, not even a rare one. This was sothing exceptional.
In that mont he had already decided: his fifth Profession Card would be this Druid Transformation Card.
Transforming at will, combined with the Scout Card and the Night Ranger profession — it was a gift from the heavens.
He cald himself quickly. Don't be arrogant in victory, don't be discouraged in defeat. That was the fundantal quality required.
He began recalculating his current assets and the territory's overall power structure. Essential work. He might look prosperous from the outside, but without careful managent, without a clear developnt strategy, without one or more reliable revenue streams, even this could collapse.
"Currently in the territory's temporary treasury: 43,020 standard gold coins — all pre-tax. The Freen's monthly wages can be covered with about 100 gold coins and still leave a decent surplus, and those coins flow back into the treasury through the market."
"Of course, this is still informal and has significant gaps. It needs to be built up step by step — at least until the city-building mission is complete and trade logistics with Weir City are established. Weir City will be this small territory's biggest comrcial partner."
"Beyond that, I currently have 50,000 Barbarian gold coins. Not sure what the exchange rate is with standard gold coins — hopefully not too unreasonable."
"As for the Riverside Knights — no need to upgrade them further for now. Too many title bonuses without a solid foundation creates instability. In the next six months — no, before the Radiation Storm hits again in November — I need to cultivate at least seven strong Four-Star Riverside Knights. That requires at least six Black Iron Clearance Tokens. The dropped Profession Cards can also be used to develop specific soldiers, though it'll take a long training and adaptation period."
"And I need to concentrate resources on those seven people so they can handle so of the pressure when the special boss appears — or hold Riverside Fortress during that period. Only by securing the foundation is developnt possible."
"It's also ti to upgrade Thomas. He's at peak Three-Star — one Black Iron Token and he advances to Four-Star. Then I can give him a Four-Star Profession Card imdiately. By year's end, his combat power will have grown significantly."
"As for myself — it's ti to consider upgrading the Woodcutter Card to Four-Star, or the Scout Card to Three-Star. I could also try forging a Code Na from the Destiny Title..."
Honestly, Li Wei wasn't particularly satisfied with his Destiny Title. Or rather, he had never been naturally drawn to traps as a thod. Specialists tended to be stubborn about their preferences.
"For now, this will do."
He called Thomas in and handed him a Black Iron Clearance Token. With it, Thomas could advance his first profession to Four-Star and bind a fourth Profession Card.
"Thomas — what profession are you thinking of for your fourth card?" Li Wei asked.
"I'll follow whatever the overall plan requires. Whatever you tell to bind, I'll bind. I'm just a brick for the territory — put wherever I'm needed." Thomas's attitude was excellent. He knew Li Wei wouldn't shortchange him.
Li Wei smiled slightly. He thought for a mont, then laid out a Four-Star Cavalry Card, a Four-Star Woodcutter Card, and a Four-Star Farr Card — the last one being a drop from Scar Glenn.
"Take your pick."
Thomas imdiately fell into his usual decision paralysis. "Li Wei — can you advise ? I'm really not good at planning my own career path."
"Alright, tell your current situation." Li Wei understood. That was just Thomas's character.
"My first profession is Three-Star Stonemason, Destiny Grid 55. Second is Three-Star Miner, Destiny Grid 48. Third is Three-Star Butcher, Destiny Grid 6. My Code Na is Thomas the City Builder, with two stars."
"Not bad. Your Miner Destiny Grid is two points from 50 — once you hit it, you'll unlock a hidden attribute like Perception. You need to find ways to grind that Miner Destiny Grid." Li Wei nodded. Having or not having Perception was the difference between two completely different worlds. No Perception ant being passive no matter how high your other attributes were.
Future Freeman soldier developnt needed to push toward Perception as well.
"Got it."
"Now — do you want to bind a Cavalry Card? Don't overthink it, just go with your first instinct..."
"What's a first instinct? I think they all seem good."
"For the love of — activate your Destiny Matrix and let look."
Li Wei was at a loss. He switched to the Tracker title, bringing Perception to 5, and carefully examined Thomas's Destiny Matrix. Both of his main Destiny Grids were approaching 50, so there had to be signs already.
When his senses touched the Stonemason and Miner Destiny Grids, he felt as if he had fallen into a pitch-black pit — no, a deep mine shaft hundreds of ters underground. No light. No fresh air. Enclosed on all sides. Silent. Only the sound of his own heartbeat. The next mont he would suffocate. Claustrophobia at its most acute.
"What the—"
Li Wei withdrew imdiately, already drenched in cold sweat. He had a sudden feeling: once Thomas awakened so hidden attribute, he might actually beco the natural counter to soone like Li Wei who specialized in Perception.
So whatever he awakened wouldn't be anything like the sharp, sensitive Perception attribute. It would be more like Binding, Dulling, or Numbing. No wonder Thomas always said he couldn't make decisions, couldn't lead. Was there so kind of emotional deficit? No — he was a healthy person. But the Stonemason and Miner Destiny Grids were making him increasingly like this.
Looking at it that way, making him a tank — a shield-bearer who absorbed damage at the front — was exactly right.
Co to think of it, Mark and Leon were the sa — both Stonemason and Miner.
With that realization, Li Wei knew what to choose.
"Take the Four-Star Farr Card. Once your Stonemason and Miner Destiny Grids both hit 50, you'll likely awaken a hidden attribute oriented toward Dulling and emotional dampening. That attribute might make you better suited for the tank-defender path — you'll beco less reactive, but more powerful. An unbreakable reef — that's what you'll be. Of course, there may be so sacrifices. So the Farr Destiny Grid will give you a more grounded foundation, supporting your future developnt and helping balance your Destiny Matrix."
Li Wei spoke from personal experience. His own Farr Destiny Grid had always been quiet and unremarkable — but without it, he certainly couldn't have achieved Full-Grid Resonance. The Farr Destiny Grid had a uniquely stable, encompassing quality.
"Alright. I trust you."
Thomas grinned and decisively chose the Farr Card. He quickly advanced his first profession, Stonemason, to Four-Star, then bound the Four-Star Farr Card.
Instantly a 4 3 3 4 configuration. He had caught up with Zhao Guozhu.
And imdiately gained 25 free attribute points — yes, that was the advantage of dropped Profession Cards. They saved enormous amounts of experience, money, and Clearance Tokens.
Of course, the adaptation period would be long.
Thomas would need ten months to absorb those twenty-five free attribute points gradually — and he'd have to do a lot of actual Farr-profession work throughout.
He probably wouldn't be fully settled until just before the Radiation Storm arrived.
That was the cost of fast-tracking.
After sending Thomas off, Li Wei called in Javier and Seth. They would be Riverside Fortress's true long-term guardians. Once Li Wei and Thomas left for Cross-Border Missions, they'd be gone for at least three years. If Javier and Seth weren't strong enough during that ti, how could they hold the fortress?
Li Wei had brought their families here. That was his way of telling them: if you die, you die here.
He explained the situation briefly, then produced a Silver Clearance Token, split it in two, and gave one half to Javier and one to Seth — advancing both of their first professions to Four-Star. Then he gave each of them a Four-Star Cavalry Card.
Riverside Knights couldn't be without mounts.
"Don't rush to spend the free attribute points. Add one point every ten days, or to be safe, one per month. Before adding any, make sure you've eaten well. And train constantly — grind your Destiny Grids at every opportunity. Once you hit 50, a whole new world opens up."
At this point, Li Wei thought about it and decided not to produce the two Pet Cards yet. Take things one step at a ti. Strength built gradually. Too much too fast was counterproductive.
He dismissed Javier and Seth and sat thinking.
Riverside Fortress was stable. Javier and Seth as the core, Thomas as supervisor, Paul and Jocelyn as support, four combat squads, and the reserves — three hundred people. Oh — half a month had passed. He still hadn't figured out what to do with those hundred academy rcenaries.
Whatever. Let them keep eating and doing nothing for now.
Li Wei was no master of internal affairs. If Weir City's Lord Academy couldn't produce capable people from this batch, what could he do?
Besides, he was busy.
First — forge a Code Na. He was about to beco a Four-Star Lord and still had no Code Na. Embarrassing.
He produced the last Silver Clearance Token and the Four-Star Woodcutter Card, and silently invoked the Destiny Title fusion.
Several lines of text appeared silently.
[Do you wish to initiate Destiny Title fusion? Warning: this process is irreversible!]
[Friendly reminder: All conditions are t. Do you wish to use the Destiny Title — Trap Master — as the core to forge a new Code Na?]
[Friendly reminder: Destiny Title ready. Silver Clearance Token ready. Four-Star Profession Card ready. Please select the Ordinary Title you wish to contribute to the fusion.]
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