Chapter 179

The player, having taken control of a territory, inevitably finds themselves in a situation where they cannot exercise the power of a temporary lord among the residents. However, by utilizing events provided by the system, they can assert their rightful authority through logical reasoning.

This is known as the Clue and Prove Event.

Through the territory investigation script, information gathered, rewards from sub-episodes, and clues obtained through agent abilities, one can prove problems within the territory and make episodes progress more smoothly.

However, don’t take this proof lightly.

It comes with a series of choice rushes, and if you slip up, not only will your recognition among the residents drop, but your own authority might weaken as well.

If you can’t meticulously gather clues and explain them to others, logically unraveling the problem, the future will be nothing but a bad ending.

But I’m not that kind of fool.

“What you’re saying is understood. Our farming method was wrong, and I accept that to a certain extent.”

*Ding*

▶You have made a justified critique by synthesizing given clues.◀

▶You now have the authority to give orders to the residents. The strength of these orders ranges from 1 to 10, and anything higher than that cannot be commanded.◀

[Command Strength: 3]

“At least I passed the first stage with this.”

But I still haven’t reached the fundamental problem.

Though the system doesn’t recognize it, this could also be seen as a clue.

I asked Brem, who seemed to have more to say.

“Do you have more to tell me?”

“There’s nothing else.”

Brem cut off the conversation without expression, as if hiding something.

“The Memorial also saw Carsein desperately hide this. I don’t know the content, but… it seems the Shatren side also finds it difficult to disclose this fact?”

Then, it looks like we’re not betting but placing a sure bet.

Those who have something to hide must inevitably give something to the side pushing forward.

“You lied to me again right in front of me. This can’t go unnoticed.”

*Clue and Prove Event authority activated.*

*Command Strength: 3.*

[You can take partial control over the fields within the territory.]

The authority over the fields within the territory.

Just perfect.

I spread out the territory map and drew a line across it, pinning a dart on one piece of land and declaring:

“This is punishment. Starting today, one-third of the land in Shatren will be managed by me.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“To understand the flaws in our current farming methods, we need a comparison group. It’s better for me to personally oversee it rather than entrust it to you.”

“That’s absurd!”

“This is our land. Are you going to take it?”

“Even after years of using the same method without any change, if we entrust this land to you again, there’s no doubt that a secondary food shortage will occur.”

The residents rose in unison to protest.

But.

An old man, who had been silently listening to this story, found it advantageous to give up the land despite the loss.

“I have kept my promise to not use even the engraving stones to command you all. But you have lied to me instead. How can I trust you in such a situation? It seems much more reasonable for me to manage that land.”

“This is robbery! Using the power of a lord and the status of a noble!”

“That’s right! You can’t trust the residents and decide to take their land. Can you still call yourself their lord?”

“The results of the Symposium will definitely be affected! Have you forgotten? Our evaluation is part of the Eastern Nobles’ Meeting!”

“It might be better this way.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Even if we lose points for that item, it’s better that the food shortage doesn’t come up. Isn’t that right?”

“What are you planning to do with that land…!”

“I’ll plant crops other than grapes and strawberries. No food shortage sounds. We need self-sufficiency on this land. Such sounds should never happen.”

As expected, the residents rushed forward.

“A third of the land won’t be used for strawberries and grapes…?”

“You’re asking us to give up the two specialties of Shatren!

“Our pride! Among agricultural products, the two most famous and widely spread crops in the empire! You want us to give those up?!”

“How far will you push us down! Because of you, we’ve hit rock bottom. For us, this bottom is hell itself!”

“Damn.”

A curse involuntarily escaped my lips, causing the residents to look at me in shock.

“Rock bottom. Ha, ha.”

A forced laugh escaped me.

“Is that rock bottom for you?”

Seeing such pitiful scenes makes my blood run cold.

Just like back then, watching fools who couldn’t believe my words and decided to handle things themselves.

I couldn’t hold back my laughter anymore.

“Seems like you can’t even tell the difference between reality and past glories. You’ve fallen so far that this is just the bottom for you. You’ve never experienced true hardship, living in blessed lands.”

“What do you mean by that…”

*Ding*

▶Perfect Clear conditions for the Clue and Prove Event have been met.◀

▶Please select an option.◀

It wasn’t intentional.

It was just something I couldn’t tolerate any longer.

But, surprisingly, it turned out to be the right answer.

Really, the perfect choice.

[P. (Hitting the table) I’ve risen from a place lower than what you consider the bottom. From the slums, the real bottom. ]

*Bam*

“I’ve risen from a place lower than what you consider the bottom. From the slums, the real bottom.”

The person who had been shouting at the forefront swallowed hard and took a step back in fear.

The rest followed suit, retreating in various states of panic.

They realized they had touched a nerve.

“Hell. If you put aside what you have and live by growing different crops, ensuring food, clothing, and shelter, is that life called a bottom named hell?”

“…”

“You’ve never experienced true hell. You’ve never fallen to the real bottom from a blessed place. Truly, you speak arrogantly.”

No one spoke further.

To someone who has experienced the bottom, to someone who has lived in the slums where everything was ruined, and to me, who has survived alone through such hardships twice.

Shatren’s bottom was nothing but deceit.

“…So be it.”

“Village Chief!”

“Brem!”

“You may manage that land. We will hand it over. This is our mistake. But please, end the interference here.”

*Ding*

▶Brem has concluded the event and further progression is not possible. The Clue and Prove Event ends.◀

There were things I wanted to uncover, but it seemed this was the limit.

***

“I’ll conclude the meeting now. There’s nothing left to say, right?”

“…”

Even though the meeting was declared over, the residents in the conference hall wore expressions full of discontent.

In response to the residents’ silent protest, Brem raised his hand.

“What is it?”

“Don’t worry about how we use the remaining land. Whatever farming method we choose is our responsibility.”

“Huh? Wait a moment.”

“This is…”

“Brem Grandpa! What do you mean by that!”

“Get lost, Ferdy!”

“Don’t butt in on grown-ups’ talk!”

Ferdy, with a shocked expression, dashed out but was immediately pushed away by the adults.

“Brother. That’s…!”

Even though he was pushed down and couldn’t finish his sentence, Ferdy looked at me pleadingly.

“Let’s break up the meeting.”

“Grandpa! Brem Grandpa!”

“Quiet!”

“…”

“This is a place for adults to talk. A child like you shouldn’t be here! Go back to where you belong!”

Upon hearing this, the ‘adults’ around me nodded or grumbled in agreement with Brem’s order.

But, I felt a strange sense of unease.

“…Let’s test it.”

*Whoosh*

I drew my sword at Brem without hesitation.

“…”

“Don’t yell at this child recklessly. You, who know everything about the territory, didn’t even notice the mold on this land.”

Some of the residents were frozen with fear, and some gasped.

But this old man isn’t like that.

“As expected.”

“…I didn’t know. I’ll be careful.”

*Whoosh.*

Brem bowed his head and left.

After the residents left,

Ferdy grabbed my arm anxiously.

“Brother. That’s not it. Brem Grandpa…”

“Don’t worry. I know he’s different from the other residents of the territory.”

“Huh?”

“He’s not the type to say such things to you, is he?”

“Yes… Brem Grandpa always covered for me even when I stole and ran away. Today, too, I was originally going to say that at the end…”

But the promise couldn’t be kept.

Because of Ferdy, who could get hurt worse if careless.

‘Pretty good, that old man.’

For some reason, it felt odd that the village chief would let losses happen in their own territory without doing anything.

Occasionally giving signs that he knew, but his resistance was clumsy enough to seem like he was passing information to me.

‘Plus, his last statement was irritating.’

“The remaining land is up to us to use. Whether we change the farming method or not is our decision.”

On the surface, this statement can be interpreted in two ways.

First, it means “Don’t interfere with us anymore.”

Second, it means “We won’t change the farming method because it seems fine.”

They insist on keeping secrets and continuing with the farming method they’ve been using.

But, if interpreted more deeply…

First, it’s cutting the tail to stop the flow of words.

Second, it’s saying “If there’s a problem with this farming method, prove it properly.”

In fact, this approach worked effectively within the game.

‘It seems I’m not the only one trying to change Shatren.’

[Brem Morhark]

[Affinity: 0%]

Having a single white affinity box floating around had its reasons.

This is something I need to reciprocate.

“Ferdy.”

“Yes, brother.”

“Forget that memory for now. Otherwise, Brem Grandpa might be in danger this time.”

“Brem Grandpa? Why…!”

“I did it on purpose to provoke a reaction, considering you might take the fall. If the residents find out, you might be called a lackey.”

“That’s…”

“But, it won’t be long.”

While stroking the disheartened girl’s head, I added,

“This territory will soon be under my control.”

▶You have proven the problem by synthesizing given clues.◀

▶The event concludes. Results will be calculated.◀

[1. Carsein will directly manage one-third of Shatren’s territory. Light commands can be issued within the areas where effective governance has dropped.]

[2. Due to the power of the engraving stone, deeper intervention is not possible.]

[3. This issue will no longer be mentioned.]

Looking at the results, I managed to secure what I needed.

One-third of the territory.

With this, I can identify the issues.

Then, for now, follow the main episode’s instructions.

▶Episode VII. Managing Shatren’s agents in progress.◀

▶You need to recruit another agent.◀

It’s time to find a second agent.

But.

▶Perfect Clear reward is a Memorial!◀

▶The Memorial is automatically activated!◀

▶This Memorial reveals the secret of guard Dike.◀

Ironically, the reward from a Perfect Clear led me to the target I intended to recruit as an agent.