"Do you want us to pay for—" Someone started. Maximilian didn't bother to look for the speaker.
"No, you don't have to pay for it, buy it, pay me back or any other variant. Just don't die." Maximilian waited until everyone was equipped before he placed them all into a makeshift formation. He placed everyone with a long weapon on the outsides and then everyone with a sword in the middle. He was no military guy but he understood how spear formation generally worked. He hoped keeping everyone together would help each individual's resolve. He then took up position at the front of the group. He attempted to expand his Dao field to cover everyone but he couldn't. Or rather the group was too big. He would have to devote his full attention to it and he would be exhausted within an hour. Despite that he felt like it was something he should train. He wondered if he could cover an entire army with his rain or even his electricity. He could form shield that would make his people impossible to hurt. That was a dream for later.
"I hope you don't mind if I join you?" Mama June's voice snapped him back from his thoughts. "I wanted to thank you for your help. This is the second time you've saved our lives."
Maximilian smiled and shook his head. He wasn't sure how to deal with the matronly woman. The others either feared him or were distrustful but she was oddly comfortable. "No need for that. I am doing what anyone would. Help your fellow man and all that."
"Regardless you've done us a great service." She held out her hand. Maximilian took the hint and offered her his arm. When she took it he gestured for the group to start walking. He was a bit surprised to find she had taken one of the straight swords. He knew it was the smart option but part of him still expected the older woman to not arm herself. "So have you found your family yet?"
Her question caught him off guard and caused him to stumble half a step. "I... No not yet. I am going to search for them properly once I leave you all."
"Good, good I would hate for you to not have the chance. If there is anything I can do to help feel free to ask."
Maximilian gave a polite nod of his head but he doubted she would be able to help. At least not with that, she might be good at keeping people together. "Would you mind updating me on what happened after I left? I noticed that some of the others aren't around." Mama June began her explanation and by the Maximilian was disappointed. He had wished that the story were different. That there was a tale of some epic battle but it wasn't. The others had died when they left the makeshift settlements. They had died slowly most just not making it back. He assumed that they had all been attacked by monsters but he made a mental note to ask the others. He wasn't sure what he would do if he learned the bandits had been hunting them. That was something he couldn't ignore.
"Did you go and visit that other settlement?" Mama June asked as they settled down for a break. It took Maximilian a moment to figure out what she was talking about. When he did he gave her a nod of confirmation.
"Yeah, its real and its led by a mysterious militia guy. I hadn't met him before I left but I plan to go there after I drop you all off. I want to make them a similar offer."
"Are you able to feed all of us?" She asked as she glanced at the others.
Maximilian shrugged. "I am able to buy things from the various shops so that shouldn't be an issue. Though those things are somewhat pricey. It would be better to find some farmers."
"Well you know my grandfather owned a farm." She began and Maximilian got the feeling that this was her intent. Still he didn't interrupt. "I should be able to take care of another one. If you want." The matronly woman then gave a smile that made him think of his own grandmother. He wasn't sure if he would be considered a bad person for asking someone her age to work a farm and was about to refuse. His worry must've been anticipated however; because she continued. "My body feels almost fifty years younger, so I won't accept no for an answer."
Maximilian raised an eyebrow at her and then chuckled. "Very well, ask the others to help you. The mountain peak should be safe from monsters for the time being. I fought all of them off already."
From there Mama June and he fell into a conversation about the fertile land available. Or to be more accurate Mama June asked and Maximilian did his best to describe dirt. By the time they decided to call it quits he wasn't sure if the woman wanted to thank him or call him an idiot. Fortunately for him Kim and Miles arrived to save him.
"Do you mind if we have a word?" Kim asked. Maximilian helped Mama to her feet and watched her leave for a moment before he gave the duo his full attention. "We would like to know what you are planning? My ex-husband used to say that the only free cheese was in a mouse trap and that was one of the few things we agreed on."
Maximilian blinked several times as he tried to piece together what that meant. When it dawned on him, he shook his head. "I don't want anything. Well I want people I suppose but that's more of a consequence than anything else. You all weren't in the tutorial but we were told what to expect next. We are in a world trial. We have to fight until there was one ruler of the planet. It was implied that if we failed something would happen. I am not sure if that would mean the Network would blow us up or if it means more monsters. Either way I am strong enough to make a difference so I am going to try." Both of their faces grew noticeably paler with his explanation, but it needed to be said. He could tell that lying or avoiding the question would make the situation harder down the road. If anything, he felt he should've added his own assumptions, but he held back. He needed to see more of the world before he did that. He was a bit surprised that they hadn't gotten a quest about it yet.
"You haven't answered the question." Kim responded. "What do you plan? You wouldn't be the first man to claim to want to fix things only to start breaking them in the name of glory or power."
Maximilian nodded but wasn't sure what answer they wanted him to give. He could promise to not be a tyrant, but did anyone ever start of that way? He could promise to build a just society for everyone, but the Network had effectively created a two-tier society. Cultivators and mortals would always be at odds so there was little he could do about it. He could go back in forth on it for hours and get no where so he decided to speak honestly. "I am going to do my best. I don't want to hurt anyone but I think the Network." He gestured to the forest around them. "The end of the world gave us a chance. There was so much inequality before. Places where the rich could live in abundance while the poor survived with nothing. Now we've been given a reset button. A chance to forge a world with our own two hands. A world where the people who fought for it would be able to stand sentry. We wouldn't have to wonder what they would've wanted. What they would've done. So that's what I plan to do. I want to build a world that's better for everyone."
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"Just as long as you are making the decisions?" Her question if it could be called that felt like a needle in his stomach. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to respond so he didn't. "No matter, you are our best chance at survival. Our guns are useless now that we are out of bullets. Not that they were that helpful before." Maximilian had figured that was the case, but he decided not to comment on it further. He was sure the monsters would be too strong for standard ammo. Though he couldn't be sure about the stronger stuff. Now he could update that assumption to include rifle ammo.
"I believe this is the part where you tell me what you want?" Maximilian flashed a smile. "Or threaten me if I step over the line." He chuckled until he saw the unamused look on her face.
"What would be the point? I've seen a bit of what you could do and I know I can't deal with that. Not now and I doubt you will stay the same." She gestured to the sheathed sword on her hip. "If I am strong enough to stop you I will. There'd be no need for a threat."
Maximilian couldn't find fault with what she said. Well minus the threat. He considered helping them level up, but he had already wasted too much time. He needed to find his family sooner rather than later. After that he could focus on development. Maximilian waited to see if there was anything else but when she stood up, he let her go. He could understand why she wouldn't like him, and it wasn't his power. Based on the glances between her and the others. He had disrupted whatever hierarchy they had in place. He didn't get what role Mama June played. He could tell there was tension, and he didn't think the older woman was using him to get back at Kim. If anything, it felt like his arrival had freed her to do whatever she wanted. Which only made him more confused. He didn't get how she had survived. Not that he wanted anyone else to die but there was no way the matronly woman was above level 3, yet she was here, and others weren't. It was a mystery that he would look into when he had the chance.
After that the rest of the journey to Nubia passed by without a hitch. The few monsters curious enough to investigate them fled when he launched a few probing attacks. It wasn't until the group saw Nezha that things got interesting. Their shocked exclamations were enough to brighten his mood for the rest of the week. He still wasn't sure if the assistant understood humor and was playing with everyone or if it had no choice in its dry responses. Either way it was amusing. Just as Maximilian was about to step in he received a notification. This time it was for a quest.
Active Quests:
- True Potential: Reach level 27:(12/27) Reward: Access to the Class System
- Populous Leader: Grow your Population to 10,000 within three months. (15/10,000) Reward: Based on Performance
He wasn't sure how he felt about the second quest. It wasn't hard, if anything it was the easier of his two active quests, but it was also the most passive. There was nothing he could do to speed it up. Nothing he was willing to do anyway. He would have to go around and recruit people where he could. He was much more interested in the reward. He wasn't sure what the requirements were for performance but he assumed it was speed. Either that or the type of people he invited. The Network could reward him more for cultivators—He decided to leave that school of thought alone. He couldn't control how the Network would react, but he could control himself. He wouldn't treat anyone better or worse. He shook his head and dismissed the screen. "Nehza." He called as he placed a smile on his face. "Welcome our guests please. I am going to set out again soon but I would like you to help everyone find a place to live."
"If I may." Nezha began. "It is your intent to keep these people here as your citizens would you like to purchase a defensive array?"
Maximilian cocked his head and then nodded. "How many and of what power can we purchase?" Nezha went completely still for several moments before a new menu appeared in front of Maximilian. The menu was from the Network's shop. The list of arrays was fascinating. They weren't all for defense either. They had everything from agricultural services to power. Though from the description they didn't use electricity. Instead, they all used spiritual energy. "They are all divided into two types. Early and middle quality. I assume Middle is the best right?"
"It refers to the strength of the array. In the same way that cultivation realms are divided into four stages so are arrays. So are must things actually. A early array or in this case a early Foundation stage array would be able to defend against beast and cultivators of that state. Of course, within the stages an items quality also matters. A poorly made early-stage array would shatter sooner than a peak quality early-stage array."
Maximilian nodded and filed that information away for later. He glanced in the direction of the library and made a mental note to go and check it out as soon as he could. "Alright so then I assume I am in early Foundation right? So an early array should be able to keep me out?"
"Generally though your attributes could effect the situation. I assume you understand that an individuals power can vary even within the same stage." Nezha responded.
Maximilian rubbed his chin as he considered what he should do. He doubted there would be a lot of creatures as strong as him still alive. Despite that he didn't want to risk the lives of his people. If it was him, he would gladly buy the weaker one and save himself a massive amount of money, but he was a leader now. He made his selection and then a gun metal grey box appeared at his feet. The box was the same size as a brief case and made him think of a drug deal. Or a shady businessman with millions. He picked it up and opened to reveal a set of ten flags and information slip. He didn't bother asking Nezha for more information. He grabbed the slip and sent a bit of energy inside. He braced himself for the download, but he hadn't needed to. It lasted less than a second and didn't hurt at all. He assumed that was due to his Intelligence attribute. The information inside was rather detailed.
It boiled down to a simple system though. He needed to spread out the flags to ten spots all around the area he wanted to defend. Once he did that, he would need to power them with spiritual energy. Though he couldn't use his own, not unless he wanted to stand pay people to stand at each one. Even then once they ran out of energy the array would fade. He would have to use spirit stones. Which meant he would use the 2nd-realm stones he got. He didn't want to nor did he technically have to. The stronger the stones he used the better the result. In this case arrays were almost burning money. This kind of array was effectively a ward from fantasy stories which made him more curious. The slip didn't explain how to make one, but he figured he could reverse engineer the process. When he had the time to try. For now though he had to focus. He had to find the right spots and bury the flags. This array could afford to lose two flags before it would fall apart which meant he had to bury them deep and hide them.
"Nezha would you know the location of the flags if I don't tell you?"
"I am connected to your territory. I know most of what happens within. That being said I would not know the details of the things you do. I would not have the knowledge of the flag locations unless you told me." He replied and once again Maximilian stared at the assistant. He had no idea why the construct person would reply like that. It was long winded and provided no real information. He would know things but not all things? Maximilian pushed his irritation down and closed the case. For now he would keep their locations to himself. They wouldn't be able to repair them if they got broken anyway.
"I authorize you to buy any arrays that would benefit the settlement while I am gone." Maximilian said as he left the group to get settled. He would plant the flags, head to bridgerock and then he would go look for his family.