"Now, the territory is also on the right track. Two thousand new subjects are in place, the farmland has been reclaimed, the mines are being worked, and the army is training."

Lin Feng paused, "There haven't been any major issues lately, so I plan to slow down the pace a bit."

Everyone's eyes gradually lit up.

"Beacon Fire Town will focus on farming and development for a while, and everyone should take a good rest."

Lin Feng looked at the crowd, "Tell me, are there any threats nearby?"

"Come to think of it, there really aren't any threats," Wang Wu said with a smile.

Tie Dun slapped his thigh: "That's great! I can finally get a good night's sleep!"

Lin Feng smiled and stood up.

"The meeting is over. Starting today, everyone gets a six-day holiday."

Everyone was stunned.

"A holiday?"

"Yes, a holiday." Lin Feng nodded, "Those who ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) want to return to Blue Star can do so to spend time with their families and relax."

"Those who don't want to go back can rest in the town. For these six days, recuperate well; you don't have to do anything."

Tie Dun was the first to jump up: "Long live the Lord!"

Zhao Hu grinned and said: "I have to go back and see my wife and kids, spend more time with them."

Wang Wu said with emotion: "I'll go back too. My old mother has been nagging for a long time, saying I only stay for a little bit each time. This time I'll stay longer."

Arrow Eye nodded silently, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Su Yurou said softly: "I'll go back to see my family, and by the way... get a good sleep."

Shadow Snake still stood in the corner without speaking. But Lin Feng noticed that her gaze had softened slightly.

A Wang and Scarface Liu looked at each other, both seeing the excitement in the other's eyes.

"Go on then." Lin Feng waved his hand, "We'll gather again in six days."

Everyone stood up one after another, bowed to Lin Feng, and then left the Council Hall chatting and laughing.

Soon, only Lin Feng was left in the hall.

He walked to the window and looked outside.

The setting sun slanted down, plating the entire Beacon Fire Town in a warm orange-red.

People were coming and going on the streets. Those newly arrived worker Awakened were still wandering around, sizing up this brand-new "workplace."

Two thousand people.

Adding the original subjects, the total population of Beacon Fire Town was now close to four thousand.

A smile slowly curled at the corner of Lin Feng's mouth.

A town of four thousand people was no longer small in the Nightmare World.

Once those five hundred Beacon Guards finished their training, and once Li San and Li Si took care of the farmland...

Beacon Fire Town would become stronger and stronger.

He turned and returned to his room on the second floor.

Lying on the bed and looking at the ceiling, Lin Feng's thoughts drifted north.

Deep in the Crying Rift Valley, that Level 19 Harpy, and that 【golden chain of deception of the false life lord】 with a one-in-a-million drop rate.

The Eye of Probability still had... he silently calculated; including today, there were six days left until the refresh.

If he went back in six days, that necklace would be his.

But that was a matter for six days later.

Now, he also needed to rest.

Lin Feng closed his eyes and soon fell into a deep sleep.

Outside the window, the sun slowly sank below the horizon.

Beacon Fire Town welcomed its first truly peaceful night.

Meanwhile, at the western end of Beacon Fire Town, the Golden Ear Plain.

Baigui County.

The night was deep, but the Lord's Council Hall was still brightly lit.

Umekawa Kojiro sat high in the main seat, his body wrapped in several white bandages.

Those were scars left from the battle with the Nightmare Corrupt Dragon Beast three days ago—more accurately, they were scars he had intentionally left.

He looked down at his attribute panel:

【Level: 20】

His original Level 25 had dropped by five levels.

But it was worth it.

The promise of two pieces of purple equipment, and... the plan that was about to begin.

He looked up, his gaze sweeping across the twenty core class-holders lined up on both sides of the hall.

All were dressed in black and masked, with standard-issue short blades tucked into their waists, each exuding a heavy aura.

These were the elites of the Umekawa Family, his greatest reliance for ruling Baigui County.

"Everyone is here," Umekawa Kojiro spoke, his voice not loud but clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"The news of me dropping to Level 20 should have spread by now."

A burly ninja on the left looked up, his eyes filled with worry: "Patriarch, for that plan, paying the price of five levels... is it worth it?"

A cold smile curled on Umekawa Kojiro's lips: "It's just five levels; I can train them back in a few months. But two pieces of purple equipment are things that can be sought but not easily found."

Everyone was silent.

They knew better than anyone how precious purple equipment was. In the entire Baigui County, only the Patriarch owned a purple weapon. If another piece were added...

"Let's not talk about that." Umekawa Kojiro waved his hand and turned his gaze to the tall, sharp-eyed young ninja in the first seat on the left.

"Kagetora."

The young ninja immediately bowed: "Patriarch."

Umekawa Kojiro said slowly: "Tomorrow, take a few people to that Copper-Tin Mine in the east."

Umekawa Kagetora looked up, a flash of excitement in his eyes: "The Patriarch means?"

"No." Umekawa Kojiro shook his head, "Just to declare sovereignty."

He paused and continued: "When you get there, tell those Beacon Fire Town miners that this mine has been the territory of Baigui County since ancient times. We will take it back in a few days. Tell them to get lost as soon as possible."

"Also say a few provocative things, like 'Daxia people only know how to take advantage of others' or 'If you have guts, don't run.'

Remember, you can say anything, but you absolutely must not make a move."

At this time, an older ninja on the right couldn't help but speak: "Patriarch, didn't you say last time that the Lord of Beacon Fire Town is very likely to be a Rare Lord Template like you?"

"We... might not be his match. If we only talk, what if he just ignores us?"

Umekawa Kojiro smiled slightly, a smile filled with deep meaning.

"Tomorrow is just to let him know who the enemy is."

He leaned back in the main seat, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest: "As for what comes after, I have my own arrangements."

Everyone looked at each other but didn't dare to ask more.

Umekawa Kojiro waved his hand: "Go and prepare. Kagetora, remember, only use your mouth, not your hands. Everything according to international law."

"Yes!" Umekawa Kagetora bowed and took his orders.

The twenty core class-holders filed out of the Council Hall.

Soon, only Umekawa Kojiro was left in the hall.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked east. That was the direction of the Canglang Plain, the direction of Beacon Fire Town.

"Rare Lord Template... eighteen years old..." he whispered to himself.

"Let this old man see how you, the dark horse of Daxia, will respond to provocation."

A meaningful smile curled on his lips.

The night wind blew in from the window, fluttering the bandages on his body.

Umekawa Kojiro turned and disappeared into the shadows deep within the Council Hall.