"Special Commissioner Chen? Why have you come to my home? Is there... some new instruction?"

"Student Lin Feng, we meet again. It seems that in the ten days since we parted at the Awakening Hall, your gains have been astonishing." His tone then turned solemn...

"Let me introduce myself formally: Chen Weiguo, the Director of the Rongcheng Nightmare Affairs Bureau. This is my colleague, Liaison Officer Lin Xiaoyu.

Our visit today is first and foremost on behalf of the state to congratulate you on successfully establishing 'Beacon Fire Village' and officially becoming a village-level lord of our Great Xia!"

Lord! This word struck everyone's hearts heavily once more. Lin Feng's parents stared wide-eyed, and Su Yurou covered her mouth.

Chen Weiguo continued, "Secondly, it's to perform official duties by delivering the first batch of national support and benefits for a newly promoted lord, and to establish a formal communication channel." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Director Chen, you're too kind. Please come in. Our home is a bit small, so please don't mind."

He said to his parents and Su Yurou, "Dad, Mom, this is Director Chen from the Nightmare Administration Bureau. He was the one who gave us training at school on the day I awakened. Student Su knows him too. No one here is a stranger, so let's talk inside."

Lin Xiaoyu smiled cleverly and added, "Uncle, Auntie, sorry for the intrusion! Hello, Little Sister Su!"

Her voice was crisp and lively, instantly diluting the ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ seriousness of an official visit.

Everyone entered the house. The living room felt even more crowded, yet the atmosphere became strangely harmonious.

The shock remained, but with Lin Feng's calm response and Chen Weiguo's familiar attitude as a buffer, his parents' bewilderment lessened significantly, transforming into immense surprise and pride at their son's achievements.

Su Yurou watched Lin Feng converse calmly with Director Chen, the shock and complexity in her heart growing even stronger.

Lin Feng walked to the dining table and gestured naturally, "Director Chen, Officer Lin, you haven't had lunch yet, right?

If you don't mind, why not eat with us?

Coincidentally, I also have some matters regarding the territory that I might need to consult Director Chen about."

Chen Weiguo took a deep look at Lin Feng, the smile on his face widening with appreciation. "Then we shall impose upon you.

As it happens, there are some situations I need to discuss with Lord Lin as well."

Everyone took their seats. An ordinary home-cooked lunch was about to become a profound informal meeting.

At the center of the storm, the young lord calmly served food to his parents, as if he were merely hosting two special guests from afar.

Lunch continued, but the topic had already shifted.

Chen Weiguo put down his chopsticks, his expression becoming a bit more formal. "Lin Feng—I should call you Lord Lin now—regarding the villa and monthly stipend I mentioned earlier.

These are the basic benefits the state provides to every legal lord. They are recognition and protection for your efforts in pioneering the Nightmare World and stabilizing the national fortune."

Lin Feng's parents were still a bit dazed. A monthly salary of one million? A villa?

These were figures and treatments they wouldn't have dared to dream of in their entire lives, all because their son became some kind of 'lord'?

Lin Feng just nodded calmly, looking at Chen Weiguo with clear eyes.

"Director Chen, thank you for the kindness shown by the state and the bureau. These benefits are a great help to me and my family.

However, what I care about more is whether the state has corresponding resources or policy support for my territory in the Nightmare World, 'Beacon Fire Village'?"

He wasn't dazzled by the massive benefits; instead, he went straight to the core. While a comfortable life on Blue Star was good, his foundation in the Nightmare World was his true basis for standing and his future.

The appreciation in Chen Weiguo's eyes grew even stronger. He liked this kind of clear-headed, pragmatic, and forward-looking young man.

"Haha, Lord Lin is indeed sharp-minded." Chen Weiguo smiled and leaned forward slightly.

"Those things just now were 'benefits' for you and your family. What we're going to talk about next is the state's'support' for new lords."

He gestured, and Lin Xiaoyu immediately took a folded leather map from a silver metal case she was carrying and carefully spread it out on the dining table.

The map was finely drawn, with mountains, rivers, and spheres of influence marked with different colors and symbols.

"Lord Lin, based on the coordinates of your territory 'Beacon Fire Village', the area you are currently in is what we call 'Riverbend Land', which belongs to the southeastern edge of 'Canglang Plain'."

Chen Weiguo's finger traced across the map. "To the west of Canglang Plain, across the Stone Forest, is the 'Golden Ear Plain', which is dozens of times larger than Canglang Plain.

The land there is relatively fertile with more resource points, but the competition is also much fiercer. Many old-fashioned village-level and town-level territories, and even some small to medium-sized guilds, are entrenched there."

His finger continued moving west. "And in the western part of Golden Ear Plain, at a straight-line distance from your current territory of... well, converted to Nightmare World distances, it's about seventy li west of the Qingshi County ruins, right here—"

His finger pointed to an area marked in dark red with a strange torii gate symbol.

"This is the county-level territory of the Sakura Country's Umekawa Family, 'Baigui County'."

Lin Feng's gaze narrowed. A foreign territory? And the distance didn't seem very far.

"About three hundred li west of Baigui County is one of our country's important support points, 'Zhenyue City', one of the four city-level territories."

Chen Weiguo's finger finally landed on a city symbol outlined in gold, which was significantly larger in scale.

"Introducing the surrounding layout to you is to give you a macro understanding of your environment."

Chen Weiguo withdrew his hand, his tone becoming solemn. "Next is the substantive support.

The state controls a talent pool of 'Junior life-professionals' who haven't been bound to any territory yet and have undergone preliminary screening.

As support for a newly promoted lord, you can choose one from among them. We will be responsible for safely delivering them to your territory and completing the binding."

life-professionals! And unbound ones at that!

Lin Feng's heart stirred; this was indeed one of the most practical forms of support right now.

But he still asked, "Can I only choose one? Are such talents in very short supply?"

"More than just short supply, they are strategic resources." Chen Weiguo sighed and explained patiently.

"The training of life-professionals requires time, resources, and specific talents.

Those not bound to a territory are even rarer; most are reserved by major territories, guilds, or even the military as soon as they appear.

Giving you one is already a special quota based on your outstanding performance of 'Rising from Nothing' and your 'Key Focus' rating from headquarters.

And you should know that life-professionals 'poached' from other territories are not recognized by the system when you upgrade your territory. They must be 'native' to your territory or 'legally bound and settled' professionals."

Lin Feng immediately understood the key point. This support not only provided talent but also considered the legal requirements for his future upgrades. The state's support was indeed thorough.

He quickly mentally inventoried the life-professionals he already had: blacksmith, tailor, carpenter, brewer, apothecary, farmer, accountant.

The types were already quite complete, basically meeting the conditions for upgrading from a village to a town.

So, what was missing? Or rather, what could bring extra value?

Marching and fighting, logistical supplies... food was covered, medicine was covered, weapon repairs were covered, clothing was covered... was he missing convenient food processing? Or more professional architectural planning?

"I'll choose a chef." Lin Feng pondered for a moment and made his decision. "Preferably one who excels at making food that is easy to carry, can be stored for a long time, and provides a certain stamina recovery effect."

He considered future military expeditions, ruin exploration, and even potential territorial wars; convenient and efficient marching rations were crucial.

An excellent chef might be able to use special ingredients from the Nightmare World to develop things like'Stamina Potions' or 'Endurance Rations,' which would be important strategic supplements."