Lena nodded to herself, then turned her attention back to the next lines of [A Letter from the Future]. This Letter was her hope for a better future.
Alright you have introduced yourself to your subjects. What is next? Here is the strategy I’ve devised over the last year, for your strong start. Fifty meters south of your house is an open obsidian mine. Send our subjects to gather as many stones as possible and promise them one exp per 10 kilo to motivate them.
Lena lowered the letter, her mind already setting things into motion. She took a steady breath, straightened her posture, and lifted her voice with authority.
"Everyone, hear my command! Head south to the obsidian mine—gather as many stones as you can carry and bring them to the market tent. Those who work swiftly shall be rewarded!" As she spoke, she activated her first skill [Command] and issued the quest Collect Obsidian.
[Command] [IM] – The ability to issue clear, authoritative orders that compel obedience and coordination.
The effect even at Lvl 1 was immediate. Her four subjects sprang into motion, their movements sharp and decisive. Without hesitation, they turned and jogged toward the stone pit, the crunch of grass and twigs beneath their feet echoing through the clearing. Lena watched them go, a strange exhilaration swelling in her chest. This was real—she wasn’t just playing a role. She was leading now.
[Note: You used [Command]]
[Note: You issued a quest: Collect Obsidian.
Reward: Every 10 kilos of Obsidian delivered to the Interdimensional Marketplace grants 1 EXP.]
[Achievement Unlocked: Quest Giver!]
Type: Lord
Requirement: Issue your first quest.
Reward: 100 Lord EXP + 100 Coins (Lord Competition Bonus)
[Note: You have earned coins. Your Interdimensional Marketplace has opened.]
Lord EXP was a resource exclusive to rulers of a [Territory], primarily used as rewards for their subjects’ completed quests and certain administrative functions. However, it could not be spent on oneself, reinforcing the necessity of delegation and leadership.
Garrick’s eyes widened as he read the quest details. That reward… it was absurd. A hundred times more EXP than any gathering task he had ever encountered. In his experience, a full day’s labor usually yielded a single point of experience—if that. And with the average person losing 6 EXP per week just to maintain their level, it was no wonder [LM] were so rare. But with this? He had no words. This was on an entirely different level.
If this was how Lady Seemann ran her territory, then he had lucked into something special. A lord who valued her people and rewarded them generously?.
A grin tugged at the corner of his lips, ambition pumping threw his veins. I think I’m going to like serving under this Lady. Here I can grow strong
While Garrick envisioned his future as a powerful man, Lady Seemann turned her attention back to reading her [A Letter from the Future].
Now, contact the following Lords through the interface and arrange the detailed trade deals.
A list of names followed, each one highlighted like a link. To her astonishment, as she focused on a name, a direct connection opened in her mind—seamlessly linking her to the Lord’s communication interface. Without hesitation, she used these links to reach out.
"Hey, Lord Müller. My Talent told me to contact you. Can you craft me some stone tools and spearheads if I send you obsidian? I’ll pay you in coins for your work or you can keep half of the obsidian for yourself. Also, I can share a few system secrets with you. Deal?"
“Hey Lady Zhou. My Talent told me to contact you. Can you make me a few meters of rope? I’ll have obsidian tools ready soon to support you. I will also share some valuable system secrets with you if you do so.”
“Hey, Lord F?rster. My Talent suggested I contact you. I’d like to buy some wooden handles and shafts. If you send me a batch, soon I’ll be able to supply you with obsidian axes and other tools in return.”
“Hey Bubblegum. Please send me some of your orbs. I will help you, I promise!”
The first three Lords all possessed highly useful Resource Talents, making them invaluable primary suppliers for Lena in the beginning. This network would allow her to secure essential tools, materials, and services, giving her a massive short-term growth boost. With their help, she could quickly establish a strong foundation, strengthening her position in the competition for the Lordship of Chen.
Lord Müller possessed a Talent that granted him and his subjects a magical skill to shape and empower stone, making him invaluable for tool production.
Lady Zhou had a unique building that allowed her to form contracts with plant spirits. She lived in a vast grassland, making her the ideal source for rope and plant-based materials.
Lord F?rster’s Talent was less remarkable: every time his gate activated, a Treesinger was spawned. While the name sounded like something out of a fantasy novel, Treesingers weren’t elves. They were just humans with a rare job-class combination that awakened a magical ability even as an [Inferior Mortal], allowing them to shape wood with their voices.
The plan was simple: harness the resources of her newfound allies to craft tools and weapons, then quickly auction them on the Interdimensional Marketplace—all within the first 15 minutes of humanities arrival on the plane of Chen. This strategy would give her a significant first-mover advantage, positioning her well ahead of her competitors, who would still be grappling with the complexities of their roles as Lords and figuring out how to effectively use their Talents. By acting swiftly and decisively, Lena could carve out a strong position for herself in the competition for Lordship, setting the stage for long-term success.
While typing the messages in her mind, Lena walked toward the [Interdimensional Marketplace]. Despite the grandiose name, it was still little more than a shabby tent. At least now it was open, revealing a stone circle etched with softly glowing runes that hummed with energy.
Just as she examined the setup, a ping echoed in her mind, announcing that Lord Müller had messaged her.
*ping*
“Holy s***, is your Talent omniscient? I''ve barely even read my own Talent, let alone understood it, and you’re already contacting me because of it. That''s insane! But sure, I’m open to trade. What are the terms?”
Lena smiled at the response, typing quickly: “Lord Müller, thank you for your prompt reply. My Talent isn’t [Omniscient], but it does give me useful information, albeit randomly. Now, here’s how this will work: I’ll send you a coin to unlock your Marketplace and a few pieces of obsidian. Please craft some axe heads and sickles, and send them back to me. Also, issue a [Command] and give a quest to your subjects, no matter how small. That way, you can earn an achievement! Then please send back the coin"
Lena quickly hit send. Strictly speaking, sending the coin wasn’t necessary, but it would help establish trust with Lord Müller, and trust was invaluable at this early stage. Not long after, a reply pinged in her mind.
“Understood, Lady Seemann! I’m intrigued by your Talent, but I’m not one to shy away from an opportunity. I’ll get started right away. Please hold tight.”
Satisfied, Lena wasted no time. She quickly sent the tip about the achievement to the other three Lords as well. Building trust and rapport was crucial, and fostering strong relationships early on would pay off in many ways.
With the messages sent, Lena turned her attention back to the rest of the [A Letter from the Future]. The letter was filled with dense information and secrets written in small, cramped handwriting. Her own handwriting. She skimmed over it, but nothing jumped out at her as immediately useful.
By now, Lena’s four subjects had returned, their hands filled with chunks of obsidian, which they carefully placed on the stone circle. Everytime, with a wave of her hand, Lena sent the precious stone to Lord Müller, watching as the chunks fell through the floor, vanishing into the ether.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Garrick had been the first to return, effortlessly carrying a 30 kg piece of obsidian on his shoulder, his movements smooth and unhurried. Aldric followed closely behind, his 30 kg piece clearly heavier for him, but he managed nonetheless, sweat beading on his brow. The two women walked together at a slower pace, with Maria, ever mindful of her limits, carrying a 15 kg piece, but still doing so with a calm, practiced stride.
Then there was Elara. The potion maker was an anomaly. With little apparent effort, she carried a 50 kg piece of obsidian, chatting amiably with Maria as she walked. Lena watched in astonishment. Yes, a Lesser Mortal was generally stronger than an Inferior Mortal, but this difference didn''t usually erase the disparities in gender, size, and, most notably, [Skill]. Yet Elara moved as though the weight was nothing more than a lightweight basket.
Clearly, Elara wasn’t just an ordinary potion maker. Lena’s curiosity piqued, and she couldn’t help herself. She motioned for Elara to stay behind for a moment after she dropped of the unreasonable large boulder on the teleportation circle.
“Miss Thorn,” she began, her tone both respectful and inquisitive, “you are a lot stronger than you seem.” Naturally, asking for secrets directly would be unsightly, so instead, she formulated her question as a compliment. It was a subtle attempt to understand her better without stepping too far out of line. Lena couldn’t help but feel a small sense of pride at her ability to act like a noble, no a [Lady]. It felt surprisingly natural, as if this situation had always been meant for her. Her actions, her words, even her demeanor, all came with an ease she hadn’t anticipated.
Elara gave Lena a suspicious glance for a moment, before her expression softened and she spoke truthfully. “That’s not much of a secret. My grandmother was a [Greater Mortal], a true master [Alchemist] and [Hedgewitch]. She gave me all sorts of potions when I was young—most importantly, one that doubled the effects of ranking up to [Lesser Mortal], and eventually to [Mortal]. Thanks to her, I ranked up before I was even 18.”
Lena’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. “Ohh, that’s amazing. You must be close to ranking up again, right?” she asked, her voice tinged with excitement. The idea of a potion that could enhance the effects of a rank-up was an incredible advantage for the future. It would give her an edge in the competition for Lordship, and she couldn’t help but be impressed and excited. Naturally she didn’t mentioned the potion for the moment.
Elara’s face faltered, a shadow crossing her features. She shook her head slowly. “The opposite, actually. Forced conscription and three years of a losing war under bad leadership drained my stockpile. I’m basically back at the bottom of the [Grade] again.” Her expression darkened as she looked down, a sadness in her eyes that Lena hadn’t expected.
Lena’s thoughts shifted, recalling the information she had been installed with about grading up. To grade up, one needed a certain amount of experience, which varied depending on race, class, title, job, and talents. For a normal human, it took around a thousand exp to move from Inferior Mortal to Lesser Mortal, and another 25k to progress to [Mortal]. However, as a [Lady], Lena’s path would require far more experience—much more than 25k—just to reach [Inferior Mortal].
There were numerous ways to gain experience: slaying monsters, leveling up skills, and progressing in titles, jobs, or classes were among the most common methods. Fulfilling quests was another valuable avenue. But there were even more ways to lose experience. Aging, poor nutrition, injuries, illness, and even a lack of discipline could drain it. Only well-led territories, with capable rulers at the helm, had the ability to promote their citizens and help them rank up.
Lena’s mind briefly flickered to the grim reality of Elara’s situation. Baron Venn, it seemed, was not a capable Lord. His leadership—or lack thereof—had not only hindered Elara’s progress but had eradicated it entirely. It was no wonder she felt so defeated. The weight of leadership was something Lena had not fully grasped yet, but it was clear that a poor leader could have devastating effects on the people under their rule. A moment of doubt crept into her mind, but she quickly brushed it away. She wasn’t here to dwell on the failures of others; she was here to make a difference.
She turned the conversation back to Elara, asking more about her past, her experiences, and how the war had shaped her. As Elara spoke, the layers of her tough exterior peeled away, revealing the toll the conflict had taken on her—physically, emotionally, and mentally. Lena listened intently, genuinely interested in Elara’s story, understanding that leadership was not just about giving orders, but about connecting with and understanding those who served under you.
As they chatted, Lena''s interface pinged with a message. [Achievement: Attentive Lord. Type: Lord. Get a subject of yours to inform you about their backstory. Award: 100 Lord exp + 100 coins (Lord competition extra achievement)].
Another achievement. Lena smiled inwardly, her confidence growing with each new step. She quickly sent the details of the achievement to the four other Lords she was in contact with, knowing that they, too, would benefit from such milestones.
Ping!
Lena was in the middle of her conversation with Elara when another message arrived. It was from Lord F?rster.
“Thanks for the tips. I’ve sent you a trade offer for the handles.”
Lena immediately opened the Interface of the [Interdimensional Marketplace], and sure enough, a trade offer popped up:
[Note: Trade Offer from Lord F?rster]
4 hardwood axe handles [ungraded] for 8 coins.
Lena raised an eyebrow. That was quick. It had barely been five minutes since she’d sent her message, and Lord F?rster was already making an offer. The speed at which the Treesinger had worked was impressive. Did Lord F?rster luck into a Lesser Mortal Treesinger with advanced skills? It seemed so, given how rapidly the handles had been produced.
Lena quickly scanned the offer. The term ungraded caught her attention, but it didn’t deter her. Even without any additional enhancements, the handles were still a valuable resource at this time. This early even with that horrendous price she would make massive profits.
It was a fair deal, considering the speed with which Lord F?rster had delivered the handles. Lena accepted the offer with a swift gesture. With a light show, four nice looking axe handles appeared in the stone circle of the Interdimensional Marketplace, the transaction complete.
[Achievement Unlocked: First Trade!]
Type: Lord
Requirement: Accept your first trade deal through the Interdimensional Marketplace..
Reward: 100 Lord EXP + 100 Coins (Lord Competition Bonus)
Lena’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. Another achievement unlocked, and more rewards in her pocket. She felt the momentum building—a series of small victories, all stacking up toward a greater goal.
She quickly sent a message to Lord F?rster: “Thank you for the swift trade, Lord F?rster. I look forward to working with you again soon.”
Over the next five minutes, both Lady Zhou and Lord Müller sent over their goods as she talked with Elara. Unlike Lord F?rster, neither of them asked for coins. Lady Zhou delivered five one-meter ropes, each sturdy and well-made, while Lord Müller sent over four simple yet functional axe heads and two sickles.
While the ropes from Lady Zhou were ungraded, the axe heads and other tools from Lord Müller were of a much higher quality. These were [IM] graded, a notable distinction. The reinforced obsidian axe heads were particularly impressive.
[Reinforced Obsidian Axehead. Grade: Inferior Mortal]
An axehead formed through stone magic out of a large chunk of obsidian. It is magically reinforced to prevent chipping, ensuring a durable edge even in tough conditions.
These would be incredibly valuable once sold on the Interdimensional Marketplace, where graded items wouldn’t be found for many hours.
By now, the three had gathered hundreds of kilos of Obsidian which Lena had sent Lord Müller, ensuring that her supply chain was fully stocked. With the components accquired, she ordered her four subjects to begin assembling the axes, halting the collection of more Obsidian.
[Note: You issued a quest: Assemble Axes.
Reward: Every Assembled Axe delivered to the Interdimensional Marketplace grants 3 EXP.]
She herself took a moment to focus on a more delicate task. Taking one of the sickles, she carefully wrapped the handle with the rope from Lady Zhou, ensuring a sturdy, comfortable grip. After completing it she send it of to Lady Zhou as a gift.
Barely a minute later, a pair of achievements pinged in her mind.
Ping
[Achievement Unlocked: Tool Maker!]
Type: Lord
Requirement: Create a [IM] graded tool for the first time within your territory.
Reward: 100 Lord EXP + 100 Coins (Lord Competition Bonus)
Ping
[Achievement Unlocked: A Lord''s First Weapon!]
Type: Lord
Requirement: Gain your first [IM] graded Weapon for your territory
Reward: 100 Lord EXP + 100 Coins (Lord Competition Bonus)
The words resonated in her mind as the first axe was completed. She smiled, knowing that the axe served as both a tool and a weapon. The plan of her future self was truly impressive. She then send a trade request of 4 axes for 16 coins to Lord F?rster. By now he had send her a trade request for another 4 handles for 8 coins thus making them even. The other two had also send more components. Instead of ordering the assemble of the next four axes she send one kit to her 4 trading partners so that they could gain the two Achievements themself.
Hopefully her gamble with Lord Hedge, ie Bubblegum would pay off.