MODERN EMPIRE

Here's the edited version:

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Aster took a few minutes to organize his memories and review the system information. With the system now on mute, only a screen with a golden pattern appeared, displaying his status:

Name: Aster Adder Ivy

Lord Rank: Unranked (needs a territory to rank)

Resources Points: 0

Low-Summons Class Ticket: 0

Mid-Summons Class Ticket: 0

High-Summons Class Ticket: 0

Ultra-High-Summons Class Ticket: 0

Military-Personnel Ticket: 0

Low-Military-Base Ticket: 0

Mid-Military-Base Ticket: 0

High-Military-Base Ticket: 0

Special-Summon Ticket: 0

Aster was about to open the starter pack when he heard footsteps. "Lord, lord, where are you? Shout if you can hear me!" a man yelled, his voice laced with desperation.

Aster responded, "I'm here! Come and get me out! I'm stuck because of the debris."

The ex-knight's yelling was a matter of life and death. If Aster, the master of the slave contract, died, the slaves would die 24 hours later.

Finally, the 12 ex-knights arrived and helped Aster out of the carriage. "Ah, where's the nearest water source? I'm thirsty," Aster said.

One of the knights replied, "Follow me, lord."

After a 25-minute walk, they reached a river. Aster instructed the knights to gather what they could from the dead and the carriage while he found a spot to place his lord tablet.

As Aster walked away, the knights whispered among themselves. "Hey, do you think he heard us?" one of them asked.

Another knight replied, "No, judging from his expression, he was just daydreaming and couldn't hear us. Let's pretend we're happy for him and say some nonsense."

The knights continued to discuss their situation, relieved that Aster hadn't discovered their true intentions.

Aster, meanwhile, found a perfect spot for the tablet – a flat land 15km in size with green grass all around. He walked to the middle of the field, the 12 knights following behind him.

Suddenly, Aster stopped. "Ah, right before we start this legendary moment, I have to say a few words."

The knights sneered, trying to hold back their laughter. Aster continued, "You guys, this is an order from your master."

The knights saluted with their swords up high, pretending to be loyal. Aster's expression changed from a smile to a cold, frosty look.

"You can cut your throat with your swords or knives," Aster said, his voice dripping with malice.

The knights' eyes widened in shock as they felt an uncontrollable urge to reach for their swords or knives. "No, no, this is impossible!" they thought.

One by one, the knights fell, their bodies bleeding out on the grass. Aster watched with a satisfied smile. "Hahaha, you guys thought you could deceive me. You didn't know that from the start, I was using you, not the other way around."

As the last knight fell, Aster said, "You thought I couldn't read the contract? I was just pretending I didn't know how to read because if I didn't, I would be long dead."

Aster's laughter echoed through the field. "So, my oh-so-called loyal knights, this is a lesson not to mess with a true king. And in your next life, be loyal."

The knights' souls trembled with fear as they realized they had underestimated Aster. He had been playing them from the start, pretending to be weak and ignorant.

Aster's expression turned cold once more. "You guys probably think I'll die right after you because I'm weak. But do you really think I haven't come prepared? Hahaha, well, guess again."

With that, Aster pressed the "Yes" button to open the starter pack.

[Starter Pack Contents]

- 10,000 resources

- 100 low-citizen-class civilian tickets

- 50 mid-citizen-class civilian tickets

- 10 high-class citizen tickets

- 1 low-level military base ticket

- Basic infrastructure and defense systems for the military base

Aster's eyes sparkled with excitement as he gazed at the contents of the starter