NOVEL NEXT Chapter 60: Breaking Through! So Easy?
The commoners were filled with immense fear.
Could they join Sivis's ranks? Could they continue working for him?
Countless eyes flickered, brimming with anticipation and dread.
Sivis appeared calm on the surface, but his palms were sweating — the encounter with the Adventurer's Guild had nearly shattered his composure.
He knew that whether he could obtain enough Extraordinary Dark Power would determine if he could survive the impending disaster.
In his domain, he could still manage the upcoming dispatch of several adventurer teams — the Goblins and Stone Demons would see a significant boost in strength with the items Sivis could exchange, giving them a considerable advantage in numbers and combat power.
However, after these adventurer teams were dealt with, the Adventurer's Guild would likely increase the rewards for raiding Sivis's domain. This could attract genuine Silver-Rank adventurers or monsters!
If the intervals between these waves of attacks were too short and Sivis had not yet broken through to the Silver Rank, he would have no idea how to handle the situation!
Even if things went smoothly and the second wave of adventurer teams remained at the Bronze Rank or had only a few Silver-Rank fighters, Sivis being forced to return to his domain for defense would still hinder his cultivation progress.
At that time, the threat of the Radiant Great Array and the窥视 of the Silver Blood Clan would become even more pressing.
He felt that the future was bleak.
Everything hinged on the current plan to recruit residents for his domain.
Fortunately, Sivis saw the almost exaggerated reactions of the commoners — they were willing to work for him without pay, and he realized he had earned significant respect among them.
"The recruitment plan should not be too bad." he thought to himself.
Looking at the eager faces of the numerous commoners, he slowly began, "Everyone, I have seen your performance."
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd erupted in excitement, with everyone eager to speak up.
Sivis raised his hand for silence and continued, "I have set up recruitment boards around the city because, in addition to establishing more factories, my domain needs a large number of people and workers."
"Your enthusiasm has moved me — from today on, all of you present who wish to join my domain, I will not turn any of you away!"
"You can also bring more people to follow me. Your dedication has touched me!"
"You don't have to give up your salaries — I will fully pay the agreed wages and benefits to all who are willing to work. Additionally, I plan to build more factories, and I can accommodate even more people!"
"If you can introduce trustworthy people, and they complete a month of work, I will give you half a silver coin as a reward!"
Sivis spoke calmly, but his heart was pounding, and his palms were drenched in cold sweat.
He knew that many of those present would be happy to become his subjects.
But facing a moment that would decide their future, he couldn't help but feel a bit anxious.
He even found himself being less ruthless than usual.
Paying the agreed wages was a basic expectation for Sivis, but he was also using a strategy from his past life's internet companies — offering a referral bonus! A full half a silver coin for a month's work.
He was really putting in the effort!
You see, the jobs Sivis offered were not hard to fill, he was offering a significant profit margin!
The goal was to accumulate more residents and gain Extraordinary Dark Power in a short period of time.
What made Sivis pause was the complete silence that followed his speech, a silence that was almost eerie.
His heart skipped a beat. "What's going on? Did I say something wrong? Did I make these people unwilling to join my domain? No way, that's impossible!"
Rationally, Sivis knew that what he said could only have a positive effect on the recruitment plan. Emotionally, he was still very anxious.
His forehead was starting to sweat.
It wasn't until a young man with a slightly youthful face spoke up in a low voice, "What do you mean by 'getting money for introducing new people'?"
He was genuinely confused and couldn't figure it out — how could medieval commoners understand a marketing strategy like "referral bonuses"?
This question revealed the reason for the brief silence among the crowd — they were so eager to join Sivis's domain that they were trying to decipher every word of the kind nobleman.
The last statement had left them puzzled due to their limited understanding.
But as they pondered Sivis's words, they realized something even more important: this nobleman was not only accepting them!
Even those who had "shamelessly come to work on their own" would receive wages!
Not only that, their relatives, wives, and children could also come to work!
It was the best news they could have hoped for!
Sivis had acknowledged their efforts and stated that "anyone who wanted to join the domain would be accepted" — this meant that their efforts to travel from all over Minnet City, even fighting for jobs, had finally been recognized!!
After the brief silence...
A wave of cheers swept through the crowd like a tidal wave!!
"We are willing to join your domain!"
"We are willing to work for you! Long live Lord Sivis!"
"Thank you, Mr. Sivis!" The commoners cheered almost hysterically, with some even rolling on the ground as they shouted, leaving Sivis wide-eyed and stunned — was this reaction really too much?
Even the foremen who followed him were visibly surprised and frightened: they had previously thought about controlling these commoners, but now it seemed that if the commoners really revolted, they would be easily torn apart.
As the cheers filled the air, Sivis's tense nerves gradually relaxed, and a smile crept onto his lips.
The familiar system notifications began to ring in his ears, announcing one "half-resident" after another.
He felt the power of Extraordinary Dark Power surging through him like a tidal wave, and his magic power suddenly erupted — with a "crack." the sensation of breaking free from shackles came.
In just a moment, Sivis directly broke through to the late-stage Bronze Rank 9!!
The next step to Rank 10 was now within reach.
This breakthrough was achieved without any additional magic power!
Sivis could even clearly sense that his innate talent was improving with the increase in residents!
He was even approaching the next talent stage!
In Gandanyir, the value of each talent stage increases by dozens of times!
Sivis found himself getting closer and closer to that once-seemingly unreachable breakthrough point!
With the surge of magic power, his robe billowed in the wind.
The previous unease and despair in Sivis's eyes vanished, replaced by unparalleled confidence — at this rate, he could very likely absorb more of Minnet City's population with the help of his residents.
Once his talent stage broke through, he would certainly advance to the Silver Rank within ten days!
If the number of recruited commoners was sufficient, he could even further compress the time needed for advancement.
Reaching the Silver Rank meant a qualitative transformation from a mortal to a transcendent being.
From then on, Sivis would truly have the power to protect himself — Bronze Rank cultivators were as numerous as wild dogs, while Silver Rank transcendent beings were scarce even across the entire continent. The scarcity was evident in a place like Minnet City, where only a few could be found.
Unless it was a resource-rich, powerhouse capital city, with just Silver Rank strength, and given that the chaos would not begin for another year, Sivis could easily dominate a region and become a "local king."
He felt that his plans could be slightly adjusted — if he could break through to the Silver Rank, wouldn't it be a sure thing to lure that Blood Clan into action?
Then, by gathering a few Silver Rank monsters to guard his domain, wouldn't ordinary adventuring parties just be coming to be slaughtered?
Sivis was getting carried away!
He wasn't worried about Silver Rank experts taking on the extermination mission — the Adventurers' Guild's tasks were interconnected, and if the monster domain in Hanseter Town was not cleared for a long time, the mission would be passed to more branches.
But this would take time, and the Silver Rank experts in the nearby cities around Minnet City might not be willing to run to a remote town for a small reward to exterminate a monster domain.
As long as the external pressure slows down, he was confident that he could grow rapidly with the system's help.
Looking at the cheering commoners, Sivis knew he had to keep them stable. Before he broke through to the Silver Rank, he couldn't let them have any thoughts of leaving the domain. They had to actively help him recruit more new residents.
He clapped his hands.
This was a pre-planned step. A burly man brought over a large wooden chest.
With one kick, Sivis toppled the chest.
Clatter, clatter.
Copper coins flooded out from the center of the square, spreading in all directions.
The amount seemed staggering, but in reality, it took 100 copper coins to exchange for one silver coin, and 100 silver coins for one gold coin.
Sivis hadn't spent much money, but the copper coins created a strong visual impact. The commoners, seeing the money scattered on the ground, swallowed hard, unable to resist.
"I'll leave it to you." Sivis said, looking at the foremen. "Those who haven't been paid, settle their wages today."
He wasn't worried about the foremen embezzling money, the numerous residents who were already 60-70% loyal to him would tear the foremen apart. He also wasn't concerned about anyone taking more than their fair share, for these commoners, joining the domain was far more important than a few copper coins a day.
Just a few minutes earlier, Sivis had been anxious and fearful, but now he stood tall and proud.
He no longer felt the need to monitor the Adventurers' Guild — it was just a Bronze Squad going to their deaths in the domain. Once he broke through to the Silver Rank, he could easily grab a Silver-Rank monster and drop it into the domain, creating an insurmountable barrier for adventurers.
Sivis returned to the room where Reina was staying. The young maid was lying on the bed, while he sat cross-legged on the carpet, taking out the Elemental Core he had exchanged for and rapidly refining it to advance his cultivation.
Meanwhile, the Daister family's compound was bustling with activity.
Even during their rest time, the workers showed no signs of fatigue. After receiving their wages, they surged out in all directions of Minnet City, excitedly telling their acquaintances, "There's a great job! It comes with holidays and wages, and if you do well, you can join the domain of a great lord!"
"Are you coming?"
"Absolutely! I'd be crazy not to!"
"Such a good opportunity, and you introduced it to me. Thanks! You're a true friend."
That night, many people in Minnet City who had been struggling to make ends meet smiled.
Unfortunately...
Amidst the countless joyful laughs, a group of monsters, just awakened and reeking of blood, also smiled.