The next campaign to conquer the remaining seven tribes would prove even easier than the recent raiding war. Because the able-bodied men of those tribes had already suffered massive deaths or been captured, Barnett divided his forces into seven columns and unched a lightning assault on the seven neighboring minor tribes. The seven tribes could no longer unite and each fought alone; under the sudden onsught of Barnett’s “elite” troops, they were utterly incapable of organizing any effective resistance. Accordingly, once they witnessed just a handful of their warriors fall, each tribe chose to surrender. From the moment Barnett’s army marched out to the complete subjugation of all seven tribes took only a single day.

  Over the following two days, the Viking warriors escorted vast numbers of prisoners of war, valuables, livestock, and other booty back to Barnett’s town of Biard. To date, the system sprite’s first mission objective—conquer the twelve surrounding Viking tribes—had been accomplished. Moreover, through these relentless battles the army gained roughly one level of experience, turning every surviving Viking warrior into a Level-1 veteran: each man’s morale attribute increased by one, his attack attribute increased by one, and he acquired basic cooperative-tactics capability.

  At the same time, the goal of raising the town’s popution to 20,000 was also achieved. The twelve minor tribes collectively contributed over 18,000 prisoners to Biard. The women and children were distributed as spoils of war, while the few remaining young men were assigned to outlying vilges as serfs. The elderly and those possessing artisan skills were pced in the town’s workshops; those without skills, regrettably, became serfs in the rural hamlets.

  Thus, Biard’s total popution exceeded 5,500 residents, with its agricultural popuce surpassing 15,000.

  The 20,000-person popution objective was met.

  And the prerequisite of at least 5,000 residents—required to upgrade a town into a city—was likewise satisfied.

  Hence, a true city was about to be born.

  “So, what really defines a genuine city?” Barnett inquired.

  “That’s a multifaceted question,” replied the system sprite. “First and foremost, popution: 5,000 inhabitants is the foundational baseline.”

  “Beyond that?”

  “A complete administrative system, including a mayor, a treasurer, an agriculture commissioner, a sheriff, a judge, and a construction overseer—plus their deputies—for a minimum of twelve officials. That is the most basic, minimal configuration.”

  “Mm… I can recruit those, right?”

  “Certainly. For example, recruiting a mayor costs 100 gold coins, a deputy mayor 50. All primary officers cost 100 gold coins, deputies 50. Primary officers start with three-star ability ratings; deputies with two stars. Upgrading their abilities requires additional payment.”

  “No problem—I’ve come into a windfall recently, so I can afford that,” Barnett said proudly.

  “In addition, you’ll need supporting structures—a lord’s manor, a rge town center, and a ring of stone walls,” the sprite added.

  “Stone walls? A castle?” Barnett asked.

  “Well, if you wish to build a castle, you may,” the sprite replied.

  “A castle… I’ll pass for now. Castles are prohibitively expensive and unnecessary at this stage—maybe ter,” Barnett decided.

  “You’re wise to wait. It really is too early for a castle; you don’t need one yet,” the sprite agreed.

  “True. But I’d love to see Constantinople sometime—so many grand edifices there. The Byzantine Empire was so powerful; why did it ultimately fall?” Barnett asked.

  “That’s complicated, involving every aspect of imperial governance. Once you rule an empire yourself, you’ll understand,” the sprite answered.

  “Let’s leave that for another time. How much will the lord’s manor and those other buildings cost?” Barnett pressed.

  “The lord’s manor costs 3,000 gold coins, the rge town center 2,000, the stone walls 4,000—for a total of 9,000 gold coins,” the sprite quoted, quite steep.

  Barnett winced at the expense but gritted his teeth and agreed.

  “Very well. Please be patient—construction will complete in one month,” the sprite said before vanishing.

  Thereafter, Biard was enveloped in a soft radiance. Outside the town, the crooked wooden palisade was gradually fttened by countless invisible hands; then neatly stacked long stone blocks materialized and were bound with sticky-rice lime mortar, raising a slender city wall, brick by brick.

  Within the city, the town center too shimmered in pale white light: the existing buildings dissolved piece by piece, repced by timber, stone, and blue bricks that suddenly appeared and began automatic reconstruction.

  Beside the town center, a Gothic-style edifice took form: soaring spires, oval gss windows, bas-reliefs depicting epic war scenes—soon to become Barnett’s lordly manor, and remarkably authentic in appearance.

  “A full month to build… So I’m supposed to sleep outside until then?” Barnett grumbled.

  Gncing at the 5,000+ gold coins still at his disposal, he decided to add more projects. Inspired by his earlier conversation about maritime trade, he ordered a shipyard and commercial dock—recruiting shipwrights and merchants cost a further 4,000 gold coins, rendering Barnett a pauper once more.

  Fortunately, within days the farmnd recmation and mills and livestock pens outside the walls would finish. With ample serfs, agricultural tax revenue would jump to 1,000 gold coins monthly, and the head tax to 1,300 gold coins—more than enough to pay the army.

  Yet to advance further, new fiscal sources were required—such as overseas trade.

  Biard’s strength, neither exceptional nor negligible, now matched that of an earl’s domain. Even if truly attacked, several earls combined might not overcome Biard, for Barnett prioritized military development and his forces were battle-hardened.

  However, compared with great powers, Biard remained weak. As a 21st-century adage goes, “To g behind is to invite conquest.” Denmark, Sweden, or Engnd could each muster tens of thousands of troops to crush Barnett like an ant.

  Thus, prudence dictated a low profile—develop quietly without attracting undue attention. Fortuitously, the recent death of the Norwegian grand duke had plunged the tribes into civil strife, presenting Barnett an opportunity. Someday he might unite Norway—upon being crowned King of Norway, he would gain the standing to oppose Europe’s great powers.

  “But why can the docks only build dragon-headed warships?! This is a rip-off! Is the system mocking me?!” Barnett railed at the ship-recruitment list.

  “What’s wrong with dragon-headed warships? Vikings belong in longships with dragon prows—axes, piracy, dragon-headed ships: that’s true Viking spirit,” the system sprite replied.

  “I’m not expecting steam-powered ironcds yet, but at least let me build a couple of rge sailing ships!” Barnett insisted.

  “I wish I could, but current technology is insufficient,” the sprite expined.

  “Huh? What technological advances are needed?” Barnett asked.

  “Have you not explored the system interface—task bars, maps, building temptes, city and army rosters, official lists, tech tree, diplomacy? Haven’t you examined them?”

  “I’ve gnced at some… heh heh…” Barnett admitted.

  “Incredible. Open it thoroughly now,” the sprite urged.

  Barnett opened the interface to find a tech button among many others. He clicked it, revealing separate Army and Navy tabs under “Military.”

  The system’s depth surprised him: the Navy panel listed only dragon-headed warships and small transports, plus small fishing and merchant vessels—none with real ranged weapons. Yet the shipyard’s tech was among Europe’s highest.

  Scrolling down, ship csses divided into Large, Medium, and Small.

  He clicked “Large Ships.”

  The 10,000-ton treasure ship—impossible to build.

  Next, the super-first-rate ship (four gun decks, 100+ cannons, 6,000-ton dispcement, three masts, warship the size of a sea fortress)—also unaffordable.

  He scrolled past first-rate, second-rate, third-rate, Roman galley, hybrid galley-sail, heavy crossbow warship, 2,000-ton treasure ship, giant fgship—still out of reach.

  Forced to browse Medium Ships, he saw the Fourth-Rate (54 light guns on two decks, crew of 200+, battle-hardened)—legendary for terrifying the Qing dynasty. …Also impossible.

  Fifth-Rate, then the Eelpout Warship—which looked promising. Barnett bookmarked it, noting its requirements: wood, canvas, fittings, Shipbuilding Tech 5, Mechanical Tech 5.

  His tech stood at Shipbuilding 1, Mechanical 2—far too low.

  Scrolling further: hulk cannon ships, Arab teen-sailers, tower ships, turtle-shell warships—none feasible.

  Finally, under “Small Ships,” he encountered the Sixth-Rate “Small Battle Ship”—no cannons at all.

  Barnett felt the sting of desire unfulfilled, like seeing a peerless beauty yet forbidden to touch.

  Mortar boats—impossible. Rocket ships—impossible.

  Even Chinese dragon boats—nifty concept but only for innd rivers.

  Greek fire ships—fabulous but requiring the secret “Greek Fire” tech. Also impossible.

  At st, Barnett found a vessel he could build soon and would use: the Light Crossbow Warship.

  With a snap, Barnett spped his thigh: “That’s it! But what exactly is this ‘Scorpion Crossbow’ mounted on the ship?”

  “In the Army tech tree—look it up yourself!” snapped the system sprite, clearly losing patience.