“What if I told you… it was just an ordinary farm animal a few days ago?”
Roman laid it bare; he knew he couldn’t avoid this question.
He didn't have the strength to deter the magical beasts within the beast enclosure. For now, the Crimson Bristle Pig was docile, but what if he spawned other violent magical beasts later? What then?
He would definitely need someone with a certain level of strength to keep things in order.
His teacher was clearly a good candidate, but Roman hadn't yet thought of a mature and self-consistent explanation.
However, since the other party was here and they had already spoken to this extent, there was no need for him to hide it any longer.
“That’s impossible!”
Cain exclaimed, but quickly controlled his expression, then muttered in a low voice.
“That’s impossible.”
Roman shook his head.
“That’s the truth, and other creatures might mutate into magical beasts from here in the future.”
Cain turned his head, seemingly confirming the credibility of Roman's words.
He felt only absurdity at this moment. How could this be?
“What did you feed it?”
Cain swallowed.
“Some beetroot, and carrots.”
Roman answered truthfully.
Cain felt like the world had gone mad.
Eating only beetroot and carrots could turn a farm animal into a magical beast?
He scooped up the grunting Crimson Bristle Pig cub, and his Battle Qi slowly permeated its flesh and bones through his hands.
The magic within it was genuine; as long as it was well-fed and allowed to grow slowly, it would become a First-Order Magical Beast that even he would have to treat with caution once it reached adulthood.
But besides that, there seemed to be no other possibility.
After all, an ordinary person who hadn't stepped into the extraordinary couldn't possibly capture these two magical beasts alive.
Even he… would find it very difficult, especially in the forest. The tusks and thick hide of the male Crimson Bristle Pig were a hunter's nightmare.
He looked at the chirping chicks inside and the Field Mouse he had caught that afternoon, and a guess began to form in his mind.
“This… you can’t control it either, can you?”
Roman's eyes narrowed. He knew this strange combination would definitely arouse suspicion, but he didn't expect his teacher to be so good at guessing things… Cain got his answer from Roman's expression, and his heart was far from calm.
A farm animal lying idly inside had the chance to grow into a First-Order Magical Beast. What did all his years of arduous cultivation mean then? The difficulty of cultivating his first wisp of Battle Qi, and then growing into a Knight Attendant—he had suffered countless hardships in between.
And this farm animal could achieve that just by eating and drinking?
Cain truly struggled to comprehend it. He even entertained the absurd thought of going in and lying down himself.
But he restrained himself.
“Alright, everyone has their own secrets. I won’t ask any more questions.”
Cain honestly felt that he had been very offensive today, with each question being very sharp. But after witnessing Roman's recovery and various strange occurrences, he couldn't just stand by.
Roman nodded, then sincerely invited Cain.
“Teacher, I need your help.”
Cain looked at Roman, the child he had watched grow up since he was small, and now felt a slight sense of unfamiliarity.
But people change. Even old friends would probably feel unfamiliar upon encountering his current destitute self.
And thinking of this, Cain recalled the scene of Roman standing before the wheat field, telling the people, “All the people of Lieshi Territory will have enough to eat,” and he quietly breathed a sigh of relief, a smile on his face.
“It would be my honor.”
...After seeing Cain off and arranging to resume training early tomorrow morning, Roman's expression was somewhat distorted.
Regardless of how Cain was distraught and struggled to accept farm animals turning into magical beasts.
In his memory, those Battle Qi trainings were truly unbearable for a human.
But at this moment, he finally had time to face the Territory Development Panel alone.
Fortunately, the Lord's Residence didn't have the same material requirements as other buildings.
Roman had already made up his mind that any future building upgrades must be approached with extreme caution.
“Upgrade.”
【Lord's Residence Lv1 (Upgradeable)】
【Current Effect: Slightly increases loyalty of residents, +1 Buildable Area】
【Lv2: Slightly increases loyalty of residents, +1 Buildable Area】
【Upgrade Conditions: Territory population reaches 1500 (Not met), Territory population approval above 60% (Met), Announce three rules or laws applicable within the territory and gain approval from over 60% of residents (Not met)】
The Lord's Residence upgrade had no material requirements, and there were no anomalies after the upgrade was completed, only an additional item in the Territory Development System.
It was this additional item that made Roman's heart pound.
【Buildable Areas】
【Magic Academy】
【Effect: Lord gains magic power buff when in the territory, increased chance for territory residents to awaken magic, increased speed for territory residents to cultivate magic (Requires Sub-building: Library), can create magic scrolls (Requires Sub-building: Research Institute)...】
【Resources Required for Construction: Wood, Stone, Iron Ingot...】
【Construction Conditions: Territory has one or more Formal Mages stationed (Not met), First-Order Magical Beast Core × 5 (Not met)...】
【Battle Qi Training Ground】
【Effect: Lord gains Battle Qi power buff when in the territory, increased chance for territory residents to awaken Battle Qi, increased speed for territory residents to cultivate Battle Qi (Requires Sub-building: Barracks), can create combat technique stones (Requires Sub-building: Forging Hall)...】
【Construction Conditions: Territory has one or more Formal Knights stationed (Not met), First-Order Magical Beast Core × 5 (Not met)...】
【Resources Required for Construction: Wood, Stone, Iron Ingot...】
【Secret Cult Sanctuary】
【Effect: Territory can absorb free faith value, territory residents can gain faith value through prayer, Lord can use faith value to cast divine spells (Requires Sub-building: Prayer Room)...】
【Construction Conditions: Territory faith value reaches 25 (Current: 1), Establish territory faith or choose current world faith (Not met)...】
【Resources Required for Construction: Wood, Stone, Iron Ingot...】
【...】
Roman clearly heard himself swallow.
The effects of the previous buildings seemed like minor trifles compared to these areas.
Although Roman couldn't meet any of the construction requirements, and had no reserves of the necessary resources, this didn't stop him from fantasizing.
He currently had a Lv1 wheat field, a beast enclosure, and a Boundary Marker. Upgrades for the blacksmith shop and watchtower were also on the agenda.
And after the Lord's Residence upgrade, the effects included in any single buildable area were enough to drive any lord or even king in this world mad.
His current small territory with just over three hundred people might not show too great an effect, but what if it was five hundred, three thousand, thirty thousand... or even thirty million?
Once the territory's population increased, with a large enough base, even a small increase would become terrifying.
Moreover, the effects listed after these areas were more intimidating than the last. Roman even saw 【Can teach Battle Qi Wings (Requires Sub-building...)】, 【Can research Forbidden Spells (Requires Sub-building...)】, 【Can summon Heroic Spirits (Demigods) (Requires Sub-building...)】