Vol. 3: Chapter 30
Kael parked the car in the garage, draped his coat over his arm, and walked into the villa.
As he pushed the door open, he was surprised to find Lila on the first-floor sofa, watching TV, instead of upstairs in her room.
Hearing the door, Lila immediately got up and came over to him. She took his coat, asking casually, "Would you like a cup of coffee? I just ground some fresh beans."
Kael was about to refuse, but then he caught the gentle look in her eyes. His heart skipped a beat, and he nodded. "Yeah, I'd love one."
A soft, happy smile lit up her face. She hung his coat on the rack and then went to the coffee machine. Kael watched her, taking in the elegant lines of her back and the faint, sweet fragrance she left in the air. She was like a completely different person from the one at the mall. He glanced around and noticed that neither Gable nor Sofia was anywhere in sight.
Soon, Lila placed a cup of coffee, prepared with milk and a little sugar, in front of him. Under the warm lights of the living room, Kael sipped his coffee while Lila sat beside him, resting her chin on her hand, just… watching him.
It was already 11: 50 PM by the time Kael got to his room.
He’d been on the move for eighteen straight hours—from the 5 AM trek through Elderbloom Sanctuary and the battle against the three Burning Horde bosses, to meeting Zoe and the chaotic shopping trip with Lila.
With the Third Chieftain out of danger, there was no rush to get back in the game. He crawled into bed and crashed hard.
He slept all the way until 11 AM the next day. He hadn't slept that soundly in three days. After washing up and grabbing a quick bite to eat, he logged back into the game.
The sight that greeted him was astonishing. Starlight Village had undergone a radical transformation. The scenery was far more ornate, the buildings were taller and grander, and even the streets were wider and cleaner.
The old shop NPCs were still there, but their clothes were now much more elaborate. It was clear the entire settlement had received a massive upgrade.
Kael opened his map and saw that the name had changed. It was no longer Starlight Village. It was now Starlight Town.
Before he could process it all, a series of system notifications chimed.
System: Starlight Village has been upgraded to Starlight Town.
System: All functional NPCs in Starlight Town have gained +1 to their skill levels.
System: Your administrative privileges as [Ullr] are eligible for an upgrade. Please see Korbin to receive it.
An upgrade to his privileges? Kael’s interest was piqued. The village becoming a town and the NPCs getting stronger were nice, but didn’t directly affect him. An increase in his own authority, however, was a different story.
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He turned to head for the Civic Hall but stopped short. The formerly modest three-story building now looked like the grand hall of a medieval castle.
He stepped inside. The lobby was now a bustling great hall, packed with players learning new skills or undergoing their Class Advancement with the various trainer NPCs. Kael found the stairs and made his way to the third floor, passing numerous elite guards, all level 40. As they saw him, each one snapped to attention and saluted.
"Fourth Chieftain."
Kael nodded in acknowledgment. These were the guards the Blackwind Brotherhood had brought with them; they still used his old title.
On the third floor, he found Korbin, Bork, and Fenris laughing and joking together. He noticed all three of them were now level 45.
"Ullr, you're here! Come, sit with us," Fenris called out as soon as he saw him.
Kael walked over, smiling. "You all seem to be in high spirits." He then turned specifically to Fenris. "Third Brother, are you feeling fully recovered? If you're not, just say the word and I'll go beat up Isaac for not taking proper care of you."
Korbin roared with laughter. "Ullr, Healer Isaac is the Patron who saved our brother's life! You can't do anything rash."
Bork, however, grunted in agreement with Kael. "Hmph. It was Isaac's incompetence that failed to cure him in the first place, forcing Ullr to go all the way to that Elderbloom Valley himself. I heard that path is treacherous, filled with monsters over level 50. Even the three of us together might not have made it. For Ullr to retrieve the elixir in just two and a half days is no small feat."
Fenris nodded gravely. "Indeed. Ullr has performed an invaluable service. His reward for this must be substantial."
Korbin agreed.
Satisfied, Kael took his seat. Looks like this reward is going to be a good one, he thought.
Korbin, sitting in the center, let his smile fade, his expression turning serious. "The plan to upgrade Starlight Village faced some… complications, but in the end, it was a success. Beryl Creek and Clearwind Haven have now been officially incorporated under Starlight Town's banner. And the primary credit for this success goes to Ullr."
He looked at his two brothers, then let his gaze rest on Kael. "Before you arrived, the three of us discussed the matter at length. When it comes to the day-to-day governance of a town… we are simply not suited for it. Therefore, we have unanimously decided to nominate you as the Mayor of Starlight Town."
Kael was taken aback. This was completely unexpected. At the same time, a system prompt appeared before him.
System: Korbin, Bork, and Fenris have jointly nominated you to become the Mayor of Starlight Town. Do you accept?
Kael didn't answer right away. He thought for a moment, then asked, "And what are your plans?"
"The three of us will form a Council of Three Elders," Korbin explained. "We will advise you in that capacity. If you ever face a problem you cannot solve alone, we will be there to assist."
A Council of Elders? Kael paused, but quickly understood their game. They didn't want the grunt work, but they weren't about to give up their power, either. They wanted to use him as a puppet.
He scoffed inwardly but didn't let it bother him. During the current WarChief's Descent expansion, the player level cap was 60. Within that range, legacy NPCs were still overwhelmingly powerful, leaving him little room to negotiate. But later, once his own power grew… authority and status were things that could always be fought for.
Kael looked up at Korbin. "You have my word. I will govern Starlight Town to the best of my ability. More than that, I'll make Stonehaven, Crescent, and every other major city recognize our strength!"
The three brothers nodded, pleased.
System: You have become the [Mayor of Starlight Town]. Your authority has been upgraded to [Mayoral Authority]. You have received the [Mayor's Seal].
System: Lucky Bonus triggered! The [Mayor's Seal] has been upgraded to the [Arch Elder's Token].
What the hell? Kael felt like he was playing a different game entirely.
[Arch Elder's Token]:
Allows the bearer to perform all duties of the Mayor. Also allows the bearer to command the Council of Three Elders.
Haha, Kael thought, a wide grin spreading across his face. So this is what a high Luck stat gets you. Turns out I'm the one pulling the strings after all.