Chapter 4 – A Deal with the Desperate
Reinhardt stood firm, meeting the village head's gaze. The man's eyes were sharp with suspicion, but Reinhardt could also see the hesitation, the uncertainty. The village was weak. They needed help.
And he needed land.
The headman exhaled and gestured toward a small wooden building near the village's center. "If you want to talk, come inside."
Reinhardt followed him, taking in the state of the village. The wooden houses were weathered, their roofs patched with straw and cloth. A few villagers were tending to meager gardens, but their crops looked sparse and unhealthy. Some thin cattle and goats grazed nearby, their ribs visible.
[Empire's Vision: The village is on the brink of collapse.]
[Cause: Lack of food, poor defenses, no leadership.]
Reinhardt suppressed a sigh. It wasn't just struggling—it was dying.
Inside the headman's house, the furniture was rough and handmade, the air carrying the scent of old wood and dried herbs. A woman in her thirties stirred a pot over a fire, her expression wary. A young boy—maybe ten—peeked at Reinhardt from behind her, clutching her dress.
"Sit," the headman said, pulling out a chair.
Reinhardt sat, resting his sword against the table. The man took the opposite seat and folded his hands together.
"My name is Gerrick, and I lead this village—if you can even call it that anymore." His tone was bitter. "You say you want to claim land. But you're alone. No army, no supplies. Why should we trust you?"
Reinhardt leaned back, considering his words.
"I may be alone now," he admitted, "but I have something that no one else does."
[Skill Activated: Ruler's Command]
[Effect: Increases Persuasiveness When Negotiating for Leadership.]
Gerrick's eyes flickered for a moment. Reinhardt could feel a shift in the air—subtle, but real. The skill was working.
"You've seen it yourself," Reinhardt continued. "This village won't last another winter. You have no defenses, little food, and no way to improve your situation."
Gerrick clenched his jaw, but he didn't deny it.
"I don't expect you to just hand me control," Reinhardt said. "But let me prove myself. Let me help this village, and in return, I'll claim this land as my own."
Silence filled the room. The woman stirring the pot paused, glancing at Gerrick. The boy peeked up, curious.
Gerrick finally spoke. "You're asking for a lot. What exactly do you plan to do?"
Reinhardt smirked. "First, I deal with whatever problem is hitting you the hardest. You tell me what you need most, and I'll take care of it."
Gerrick exhaled slowly. "Alright. You want a chance to prove yourself? Fine."
He leaned forward, his expression grim.
"We're being threatened by bandits."
Bandits at the Gates
Reinhardt's fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword.
"Bandits?"
Gerrick nodded, his jaw clenched. "They started harassing us a few months ago. At first, it was just demands for food. Then they started taking livestock. Now… they want women and children." His voice darkened with anger. "We're defenseless. We can't stop them."
Reinhardt could see it now—the fear in the villagers' eyes, the way they shrank at any mention of outsiders.
[Quest Received: Bandit Problem]
Objective: Defeat or drive away the bandits.
Reward: 200 EXP, +5 Village Loyalty, Unlock Basic Military Options.
Reinhardt grinned. "When are they coming next?"
Gerrick gave him a surprised look. "Tomorrow. At dawn."
Reinhardt's grin widened. "Perfect."
Preparing for Battle
The sun had started to set by the time Reinhardt stepped outside. He called for the villagers to gather, and though they were hesitant, they obeyed.
A crowd of about forty people stood before him—mostly farmers, a few hunters, and a handful of old men clutching rusty weapons.
"Listen up," Reinhardt said, raising his voice. "I know you're afraid. I know you think there's no way to fight back."
Some of them looked away, ashamed. Others clenched their fists.
"But you're wrong," Reinhardt continued. "You can fight back. You just need a plan."
He turned to Gerrick. "How many men do we have that can fight?"
"Only ten, and they're not trained," Gerrick admitted.
[New Option Unlocked: Basic Militia]
Cost: 0 Gold (Requires Willing Villagers)
Reinhardt smirked. "That's more than enough."
Reinhardt had no time to waste. If the bandits were coming at dawn, he had only a few hours to prepare.
First, he had the villagers reinforce the wooden fence, stacking logs and sharpening stakes. They dug small trenches at weak points and prepared makeshift barricades in case the bandits got through.
[Village Defense Increased: +5]
Then, he focused on arming the villagers.
Most had farming tools, but a few had bows. Reinhardt had the hunters set up on rooftops to act as snipers while the others took positions near chokepoints.
Finally, he went to his system's shop.
[Shop Opened]
Basic Armor Set – 50 Gold
Iron Spear – 30 Gold
Leather Shield – 20 Gold
Unfortunately, he had no gold. But he wasn't worried.
Because tomorrow, the bandits would bring him all the gold he needed.
Morning came far too quickly.
Reinhardt stood at the village entrance, sword in hand. Beside him, Gerrick clutched a rusty spear. Behind them, the villagers waited, their fear held back by sheer determination.
Then, they appeared.
About a dozen men on horseback rode toward the village, laughing and jeering. They were dirty, clad in mismatched armor, and carried weapons that had seen better days.
A big, scarred man at the front raised his axe. "Well, well, what do we have here? The village actually gathered this time?" He grinned. "Makes it easier for us."
Reinhardt stepped forward.
"You have two choices," he called out. "Turn around and leave, or die."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then the bandits burst into laughter.
The leader wiped a tear from his eye. "Who the hell do you think you are?"
Reinhardt grinned.
"The man who's about to kill you."
[Quest Objective Updated: Defeat the Bandit Leader.]
He raised his sword.
"Attack!"
The battle for the village had begun.