Dark Warlock in the Apocalypse

Chapter 103 Expansion

As soon as the system message ended, the companions quickly gathered at his home. Justin looked around at them and let out a small, incredulous laugh.

"Even I didn't see this coming."

"If anyone did, that would've been surprising," Ethan replied, still looking somewhat stunned. "We'd all half-forgotten about Earth, hadn't we?"

It seemed no one had expected to hear anything about Earth at this point, and the others remained quiet, merely scanning the details of the floating quest window in silence.

Quest: Looking for Traces of Ancient Civilization

Classification: Main

QuestDetails: You have established a new society and brought order. However, it seems there is still a long way to go before reaching the level of a nation. To shorten this time, locate the abandoned cities of the ancient native races and use them as the foundation for a new civilization.

The scroll in your inventory will guide you.Reward: The fully constructed city and the special effects of its locationMiscellaneous: All previously developed features will automatically apply to the new residence

The concept of finding the traces of an ancient civilization had been present even in World Breaker. The idea was to discover a city belonging to a long-dead native race, hidden away and hard to locate. However, once found, the rewards were enormous, granting not only the city but all the treasures inside.

In the mid-game, players would search relentlessly for these ancient cities.

"But it looks like they're offering us an entire city here, and we're not even halfway through," Justin remarked.

"It makes sense," Zachary replied. "Unlike the game, where cities can develop after just a few turns, here it could take years to fully grow one. At this rate, it'd take even longer to bring a city to proper development." Experience exclusive tales on empire

"And in those years, people's patience would wear thin. Even in the game, if people had to grind endlessly like this in real life, they'd give up and turn into barbarians."

Perhaps this was part of the tutorial, Justin mused. They'd been forced to build from the ground up to establish order, and only now, after becoming accustomed to governing, would they be granted a city.

"Thinking about it that way, the idea of mass migration from Earth makes sense. After becoming familiar with ruling a small society, the next step is to fill the city with people."

Once all the pioneers had gathered, Justin pulled out the quest item they had received from the system.

Magic Scroll: Teleport

Classification: Quest Item

Details: A scroll that activates a stored spell when torn. The user will be transferred to the designated location. Begin from the crumbling paths of the ancient world and follow the traces of the once-great civilization.Miscellaneous: The transfer location will be the same for all pioneers affiliated with the same territory.

Before tearing the scroll, Justin glanced around at the gathered pioneers.

"You've all heard the system message from this morning. It mentioned that there would be a mass migration from Earth after this quest."

As expected, the pioneers wore unsettled expressions. Some were likely hoping they might learn news of someone left behind on Earth. Others, having finally found stability, might be afraid that this migration would bring chaos.

Whatever their thoughts, it was a matter that would undoubtedly weigh on their minds. Justin knew he had to redirect that unease into motivation before the quest began.

"I think everyone here is just as excited as I am," he said, a grin forming. "We can finally stop playing this absurd game of pretend nobility."

"...!?"

The sudden, provocative statement startled the pioneers, and they looked up in shock. It sounded like he was attacking the very noble society they had worked so hard to establish.

Justin stamped his staff on the ground, the sharp sound grabbing their attention.

"Two hundred people! We have, at best, a society of 200 people! And yet, we've been calling ourselves nobles! I dreamed of something grander—a higher class, lords of castles, truly noble figures! But how can we pretend to be nobles with just 200 people!?"

When people think of nobles, they imagine luxury and grandeur. But here, the so-called "nobles" were nothing more than a glorified standing army.

There was no nobility, no splendor, just a role they had been playing.