CHAPTER 46: CH 46: SETTLE DOWN - PART 3

Lucian woke up before the sun even touched the valley. The faint hum of the furnace echoed softly, its warmth spreading through the clearing.

He rubbed his eyes, stood, and went about his morning routine without hesitation.

The furnace was the first thing he checked. Its light burned steadily, the heat strong enough to maintain the valley’s comfortable temperature.

Satisfied, he adjusted the flow of energy into it, making sure the balance would hold for the day.

Next were the predator plants. Lucian crouched by them, watching their vines twitch in the air like restless serpents.

A few blood stains told him they had caught something overnight. He pried the remains free, fed the plants properly, and checked if any of them had been damaged.

It was a routine he could now do with his eyes half-shut, but he never skipped it.

The beasts came last. Some were injured and kept near the boundaries of the valley. Others had been caught wandering too close to their territory.

Lucian inspected them, gauging whether they could be used, healed, or harvested. Only when he was satisfied with everything did he return to the center of the clearing.

By then, the others were waking. Children stirred first, yawning as their parents urged them to sit up.

The adults followed, still amazed that they had slept so soundly the night before. Their surprise turned into whispers when they noticed Lucian already awake, working as if the night had never happened.

Berry rubbed his eyes, shuffling over to him.

"You’re up early again, Little Master."

Lucian gave him a sharp look.

"Stop calling me that. Also, early? This is late. There’s too much to do now that we’ve brought more people."

Berry chuckled nervously, not daring to argue.

Lucian crossed his arms.

"Get everyone moving. Divide them into groups—half to expand the shelter, the other half to tend to the farmland. Now that we have more manpower, we can handle a larger area. We can also try growing different crops, but for that... we’ll need another furnace. A different type of weather furnace."

Berry blinked.

"Another furnace? Can you even make one again?"

Lucian smirked beneath his hood.

"That’s what I’m about to find out. I’ll head out and see what I can bring back. Don’t waste time. Keep everyone busy."

Berry hesitated.

"At least... be careful. Don’t push yourself too far. We’ll manage here."

Lucian gave him a short nod before turning away. His boots crunched lightly on the ground as he left the clearing.

But before he could get far, a sharp voice cut through the air.

"So you’re running off again?"

Lucian turned his head slightly. Jamie sat where she had been tied up, ropes still binding her arms.

Despite her restraints, she looked well-rested, her hair no longer in complete disarray. Still, the annoyance in her eyes was unmistakable.

"You look comfortable. Your complexion looks much more vibrant and it also looks like you’ve gained some weight."

Lucian remarked.

Jamie scoffed.

"Comfortable? I’m still tied up like some criminal. You could at least let me use my ability. It’s not like I’d lose to you."

Lucian didn’t answer, which only made her more irritated. She leaned forward, her voice sharpening.

"You’re wasting your time here. With what you’re growing—this food—you could take over villages, maybe even towns. Do you understand how valuable it is? You could rule over people instead of babysitting farmers."

Lucian stopped, his back still facing her. Then, slowly, he spoke.

"Taking over villages is nothing. My goals are much bigger than that. Bigger than you can imagine."

’My goal is to clear out my debt with the system.’

His tone was calm, almost bored.

Jamie frowned, her confidence faltering for the first time. She searched his face, but his hood kept most of it hidden.

"And what... what kind of goal is that?"

She asked quietly.

Lucian tilted his head, his expression unreadable.

"If you ever change your mind, I’ll welcome you as a companion. Until then, stay tied up and watch."

Her lips parted, but no words came out. For the first time, her sharp resolve cracked. She looked down, biting her lip, unable to give him an answer.

Lucian didn’t wait for one. He simply turned and kept walking, leaving her behind.

The world outside the valley felt colder as he stepped into the wasteland. His destination was clear: the junkyard. The place where he had found the parts for the first furnace. If he wanted a new one, that was where he’d have to look.

It didn’t take long before he arrived, but the sight that greeted him made his eyes narrow.

The junkyard wasn’t empty.

Several figures in black suits moved through the heaps of metal and debris, scanning the area carefully. Their movements were precise, almost military. It was obvious they weren’t scavengers.

Lucian pulled his hood lower, masking his presence as much as possible. He crouched behind a pile of twisted scrap, studying them closely.

"These guys... weren’t here before. Are they a new team? Or, did the original team gain more members?"

He muttered under his breath.

The presence of these people would make things a little more difficult for Lucian.

However, they weren’t the only problem. The beasts lurking around the junkyard were restless, pacing in circles with low growls. Their agitation was clear.

Too many people had gathered here, and it was disrupting the fragile balance.

Lucian clenched his fists.

"Tch. This is going to be annoying. Is there anything i can do to help make the situation better for myself?"

He weighed his options carefully. Sneaking around them would be difficult, but fighting his way through wasn’t smart either. The suits clearly had some purpose, and he doubted they’d go down easily.

Still, he wasn’t about to give up. Not when the furnace was the key to expanding everything in the valley.

As the wind carried the low growls of the beasts, Lucian’s eyes narrowed.

"Let’s see what I can pull out of this mess."

And with that, he sank deeper into the shadows of the junkyard, preparing to move.