On the way, he explained apologetically, "I’m very sorry, you three. We’ve had so many people seeking refuge lately that the construction of new houses hasn’t been able to keep up."

"You’ll have to put up with temporary, simple housing for a while. Once the new residential area is built, homes will be assigned based on contribution and waiting list order."

But how could Arthur and Martha possibly care about that?

Just having a roof over their heads, food to eat, and a job was already a heavenly blessing.

They quickly assured him they didn’t mind at all and were endlessly grateful.

They had imagined Lakefront Town might be quite prosperous, but when they actually set foot inside, they were still utterly stunned by the sight that greeted them.

Inside the town, clean, wide stone streets crisscrossed in an orderly grid.

The walls of the houses on both sides were mostly painted, and their windows were fitted with clean, bright glass panes.

Many families even had potted plants and beautiful flowers displayed by their doors or on their windowsills.

The clothes of the townspeople passing by—men and women, young and old—were not luxurious, but they were all clean and neat.

Even more impressive was their spirit. Their faces held none of the numbness and despair so common among refugees; instead, they were filled with optimism and hope.

The main street was lined on both sides with all sorts of shops.

The rhythmic "CLANG, CLANG, CLANG" of a hammer striking iron echoed from a blacksmith’s shop.

A general store’s display window was filled with a dazzling array of everyday goods.

There was even a lively, bustling tavern from which a rich aroma drifted out.

Was... was this really the Red Ridge Mountain warzone?

In a daze, Arthur and Martha felt as if they had stumbled into a well-governed major city in the north, far from the ravages of war.

’No,’ they thought. ’Even the commoner districts in many major cities probably aren’t this clean, orderly, and vibrant.’

"Mom, Ske-Skeletons!" Belinda suddenly cried out in alarm, hiding behind Martha.

A squad of about ten Skeleton Soldiers was marching past in neat formation on patrol. An eerie green Soul Fire flickered in the eye sockets of the lead Skeleton.

A kindhearted man nearby chuckled and explained, "Don’t be afraid, little girl. Those are the great Lord Lynch’s Skeleton Soldiers. They’re our town’s guards. They won’t harm us civilians; on the contrary, they protect the town and drive away the bad guys."

He was clearly quite proud, shouting with excitement, "Long live Lord Lynch! It’s all thanks to Lord Lynch that we have such good lives today!"

"Long live Lord Lynch!" A chorus of agreement echoed around them, and expressions of reverence appeared on many faces.

"A toast to Lord Lynch!" came a boisterous and merry cry from the tavern.

Arthur’s family of three stared at the unbelievable scene before them, listening to the townspeople’s heartfelt cheers, completely lost in shock and bewilderment.

Lord Lynch!?

’Is he the town’s... Guardian?’

They couldn’t help but grow deeply curious about this Lord Lynch.

Little Belinda even raised her tiny fist and joined the chant, "Long live Lord Lynch!"

*****

At that very moment, the great Lord Lynch the townspeople were cheering was in the meditation chamber on the second floor of the garrison, deep in Meditation.

He was dressed in a black Mage Robe, its hood thrown back to reveal a sharp-featured face that had grown more mature over the past six months.

A squad of Skeleton Guards stood watch in the corners of the room.

Behind him, two towering zombies stood silent watch.

Not far away, the Mermaid Princess Sea Song stood leaning against a window, her lips moving slightly as she chanted the ancient and mysterious Blessing of the Sea.

The ethereal, beautiful melody transformed into ripples of Water Element that undulated gently through the chamber. The song helped one enter a deep state of Meditation more quickly and increased the chances of successfully breaking through a bottleneck.

With all this support, Lynch’s Spiritual Power vortex spun faster and faster.

An unknown amount of time passed.

Suddenly, a crisp notification sound rang in his mind.

"DING~"

[Your Basic Meditation Skill has reached LV 4 (3/30,000)]

Almost simultaneously, his Spiritual Power underwent a transformation and refinement. His Mana pool expanded rapidly, and Mana welled up like water from a spring.

’Tier Two.’

The bottleneck that had plagued him for more than ten days was finally shattered.

He, Lynch, had finally become a Tier Two Mage.

He slowly opened his eyes. Deep within their dark pupils, a profound starlight seemed to flash for an instant before vanishing.

His entire aura underwent a subtle transformation. He lost some of the callow immaturity of a novice, replaced by a quiet, self-assured confidence.

...