"To protect this land, Lord Adrian is implementing new rules from the Goddess." Claire held up the first piece of parchment. "We are establishing a new class system for the territory."

Claire looked down at the paper.

"Category one is the Unofficial Citizen." Claire read loudly. "This applies to all immigrants and travelers visiting Oresfall. You will not receive a housing plot. You must rent your own shelter. You will have access to the dungeon. Your drop rates will be locked at ninety percent iron and ten percent steel."

The merchants in the crowd nodded. That was still a highly profitable ratio.

"Category two is the Official Citizen." Claire announced. "You will receive a Bronze Badge. Your dungeon drop rates will be upgraded to eighty percent iron and twenty percent steel."

The original residents of Oresfall cheered.

"Immigrants can earn a Bronze Badge." Claire added. "If one of your direct family members joins Lord Adrian’s army, your entire family becomes Official Citizens."

A massive wave of chatter hit the crowd. Immigrants excitedly talked to their sons and brothers.

"Category three applies to the Family of a Knight." Claire read the next line. "If your family member becomes a sworn knight, you receive a Silver Badge. Your drop rates are upgraded to fifty percent iron and fifty percent steel."

The crowd went completely silent. Fifty percent steel was a goldmine.

"Silver Badge holders also receive a free house." Claire smiled. "You will never pay rent."

The soldiers training on the field pumped their fists in the air.

"The final category is the Knight." Claire held up the paper. "This applies only to the sworn knight, not their family. You will receive a Gold Badge. Your drop rates are twenty percent iron and eighty percent steel. You will also receive a free home."

The adventurers and mercenaries looked like they were going to faint. Eighty percent steel meant absolute luxury.

"What about housing for regular citizens?" a man yelled from the back.

"Official Citizens can purchase a house outright if they have the funds." Claire answered.

She flipped to the second page.

"We are beginning massive construction projects today." Claire shouted. "We need builders, carpenters, and laborers. If you can swing a hammer, you are hired. You will be paid ten bronze coins every single day. You will also receive three free meals a day."

The poorer immigrants cheered wildly.

"Men will handle the construction." Claire read the rules. "We are also hiring fifty women as chefs. Your job is to cook the three meals for the labor force. You will also be paid ten bronze coins a day. Only the best cooks will be selected."

Claire flipped to the third page.

"The dungeon has been upgraded." Claire announced. "The training rooms are now open to the public."

She explained the layout Adrian had designed.

"There are training rooms for combat." Claire told them. "You can enter the Inexperienced room, the Novice room, or the Training levels from one to ten. Knights have access to the Hobgoblin rooms."

The mercenaries grinned. They loved a good fight.

"If you are about to die in the room, just yell the word quit." Claire instructed. "The dungeon will instantly teleport you outside."

She flipped to the final page.

"We are also establishing party rules for the dungeon." Claire read. "The gacha wheel now requires you to insert your badge. Unofficial Citizens can only form parties with Silver Badges. Bronze Badges can only form parties with Silver Badges. Silver Badges can form parties with Gold Badges."

The crowd immediately started doing the math.

Adrian had designed this loophole on purpose. If a group of eight people partied up under one Silver Badge holder, they all got the fifty percent steel drop rate. They could share the profits.

"Wait a minute." a smart adventurer near the front spoke up. "If we party up and share the loot, we make around ten bronze coins a day from the dungeon."

His friends nodded.

"If we work the construction job, we make another ten bronze." the man calculated loudly. "Lord Adrian is feeding us three meals a day for free. We do not have to buy food."

The man looked at the crowd with wide eyes.

"We can save twenty bronze coins every single day!" the man yelled.

The entire crowd erupted. People screamed and cheered. They threw their hats in the air.

"All hail Lord Adrian!" the crowd chanted. "All hail the Baron!"

Adrian stood on the back balcony of his mansion. He listened to the massive cheers. He did not smile. He just stared at the perimeter of his territory.

He needed to move faster.

He walked back inside and found Damian.

"Draft a notice." Adrian ordered the butler. "I want mass recruitment flyers posted in every single Adventurer Guild in the neighboring cities. Tell them Oresfall is hiring construction workers and soldiers."

"Soldiers, my lord?" Damian asked.

"Yes." Adrian nodded. "Offer ten silver coins a month for a regular soldier. We will take commoners, peasants, and farm boys. I do not care. Just get me numbers."

Damian bowed and rushed off to find messengers.

Ten silver a month was insane pay. One silver could feed a family of five for a month and pay rent. Offering ten silver would cause a massive stampede of recruits.

The next day.

Adrian sat in his study. He called Cassius into the room.

The ruined merchant looked much healthier now. He wore clean clothes and his bruises were fading.

"I have a mission for you." Adrian said.

Cassius bowed deeply. "Anything, my lord." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"I am officially making you my lead merchant." Adrian pointed at several heavy chests sitting on the floor. "There are multiple bags in there. Each bag contains two hundred gold coins."

Cassius stared at the bags, swallowing hard.

"I hired a private escort for you." Adrian said. "Four D rank knights. Twelve F rank knights. Eighteen E rank knights. They will protect you with their lives."

"Where am I going?" Cassius asked as he nodded.