Chapter 3: 3 A System of My Own Design

Chapter 3: A Self-Designed System

The events unfolding at Fort Wushan would surely sweep across the entire Wushan domain like a storm in the days to come.

While people mocked or lamented Ronin's loss of his inheritance, they also began recalibrating their attitudes toward the Hayde family.

The Haydes, already influential, were elevated further by the border earl's status and the fact that Ronin's maternal grandfather was the heir to the Wushan domain.

Ronin paid little heed to the external chatter or the fingers pointed at him.

After escorting Luans out of Fort Wushan, he promptly returned to his small villa, eager to familiarize himself with the activated "golden finger."

With his summons, five interfaces appeared before his eyes.

Upon seeing the monthly sign-in, seven-day login, first-charge extravaganza, achievement tasks, and attribute panel, Ronin was struck by profound astonishment.

"Holy crap, isn't this the system I designed?"

Back on Earth, he was a game planner involved in developing a card game, tasked primarily with designing parts of the in-game systems.

Ronin hadn't imagined that the elements he tirelessly crafted would traverse alongside him, transforming into his golden finger.

He began browsing each interface, starting with the monthly sign-in.

This interface divided into four rows and seven columns, totaling twenty-eight small squares, perfectly aligning with this world's rules of twenty-eight days per month and seven days per week.

Ronin observed that the rewards in the monthly sign-in cycled every seven days: the first six days granted +1 attribute points, while the seventh day offered a "heartwarming gift box."

Additionally, a prompt at the bottom indicated: "Increase your noble rank to enhance sign-in reward multipliers (currently no additional bonuses)."

Looking at this interface, Ronin felt somewhat resigned.

When designing the sign-in system, he had structured it precisely this way—offering players a taste of reward without overflowing resources. Hence, the first six days gave some gold coins, and the seventh day provided gold coins along with some gems packaged as a gift box.

Presumably, this "heartwarming gift box" was something similar.

Regarding subsequent enhancements, he had originally tied them to VIP levels during design—for instance, at VIP level 2, sign-in rewards doubled compared to VIP level 1.

"If only I had known to enrich the sign-in rewards when designing the system, rather than making them so stingy..."

With a tinge of regret, Ronin turned to the second interface—the seven-day login, which offered slightly richer rewards:

Day 1: Reward: One knight with golden-grade aptitude.

Day 2: Reward: A classic gift pack.

Day 3: Reward: A spatial ring with 10 cubic meters of storage space.

Day 4: Reward: A premium gift pack.

Day 5: Reward: A high-quality weapon—Flameflow Sword.

Day 6: Reward: A precious magical scroll enabling a master-servant contract with magical beasts.

Day 7: Reward: One light-system magician with Grand Magister aptitude.

From a card game perspective, the seven-day login rewards provided two character cards and developmental resources, aiding newcomers through the early stages.

From Ronin's current standpoint, it aptly addressed his lack of personnel.

Upon arriving at his domain, he needed trusted aides. The seven-day login presented a solution.

Yet Ronin still felt discontented.

"If only I had included a few of the top-tier aptitude cards!"

In this world, knights and magicians were graded as follows:

Knights—nine levels: Primary, Intermediate, Advanced, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Meteor, Silver Moon, Blazing Sun.

Magicians—nine levels: Primary, Intermediate, Advanced, Senior Magician, Chief Magician, Magister, Grand Magister, Magician Master, Grand Magician Master.

The best offered in the seven-day login was merely a character with seventh-level Grand Magister aptitude.

Though Grand Magisters were considered formidable in this world, Ronin regretted not embedding superior options.

If the monthly sign-in and seven-day login systems left Ronin somewhat regretful, the first-charge extravaganza deeply vexed him.

Charge 6 magical crystals: Reward: One Blazing Sun-grade fire-attribute knight, one lavish gift pack.

Blazing Sun—an absolute pinnacle existence. Ronin's former self had never personally witnessed any Blazing Sun-level transcendent in all his years.

Such rewards were undoubtedly luxurious, yet the cost to obtain them was steep!

Magical crystals were precious magical materials in this world.

One magical crystal approximated 100 gold coins. To acquire this Blazing Sun-grade subordinate, Ronin would need to expend 600 gold coins for the charge.

600 gold coins—no trivial sum.

Ronin rummaged through his drawers; his combined pocket money amounted to merely 23 gold coins.

"If only I had lowered the first-charge reward condition to just one yuan!"

Then he would only need to consume one magical crystal to obtain this extravagant gift.

Ah, regrets abound!

"Damn game planner!"

Ronin, uncertain whom he cursed, shifted his gaze to the achievement tasks interface.

In the game, monthly sign-in and seven-day login aimed primarily at retention, the first-charge extravaganza boosted payment rates in new zones, while the achievement task system provided players with goals.

Now, the "achievement tasks" interface clearly displayed five achievements:

【Fame Across the Land】: Noble rank symbolizes both status and strength. Strive to become a viscount. Reward: Attribute points +200, energy essence +400.

【King of Slaughter】: Solo kill any unit. Reward: Attribute points +10, energy essence +20.

【Population Prosperity】: Registered domain population reaches 3,000. Reward: Attribute points +30, energy essence +60.

【City Conquest】: Possess 1 city. Reward: Attribute points +200, energy essence +400.

【Financial Fortune】: Obtain 500 gold coins in one instance. Reward: Attribute points +20, energy essence +40.

Through achievement tasks, Ronin essentially determined his future direction: enhance strength, manage the domain, accumulate wealth, and conquer territories.

He shifted his focus to the final interface—the game character's attribute panel, currently recording his attributes:

【Name】: Ronin Wushan

【Noble Rank】: Baron

【Physique】: Dual Cultivation of Combat and Magic (Your two profession levels must breakthrough simultaneously)

【Affinity】: Wind, Fire (Supreme Grade)

【Level】: Mortal (0/10)+

【Attribute Points】: 1

【Energy Essence】: 0

Clearly discerning the contents on this interface, especially noticing the plus sign following the level, Ronin instantly felt invigorated!

In this transcendent world brimming with combat aura and magic, Ronin naturally refused mediocrity.

This attribute panel offered him a method to transcend mundanity into the extraordinary—attribute allocation.

This is the function of attribute points.

After a thorough review, Luo Ning's mood lifted considerably.

Now, he only needed to find a place to settle down and develop steadily; relying on the monthly sign-in system, he could grow stronger.

"Oh right, the Forest Hill Town!"

Luo Ning's eyes lit up. He remembered that during his time at the Black Mountain Fortress, Viggins had mentioned that he would become the baron of Forest Hill Town.

"Where exactly is Forest Hill Town?"

Luo Ning hastily rummaged through the drawer, pulling out a crude map of the Black Mountain Territory from the bottom.

As the map unfolded, a faint, pungent odor wafted up—the distinct smell of parchment, far from pleasant.

Luo Ning searched for the location of Forest Hill Town on the map.

"A remote area..."

Following this clue, Luo Ning accurately located Forest Hill Town in the northern part of the map.

"This location... seems quite decent?"

Forest Hill Town was the northernmost settlement in the Black Mountain Territory; beyond it, aside from mountains, there were no other cities.

"So the entire north is mine?" Luo Ning thought gleefully.

Knock, knock, knock~

The door was knocked.

Luo Ning shifted his gaze from the map, cleared his throat, and said, "Please enter."

The door swung open, and a middle-aged man dressed in a butler's attire stepped in, politely bowing to Luo Ning:

"Hallwart greets the young master!"

Although Luo Ning had been stripped of his inheritance rights, he remained a descendant of the Black Mountain lineage, still a noble.

Hallwart was the steward of the Marquis's estate. Though he held a certain status, he was ultimately a servant, maintaining impeccable respect toward his master.

"Is there something you need, Mr. Hallwart?"

The steward approached, placing a box on Luo Ning's table, and courteously stated:

"Young master, this is the appointment letter freshly penned by the Lord. He instructed me to deliver it to you. Moreover, he wished me to convey that he hopes you will depart for Forest Hill Town within two days."

Luo Ning's eyebrows twitched slightly. His father, or rather, the former occupant's father, truly seemed eager for him to leave sooner.

He opened the box, unfolded the appointment letter, and examined the details of the appointment.

"Huh, why is my surname missing?" Luo Ning inquired.

On the appointment letter, he only saw the name "Luo Ning"; the surname "Black Mountain" was omitted, left blank.

"The Lord mentioned that after you establish independence, you may possess your own surname. If you haven't decided yet, you may leave it blank. Once you have considered it, you can fill it in, notify him, and register accordingly."

Luo Ning inwardly chuckled.

Quite impressive—his so-called father had even stripped him of his surname.

Nobles could indeed change their surnames, typically occurring when two factions within a family were equally prominent, facilitating external distinction.

However, even after changing surnames, both groups would still recognize each as part of the same family for at least several generations; their bloodline remained unchanged and acknowledged.

Viggins' current actions were purely driven by venting his displeasure toward Luo Ning.

"This fellow is truly temperamental and capricious."

Luo Ning felt no anger. After all, he had crossed over; any surname was acceptable, and being allowed to choose his own pleased him even more.

He pondered briefly, set the appointment letter on the table, then picked up a pen and inscribed his surname.

(End of Chapter)