Not everyone accepted Ruta Garos’s vision.

“Some left Trivik, while those who remained with purpose began gathering followers to achieve their goals.”

Previously, the formidable deterrent of Alfred Luhibio had kept everyone united in mind and purpose, but now, that hierarchy had vanished.

With people of differing agendas crowded into the same space, conflict was inevitable.

After all, the simplest way to resolve an ideological clash was to subjugate the opposition.

“It did not take long for Trivik to fall.”

As art vanished from the city, artists began to depart one by one.

「The city of milk and honey was stained with blood and greed.」

The bards who fled Trivik lamented in song.

Hearing these songs, jackals from outside the city descended upon it, seeking to carve up its interests.

As external forces intervened in Trivik’s internal disputes, the city gradually lost its foundations.

It was then.

That the concept of ‘factions’ began to emerge in the city of Trivik.

A sense of crisis arose: if this continued, even victory in battle would yield no profit.

Exhausted by constant conflict, the people reached a consensus to forge a precarious peace, initiating negotiations to divide the city’s interests.

However, most of the city’s infrastructure was already destroyed.

Compared to what was lost, there was too little to gain.

Ultimately, their choice was to grow the pie.

Reviving the city required mutual cooperation.

“Faction Points were created to measure how much each group contributed to the city’s revival.”

In the beginning, Faction Points were earned by making money or restoring infrastructure.

Though there were some complaints, most factions accepted the new system because it rewarded their efforts accordingly.

However, it did not take long for new problems to arise.

The catalyst was a speech by Ruta Garos, a disciple of Alfred Luhibio.

[Money is accumulating in Trivik, but that does not mean the city is functioning properly. We cannot even properly welcome the guests who come for trade. To restore the city’s normal functions, we must elect someone to manage and represent it.]

He was not wrong. Trivik was completely failing to function as a city.

It was little more than a gathering of interest groups ruled by the law of the fist.

[We need the power of Players to develop the city’s facilities and maintain order. Let us elect representatives through fair battlefields.]

The people’s reaction was positive. Solving problems through the battlefield was a rational approach.

It was only natural that those of higher Tiers held heavier sway in discussions.

Of course, there were dissenting voices.

Factions primarily composed of champions rather than players also existed.

Believing that might made right, their influence was stronger, at least in reality.

They were a volatile threat, ready to explode at any moment.

Ruta Garos did not miss this blind spot.

[Let us build a Colosseum where only Champions can shine, thereby guaranteeing the interests of the Champions.]

The champions were satisfied with this proposal as well.

They had joined the fray not to gain administrative rights over the city, but out of pure greed.

The people enthusiastically endorsed Ruta Garos’s speech.

It did not take long for Trivik, once called the city of art, to transform into a city of strife.

Many champions and players distinguished themselves in the battlefields and the Colosseum, but the one who stood out the most was Ruta Garos.

Ultimately, he became the representative of Trivik.

As an outstanding player and champion, he displayed overwhelming prowess in both the battlefield and the Colosseum, leading all factions to acknowledge him as Trivik’s representative.

Afterward, Ruta Garos’s actions were groundbreaking.

[Rebuilding the city requires the assistance of various factions. We will establish a ranking based on Faction Points and guarantee benefits commensurate with the highest ranks.]

Surprisingly, the list of benefits even included partial administrative rights to the city.

The factions welcomed Ruta Garos’s declaration with open arms.

[In return, residents who fail to earn the required Faction Points within five years will face penalties.]

A five-year grace period was granted.

The threshold set was not exceptionally high, but it required diligent work to achieve.

Ruta Garos’s intentions were easy to read.

He intended to weed out the incompetent and cultivate the capable.

Perhaps competition is the driving force of growth.

The city’s development progressed more spectacularly than ever, and Trivik swiftly regained its former glory.

***

“This was the catalyst for Trivik being divided into several regions.”

Keumkeum-

Whether his throat was parched from the dry weather or not, the old coachman moistened his rough throat with water from a leather canteen.

Gulp- gulp-

Following the camels’ pace, the four-horse carriage I rode in also moved slowly.

The frustrating traffic jam continued, but the old coachman’s storytelling was so remarkable that I never felt bored.

The old coachman was an excellent storyteller.

The coachman resumed his tale.

“Many champions and players flowed in, but the majority of the city’s residents at the time were ordinary people.”

They possessed nothing but their healthy bodies.

Ultimately, they headed for the barren eastern region located in the Herseba Desert.

A desolate land where no one lived.

“Thanks to the people pouring their sweat and blood into it, the desolate eastern region transformed into a place fit for human habitation.”

Though physically demanding, pioneering the land was an effective way to earn Faction Points.

Lights that never went out, 24 hours a day.

Thanks to the pioneers working tirelessly day and night, the eastern region could develop into what it is today.

“Those with some ability chose the northern region instead of the east.”

The northern region of Trivik.

The fertile expanse of the Regalavak Great Plains held abundant resources.

However, claiming them required dealing with fierce wild animals and Monsters.

Still, the situation was better than in the eastern region.

It was a dangerous land, but one rich in resources.

Thus, hunters, farmers, blacksmiths, and various other artisans began to gather in the northern region.

Based on this, the northern region developed.

Next was the western region of Trivik.

“Originally, Trivik referred only to what is now the western region.”

Today, many people live in the east and north as well.

But at that time, most residents remained in the western region.

From the poor to the wealthy.

All manner of people were mixed together in the western region of Trivik.

Among them were many who had no intention of meeting the standards Ruta Garos had set.

People who preferred to enjoy their present lives rather than suffer for the future.

Surprisingly, these people constituted a massive thirty percent of Trivik’s population.

No sanctions were imposed on them until the promised five years had passed.

And so, time flew by like an arrow.

Having achieved the goal of the ‘Trivik 5-Year Plan’, Ruta Garos raised his voice before the crowd.

Ruta Garos himself had changed significantly from his former self, having become a dignified leader of the city.

[Thanks to your efforts, Trivik has reclaimed its former glory.]

Perhaps even longstanding grudges faded before the passage of five years.

Many factions were beginning to unite under the name of Trivik.

Those who had shared in Trivik’s development process marveled at Ruta Garos’s managerial prowess.

Perhaps as a reward for this, the rewards Ruta Garos offered were groundbreaking.

[I promised rewards to the factions that achieved high rankings. I stand here today to keep that promise.]

The people’s eyes filled with anticipation.

Trivik had regained its former prestige, becoming a city brimming with wealth.

[First, I promise that even after today, I will continue to focus on the city’s administration.]

Unlike five years ago, the people’s reaction was favorable.

They were genuinely acknowledging Ruta Garos as the city’s leader.

Of course, not everyone felt that way.

Those with power comparable to Ruta Garos were secretly coveting his position.

To those with power, the title of city lord was simply too enticing.

Ruta Garos continued.

[Trivik is currently divided into three major regions. We will administratively distinguish them: the western region shall be called Upir, the northern region Solar, and the eastern region Yukantar.]

The residents of the northern and eastern regions cheered the loudest at these words.

It meant they were finally accepted as true members of Trivik.

The reaction of the western region’s residents was not bad either.

There were those with a sense of elitism who resented being lumped together under the name of Trivik.

From now on, they would introduce themselves as the proud residents of Upir.

Up to this point, nothing was particularly surprising.

However, the words Ruta Garos uttered next sent a stir through Trivik.

[I will transfer the administrative rights of these three divided regions to other factions. The second-ranked faction will receive Upir, the third Solar, and finally, the fourth-ranked faction will receive the administrative rights to Yukantar.]

A shocking declaration.

Supern, a powerful second-in-command who had been eyeing Ruta Garos’s position, actively supported the proposal.

The core of Trivik was, without a doubt, Upir.

Compared to it, the other regions were little more than chaff.

Holding the administrative rights to Upir meant grasping the practical control of the city.

With Supern lending his weight to Ruta Garos’s opinion, the proposal gained immense force.

In the end, no one could raise an objection.

[For your reference, faction rankings can change at any time, meaning these are not permanent administrative rights. The same applies to Garos, the first-ranked faction.]

By stipulating that the rights could change at any time according to the monthly Faction Rankings, he spurred competition among the factions.

In addition, he provided ample benefits to those who had worked hard to rebuild the city.

Those who worked diligently were rewarded for their efforts.

However, he could not speak only of positive things forever.

The Day of Purge he had foretold had finally arrived.

***

As the road continued to be congested.

A man who appeared to be the head of a trading company ordered his men and pulled his camels off to the side of the road.

The turbaned men skillfully pitched tents, preparing to spend the night outdoors.

‘The sun is only at its peak, and they’re already preparing to camp outdoors?’

Regardless, thanks to that, the blocked traffic flowed smoothly, and we were able to race down the cleared road.

Irat-!

Clip-clop- clip-clop-!

The old coachman, gripping the reins, explained the situation as if it were a familiar sight.

“The desert dwellers only work in the morning when the sun rises and rest for the remainder of the day.”

In a way, they could be called lazy.

Working only from sunrise to noon meant they worked for barely six hours a day.

The desert dwellers, accustomed to this lifestyle, maintained these habits even after leaving the desert.

“Is it because of the weather?”

At my question, the old coachman looked at the desert dwellers.

“That may be part of it, but it could also simply be that a gathering of lazy people ended up this way.”

The Day of Purge that Ruta Garos had spoken of.

The penalty imposed on those who failed to gather the required Faction Points.

It was none other than exile from the city.

“The desert nomads are the descendants of those who were exiled from Trivik on that day.”

Hearing this story, a question arose in my mind.

What had the Empire been doing all that time?

Was it acceptable to act so freely in a land that already had an owner?

The legitimate leader of Trivik was, after all, Alfred Luhibio.

Even Ruta Garos, outstanding a leader as he was, was merely a usurper.