In this medieval world, blasphemy and falsely claiming a divine mandate were crimes traditionally punishable by being burned at the stake.
He had just deceived his subjects using a goddess’s name.
Right at that chaotic moment, a sharp chime rang out, and a clear blue system notification popped up directly in front of his eyes.
[ Ding! ]
[ Extreme Religious Integration Detected! ]
[Target Harlan Loyalty: 53% ➔ 100% (MAX - Fanatical Zealot) ]
[ Target Gideon Loyalty: 50% ➔ 100% (MAX - Fanatical Zealot) ]
[System Note: The targets now view you as a holy savior. Their loyalty is locked permanently at the absolute ceiling.They will willingly march into a meat grinder if you command it.]
Raymond stood entirely frozen, staring at the maxed-out numbers. A moment later, his expression shifted back into a flawlessly pious mask.
Since the lie had worked so well that it literally locked their loyalty permanently, he might as well double down on the fraud to maximize his benefits.
"Yes, Lily," Raymond said, his voice dripping with deep, solemn authority as he looked at the farmers. "The Goddess of Life chose me as her Divine Emissary. She sent me to this frozen, neglected land to lead you all to greater prosperity. She has witnessed every single ounce of your suffering from her heavenly realm, and her heart was filled with profound sadness. She commanded me to awaken from my drunken stupor and deliver you from this famine."
Gideon and Harlan looked up at Raymond, their eyes completely filled with deep, worshipping reverence. In their minds, Raymond’s ordinary figure was practically covered in a brilliant, glowing divine light.
He was no longer the deadbeat lord; he was their holy savior.
"Dammit... if I had just become a politician in my previous life on Earth, I would have been rolling in absolute millions instead of choking to death on a pile of laundry water,"Raymond thought internally, genuinely surprised by his own natural talent for manipulation.
However, as he basked in the worshipping gazes of Gideon and Harlan, a sudden, sharp realization hit him. His face immediately twitched with a wave of immense, crushing regret.
Wait... I made a massive mistake! Raymond screamed internally, his guts twisting violently," I shouldn’t have performed these miracles out here in an empty basin! If I had done this exact same ’miracle performance’ in the middle of the town square in front of all one thousant twelve hundred citizens... I would have gained the absolute trust and maxed-out loyalty of the entire populace in one single speech! Dammit! What a colossal, absolute waste of a golden opportunity!
Raymond felt a physical ache in his chest. This tactical blunder had easily entered the top seven list of things he most regretted in his entire life, right behind tripping over his cat with a tub of laundry soap. He felt so sick with regret that he worried his heart might stop beating entirely.
After taking a few deep, ragged breaths to calm his internal panic, he forced his focus back to the immediate logistical reality.
He looked toward Gideon and Harlan.
"Now that the land has been divinely transformed, our agricultural cultivation must start immediately," Raymond stated seriously. "However, this fifteen-hectare basin is massive. It is far too large for the two of you to manage alone. We are going to need a lot of physical labor from the town, and we will also need a substantial supply of farming tools to plow the fields."
Gideon and Harlan thought about the requirements for a brief second, nodding their heads in firm agreement.
Gideon stepped forward respectfully. "Divine Emissary, regarding the labor,...."
"Stop right there," Raymond immediately interrupted him, raising a hand with a polite, soft smile. "Do not call me that in public. Just continue to address me as Young Master, understood?"
Gideon was stunned for a moment, but he quickly caught on, a faint smile appearing on his wrinkled face. "Understood... Young Master. I think we are currently forgetting the most important, critical factor regarding this endeavor."
Raymond looked at him, his brows raising. "What critical factor?"
Gideon’s expression turned deeply grave as he pointed toward the empty, clear sky.
"Rain, my Lord."
Raymond froze. His mind went entirely blank for a solid second. Then, a sudden wave of panic hit him.
Dammit! I completely forgot about water! Without consistent rain, how the hell are we supposed to grow these crops? This cursed Zulor Region is so dry and barren that natural rain hasn’t fallen here in over a year!
He quickly stepped back, shielding his eyes from the glare as he mentally called out to the interface. "System! Answer me right now! The Tier 1 Land Upgrade Card transformedthis soil into rich loam, but do I still require natural rain for the crops to actually grow? Does the card include automated hydration?"
The blue screen flickered instantly, delivering a blunt, cold dose of reality.
[ Ding! Affirmative. While the Tier 1 Land Upgrade Card permanently optimizes soil nutrients and resilience, it does not possess automated hydration functions. The crops still require consistent water or rain to successfully grow. ]
[ Note: Only Tier V and above Land Upgrade Cards include integrated self-watering, independent eco-climates that
bypass natural weather constraints. Please upgrade your fief.]
Raymond let out a heavy, frustrated sigh, rubbing his chin aggressively as his mind raced to find a solution. "How the hell am I supposed to summon rain in a desert wasteland?"
He looked back toward the two fanatical farmers, carefully hiding his anxiety beneath his calm, elegant mask. He knew he couldn’t let them see him sweat, or the divine image he had just built would collapse.
"Do not worry," Raymond said smoothly, giving them a reassuring nod. "We will address the hydration matter later. The Goddess will provide a path. For right now, let us focus entirely on the initial preparation. We will return to the castle, gather the necessarylabor, and prepare the infrastructure to start farming."
Gideon and Harlan exchanged a look of absolute trust, nodding their heads firmly. "Yes, Young Master! We obey!"
"Excellent," Raymond smiled, turning back toward the town. "Let us head back and begin the preparations."