Morning sunlight spilled across Liyue.
The city was still small.
But it no longer looked like a temporary settlement.
Stone roads connected the houses.
Farmers worked the fields.
Merchants had begun setting up stalls.
Children ran through the streets.
And above the central plaza stood the golden statue of Noel.
Its faint glow continued to calm everyone who passed beneath it.
Noel watched from the balcony of his unfinished palace.
He smiled.
“We’re finally becoming a proper city.”
Then he noticed something.
A group of merchants was arguing near the marketplace.
Noel sighed.
“Already?”
He walked downstairs.
A Dispute
Two merchants stood facing each other.
“You promised me twenty sacks!”
“I promised twenty sacks after you paid!”
“I already paid half!”
“Half isn’t the full amount!”
Noel listened for several seconds.
Then he stepped between them.
“Enough.”
Both merchants immediately became quiet.
Noel looked at them.
“What happened?”
The first merchant explained his side.
The second explained his.
Noel thought for a moment.
Then he asked:
“Do you have a written agreement?”
They both looked at each other.
“…No.”
Noel sighed.
“Then we have a problem.”
He looked toward the marketplace.
“This city is growing.”
He pointed at the merchants.
“People will trade.”
“People will make promises.”
“And eventually, someone will break one.”
Noel paused.
“We need contracts.”
The system appeared.
[Morax Template compatibility detected.]
[Concept: Contractual Order.]
[Synchronization: 2.8%]
Noel smiled.
“Of course.”
The First Contract
Noel summoned a large stone tablet.
He carved several simple rules into it.
A contract must be understood by both parties.
Both parties must agree willingly.
The terms must be clearly recorded.
Neither party may deliberately deceive the other.
A contract must be honored once accepted.
The citizens gathered around.
Noel turned toward them.
“Contracts aren’t chains.”
He pointed toward the merchants.
He looked across the crowd.
“If two people agree to something, their word should mean something.”
The elderly woman smiled.
“Then this shall become one of our laws.”
Noel nodded.
“Yes.”
The first two merchants looked at each other.
The first extended his hand.
“Twenty sacks.”
The second shook it.
“After full payment.”
They smiled.
Noel watched.
The system appeared again.
[First official contract established.]
[Civic stability increased.]
[Morax Template Synchronization: 3.1%]
Noel smiled.
“So that’s another way to increase synchronization.”
He looked at the stone tablet.
“Build order.”
The Nation Changes
Over the next few months, Liyue changed rapidly.
The population grew from 44 to 73.
New travelers arrived.
Farmers settled.
Craftsmen opened workshops.
Merchants began using Liyue as a trading stop.
The city needed more food.
More water.
More houses.
More roads.
Noel continued helping.
But he also began delegating.
He appointed farmers to organize agriculture.
Craftsmen to manage workshops.
Merchants to oversee trade.
A small council was formed.
Noel deliberately avoided doing everything himself.
The nation had to learn to stand on its own.
One evening, Aran approached him.
“Lord Noel.”
Noel looked up from a stone blueprint.
“What is it?”
“We’ve finished the eastern irrigation system.”
“Good.”
“And…”
Aran smiled.
“The first harvest is ready.”
Noel’s eyes widened.
“Already?”
Aran nodded.
“The fields produced more than expected.”
Noel immediately stood.
“Show me.”
The First Harvest
The citizens gathered in the fields.
Golden crops covered the farmland.
Children ran between the rows.
Farmers laughed.
For a moment, Noel simply stood there.
He remembered the desert from the day he awakened.
Nothing.
No water.
No houses.
No people.
There was life.
Noel smiled.
“We did it.”
Aran corrected him.
“We did.”
Noel looked at him.
Then nodded.
“You’re right.”
The system appeared.
[First successful harvest.]
[Food security established.]
[Nation Development: 13%]
[Morax Template Synchronization: 4.2%]
Noel stared at the numbers.
“Not bad.”
Then—
The Tailed Beast connection activated.
Shukaku.
Noel closed his eyes.
Kurama.
Your chakra feels different.
Noel smiled.
I’ve been busy.
Another voice joined.
I heard you named your city.
Son Gokū.
Noel answered proudly.
Liyue.
Gyūki chuckled.
And you’ve made laws?
Yes.
Contracts?
Yes.
There was silence.
Then Matatabi spoke.
You’re becoming more like a ruler.
Noel looked over his city.
That’s the idea.
Kurama’s voice suddenly became amused.
You’re actually serious about this.
Noel smiled.
Very.
Kurama laughed quietly.
Then perhaps someday we’ll visit.
Noel opened his eyes.
“You’re welcome anytime.”
Kurama immediately replied:
Don’t get excited.
I said perhaps.
Noel laughed.
“Sure.”
The connection faded.
Noel looked toward the horizon.
His siblings were watching.
His nation was growing.
And somewhere beyond the desert, humanity was slowly changing.
The age of clans was approaching.
But Liyue was already becoming something different.
A nation founded by a Tailed Beast.
Protected by Geo.
Bound by contracts.
And guided by a man who still wasn’t sure whether he wanted to be called a god.
Yet.
To be continued…