Raze made his decisions methodically, weighing each purchase against immediate survival needs and long-term strategic value. His fingers moved across the bracelet interface, selecting options that would form the foundation of his kingdom's infrastructure.

[Purchase Confirmed: Watchtower - 25,000 KP]

[Purchase Confirmed: Mess Hall - 10,000 KP]

[Purchase Confirmed: Expanded Barracks - 15,000 KP]

[Remaining Kingdom Points: 12,000 KP]

[Buildings Will Materialize At Dawn When Kingdom Members Arrive]

The choices made sense. Defense through early warning, basic sustenance through organized food distribution, and housing that would prevent his people from living on top of each other. Twelve thousand points remained as reserve for whatever unexpected needs emerged during the first month.

Raze closed the shop interface and resumed exploring his territory, this time with a more systematic approach. He walked the perimeter methodically, noting terrain features and strategic positions where the purchased buildings might materialize.

The kingdom was larger than he'd initially assessed. Walking the full border took nearly an hour at a steady pace, the territory encompassing several square kilometers of diverse landscape. The forest to the east was dense enough to provide timber resources and natural concealment. The plains south offered clear sightlines and potential agricultural development. The river cutting through western sections guaranteed water access beyond the central well.

But as he completed his circuit, something caught his attention.

The air shimmered slightly at irregular intervals along what seemed to be the kingdom's border. Barely visible distortion, easy to miss if you weren't looking for it. Raze approached one of these shimmer points carefully, extending his hand toward the disturbance.

His fingers met resistance. Invisible barrier, solid enough to prevent passage but thin enough that a casual observer might walk right into it without noticing until contact occurred.

He followed the barrier line, discovering it formed a complete perimeter around his territory. The kingdom seemed wide and expansive, but these restrictions defined exact boundaries that couldn't be crossed. Natural borders weren't walls or fences but magical containment that prevented expansion beyond assigned limits.

"Clever," Raze murmured. "Make it look like open territory while actually constraining everything within predetermined space."

The barriers were thin enough that they'd be easy to miss during rushed exploration or combat situations. Someone fleeing pursuit might slam into an invisible wall without warning. Defenders needed to know exactly where these boundaries existed to avoid tactical disasters.

He made a mental note to map the barrier locations precisely and share that information with his people once they arrived. Understanding territorial limits could mean the difference between successful defense and catastrophic failure.

The sun had set completely by the time he finished his exploration, night settling over the kingdom with surprising darkness. No artificial lighting existed beyond what the moon and stars provided. Another detail to address eventually, though it ranked lower priority than survival essentials.

Raze returned to the central building as the temperature dropped. The stone structure retained some warmth from the day, making it a tolerable shelter despite lacking any heating system. Bephe had claimed one corner, the prehistoric predator curled up in space that seemed too small for his bulk but apparently worked fine for his comfort.

"Tomorrow they will arrive," Raze said to his companion. "Thirty people expecting leadership and direction. Better make sure I actually have a plan worth following."

Bephe's responding rumble might have been agreement or simple acknowledgment that his master was talking again.

Raze settled against the wall, letting his mind work through the Piece selection that would define his kingdom's structure. Eight positions to fill from thirty committed delegates. Each role required specific capabilities, and choosing the wrong person for a critical position could cascade into failures that penalties would make devastating.

He pulled up his bracelet interface again, accessing the roster of people who'd committed to his kingdom. Names appeared with basic information, cultivation ranks, specializations. Not comprehensive profiles but enough to make informed decisions.

Fedora was an obvious choice for Queen. Her Precognition and telekinetic authority combined with political experience made her perfect for the Prime Executor role demanding crisis command and multi-domain coordination. She could override other Pieces when necessary and act with speed that bureaucratic processes couldn't match.

Darius fit Rook One naturally. His technique and tactical thinking suited internal control perfectly. Infrastructure management, law enforcement, population order, logistics inside borders. All areas where his disciplined approach and systematic thinking would excel.

The other positions required more consideration. He needed people with intelligence gathering capability for Bishop One. Diplomatic skill for Knight Two. Ideological management expertise for Bishop Two. Military logistics understanding for Rook Two. Rapid response capability for Knight One. And someone with broad adaptability for the Pawn position.

Raze worked through the roster methodically, cross-referencing capabilities against role requirements. Some choices became clear through the process of elimination. Others required judgment calls about potential versus demonstrated performance.

Hours passed while he planned, refined, reconsidered. The weight of responsibility never faded, a constant reminder that these decisions would affect thirty people's Academy experiences and potentially their futures beyond these walls.

Eventually exhaustion caught up with him. Raze closed the interface and let sleep claim him, mind still processing possibilities even as consciousness faded.

Morning arrived with golden light spilling through the building's entrance. Raze woke immediately, years of training making the transition from sleep to alertness instantaneous. Bephe was already up, prowling near the doorway with anticipation that suggested he sensed something approaching.

Raze stepped outside to find his purchased buildings had materialized exactly as promised. The Watchtower rose thirty meters into the air northeast of the central structure, stone construction matching the original building's aesthetic. Solid stairs spiraled up the interior to an observation platform that offered clear view across the entire territory.

The Mess Hall stood south of center, large enough to accommodate fifty people comfortably with kitchen facilities and storage that suggested the Academy had provided basic supplies to get them started.

The Expanded Barracks occupied a position west of the original building, a two-storey structure with individual rooms rather than an open dormitory layout. Actual privacy and personal space rather than cramped communal living.

Raze walked through the Barracks quickly, noting the uniform room sizes. No special quarters, no leadership suite, just identical spaces that could house twenty people with reasonable comfort. He claimed a room on the ground floor near the entrance, no different from any other available space.

No need for different treatment. He was King in function and responsibility, but that didn't require physical separation from the people he led. Better to be accessible than isolated in some symbolic tower.

He was in the training yard he'd marked out near the Watchtower, running through katana forms to warm up his muscles, when the golden light appeared.

It materialized in the central plaza between buildings, expanding outward in waves that deposited thirty people simultaneously. The teleportation effect was gentler than the violent extraction from the Culling Games, controlled arrival that left everyone standing rather than stumbling.

Raze sheathed his katana and walked toward them, Bephe falling into step beside him. The prehistoric predator had expanded to calf size, presence adding weight to his master's approach.

His people were looking around with a mixture of awe and uncertainty, taking in the buildings and landscape that would be their home for the academic year. Some recognized the strategic value of the Watchtower immediately. Others were clearly just grateful for actual housing rather than camping in the wilderness.

Fedora spotted him first, her expression shifting from assessment of surroundings to focus on his approach. Others followed her gaze, conversations dying as they recognized their King walking toward them.

Raze stopped ten meters from the group, letting them see him clearly while maintaining distance that forced attention rather than encouraging casual interaction.

"Welcome," he said, voice carrying across the space without needing to shout. "You committed to my kingdom. Now we establish what that actually means."

He swept his gaze across all thirty faces, making brief eye contact with each person before continuing.

"I'm not interested in politics, social hierarchies, or who came from which noble family. Your performance during the Culling Games demonstrated capability. That's why you're here. What matters going forward is continued demonstration of capability and willingness to execute assigned responsibilities without drama or excuses."

Several people shifted slightly, uncertain whether this directness was refreshing or concerning.

"This kingdom will move efficiently or it will fail," Raze continued. "Failure means penalties that affect everyone, point reductions that hamper advancement, territorial losses that compound into cascading problems. I have no intention of failing because someone decided personal pride mattered more than collective success."

Fedora was watching him with a slight smile, clearly recognizing the no-nonsense approach from their previous interactions. Darius looked completely unbothered, probably expecting exactly this kind of leadership given military traditions he'd been raised in.

"The Academy gave us one building and land," Raze gestured to the structures around them. "I purchased the Watchtower for defense, the Mess Hall for organized sustenance, and the Barracks so we're not living on top of each other. Resources are limited. Every decision about how to spend Kingdom Points affects what we can and cannot accomplish."

He paused, letting that sink in.

"I will be sleeping in the Barracks the same as everyone else. Ground floor, room near the entrance. There's no separate leadership quarters because there's no need for one. Accessibility matters more than symbolic elevation."

That drew surprised reactions from several delegates who'd clearly expected traditional noble hierarchies.

"In approximately five minutes, I will select eight of you as Pieces. These are formal positions with specific responsibilities and dedicated training. The remaining twenty-two will form the general population with their own crucial roles in kingdom function. Not being selected as Piece doesn't mean you're less valuable. It means your capabilities serve us better in different capacity."

Raze pulled up his bracelet interface, accessing the selection system that would formalize his choices.

"When I call your name and position, step forward. We'll handle formal role assignments and initial strategic briefing once everyone knows where they stand."

He activated his Inspect ability, enhanced perception flooding his awareness with detailed information about each person's capabilities. Cultivation ranks, specializations, temperaments, potential. Everything his transmigrator knowledge combined with Asura's enhanced senses could be extracted from observation.

Time to build his kingdom's foundation.

"Fedora Westia," he announced. "Queen. Prime Executor with authority to override other Pieces during crisis situations and execute the kingdom will across all domains."

Fedora stepped forward smoothly, no hesitation or surprise. She'd probably guessed this assignment before arriving.

"Darius Crawford. Rook One. Internal Control responsible for infrastructure, law enforcement, population order, and logistics inside our borders."

Darius moved to stand beside Fedora, expression carrying quiet satisfaction with the assignment.

Raze continued, his Inspect ability showing him exactly who fit each remaining role through a combination of demonstrated capability and potential for growth.

"Helena Veyron. Rook Two. External Control handling border defense, fortifications, military logistics, and territory holding."

A youth with short dark hair and scarred hands stepped forward. Expert Peak rank, spear specialist who'd scored high in the Culling Games through systematic territorial defense rather than aggressive hunting.

"Julian Cross. Bishop One. Information and Influence managing intelligence, espionage, propaganda, and counter-subversion."

A lean youth with forgettable features moved forward. Expert Mid rank, but his specialization in stealth techniques and observational skills made him perfect for intelligence work.

"Lysa Morven. Bishop Two. Doctrine and Ideology overseeing culture, education, and moral justification of policy."

A scholarly youth with thoughtful expression stepped up. Expert Low rank in terms of combat capability, but her background in teaching and persuasive communication fit the role perfectly.

"Garrett Stone. Knight One. Rapid Response commanding elite strike forces, crisis suppression, and special operations."

A heavily built warrior with multiple weapon harnesses joined the growing line. Expert Peak rank with aggressive combat style that worked better for surgical strikes than sustained defense.

"Nina Ashford. Knight Two. Diplomatic Weapon handling treaties, trade leverage, alliance manipulation, and soft power projection."

An elegant youth with noble bearing but common birth stepped forward. Expert Mid rank fighter, but her real value lay in social manipulation and negotiation skills she'd developed surviving court politics despite lacking proper lineage.

"Cole Rivers. Pawn. Successor Seed who will learn all systems while managing minor domains and serving as potential replacement for any fallen Piece."

A young youth who looked barely eighteen moved to complete the line. Expert Low rank currently, but his performance during the Culling Games had shown adaptability and learning speed that suggested a high ceiling for growth.

Eight Pieces selected. Eight critical positions filled with people whose capabilities matched their assigned responsibilities.

Raze looked at the remaining twenty-two delegates who would form his kingdom's general population.

"The rest of you have equally crucial roles. Territory patrol, resource gathering, construction support, administrative assistance, and a dozen other functions that keep kingdoms operational. Your assignments will be distributed based on your individual capabilities and kingdom needs. Questions?"

Silence answered him, thirty people processing the rapid establishment of organizational structure.

"Good," Raze said. "Then let's begin."

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