An hour had passed by, and Ethan surveyed the first completed residential building with satisfaction.

The structure rose from the desert sand like a testament to human determination.

Stone walls reinforced with bindings, wooden beams, and glass windows that gleamed despite the harsh environment.

Jacoub’s architectural expertise had transformed basic materials into something approaching civilized housing.

This is a good residential building.

The resource expenditure had been manageable:

-> 200/100 units of wood

-> 290/100 units of stone

-> 140/100 units of sand

Still plenty left for the next building.

“Good job, everyone,” Ethan announced to his exhausted construction crew. Sweat stained their clothing despite the cooling evening air, but their faces showed the satisfaction of meaningful accomplishment.

They’re taking pride in the work. Excellent

“Start the next building immediately,” he continued. “We need everything at Tier 2 for the territory upgrade.”

Jacoub wiped stone dust from his hands, already calculating material requirements.

“The second structure will go faster, my Lord. We’ve worked out the construction process.”

Experience always accelerates everything.

“How much faster?”

“Two hours instead of six. Maybe less if the crews maintain this pace.”

Jack’s warriors were already hauling materials to the second construction site, their military efficiency adapting seamlessly to civilian tasks.

Elena’s archers provided help by doubling as manual laborers when needed.

Everyone contributes. No exceptions.

Ethan’s attention turned toward Vincent, who lay where he’d been left—a limbless torso propped against supply crates. The healing potions had stabilized his condition without regenerating severed limbs, exactly as intended.

He is alive but helpless. Whilst Ethan truly felt that it was cruel to keep the man in this state, he still had the feeling that the man deserved it.

Vincent’s eyes tracked Ethan’s approach with a mixture of fear and desperate hope. The interrogation had broken his spirit.

“Please…” Vincent whispered hoarsely.

“Water…”

Ethan produced a water container from his storage ring, holding it just out of reach.

“You better answer more questions. If you do, you get water.”

Vincent nodded frantically, his tongue darting across cracked lips. “Anything… just please…”

“Later. Rest now. Save your strength for tomorrow’s conversation.”

Ethan turned away from the broken man, walking toward the bodies of Derek and Torres. Their corpses lay where they’d fallen, already attracting desert scavengers drawn by the scent of blood.

Time to see what they were carrying.

The first body yielded disappointment. Derek’s talent had been focused on Spearmanship—useful to others, but nothing Ethan would need with his existing abilities.

Common basic talent.

Torres proved equally unremarkable. His talent useless to Ethan, who couldn’t devour any new talents.

Neither corpse offered anything worth devouring, their abilities representing the bottom tier of combat effectiveness. These men had relied on superior numbers and organization rather than individual power.

Quantity over quality. Their Lord’s recruitment strategy. Just like mine, currently.

Ethan searched their belongings methodically, his earlier robber habits demanding thoroughness even when expectations were low. Their personal belongings revealed little beyond basic survival gear and crude entertainment materials.

Nothing useful here. Tsk.

Their storage rings, however, contained modest treasures. Bronze and silver cores rattled inside dimensional spaces, along with various materials and foods.

Resources are resources.

Derek’s ring held twelve Bronze cores and four Silver cores. Torres carried similar wealth—evidence of their recent “collection activities” from territories.

Blood money. But useful blood money. I will need those cores for the upgrade later.

Ethan pocketed both rings before activating his Fire talent. Flames engulfed the corpses and their remaining useless possessions, reducing everything to ash within minutes.

No evidence left behind.

The desert wind scattered the ashes across endless dunes, erasing the last traces of Derek and Torres from existence.

Only their storage rings remained as proof they’d ever lived.

With that done. It’s time to move on.

Construction sounds echoed across the territory as his subjects began the second residential building. Hammers rang against stone, pulleys creaked under heavy loads, and Jacoub’s voice carried instructions to his expanding workforce.

But resources were flowing out faster than they were coming in. The spawn point had been neglected for hours while everyone focused on construction, representing lost opportunities for material gathering.

Time to collect the harvest.

Ethan made his way toward the scorpion nest, enhanced speed carrying him across familiar terrain in seconds. The spawning grounds showed signs of recent activity—fresh tracks in the sand, disturbed earth around burrow entrances.

Regular production continued.

Six scorpions had emerged during the neglected hours, their bronze carapaces gleaming in the fading light.

They wandered aimlessly around the nest area, following their normal behaviors rather than intelligence.

Renewable resources on legs. I like that.

The creatures sensed his approach, mandibles clicking as they oriented toward potential prey. Their formation was loose, uncoordinated—individual hunters rather than pack predators.

Easy pickings.

Ethan didn’t bother with complex tactics. His enhanced speed activated, turning the world into slow motion as he closed distance with supernatural quickness.

The first scorpion died before it could raise its stinger, Ethan’s iron-enhanced fist punching through its carapace like paper. The second managed half a defensive motion before wind blades severed its head.

One. Two.

Fire consumed the third creature from within as Ethan’s flames found the gaps in its armor. The fourth tried to flee, only to discover that Gold-rank speed made escape impossible.

Three. Four.

The remaining pair attempted coordinated attacks, their simple minds recognizing the threat level. But coordination required communication time they weren’t given.

Five. Six.

Silence returned to the spawning grounds as the last scorpion collapsed, its death throes disturbing sand around the burrow entrances. Six corpses lay scattered across the area, ready for harvesting.

Efficient work.

Ethan extracted cores, his storage ring accepting each crystal with dimensional efficiency. The bodies yielded their standard resource drops, materialized directly into his territorial reserves.

Resources gained: +30 sand, +10 wood, 1 water container

Not bad for a few seconds’ work.

The additional sand would prove particularly useful for the second residential building, bringing him closer to the Tier 3 upgrade requirements.

Every resource counts now.

Construction sounds carried across the desert as he made his way back, evidence that his subjects hadn’t slowed their pace during his absence.

Time was becoming the most precious resource of all.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep