I Become a Landlady in the Game World
Chapter 140 - 082: System Store, Vanishing

Chapter 140: Chapter 082: System Store, Vanishing

After learning of the announcement, the people at the scene were stunned for a while before they couldn’t help but start discussing.

"Officially integrated into the Stan Continent? Does this mean we were never really on the Stan Continent before?"

"Now that we’re officially part of it, what will it become?"

"Environmental changes? What kind of changes?"

"I suddenly have an ominous premonition."

"Is the Stan Continent dangerous?"

"Not clear. We only heard about it from some NPC mouths before, thinking we were also on the Stan Continent. Who knew we weren’t."

"So, shall we go ask some more?"

"Okay."

Immediately, quite a few residents tentatively approached some NPCs, ready to ask them a few questions.

Most of the NPCs were also in shock at the time.

They weren’t shocked by anything else, but rather by their maps, which had become inoperative after entering Hope Village, suddenly being restored, and the territories they had visited before started appearing on their maps.

Hope Village was among them, and it even neighbored some of the territories they had visited.

At that moment, many NPCs realized.

Why all the residents of Hope Village were staying within the territory today.

They probably knew about this.

Many people didn’t understand. Would all new territories receive protection? Or only places like Hope Village.

Before they could figure it out, they encountered many residents who were asking about the Stan Continent.

Facing these questions of common knowledge, many NPCs composed themselves and provided all the information.

Regardless of how they and their territories appeared, they were now on the same side, and that was enough.

Diana, who was the first to discover that Hope Village was special, looked at the changes in her map and took a deep breath.

It’s here!

In the future, Hope Village will face a more complex environment.

She only hoped now that the territory could also stand its ground in the Stan Continent.

As the thought passed, she reflected on the development of Hope Village since her arrival and suddenly felt relieved.

If Hope Village could continue at its current pace, the future looked bright.

Thinking this, Diana left the tailor shop and headed to the neighboring blacksmith shop.

Inside the blacksmith shop, Harrison was also lost in thought.

He had just discovered his former territory suddenly appearing on the map, which made him aware of his location, and so he seemed somewhat distracted.

"What are you planning?" asked Diana.

Harrison was different from these human Undead; he was a Dwarf, and even as an Undead, he only cared about his own race.

Harrison was in charge of Hope Village’s weapons, his position was too critical.

Hope Village was now completely exposed to all territories, including Dwarf territories. If one day, a Dwarf territory made contact with Hope Village, which side would he stand on?

Listening to Diana’s words, Harrison came back to reality, pursed his lips, and said, "I know what you’re implying with your question, and all I can tell you is that I’m a Resident of Hope Village now, and I know what I need to do."

If it had been the first day he arrived, he might have chosen his former territory without hesitation, but now, he was Undead, and he could never go back.

Once, he could "barely survive" in his own territory.

Now, he had become Undead, he was even less likely to go back, and since he was summoned by Zhou Bai from the Undead Kingdom, if he really did betray Hope Village, he would have no way out.

All he could consider was himself.

Seeing that what Harrison said didn’t seem to be false, Diana didn’t say anything more.

She had come only out of concern for Hope Village and the bond they shared from coming together just to give a "reminder."

Fortunately, the other party was very clear.

Afterward, Diana left, and as she did so, a group of Residents swarmed into the blacksmith shop.

The Undead NPCs had already been "divvied up" by others, so they wanted to ask this Dwarf NPC and also to understand more about the Dwarves.

This was an important point of information.

If they got to it early enough, they could also post it on the bulletin board to make some money!

Apart from Harrison, the goblin NPC and the Beastman NPC were also questioned in turn.

When Denglop and Victor were approached, they were a bit nervous, but thankfully, after spending some time together, they knew that Hope Village Residents wouldn’t harm or enslave them, so even though they were nervous, they still obediently answered their questions.

"...that’s all we know. Across the entire Stan Continent, our goblin race has the lowest status because we don’t have our own territory or kingdom," Victor said, his voice trailing off with a hint of despondency. If things had been different, the goblins’ days might not have been so rough! How were his fellow goblins faring now? After death, they were lucky to have good days in Hope Village, but he feared his kinsmen were still worrying about their livelihoods and living in fear.

"No worries, you’re now a resident of Hope Village. Think of Hope Village as your home."

"Exactly, you guys are so capable, finding ore just like that. Thanks to you, the weapons and equipment in our territory are now much cheaper."

"With this mining talent, we’re all going to get rich."

"Speaking of which, could you prospect for ore privately for us? We could share the profits?"

"..."

Listening to their words, Victor was somewhat touched, but when he heard the last sentence, he jumped in protest, "No! The iron ore belongs to the... territory, we won’t prospect for you!"

Seeing Victor’s agitated response, a resident patted him on the head, "Oh, got it."

Victor: "..."

As for the Beastmen, although they too felt something was amiss, they didn’t care to think too deeply with their simple minds.

Especially O’Neill, who was actually happy. He had planned to inquire about Zhou Bai’s attitude after his one-month contract was up and then bring his wife and children from his own territory. He had been worried about the logistics, but now that he had the map and knew the distance between his territory and Hope Village, he had nothing to fret over.

As they faced questions from the villagers.

"How many species of Beastmen are there? Which is the strongest race?"

"Is your previous territory close to ours?"

"If our territories went to war, could we win?"

"..."

O’Neill knew the answers, but...

"Do I get paid for answering your questions?"

He had a wife and kids to support, after all.

The villagers: "..."

**

Within the territory, all the residents were diligently seeking information.

They were acutely aware of one thing: the world had drastically changed.

And Zhou Bai, the lord of this land, had an even deeper understanding of this change.

[Territory: Hope Village]

[Level: Level 2 Village (Upgrade)]

[Population: 1102/5000]

[Area: 2000 Mu]

[Tax Rate: 10% (Adjustable)]

[Wealth: 672 Gold 83 Silver 29 Copper]

[Buildings: Lord Mansion (Level 3), Primary City Wall, Basic Blacksmith Shop, Restaurant, Basic Tailor Shop, Level 1 House (30 square wooden houses), Second-level Residence (30 square two-story wooden houses), Level 3 Residence (30 square two-story stone houses), Special Buildings (Heroic Spirit Hall, Beast God Temple, Hospital), Grocery Store, Basic Military Camp, Basic Watchtower, Prison, Basic Warehouse, Level 1 Farmland, Well, Tavern, Breeding Ground, Commercial Street (50 shops)]

[Contribution Mall: Available to territory residents, exchangeable only with contribution points]

[Current Ranking: (Stan Continent Ranking: ***) (Regional Ranking: 10)]

[Territory War: 1/1 (Victory Count: 1) (Truce Period: 3 days)]

[Note: Territory can only be conquered by a lord]

The familiar Mall was gone from the panel, and so was the Newbie Protection Period.

She had been prepared for this, because among the notifications she received, in addition to the ones shared with other residents, there was an extra one just for her.

[Dear Host, the Newbie Protection Period has ended, and Mall services will be terminated.]

This notification came before the panel refreshed.

It was informing her that no matter how the environment changed in the future, she could no longer buy materials in advance from the Mall to craft equipment; she would have to rely solely on herself.

And residents could no longer sell resources to the system in the wild; interactions with other people and with the territory would become much closer.

Her earlier speculations were correct. The System Store’s double pricing of materials was not only to assist new territories but also to hint that they should not overly depend on the System Store; buying materials was to give some survivors the means to live.

Fortunately, she had been prepared, and the territory had been purchasing resources from the residents all along, so the Mall’s disappearance had an impact, but not a significant one.

But those territories that had relied on the System Store early on would be different.

They would inevitably face some challenges.

She wondered if they could adapt?

And would the local territories be able to notice the existence of territories like theirs?