The cool morning air had given way to the midday heat. I leaned on the wooden fence surrounding our systemized crop fields, watching a farmer meticulously seed a new cotton crop. The empty field would soon overflow with lush green cotton plants. The sight filled me with anticipation.

The weaver's warning rang true. The System store charged astronomical prices for fabric, seeds, everything needed to farm. Six gold and fifty silver bought just enough seeds to plant this single field. A substantial investment, but one I willingly made after turning steady profits selling ammunition.

With the gold earned at the auction house, I had purchased this plot of land, hired a farmer, and funded the upfront costs of establishing this cotton farm. It was my first real business venture, a risky step beyond just buying and selling on the store.

But I was confident this investment of my hard-earned gold would pay off. If I could produce cotton for less, I could undercut the System store's outrageous prices and sell bales and bolts of cloth directly to nearby villages, pocketing profits the System now claimed.

Looking ahead, harvesting the cotton would require specialized tools. The System store offered an excavator designed specifically for crops like cotton. Its price tag surpassed even the ice machine in Fort Point, but its versatility across crops made it a worthy buy.

As I watched the farmer sow, a rare sight approached from the west - five riders on horseback. Our village owned just three horses, so visitors on mount were uncommon. Who could these newcomers be?

My curiosity was piqued. I made my way over to the gate where Mr. Lowe, the village's sergeant of arms, and Wesley were already there to greet the Squire's adventure party. I joined them, eager to learn more about the purpose of their visit.

The riders approached, their horses slowing as they neared the gate. The leader, a well-dressed man with silvered hair, dismounted awkwardly, as if unaccustomed to riding. I recognized the Squire of Henderson Manor.

Wesley, our unofficial council leader, stepped forward to greet him. The Squire's companions remained mounted, looking about curiously.

"An unexpected honor, Squire," Wesley said, shaking his hand. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

The Squire smiled warmly, eyes alight. "I've wanted to visit since meeting your excavation team. Columbia's progress has impressed me. I simply had to see it myself."

I joined Wesley as they spoke. The Squire seemed genuinely eager to tour our village and make introductions. Yet I sensed deeper motives beneath his gracious exterior. We were expanding rapidly on the edge of his lands. Our success could threaten his influence. This "friendly" visit likely aimed to assess us.

"You're most welcome here, Squire," Wesley said. "Please, allow me to give you a tour and introduce you to our people."

The Squire nodded agreeably. His men dismounted, their armored presence heightening the anticipation. Wesley asked Mr. Lowe to guide them to the stables and ensure the horses' comfort.

As Wesley led the tour, the Squire admired our ingenuity. Our apothecary, alchemy lab, bakery, and mill impressed him. But most striking were the houses seamlessly integrated into the defensive walls, built through the System's game-like interface.

"Remarkable," murmured the Squire, running his hand along the smooth stonework. "Clever way to dual purpose your stone, combining houses with your defensive wall."

Eventually, we settled in the tavern's cozy ambiance, escaping the oppressive midday heat outside. Even with the windows thrown open, the stuffy interior offered only marginal relief from the sweltering temperature. I found myself missing the effortless cooling of central air conditioning, still adjusting to the limitations of this world.

Here, Wesley extended a generous offer of a meal. The Squire graciously accepted, and we, as the village council, gathered around a table with him, the clinking of plates and aroma of food filling the air.

As we ate, we engaged in lively conversation about the System.

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Wesley leaned forward, eyes shining with curiosity. "Squire, your insights into the System enlighten me, especially regarding villages and manors developing separately. How did you gain such knowledge?"

The Squire smiled warmly, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "Ah, well, when I inherited the mantle of Squire, I realized villages were unitary polities, whereas manors represent a geographical manifestation of regional control.”

I was confused. “Unitary polities? Geographical manifestations?”

He chuckled. "My apologies, I get carried away. The difference between a town and city is merely size. A village can become a town, a town a city, regardless of population. It remains one community."

He paused to sip his beer, then continued, "Villages comprise manors. For manors to expand, they must incorporate villages. When I reach three villages, I'll be elevated from squire to knight. The manor will level up too, doubling in size. More growth takes us from manor to barony. The System favors medieval ranks."

I absorbed this insight into the System's structure. Our villages represented building blocks, fused together into larger domains like manors. Growth occurred from the ground up, each new village expanding a manor's borders and prestige.

Obviously, the Squire had unlocked help files still inaccessible to me. His knowledge was extensive. "Do you know how many levels exist for manors and baronies?" I asked.

He dipped his head. "Not the exact number. But up to kingdoms - thousands of square miles and tens of thousands of people. As they say, Rome wasn't built in a day."

I didn't grasp his reference to Rome, but we lacked enough people to reach a kingdom. Our county's population was too small.

Still, his insights awed me. The System's structure had nuance beyond my comprehension. We occupied but one village among uncounted others tied to countless manors, all part of a vast interconnected landscape.

The Squire turned to Wesley. "Part of why I came is to formally invite you to join our manor. When the System arrived, our town splintered into villages struggling to survive. Now we have a chance to reconnect."

Wesley weighed the words, though we'd privately decided against vassalage. "What benefits would this arrangement provide?"

"Manor quests would level your fighters," the Squire replied. "You'd still get a squire at the population threshold. More land means more resources to systemize. Those are just the perks I know - the System always reveals more complexity. This union strengthens all our villages."

At that moment, the room fell into a brief silence, all eyes turning towards Wesley, our spokesman. The weight of the decision hung in the air, and we exchanged thoughtful glances, contemplating the future of our village.

Wesley, his brow furrowed with deep consideration, took a moment before speaking. His voice resonated with conviction as he addressed the Squire, "Your offer and the potential benefits of joining the Manor are indeed compelling. We appreciate the resources we've been able to excavate within your territory, and we understand the debt we owe."

A sense of anticipation filled the room as we waited for Wesley's decision. The Squire, his eyes fixed on Wesley, remained attentive, hopeful for a favorable outcome.

However, Wesley's next words took a different path, one that deviated from the Squire's expectations. "While we acknowledge our debt and value the relationship between our village and the Manor, we have decided to continue as an independent village. Our vision for Columbia is to build a thriving community that stands strong on its own."

As the words left Wesley's lips, a mixture of surprise and disappointment washed over the Squire's face. The air became tense, and I felt palpable shift in the atmosphere. We exchanged concerned glances, aware of the potential repercussions of declining the Manor's offer.

The Squire, his disappointment evident, spoke with a measured tone, "I understand your decision, Wesley. However, I must remind you that our agreement was based on the understanding that Columbia would either repay the resources taken or join the Manor. Failing to fulfill that agreement could strain our future interactions."

Wesley nodded solemnly, acknowledging the weight of the Squire's reminder. "We are aware of the agreement and the implications of our decision. Rest assured, we will fulfill our obligations and ensure that any resources taken from the Manor are properly repaid. We will always deal fairly with you.”

The Squire's disappointment remained evident in his expression, but he maintained his composure. "I appreciate your commitment to honor our agreement, Wesley. While I may disagree with your decision, I respect your village's right to determine its own path. Let us strive to maintain open lines of communication and continue our relationship on a foundation of trust and mutual respect."

Though the disappointment lingered in the air, the conversation shifted towards more neutral topics. It was clear that while the Squire had hoped for a different outcome, he recognized the autonomy and independence of our village. The future interactions between Columbia and Henderson Manor would require delicate navigation, with the need to balance our own aspirations while honoring the agreements and obligations we had made. It was moments like this that make me glad Wesley was the leader for our village council.

As the tavern gradually resumed its lively atmosphere, I couldn't help but ponder the lasting impact of this decision. The disappointment in the Squire's eyes served as a reminder that choices have consequences, and it was now our responsibility to fulfill our promises and maintain a relationship built on trust. The Squire wouldn’t know it, but he’d just given us a valuable lesson in dealing with our fellow villages.