"So that's how we got here so fast..." John finished explaining their spell-based discovery.

The thief wasn't interested in the strategy talk so she went outside and continued screwing around with the Shiningstep ability.

"Ah, I see XPhaxX is still a blacksmith! I should go pay him a visit!" Bonifacius exclaimed.

"Hmm... maybe he'll agree to join the jGuardians!" Curstl exclaimed.

"I severely doubt it..." Bonifacius replied shooting her a judgemental look.

"Yeah, you're the one who made him leave our guild in the first place..." Bromy replied lazily.

"I doubt he even remembers that incident, I sure don't!" Curstl replied waving her hand dismissively.

"Anyway, JohnWillStab, I heard you have quite the reputation when it comes to strategising!" Curstl exclaimed turning to John.

"Yeah... in games... I'm not sure I'm qualified for real politics and stuff..." John replied smiling awkwardly.

"Nonsense! Thou will do great!" Bonifacius exclaimed patting him on the back.

John let out a sigh before ding his best to give a confident smile.

"Alright!"

"Well, here's the situation..." Curstl began.

"First of all, I'm thinking the jGuardians should serve almost like a country controlling all of Arlepia," she explained.

JohnWillStab scratched his chin.

"Hmmm... I don't think that'll work," John replied.

"Wha-?" Curstl was confused, that wasn't even the part she wanted his advice on.

"What does he mean that wouldn't work!? I didn't even give him any details of what the country would be like law-wise!" Curst thought, she still wasn't convinced about John's strategical knowledge, she was still impressed by his mind-controlling abilities.

"I mean, you have to remember we're dealing with players as well as NPCs, I'm sure a lot of players are loving his escapist reality and installing a literal government would piss them off," John explained.

"So, what's your suggestion?" asked Bromy.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"Well, first of all, saying that you want to control everything always sounds bad..." john began.

"Designate people to be your representatives around Arlepia, this would give each zone some wiggle room in how its run and make them less likely to resist your rule!"

"Plus if you mess up you can make the person in charge of the zone take the blame for it!" John added.

"I like it!" Curstl exclaimed.

"So, are thou suggesting a system akin to nobility?" asked Bonifacius.

"No, not exactly, the leader of each zone could be elected! Like a mayor!"

John looked to Curstl.

"Naturally counting the votes would be up to the jGuardian, so if an unsavoury individual was to pressure people into voting a certain way, they could simply be disqualified," John added.

Curstl's face lit up.

"My god... that's great!" Curstl exclaimed.

"We'll be able to cheat elections!" she asserted.

"Well, I would personally re-phrase that, but yeah, you'd be able to veto any elected individual for any made-up reason!" John replied.

"So, I would divide Arlepia into zones like back when this was a game, find a village and give them the offer!" John exclaimed.

"Eighteen zones, some of them lack resources like water and some are inherently more dangerous due to the monster levels, we could promise them monetary support or help with infrastructure!" John exclaimed.

"Infrastructure?" asked Curstl.

A grin spread across John's face as he took out a piece of paper.

"I just so happens I already have a roadmap!" John exclaimed.

"First, we must deal with the raid in six days, hopefully, find Foxly too so he doesn't miss out on the loot!" John laughed.

"Alright... what else?" asked Curstl, she was digging John's megalomanic vibes.

"I can come up with a plan, but executing it or even knowing if it's feasible is not my area of expertise," John began.

"We'll start a jGuardian funded guild! 'The engineering guild' - with an organisation of engineers under our thumbs, relying on our funds we'd be able to install all sorts of infrastructure others could only dream of!"

"Toss in a title like 'master engineer' and say it's jGuardian-recognised in all of Arlepia and only achievable for those who join the guild and suddenly you have skilled workers from around the globe fighting to join!"

"That means we could start more guilds, one for each profession even..." Bromy suggested.

"Exactly!" John agreed.

"Going back to my previous point, deciding to hand over ownership of land that isn't ours would definitely be seen as arrogant, so I suggest we negotiate with the towns in the Rolling plains first..." John explained.

"I mean, Levelgreen is basically as good as ours, we'll hand over the status of 'mayor' or 'lord' or whatever, to someone who's liked by the locals, like Ed, the guy in charge of Levelgreen!" John suggested.

Bromy leaned back in his chair.

"Yeah, picking a liked candidate is politics one-o-one..." Bromy agreed.

"Don't lean back in thy chair, Bromy! Thou will fall again!" Bonifacius exclaimed.

"Whatever..." Bromy sighed.

"I'd also like to have a chat with Pedecree..." John said looking towards the kitchen.

"Hm? What are you planning?!" Curst asked, he was visible excited by John's manipulation of the masses.

"Now that I think about it... why isn't someone like John ruling a faction, he clearly has the brains for it..." Curstl thought.

John looked back at the group.

"Bonifacius, could you go ask him if he has a second, It'll be awkward if I just go in..." John asked bashfully.

"Oh... right... he's an introvert..." Curstl realised somewhat disappointed by the anti-climactic reasoning.

"Hm? Of course! Why won't thou go thyself, though?" asked Bonifacius.

"I mean... I don't really know Pedecree... and he looks very... intimidating..." John replied.

"Pedecree is a large wolfman..." Bromy remarked.

"There is no need to be so insensitive!" Bonifacius exclaimed looking at Bromy.

"It was a compliment, I wouldn't trust a skinny chef," Bromy replied raising his hands in defeat before leaning back too far and falling onto the ground.

And so, JohnWillStab's plan was put into place, Bonifacius and Bromy were tasked with handling the town of Levelgreen since they had previously been there.

JohnWillStab talked to Pedecree about a certain plan of his, Pedecree was more than excited to work on John's food-based project...

"Pedecree... you wouldn't happen to know much about fermentation?" asked John.

"Of course I do, yeast, lacto, you name it," Pedecree replied.

A grin spread over John's face.

"The jGuardians are about to get one hell of a PR boost..." thought John.

"And now, we need to pay a visit to XPhaxX!" John exclaimed.