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chapter 162

I made it to my house just a few minutes before everyone arrived the only problem was, I didn't know what to say. Thinking back a bit on my plan to do some work and explaining might be a bit rude. But my chance to think about it was finally interrupted as everyone started to greet me before they reached me.

They all seem to have happy faces probably from seeing me alive and well. Not knowing the correct way to begin I started even before everyone got into a proper distance for talking. “I guess the most important thing I have to tell you all is this I was forced to use the land claim token. We are now in a nation called United Freeholds.” That pronouncement made everyone stop and it was kind of funny seeing them trying to puzzle out what I meant.

Then everyone started to speak at the same time and even with my traits and abilities, it was hard to understand it all. It seems that the biggest problem was the name which I should have realized would have been their first complaint. That made me chuckle a bit which made everyone finally stop and that allowed me to properly explain.

I invited them all inside. There were twelve people plus Arthur who arrived and so I gave a brief explanation of what happened. I spoke briefly of my travels and what happened in the raid dungeon but I promised them all a more comprehensive report later on.

Then I explained how I had to claim the land because of a trait I had gotten. They all went quiet after and were a lot more serious than I was used to. I was a bit puzzled by it, but David explained.

“So what tier noble are you? Did you at least make it to Earl?” He asked in a serious but a bit sad voice. That allowed me to finally understand what happened. In the story, I hadn’t reached the part about the clans so they thought that I became a noble in charge of the whole nation. I could understand why they wouldn’t like that as they had lived like that their whole lives and had to suffer at the hands of nobles with too much power.

I gave them a kind smile and explained. “You do not have to worry. I keep my promises even if I need to die because of them. Well, you could argue that I am a noble in this new nation but you can also argue that I’m not.” I could see the confusion in their eyes but also hope so I continued.

“I was able to change the normal noble structure into something different. I will be completely honest with you alI I am not strictly certain how it works.” I gave a self-deprecating laugh which was met with silence.

“Yeah, I can already hear all your questions. I was in a lot of pain, and I only briefly had the idea before I passed out but here’s all I know so far. In this nation we have clans. I was assigned a clan because I owned land. It came with a name and a symbol in trait form. Has anyone ever heard of that before?” I asked them in hopes that anyone had a better explanation but the explanation we got didn’t help us.

“The only clan structure I have heard of was from orcs who had regained their class. But that was more of him bragging about being a clan member while then trying to kill me, so I really don’t know much more.” Answered one of the Knights that was in charge of the current scouts.

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure this is different because of the second trait I got. It's called clan administrator. And it's a lot more complicated to understand than my own personal clan trait.” Everyone looked at me with apprehension and I could understand them. This wasn’t really something that I truly understand.

“Let’s start with the simpler part, my clan. It’s named Gray Eagle if anyone was wondering. So, what I know from interacting with this trait is that my children will get it, my wife could get it and anyone who will swear fealty to me would get it. What else it could signify I do not know perhaps it would be more social than anything else.” One of the Knights actually wanted to get one to one of his knees and swear fealty to me, but I stopped him.

“Wait you need to stop that.” He looked at me ready to argue but I explained. “I believe you still need to swear not to my clan specifically I believe you need to swear loyalty to the nation then you will be a part of this nation and hopefully if you become a part of this nation I can promote or give everybody here the clan administrator trait. Then we can see what will happen next.” He thought a few moments on that and nodded.

We discussed it a bit more, but the same knight volunteered to give the oath in the name of the nation. “I swear to uphold the laws and beliefs of my nation The United Freeholds.” It was a short oath, but it meant a lot and I could feel it was all that was needed at least in the word department the more important part was the intent behind it. For the first time I felt a brother next to me someone who would have my back and I his. I could literally feel him becoming a part of the same nation as I am.

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There was a moment of silence but when our eyes met, we both know that we are of the same nation, and it felt nice. “I have gained a trait called clan Freeman. I will need some time to understand what it means but one thing I am certain of is it means that I am a part of this nation.” He announced surprising us all. I had not expected him to get a clan. I could see him confused, excited and thoughtful as he sat down.

After a few moments, he explained to us that he was a bit overwhelmed. I coaxed a better explanation from him, and I figured out what was going on. It seems that I didn’t notice it because I already was connected to the land, but the trait gave him a tiny connection to the nation's land but for someone who was completely unfamiliar with the sensation, it would be overwhelming. One by one they all swore, and our nation’s population started to grow. They all got the trait but before we continue seeing if they can get the clan administrator trait they all needed time to adjust.

As I had expected both Emma and Arthur didn't have that problem as the nature connection, they possessed was similar. During this time, I prepare my farming equipment. After about two hours they were all ready for the next step. What that was going to be I had no idea, so we started to discuss.

We ended up trying me just saying. “I grant you, administrator rights.” And many other variations of the same idea but nothing worked. But there was a belief that another oath was needed.

But when someone tried it, it didn’t work so I decided to meditate on the trait to try to find out what was needed. It took me a few hours before I came out of my meditation with the knowledge needed. “So, everyone I have some good news. I now know exactly what we need to do and an oath is a part of it but a better description would be a ritual.” I smiled at them, but David was the first to ask, “and what's the bad news?”

That froze my smile. “Yeah, well I was correct that the trait clan administrator is a lot deeper than I even thought and you will all have to bleed for the ritual.” My declaration made everyone go silent. I know that rituals and especially rituals involving blood were not looked at kindly, but one by one I could see the doubt and fear in everyone's eyes turning into determination.

“So, I guess you have all decided. Let’s head outside then can't do it inside you will need to bleed onto the nation's soil for it to work.” I could see a few gulps, but they all followed with rigid shoulders. It was hard to break lifelong beliefs, but I believe that they have become somewhat used to that while dealing with me.

This time David was the first to volunteer and so I told him what he needed to do. I gave him a knife and told him to cut his palm at the end of the oath and let the blood drops fall onto the grass. And so, he began following my lead. “I David Everock swear to guide, protect and serve all who call United Freeholds their home. I will do my job to the best of my ability without greed or malice. I hereby swear it by intent, by voice and by blood.” He finished and then cut his palm letting drops of blood hit the grass.

The blood didn’t stay there but it was pulled downwards unnaturally and eventually into the earth itself at which point I could see a small pulse of energy erupt that was absorbed by David. He fell to the ground gasping for air, and I know how he must feel having his connection to the land deepen or perhaps his connection to the nation would be a more correct term. It took him a few minutes before he stood up and the first thing, I saw was that his hand didn't have a cut. Apparently, the ritual fixes that.

He was still unsteady on his feet, but he explained the same as I had. The trait was difficult to understand, and I believe it was even worse for him because he didn’t have the same practice as I have had. Eventually, they all gave the oath, and they were all out of it for a few hours.

Emma and Arthur didn’t give it as they didn’t want to be a part of leading anyone, they just wanted to live their own lives. Me and my apprentices cooked them all some food which made them feel a bit better, but they weren’t themselves yet.

I believe that it will take a few days perhaps even weeks to get used to the new trait so further discussion of politics needed to wait. Going with them to the sauna helped them a lot and smiles started to return to their faces even though they still all looked a bit high. Jumping into the water cleared their heads even further. After that, they were quite tired, but they still decided to journey back to the village even though it will take them a few hours to accomplish that.

I didn’t go with them, but Emma and Arthur decided to go back and guide them to the village just in case something happened as they weren't really able to protect themselves. Although I knew that nothing would be able to hurt them along the way.

After I got the trait clan administrators, I could slowly feel the entire nation’s land but in the last few hours that feeling has morphed into knowledge. My land's authority ability seems to not only work with my own land but with the nation's land as well.

The amount of information is even overwhelming for me so I slowed it down a lot but my knowledge of the land has already reached past the village and will probably encompass the nation in a few days.

The sight beyond my own land is a bit foggier compared to my current vision of my own land but that being said no threat could be inside my nation without me knowing. This was so incredibly powerful and OP that I actually had to find a chair to sit in so I could take in the meaning of this.