We must recruit the required people before we can tier the settlement up. This is easy, considering all the summoning scrolls plus a couple hundred extra on hand.

While it hasn't been long since we discussed the settlement's progress, I figured now would be a decent time to get things oriented because nothing stops us from progressing once we start tiering up. "What are some things I should consider before using the token? Should I have people level up more, or should we have more buildings available for when the tier-up process happens?" I asked Koto since she would have the most information about what to do in this situation.

"When progressing from a Tier 0 Roadside Ovel to a Tier 1 Hamlet, you should pay attention to several things. For one, the manor you have placed in the center of the settlement will be moved. This isn't to dislodge your place of living, but it will move because a small building for the head of the settlement will become available. This doesn't seem much compared to the manner you are in currently, but consider this. When someone visits on a diplomatic mission, having a lovely house to go to and hold the meetings in is nice, but having a working space separate from the living space will give a boon in and of itself. So, a small Chieftain building will be placed in your manor's position. Next, building the adventure's guild will be best as it will increase in level, so you don't have to worry about getting the materials to increase its level. With the increase in level, more quests will become available, and some system-provided staff will help walk through the process. A level 1 Adventurer's Guild usually lacks staff and a basic billboard with quests about the surrounding areas."

"So, Adventurer's Guild will be placed on the docket to be built as soon as possible."

"Leveling up people's classes isn't bad, but that will be on them. The moment the Adventurer's guild is built, they will have the ability to gain more experience. For crafting, it never hurts to have at least one of each profession at the apprentice tier before moving to a Tier 1 Hamlet. While it won't provide much immediately, it will allow you easier access to creating more complex things that will become available."

Considering everything she says, there must also be more to it. "Is there anything else we should consider?" I asked, wanting to get as much information as possible.

She scratches her chin, "There isn't much else you must be aware of to become a hamlet. Most other settlement requirements start to appear after you reach the first tier. Just like with classes and professions, things open more in the first tier.”

"Sounds like we need to get the people in and then focus on getting the settlement ready for a battle since we have a week before the first swarm comes." Laxreal looks at me, "We should also consider waiting for the first swarm to arrive before we do the settlement tier-up."

Koto shakes her head at that recommendation, "You should work on getting your settlement tiered up as soon as possible. There won't be a trial for you, and the bonuses of having the settlement up one more tier will be useful for the swarm. Right now, there aren't any bonuses inside of the settlement. If you progress to the next tier, your defense against monsters increases by 10%."

"And why didn't you say that just a bit ago?" I asked, curious to know why she had left out that information.

"I forgot?" She says with no small amount of embarrassment.

"And how, pray tell, could you have forgotten?" Laxreal asks, a bit more pointedly than I have heard from him in a while.

"Look, there has been a lot going on; we just arrived here at your settlement after being conquered; all of us were enslaved and then weren't, and now you are talking about tiering up your settlement. I haven't had much time to figure things out myself. So, I am sorry if I don't have the best memory right now."

Putting his hands up in defense, he backs off, "You are right, I apologize. Let's take it slow then. Why don't we have a big celebration for picking a crafting head? After that celebration, we can focus on tiering the settlement up. Do we need to worry about any of the other buildings moving during this process?"

"Once more thinking, I can tell she is trying to remember something. She starts, "If I remember correctly, you should be able to move ten different buildings. If you move the walls out further, you must pay additional materials to push them out. But note that moving the walls takes up most of the movement allotment. Other buildings can be moved on a 1 to 1 basis. So if you don't like the placement of something but want to move it without tearing it down and building it again, it is easier during a tier up."

"Thank you, Koto," I give her a small pat on the shoulder. With the small amount of knowledge she has given me, I am glad we don't have to flounder about for a little bit. "Might I inquire about something a bit more personal?"

She gives a slight nod, still trying to remember some other things.

"Why are you so low-level when it comes to both your class and profession?"

This stops her thinking, "Because my father had a token to reset my siblings and my level, we can start fresh with the settlements. While it hurt to have my levels taken from me, it wasn't without reward. My rewards have already been used. They were mostly just elixirs that increased my speed of leveling up my profession. It is harder to level it up if you have prior experience since PUN doesn't want you to have an easy time initially, at least for those who have already been in its system. Getting to levels is easier for those initiated because it's your first time working with PUN."

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Your having your levels reset puts you into a unique position, doesn't it?" Laxreal asks.

"I don't see what you mean." She says, getting a little confused.

"This world hasn't been fully initiated into PUN yet, correct?"

"Right."

"Doesn't that mean that you also get the bonuses from a planet that hasn't been initiated, so you should be able to get your levels easier than ever before?" He prods a bit more.

Thinking about that, a gleam appears in her eye. "That is true, but there haven't been many, if any, cases describing what would happen to someone in this position."

"Doesn't that mean you could come out of this further ahead of your siblings?" He again asks.

"Yes, but we must see what happens in the coming days."

"That's great. Should we wait until later in the week to start the Tier-up process? I would like to know if you are receiving the same bonuses we are receiving due to our growth. It would also be an excellent time for you and everyone else to work on your classes, " I say.

"It probably would be best for us to wait a few days." Laxreal agrees. I think we should summon those we need to get the settlement ready for its tier-up process. Then, in the few days it takes us to select someone to head the crafters, we could also work on other projects."

"Alright, can you summon the population while I briefly converse with my familiar? I haven't gotten to talk with him much recently."

Laxreal bows, and Koto waves as they leave the room, with Ritotorous flying to the perch inside the room.

"And what would you like to talk about, Drake?"

"I was just wondering when you would talk with me again. We haven't been speaking since the defensive battle, and now I have some time that it would be worthwhile to chat."

"Fair enough. Things have been pretty busy around here; you leave every other day. It feels good to put things in order while I have been working with Laxreal on some security aspects."

Holding my hand, stalling him from continuing, "You have been helping with security aspects of the settlement? Why is this the first time that I have heard about this?"

"It is sometimes easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. And I thought this would be one of those cases. You have been looking for the people that have been leveling faster in the settlement. Well, I found them and offered them positions."

"What sort of positions?" I asked him.

"Oh, just some easy positions, like watching over certain people and making sure they don't do anything stupid while you are away from the settlement."

"You made a secret guard?" I give him a skeptical look.

"I wouldn't say they were 'secret,' there aren't enough people around for there to be a 'secret' guard. I just offered them something that anyone from their worlds would love."

"What did you offer them? You have to be careful with your words, Ritotorous."

"I know, but they didn't feel it would be bad. This guard is only for those who would cause harm to the settlement; I know that most of the settlement right now has one form of oath or another toward you or the settlement. These are for those that don't."

"You offered them what then?" I again asked a bit more pointedly but not pressing too hard.

"Remember how Laxreal was to me the first time he saw me? I might have offered them some form of blessing from the God I serve."

Palming my face, I can only sigh, "Ok, and this was enough to work for them."

"That is until they can start getting paid. It isn't like an economy is rolling through the town as it is."

"True. Hopefully, that can change here in a while. I hope the Adventurer's Guild will give out monetary incentives for quests. In the worst case, we start doing so with the money that we have on hand."

"That wouldn't be a bad idea. What else?"

"Why haven't you been coming with me on the expedition?"

"Because, while it would be beneficial to have me out there, there are some things that I need to be here to supervise."

"But don't we have Laxreal to help with that?"

"Yes, and he has been."

"So, when we go on the next expedition with the party we have made, you will come with?

Seeing some reluctance, he answers, "Yes."

"Great. That will give us an extra hand if we fall into a worse situation than I anticipate. Now, not to slough off that you are developing a secret guard, but what should I be aware of from these people?"

"They are fully in your court; they don't have any reason to betray you. They will listen to mine, Laxreal, or your orders, but there aren't many. We can't let everyone know there is a secret guard, so only a couple are around the settlement for now. Once we start to increase the population even further, then we will be able to expand. Also, once the blasted fog is removed, we should be able to do more with them."

"Alright, should I expect any visitors in the middle of the night to give me progress reports?" I say with a bit of mirth.

Giving me a side-eye that only a corvid could, "Not yet. They will typically contact me or Laxreal if it is something important."

"And why not me?"

"No particular reason right now, but if you have people coming in and out of your house, outside of the council and occasional party member, it could appear suspicious."

Giving into his reason, I just let it slide for now. As we are talking, only a couple of people are part of this 'shadow' guard. I feel these people might be more useful as I get my Noble class to a higher level. Until then, I can only grin and bear the fact that I don't know who they are now.