28: Chapter 28 The First Viscount

＜First Baron＞

- All Stats + 50

- Territory Development Speed + 50% (Only effective for territories Baron-level and below)

- Territory Resident Recruitment Speed + 50% (Only effective for territories Baron-level and below)

- Territory Army Training Speed + 50% (Only effective for territories Baron-level and below)

Phillips gazed at the title that made him immensely proud—＜First Baron＞—as if admiring a peerless work of art, immersed in endless satisfaction and a sense of superiority.

"No matter how many times I look at it, it gets my heart racing; every time is just as breathtaking as the first."

Ever since obtaining this title, his every day began with opening the title interface—confirming the effects of ＜First Baron＞ had long become a mandatory daily ritual.

"It was almost snatched away by other players; I am truly extremely lucky."

Recalling the news that a second Baron appeared in the game only two days after he obtained his Baron title, Phillips still shuddered at how close it had been. If he had been even one step later, he wouldn't even have known of this title's existence.

He closed the title interface, then checked the various data of his territory, muttering to himself:

"There is still a long way to go before promoting to Viscount..."

Promoting from Baron to Viscount usually requires distinguished military service on the battlefield or accumulating massive national prestige. Given the current strength of players, defeating high-level NPCs is almost a pipe dream. The most realistic approach remains steadily developing the territory, continuously paying heavy taxes, and completing various tasks issued by the royal family.

As the First Baron, possessing a 1.5x territory development speed bonus, Phillips was full of confidence in his promotion prospects. He believed that on the road to becoming the "First Viscount," he was already in the lead.

"Unless that monster Leonhardt suddenly intervenes in the national war, the First Viscount title is mine."

Ironically, the one he feared most was not the Second Baron who was only a step away, but that monster focused on personal growth—Leonhardt. Although that guy also held the Baron title, he had never managed a territory, but it was precisely because his actions were unpredictable that he was most vigilant about him.

Although he was extremely fond of ＜First Baron＞, Phillips always felt it was a pity—its bonus effects were limited to the scope of a "Baron territory."

"Anyway, the First Viscount will also be mine, so there's no point in worrying about this."

According to the game's logic, since ＜First Baron＞ existed, there should logically be subsequent titles like ＜First Viscount＞ and ＜First Count＞, and the bonuses of these titles would very likely break through the limitations of territory levels. From the moment he obtained the Baron title, Phillips secretly made a vow—he wanted to collect all the "First Title" titles.

This was the power of a pioneer, a privilege that only the frontrunner could enjoy. Although the game itself did not lack possibilities for comebacks, he only hoped that such opportunities would never fall into the hands of others.

"This world is inherently survival of the fittest; a dragon stranded in the shallows is just a joke."

After confirming the title effects, Phillips regained his confidence and was about to go inspect his territory. Just then, a private message quietly popped up; it was a message from the guild vice-president:

[Guild Leader, have you watched Fu Hao's livestream?]

"Fu Hao's livestream?"

[Yes, he is currently doing a Viscount quest...]

The four words "Viscount quest" echoed in his mind, the reverberation shaking his spirit like a thunderclap.

He replied with a trembling tone: [You mean the Baron quest, right?]

He remembered very clearly that Fu Hao had once revealed news about a Baron quest during a giveaway livestream. A quest that directly granted a title as a reward was already rare, could it be...

[It was originally a Baron quest, but it just updated! The quest difficulty skyrocketed, and the rewards upgraded accordingly.]

"Got it, I'll go take a look."

He immediately cut off the private message, hurriedly clicked open the livestream interface, but was coincidentally blocked by a 30-second ad.

"Damn XX ads!"

Always stingy about activating the ad-free service, he could only endure his impatience and wait for the playback to end. At the same time, the comments in the livestream room were scrolling rapidly like a tidal wave:

- [Can NPCs even be bribed?]

- [This line of thinking is too novel]

- [Does anyone know the effect of the 'Talent Introduction Master' title?]

- [Is this person really a newbie?]

- [Simply hate Fu Hao...]

- [Has the First Baron title been revealed?]

- [Viscount rewards are already here, who still cares about Baron]

Just as the vice-president said, the quest rewards clearly read "Viscount title and Viscount territory."

"How did it become a Viscount quest..."

He clicked open the quest panel and read it word for word.

＜Assist the First Prince in being appointed Crown Prince＞

Difficulty: Immeasurable

Completion Conditions:

① Recruit an additional 99 soldiers directly under the First Prince

② Achieve the best results in the simulation battle

Quest Rewards:

- Viscount title and Viscount territory

- Title "Royal Benefactor"

- Title "Talent Introduction Master"

- Title "Talent Cultivation Master"

Failure Penalty:

- First Prince's affinity drops to "Neutral"

- Exiled from Rowen Kingdom

"Recruit 99 soldiers?"

He whispered the quest conditions, finally understanding the true meaning of the four words "Immeasurable"—even for the wealthy Fu Hao, it was impossible to train a full 99 elite soldiers in a short time.

His hanging heart settled slightly; he continued watching the livestream, but was stunned by the continuous stream of scenes:

- Selling "sundries" to NPCs at a low price, choosing efficiency over selling them to players at a high price;

- Using 320,000 gold coins to bribe soldiers in one go, smashing out full loyalty;

- Before a mountain of Enhancement Stones, one hundred soldiers swung hammers in unison, and even the First Prince and his confidants joined the ranks;

- Using "Effect Conversion" to roll "Usage Requirements Reduced by 50%," allowing low-level soldiers to equip high-level weapons.

Watching the burning desire for enhancement in the soldiers' eyes, Phillips could only silently accept one reality: Fu Hao clearing this quest was a foregone conclusion.

"Why did Heaven have to create both Leonhardt and Fu Hao at the same time..."

Just when he was about to give up on his "First Viscount" dream, a crow flew in from outside the window, carrying a letter. The moment the letter was unfolded, a system notification pop-up suddenly jumped out:

＜Assist the Second Prince in being appointed Crown Prince＞

Difficulty: Immeasurable

Second Prince Mian attempted to obstruct the First Prince Carlson's Crown Prince trial but failed due to the assistance of a certain adventurer. Now, unable to act openly, he has entrusted you—a Baron of the Rowen Kingdom—with the secret mission of obstructing Carlson's troop training and assisting the growth of his own soldiers.

Completion Conditions:

- Achieve the best results in the simulation battle

Quest Rewards:

- Viscount title and Viscount territory

- Can accept linked quest "Second Prince's Confidant"

- Title "Royal Benefactor"

- Title "Talent Cultivation Master"

Failure Penalty:

- Second Prince Mian's affinity drops to "Hostile"

- Exiled from Rowen Kingdom

"Heaven hasn't abandoned me yet!"

A light suddenly ignited in Phillips' eyes; he quickly sent a private message to the vice-president:

[Immediately assemble all members!]

[Guild Leader? At least tell us the reason...]

[I also received a Viscount quest; this time I'm siding with the Second Prince.]

After explaining the situation to the vice-president, Phillips looked up at the sky dyed golden, the corners of his mouth slightly lifted:

"Money power vs. human wave tactics, let's see who is better."

"Success! I enhanced it to +8!"

A soldier jumped up excitedly, holding the weapon in his hand and showing it off everywhere, while whispers of envy and jealousy immediately sounded around him.

- [Large base is good, maybe can push for +9]

- [Can go confiscate 100 +7s, push for +10!]

- [The success rate for +10 is super low, stop dreaming!]

- [The last +10 success was already a miracle]

["Leon Fu Hao" tipped 50 Yuan. (Aren't you enhancing it yourself?)]

Fu Hao shrugged, spread his hands, and laughed: "With free labor available, why would I do it myself?"

After saying that, he summoned seven soldiers who had completed +7 enhancement: "If you have nothing to do, come help me enhance this batch of equipment."

He casually handed over the top 120-level equipment set from the Rowen Kingdom shop, and the soldiers plunged into the enhancement torrent again without hesitation.

["Jin Hao" tipped 50 Yuan. (Enhancement slaves?)]

["Class" tipped 50 Yuan. (To think of this method)]

"Hand over equipment +5 and above to me."

Fu Hao's words instantly deflated the seven soldiers who were getting excited about enhancing. They had long been addicted to the pleasure brought by successful enhancements, unable to extricate themselves.

- [Enhancement addiction]

- [After leaving Fu Hao, they'll probably collapse using normal weapons]

["Leon Fu Hao" tipped 50 Yuan. (Brother Hao only is responsible for shearing the wool)]

["Bobobo" tipped 50 Yuan. (In the future, Boss Hao's residents will all be enhancement slaves)]

At this moment, Fu Hao, who was organizing equipment, was suddenly interrupted by the First Prince Carlson:

"Ahem... can you help me enhance my equipment?"

The Prince, who was originally uneasy about requesting support for free, ultimately could not resist the temptation.

"Of course. But your equipment quality is too high; if you don't have spares, you can only enhance it up to +5 at most. Otherwise, it would be a pity if it breaks."

"+5 is enough! Thank you!"

"Take the Enhancement Stones and do it yourself."

"...Can't I let the soldiers help me?"

"Don't you want to personally experience the fun of enhancing?"

"No, no! I'll do it myself!"

Fearing that Fu Hao would go back on his word, Carlson hurriedly picked up the Enhancement Stones, squatted on the ground, and seriously swung the hammer.

- [Brother Hao is too good at this]

- [Prince personally swinging the hammer to enhance]

- [This scene could become a classic famous scene]

The Prince's confidants also followed suit, coming to request enhancement, and Fu Hao responded uniformly:

"Go get the Enhancement Stones and do it yourself."

- [Wow, magnanimous! Rich people never talk nonsense, smash resources first]

Just like that, the enhancement legion originally composed of one hundred people, now joined by the Prince and his confidants, evolved into a spectacular "mass enhancement" scene.

And at the very center of this scene, the instigator—Fu Hao—remained the only person who did not personally swing a hammer.