The first ray of morning sun, carrying a golden hue, stubbornly pierced through the thick clouds and fell upon the stone floor of Roderick's bedroom.
He awoke from a deep slumber, all fatigue gone, replaced by an unprecedented freshness and vigor.
The pain and confusion in his mind from yesterday had vanished; the fusion of souls seemed to be completely finished.
He pushed himself up and got out of bed to stretch.
His body was much more solid than the original owner's somewhat thin physique he remembered, with fluid lines and full of strength.
He walked to a bronze mirror and examined himself in it.
Thick, black hair, deep, hawk-like eyes, a prominent nose beneath which were thin, resolute lips.
His facial contours were distinct, radiating the youthful vigor of a young man, yet also exuding a calmness and majesty beyond his years.
"Is this the effect of the Charm Aura?" Roderick murmured softly, a playful curve forming on his lips.
The young man in the mirror indeed appeared more handsome than he remembered, and his presence was even more captivating, as if he were born with the potential of a leader.
This would undoubtedly be a great help in winning people over and expanding his harem.
The attendant soon brought breakfast, which, besides simple bread, cured meat, and ale, also included some dried fruits.
Though simple, at least there was no feeling of hunger.
Roderick quickly finished his meal and changed into a proper dark coat, fastening the Blackstone Family's crest—a black rock burning in flames.
He was no longer the confused, sickly youth; he was now the new Lord of Blackstone Pass, Roderick Blackstone.
When he stepped into the study, Granny Mary had already tidied the room and added new firewood to the fireplace, making the room warm and cozy.
Rolan, the chief attendant, Greg, the steward, and Beren, the captain of the guard, were already respectfully waiting in the center of the study.
Rolan, around fifty years old, was thin with pale skin, and his shrewd eyes peered at Roderick through narrow slits.
He managed the family's internal affairs and finances, serving as the "accountant" for the entire Blackstone Pass.
Greg was a short, stout man in his forties, steady and practical, responsible for the castle's daily operations and resource allocation.
Beren, on the other hand, was a tall, burly, bearded middle-aged knight, wearing a faded leather armor with a worn broadsword hanging at his waist, his eyes full of exhaustion and worry.
Seeing Roderick approach, the three men uniformly knelt on one knee, their right hands on their chests, and said in unison, "My Lord."
Roderick's gaze swept over the three, taking in their expressions.
Rolan showed a hint of doubt, Greg seemed uneasy, and Beren, though saluting, had a touch of lifelessness in his eyes.
"Rise," Roderick's voice was calm, but the authority it contained made the three men's hearts tremble.
This was an aura they had never felt from the original owner.
The three men rose as instructed, standing respectfully before him.
Roderick walked behind the desk, not sitting down immediately, but instead surveyed the room and spoke in a deep voice: "I know you are all worried about the future of the Blackstone Family. My father's passing is a huge blow to us. But the family will not fall, nor will the banner of Blackstone Pass. "
His gaze finally fell on Beren: "Captain Beren, tell me the current state of the guard."
Beren stepped forward, his voice slightly hoarse: "My Lord, the guard currently has fifty men. Including the castle guards and patrol, we barely make up one hundred and twenty men, but most are new recruits or the old and weak. Training has been neglected for a long time, and equipment is dilapidated. Morale is low, many are worried about food and clothing, and even..."
He paused, not uttering the words "even harboring disloyal thoughts," but Roderick knew full well.
Roderick frowned slightly, though he had already anticipated this. The situation was even worse than he expected.
"Rolan, what is the family's financial situation?" He turned to Rolan.
Rolan's face grew a few shades paler, and he said cautiously: "My Lord, since last year's poor harvest, coupled with recent extortion from surrounding forces, the family's wealth... is almost gone. There are only two months' worth of basic rations left in the granary. Without unexpected income, after winter, the territory may fall into famine."
He didn't state it explicitly, but the meaning was clear: the family was on the verge of bankruptcy.
Roderick listened, then lightly tapped the tabletop.
The former Roderick might have panicked, but he would not.
The resources and information provided by the system gave him ample confidence.
"I understand. Now listen to me. From today, everything in Blackstone Pass will change. I will not stand by and watch the family perish, nor will I let my people starve." Roderick's voice was not loud, but every word was resonant, full of unquestionable power.
He scanned the crowd, his eyes gleaming with confidence.
The effect of the Charm Aura had subtly spread, making them feel a peculiar majesty. Even if they still had doubts, they dared not speak easily.
"Rolan, prepare a detailed map of the territory and all known mineral resource distribution maps. Greg, go and count all the craftsmen, especially those who know blacksmithing and masonry. Beren, immediately gather all active members of the guard in the training ground. I want to address them."
"But My Lord..." Beren hesitated, "The guard's morale is low. If we force them to gather, I'm afraid..."
Roderick raised a hand to interrupt him: "Don't worry. I have my ways. Go, Captain Beren. After today, you will have an elite force far beyond your imagination."
Beren was stunned. In Roderick's eyes, he saw unprecedented confidence and decisiveness, a power that could inspire people.
He instinctively responded: "Yes, My Lord!" Then he turned and strode away.
Roderick then turned to Greg and Rolan: "You two go prepare first. In half an hour, we will discuss the specific details here."
The two exchanged glances. Although full of questions, Roderick's resolve made them dare not disobey.
They bowed and quickly left the study.
As the door closed, Roderick let out a slight sigh of relief.
He mentally opened the system and found the reward for the [Blackstone Guard Base].
[Do you wish to immediately unlock "Blackstone Guard Base (100 men)"? After unlocking, the system will automatically adjust their identities and integration methods to be logical, and ensure their absolute loyalty to the Host.]
"Yes!" Roderick chose without hesitation.
[Blackstone Guard Base unlocked. 100 elite soldiers have been generated and are currently located at a secret training ground outside Blackstone Pass, awaiting the Host's inspection.]
Roderick got up, opened an old wardrobe, and found the set of armor his father had used during his lifetime.
Although slightly worn, it at least represented the authority of the Blackstone Family.
He dressed himself fully and strapped on his longsword.
When he arrived at the training ground, Captain Beren had already lined up the fifty members of the Blackstone Guard.
They stood crookedly, their equipment mismatched, their eyes filled with confusion and impatience.
This was no guard; it was clearly a group of makeshift militiamen.
Roderick's keen eyes swept over the group, feeling a touch of disappointment, but more so a desire for transformation.
"Is this the guard of the Blackstone Family?" Roderick's voice was not loud, but clear enough for everyone to hear, carrying a cold indifference that commanded respect, "Pathetic."
At his words, the previously lax guards instantly stirred, many showing humiliation and resentment in their eyes.
Captain Beren's face flushed. Just as he was about to explain, Roderick raised a hand to stop him.
"I know what you have sacrificed for this family." Roderick's tone shifted, becoming heavy and infectious, "I also know what you are struggling for. Food, wages, honor, even the humiliation of being bullied by neighboring nobles."
He looked at the weathered and tired faces, maximizing the effect of his Charm Aura.
"Now, I, Roderick Blackstone, promise you. From today, your hard work will never be in vain. Food, I will ensure you eat your fill. Wages, I will ensure you receive your due compensation. Honor, I will lead you to seize it with longswords and blood!"
His voice was full of power, his tone resolute, causing a faint spark to ignite in the eyes of the previously listless guards.
But promises alone were not enough.
"I know you don't believe it. But now, I will show you what a truly elite guard should look like!"
Roderick suddenly turned and shouted loudly: "Blackstone Guard! Fall in!"
His voice cut through the silence like a clap of thunder from a clear sky.
Immediately after, from the woods at the edge of the training ground, a neat formation marched out with steady steps.
Leading them was a burly young knight with resolute eyes. He wore a set of full-coverage, lightweight, fine steel armor, a black cloak draped over his back, and a simple yet sharp Valyrian steel sword hanging at his waist.
His face was expressionless, his gaze sharp, and every step carried a sense of oppression.
Behind him, one hundred soldiers stood in strict formation, each wearing unified black leather armor overlaid with metal plates, holding fine steel shields and longswords.
Their steps were uniform and precise, with no wasted movement, and their weapons glinted with a cold light in the sun.
This force exuded a powerful aura, forming a stark contrast with the scattered ordinary guards before them.
Discipline, strength, elite!
Captain Beren and all the guards were stunned; they had never seen such a well-trained army!
Where did these soldiers come from?
Blackstone Pass simply could not possess such a force!
"My Lord... they are..." Beren stammered.
Roderick smiled mysteriously: "They are the guardians of the Blackstone Family, an elite force personally forged by me, Roderick Blackstone. From today, they will be your instructors and your role models."
He pointed to the leading knight: "He is the captain of the Shadow Guard, codenamed 'Shadow Guard Number One'."
Shadow Guard Number One stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and said in a steady, powerful voice: "Shadow Guard Number One, greetings, My Lord!"
Roderick nodded, signaling him to rise.
Then he turned to the Old Guard and Beren: "Captain Beren, from today, this elite guard will take over the training duties. All members of the Old Guard will undergo retraining. I know it will be arduous, but I promise that if you persevere, you will become the strongest warriors in Westeros. As for those who are unwilling, I will not force them, but they will also not be able to continue living in Blackstone Pass."
Roderick's tone was cold and firm, leaving no room for negotiation.
This was not just training; it was also a test of selection and loyalty.
Beren looked at the elite force before him, as if they had descended from the heavens, and his blood gradually began to boil.
As an old soldier, he could immediately discern the combat effectiveness of this unit.
With them as the backbone, the military strength of Blackstone Pass would be completely transformed!
"Yes, My Lord!" Beren responded loudly, his voice filled with excitement and anticipation for the future.
The Old Guards exchanged glances; some showed hesitation in their eyes, while others had a glimmer of light.
They had witnessed the power of this new guard firsthand, and the food, wages, and honor promised by My Lord sounded so enticing.
In the face of hunger and hardship, the difficulty of training no longer seemed so unbearable.
Roderick watched their reactions with satisfaction.
The first step had been successfully taken. The rebuilding of military power began now.
Returning from the training ground, Rolan and Greg were again waiting in the study.
They had evidently heard the commotion from the training ground, and seeing Roderick return with that same oppressive aura, they felt even more awe.
"Rolan, did you bring the map?" Roderick asked directly.
Rolan hastily spread a rough parchment map on the table.
The map depicted the hills, forests, rivers, and scattered villages around Blackstone Pass.
Roderick scanned it, and relying on the system's [Intelligence Insight] function and his understanding of the original geography, he immediately pointed to several inconspicuous locations on the map.
"The terrain here should have an iron ore vein beneath it. Although not obvious, the depth should not be shallow. And here, near the river, water resources are abundant, so a waterwheel workshop can be built."
Rolan and Greg were stunned.
These places were all locations that previous Lords had never paid attention to, or deemed worthless.
How could Roderick be so certain?
"My Lord, w-we also explored here, but did not find any large-scale mineral deposits..." Rolan stammered.
Roderick smiled mysteriously: "That's because your exploration methods were incorrect. Greg, gather your craftsmen. I want them to go to these points and dig according to my instructions. Especially here," he pointed to a hidden spot near the foot of the mountain, "this place should yield higher quality iron ore."
[System Task: Activate "Elementary Mineral Exploration and Smelting Technology", successfully extract the first batch of high-quality iron ore.]
[Task Reward: overlord points x200, unlock partial functions of the "system store", special reward (pending)]
Roderick saw the new system task notification in his mind, making him even more confident.
"As for agricultural technology..." Roderick called Rolan to his side and circled several flat fields on the map, "Rolan, I have a brand new agricultural planting method that can greatly increase food production. This method can achieve crop rotation, preventing soil depletion. At the same time, I need you to organize people to build simple irrigation canals near the river to improve irrigation."
He orally explained parts of the [Advanced Agricultural Technology Blueprint] given by the system to Rolan in detail, using the language and concepts of this era.
This included the basic principles of the three-field system, the selection of improved seeds, and some simple but efficient agricultural tool improvement plans.
Rolan listened, dumbfounded.
These concepts exceeded any knowledge he had learned.
But Roderick's confidence in his tone, and the abundant harvest he described, made Rolan feel dizzy, as if he saw Blackstone Pass revitalized in Roderick's hands.
[System Task: Activate "Advanced Agricultural Technology Set", successfully conduct the first large-scale high-yield agricultural practice, and improve the territory's popular support.]
[Task Reward: overlord points x200, unlock "Territory Construction" advanced agricultural buildings, special reward (pending)]
Roderick's heart burned even hotter.
As long as he completed these initial tasks, his overlord points would quickly accumulate, and more system functions would be unlocked accordingly.
"Remember my words, do not question, just execute." Roderick concluded, his gaze sweeping over the two, carrying the unquestionable authority of a superior.
Although Rolan and Greg still had doubts in their hearts, faced with Roderick's peculiar abilities and convincing demeanor, they no longer dared to refute.
They bowed in acknowledgment and quickly left to carry out Roderick's orders.
The study returned to quiet once more.
Roderick sat at his desk, feeling the powerful force from the system and the surging ambition within him.
This world was full of dangers, but also full of opportunities.
He, Roderick Blackstone, would start from this barren Blackstone Pass and gradually change the world's pattern.
He wanted to build an unprecedentedly powerful empire, bring the heroes who tragically fell in the original work under his command, and embrace the peerless beauties with unfortunate fates.
Winter is coming? No, for Roderick, this was just the prelude to his conquest of the world