Kingdom Building Game: Starting Out With A Million Upgrade Points! - Chapter 204

Chapter 204: Velvet And Blood
The manor, now under Bloodbane control, had begun to settle into a strange sort of quiet. Outside, the fires had died down, leaving behind smoke curling lazily into the sky. Knights wandered the grounds, some rounding up the last of the prisoners—Akerians too wounded or too broken to fight back. They were marched off in lines, heads low, their chains clinking faintly against the stone.

Others, though? They were already halfway to drunk.

A few barrels of wine had been cracked open—courtesy of the DeLambre cellars—and the courtyard echoed now with clinks of metal mugs and the occasional burst of laughter. Someone had started a song. It was off-key, half-forgotten, but the rhythm was there, and that was enough. After all, what better way to celebrate than with strong drink and stronger stories?

Seraphine stood near the gates, watching it all. She didn’t drink—not yet anyway—but the corners of her mouth twitched at the sight of Velder arguing with a pair of Bloodbane soldiers about who had landed the final blow on the Akerian commander. One of them had blood on his nose and wasn’t sure if it was his own. None of them really cared.

In the middle of it all, Utilia walked past with a bundle of swords strapped to her back, muttering something about “spoils being counted properly” and “not losing another damned inventory scroll.”

Meanwhile, back in the heart of the manor, Arkanos stood before a pair of tall, ornate double doors—the kind that practically begged to be opened with a dramatic flourish. He didn’t kick them open or anything like that. Just pressed a hand against the wood and gave them a push.

They creaked open slowly, as if even the doors were reluctant to show him what lay beyond.

The Lord’s Chambers.

Big place. High ceilings. Velvet drapes. A bed that could fit five men side by side—maybe six if no one moved too much. The air smelled like lavender and old pride.

Arkanos stepped inside without a word. His boots made soft thuds on the thick carpet as he took it all in.

The room was… untouched, well recently put in order would be more accurate.

A gold-framed painting of Lord DeLambre still hung above the hearth, the man’s face frozen in a pose of noble self-importance. Arkanos stared at it for a moment, then gave a quiet snort and walked past it.

There was a desk to the side, papers scattered neatly, ink pots still half-full. A half-written letter lay open. Arkanos glanced at it briefly—something about requesting aid, too late now—and then tossed it aside.

He walked to the massive bed and sat down, the wood creaking a little under his weight. He leaned back, not to rest, just to think. His cloak slid off to the side, pooling on the expensive sheets like a stain of smoke.

After a few quiet moments, he reached for a wine decanter sitting on a tray nearby. He poured himself a cup, took a sip, and gave a little shrug.

“Sweet,” he muttered. “Tastes like surrender.”

He looked out the arched window beside the bed, watching the last of the sun dip below the hills. From here, he could see the Bloodbane banner being raised atop the manor’s highest spire.

A small smirk pulled at his lips.

Arkanos took another slow sip of the wine, resting one elbow on the armrest of the oversized bed.

The manor was silent now, save for the muffled noise of his men enjoying their well-earned spoils outside. He could almost forget the blood, the fire, the screaming.

Almost.

But then, right on cue, a faint hum stirred in the air. A soft chime followed, like a bell ringing in his mind. And just like that, the world shimmered faintly at the edges.

A translucent green window blinked into view before his eyes.

〘 ⋄ Congratulations, player. ⋄ 〙

〘 ⋄ You have completed a successful Raid. ⋄ 〙

〘 ⋄ Upgrade Points available for claim in the Achievement Menu. ⋄ 〙

〘 ⋄ You have leveled up. ⋄ 〙

〘 ⋄ Holy Magic Mastery has increased. ⋄ 〙

〘 ⋄ Druidic Nature Magic Mastery has increased. ⋄ 〙

He raised an eyebrow, not even surprised anymore.

Another set of messages chimed in, one after the other:

〘 ⋄ Your troops have successfully invaded the Akerian Empire. ⋄ 〙

〘 ⋄ Invasion Event [BLOODBANE ASCENDANT] has begun. ⋄ 〙

〘 ⋄ You have claimed the Lands of House DeLambre. ⋄ 〙

Arkanos let the wine rest on the table beside him, then stood and stretched his arms with a satisfied sigh. The warm flicker of power pulsed just beneath his skin—familiar, but stronger now. The increase in magic felt like a deep breath finally let go, like his soul had taken a step forward even if his body hadn’t moved.

“Hm,” he muttered. “About time.”

He flicked a finger, bringing up the Achievement Menu with a casual gesture. More windows popped open around him, glowing gently in the dim chamber light like fireflies frozen mid-flight.

Rows of achievements filled the screen, some dim, others gold-lit. At the top:

〘 ⋄ Blood for Soil ⋄ — Complete your first territory raid.

〘 ⋄ Empire Breaker ⋄ — Begin an invasion against a hostile empire.

〘 ⋄ Nature’s Blade ⋄ — Use both Holy and Druidic spells in a major battle.

〘 ⋄ No Mercy ⋄ — Defeat a named commander without offering surrender.

〘 ⋄ Banner Claimed ⋄ — Raise your standard over enemy land. ⋄ 〙

All marked [Completed].

All glowing with that sweet, pulsing gold.

He tapped Claim All.

〘 ⋄ 52,000 Upgrade Points received. ⋄ 〙

“Hmm, isn’t that amount a bit abnormal? Could it be a bug?”

He gazed at it for a moment, then sighed. Abnormal bug or not, it benefited him all the same.

〘 ⋄ New Trait Unlocked: Nature’s Resurgence — Druidic spells regenerate health over time. ⋄ 〙

〘 ⋄ New Title Earned: Warlord of the Wilds. ⋄ 〙

〘 ⋄ Land Management Interface Unlocked for: Region — DeLambre Territory. ⋄ 〙

“Well then,” Arkanos said, his smirk returning. “Looks like Bloodbane just got a little greener.”

He waved the system windows away with a flick of his wrist, and they vanished like mist in sunlight.

Then, without ceremony, he turned and began to pace the room slowly. One hand trailed along the edge of a bookshelf, the other scratching at the stubble on his jaw.

The invasion had started. But now came the real work.

Consolidation.

Fear.

Control.

And maybe—just maybe—a bit of rest.

For now.

But then he noticed something at the corner of his vision.

〘 ⋄ The God of Endless Dawns frowns upon you ⋄ 〙