Legendary Shelter Survival Guide

Lucas's expression remained unchanged as he stared at the abrupt notification. Around him, everyone chattered excitedly about the new opportunities having tools like these presented, speculating on the advanced tasks they could now attempt.

His gaze shifted knowingly toward John, whose demeanor transitioned from a casual smile to a serious expression within moments. While making occasional comments to those around him, John steadily made his way toward Lucas, who stood waiting.

"What happened?" John asked.

"Something is invading our territory," Lucas replied in a measured tone, prompting John's eyes to widen in surprise.

"Invasion?" John repeated, struggling to maintain his composure. The territory had been peaceful for as long as he could remember, and the sudden news of an invasion seemed surreal.

Lucas glanced toward the group, still obliviously engaged in conversation. He tried to catch Bill's attention, but Bill was too engrossed in the discussion.

After a few moments of silent insistence, Bill finally noticed Lucas staring and frowned. However, as their eyes met, an unspoken understanding passed between them. Bill's curiosity piqued, and he broke away from the group without a word. No one paid him any mind—his unpredictable nature made such behavior unsurprising.

"What is it?" Bill asked as he approached.

"An invasion in the north," Lucas said quietly. "We're not sharing this with the others yet, so keep it to yourself."

"I'll scout for the invaders. It's probably the Kobolds," Bill said, tightening the belt that held his daggers.

"Be cautious," Lucas warned. "Don't engage. If there's any sign of aggression, retreat immediately. They might only be scouting our territory."

Bill nodded, sinking into his shadow and vanishing from sight. Lucas returned his focus to the system interface, scrolling through the creature list.

"We should inform Sarah and Jerry—they're our special soldiers," John suggested, glancing at the group.

Before Lucas could respond, Haley approached with a mischievous smirk. "So, genius, what's next? Are we just going to watch you slice logs all day, or is there a plan?"

Lucas shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. His composed expression betrayed nothing of the situation. "We need to process the wood into planks for furniture. The drawknife will help with that," he explained. Turning to the group, he raised his voice. "Everyone, I've shown you how to cut the trees. I'd like a few volunteers to cut this tree into smaller chunks so I can process it later. I have some research to conduct right now."

Sean and Barney immediately perked up, exchanging eager glances before rushing toward Lucas in a competitive dash.

"I'll do it!" Sean declared triumphantly, just a second before Barney echoed the same.

"I appreciate your enthusiasm, Sean and Barney. Thank you for volunteering," Lucas said, handing the saw to Sean. "You just need to cut the bark into smaller sections."

He demonstrated the measurements, which Sean noted carefully. The group gradually dispersed, realizing the task was repetitive and required focused effort. Only the trees Lucas marked were to be cut, a warning he repeated firmly before leaving with John.

"This could be serious, Lucas," John said once they were out of earshot. "I think we should tell everyone what's happening."

"That would be the safest approach, Uncle John, but it's not the path I want to take," Lucas replied.

John remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

"We'll handle this before anyone even knows it's happening," Lucas said, scrolling through the system interface. "What I want for our territory is peace of mind—a calm environment where everyone can nurture their talents without distractions."

"That's not how a territory works," John countered, concern evident in his voice. "We should face these challenges together. Shielding them from everything will only make them weaker."

"Uncle John," Lucas said, his tone firm but calm, "back on Earth, it wasn't the civilians guarding the borders—it was the government. Not everyone is meant to be a fighter, and they don't need to be. I'll ensure that."

John studied Lucas, sensing the weight behind his words. "You've been planning this all along, haven't you? Peace for everyone?"

"It sounds ridiculous, I know," Lucas admitted. "But it's why I chose the knowledge path during the quest world. Strength was a bonus, not the goal. If I wanted pure combat, I'd have chosen a different path."

John still harbored doubts, but the conversation shifted as Lucas abruptly stopped scrolling. "It's the Kobolds. They're well-prepared."

"How prepared?" John asked, momentarily abandoning his concerns.

"Twelve of them, averaging level 12," Lucas replied. "Bill should contact us any moment now."

"Twelve? That's a lot for a scouting party."

"It depends. They could either be the weakest Kobolds sent by their leader or one of their stronger teams. We'll know more once we talk to them."

"Talk?" John muttered, skeptical. He half-expected Lucas to resort to violence but quickly remembered how much he had matured. That realization brought a small smile to John's face.

A 'Tring!' sound rang in Lucas's mind, signaling Bill's call. He answered immediately.

-"There are 12 confirmed Kobolds in the territory. They're riding on large, hairy pig-like mounts,"- Bill reported.

"They have mounts? That's unexpected. How are they moving?" Lucas asked, his voice calm but alert.

-"Slowly, toward the center. They're scouting. I've marked their current location near the northern border."-

"Good work, Bill. Keep your distance and monitor their movements. If they split up, mark each direction they take," Lucas instructed.

-"Understood. Should I take out a couple? I'm confident I can handle two before retreating."-

"No aggression yet. Wait for the right time," Lucas said firmly.

-"Got it."-

The call ended, and Lucas turned to John. "They're at the northern border, far from here. If their goal is the shelter, it'll take hours—maybe a full day—depending on their purpose. We'll monitor their movements closely."

"I'll watch the map, but I need to say something," John said, his tone serious. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire

Lucas nodded, signaling him to continue.

"You're aiming for diplomacy with the Kobolds, and while I respect that, I won't let you take unnecessary risks," John said firmly. "If I sense a threat to the group, I'll be the first to fire an arrow."

Lucas met John's frown with a composed expression. He could feel the concern behind his words. Lucas could feel the emotions of scare and concern from him, "Don't worry, Uncle John. If peace isn't an option, I'll handle them immediately."

John studied him, surprised by the quiet confidence radiating from Lucas. He chuckled softly and turned back to the map.

'I'll need to find a way to earn his full trust in my decisions,' Lucas thought, refocusing on the task at hand.