Lords of the Heavens

Chapter 145 Hathaway's antics

At this point, of the eight family members, only Li Wei and Hathaway are left without a monthly main storyline.

Li Wei's gaze finally fell on Hathaway, who was gazing at him with affection.

I'd like to see what kind of trouble you're up to. Last month, this woman was practically inseparable from him, but this month he's tied up with a main quest. I don't believe you'll still have time to follow me around.
Li Wei spoke first, using very careful words.

“My dearest Hathaway, I'm afraid you'll have to stay in the tavern for a while longer. Once the castle is built, you won't have to suffer so much anymore. However, you won't be coming with me to cut wood this month. I feel very guilty about making you do so much hard work last month, so—”

Before Li Wei could finish speaking, Hathaway's expression suddenly changed, and she covered her mouth and nose with her hand, looking like she was about to gag!
Alas!
What the hell are you playing?

Do you even care about logic?

You got pregnant in just one hour?

"Logic, hurry up and NG her!" Li Wei shouted in his heart. How could such a high-level player of four stars make such a low-level mistake? Tsk tsk tsk.

The result was not as expected. This either means that the rules were being relaxed, or that she had done something else that made her actions compliant with the rules.

"Sorry, George, I feel a little dizzy. It's probably because I was too tired last month, and mixing potions took too much energy. So I want to take a break this month and see some scenery. George, would you like to come with me?"

Good guy!
What is this operation?
Everyone else is volunteering to work, but you're asking to rest.

Alarm bells rang instantly in Li Wei's mind, but he couldn't think of any countermeasures for the time being.

Because he can ask family members to do certain chores or not to do certain chores, but he cannot force them to do chores when they say they are tired!
This is a matter of plot logic. In the past, everyone would beg him and compete to do the work, which is how the role of the head of the household could be highlighted.

But if you choose to lie down, even the head of the household can't do anything about it!
As for accompanying Hathaway to see the sights, well, surely Hathaway wouldn't want to plunder the bandits' lair with him, would she?

That is absolutely impossible.

"Hathaway, I'm sorry, the environment here can't compare to that of the Province of Ver. You can go and enjoy the scenery, but the territory is still under construction and I can't leave to accompany you. I hope you don't stray too far from the camp; it's dangerous outside."

That was all Li Wei could say.

Anyway, it doesn't matter. He's already prepared to be the last head of the family. After this month, you high-level players can do whatever you want. He'll just settle the accounts and leave. Really, he doesn't like being a foil for others.

Hathaway seemed quite understanding, but she still weakly rubbed her forehead. "George, I'm much better now. You don't need to worry. My swordsmanship is just as good. You were once my defeated opponent."

Hmm, it seems there's no trouble. Li Wei nodded. "Alright, then you mustn't go too far. I'll ask Uncle John to look after you."

"No, Uncle John is already very tired, George. If you're really worried, can my sister come and keep me company?"

what?
Li Wei's heart skipped a beat. Good heavens, something really fishy is going to happen. He refused outright!
"Hathaway, don't joke around, your sister has her own work to do too!"

“George, your sister is a woman too. She’s also very tired. She even had a miscarriage not long ago. Have you considered her feelings? If we go together and see the scenery, we’ll feel better. Besides, wouldn’t you feel more at ease if your sister was with me? Or, you could ask your sister. She probably wants to rest too.”

After saying this, Hathaway quietly looked at Li Wei. Her words did not trigger any NG (non-interference) because her status had been expanded to include the mistress of the house, naturally giving her more weight than others. In addition, Li Wei had only confirmed Penny's work for this month in advance, but had not yet officially announced it, so it was also in line with the plot logic.

Most importantly, in the storyline, Penny seems to have actually had a miscarriage once?
This is just asking for trouble!
After staring at Hathaway for a good four or five seconds, Li Wei smiled and turned to Penny, whose eyes suddenly lit up with a spark of light. "Sister, I've neglected your health lately, that's my fault. But the territory is indeed very busy right now. Here's what we'll do: you can have Mom take care of you. If you go out to gather, take Hathaway with you. The three of you can go together and relax."

You're asking for it, aren't you? You two can both go with Fira to collect them.

Li Wei made a final decision: he wouldn't fall for it. If he actually asked Penny, that would be a trap, because no matter what Penny said, he would lose control of the situation.

At that moment, he stopped looking at Hathaway. "I'm not giving you a chance to speak. I've made my decision. You don't have any prop cards either. Let's see what you can do to me."
"vomit!"

Hathaway suddenly vomited violently, her face turned ashen, and she collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Damn it?

You're awesome, you're ruthless!

Li Wei was convinced. This was a case of factual logic prevailing over narrative logic, and to vomit so easily—did you perhaps take poison beforehand?

Awesome!
There's no solution!
At this point, Li Wei was at a loss and could only hurriedly help Fila and Penny take Hathaway back to her room.

She won again.

Back at the messy dining table, Penny suddenly spoke up.
“George, Hathaway’s condition is really not good. Please let me spend more time with her this month.”

Li Wei glanced at Penny in surprise, not because she dared to speak at this moment, because after what had just happened, Penny's words at this moment were no longer considered inappropriate, but rather, were you a pig or something?

These high-level players have gone through countless power struggles and deceptions, and they carry three hundred cunning schemes with them at all times. You really want to get ahead like this? Aren't you afraid of being used and devoured until there's not even a bone left?

Do you think that because you're both women, she'll feel pity for you and think you're on the same side?

Wake up, Miss Peppa!

But Li Wei didn't try to persuade him further; instead, he nodded and agreed.

"Alright, sister, you and Hathaway can rest for a month, but try not to leave the camp within three miles." This was meant to be upfront; he had made it clear at the family meeting and advised them that if they ran around during their rest period and encountered danger, he wouldn't be held responsible, since he had warned them.

As for any problems that occurred within a three-mile radius of the camp, that was, of course, Old John's responsibility.

Patrolling and guarding, what are they doing?

Simply perfect.

Next, Li Wei finally got back to the main topic, because he hadn't yet arranged his own monthly main quest.

But that's not a problem at all.

He looked directly at Fila.

"Mom, next month more squires will likely come to join us, bringing the total number of family members to over twenty. I want to know if our food and salt reserves will be sufficient to safely get through the coming winter?"

Li Wei said this because there is a 99% chance that Lyon will be able to build a one-star fortress this month. In that case, the family camp will be upgraded to level 5, the total population will reach 12 people, and there will be 12 mercenaries that can be hired, for a total of 24 people.

This number may sound small, but imagine how terrifying it would be to have twenty-four mouths eating three meals a day.

The problem is that they only have six mu of wheat, and they don't even have time to plant more.

The mission's plot is progressing too fast.

There simply wasn't enough time to build up a solid foundation.

What long-term hope can a family have if it doesn't even have enough food to spare?

In short, the storyline for this mission is essentially ruined.

The sooner you withdraw, the better, to avoid those advanced players causing trouble and getting dragged down with you.

“George, are there really that many entourage coming? That’s a good thing, but it’s not a good thing for the family’s food reserves.”

"Even with a bumper autumn harvest, there will still be a significant food shortage. Even if we start hunting and fishing now and try every possible way to accumulate food, such as digging holes to catch mice, frogs, snakes, and grasshoppers, we can barely manage to survive."

“But we really don’t have enough salt. George, you went out to buy some in the spring, but it was only enough for the eight of us for half a year. In fact, with the addition of many mercenaries this month, we’re already running out of salt. By the beginning of October at the latest, we’ll be out of salt. So, the best solution is to go out and buy more salt.”

Fila was telling the truth, and Li Wei wanted the truth too. There was no need for excuses or schemes; he just wanted to be realistic.

"Okay, I'll go buy salt this month, and see if I can buy some grain while I'm at it. I'll be taking four mercenaries with me, as well as Clyde."

When Li Wei finished speaking, Old John and Ron couldn't help but frown, a sense of foreboding spreading through them.

Since you need standard gold coins to buy salt when you go out, what should you do if you don't have standard gold coins at home?
Of course, it's a barter system!

This means that most of the household's supplies can be sold, and at a basic price, without needing to be expensive.

In fact, Li Wei was already feeling regretful at this moment. If only Ron had finished forging that four-star scale armor by now.

As they were talking, Li Wei had already used up 10 contribution points to release this month's main quest.

Lines of information then appeared, but there was no information about mercenaries, because they were all merged into the mercenaries' information.

George, the head of the household (and one of the four mercenaries), will be in charge of mining and transporting two-star stone this month, and is expected to receive 240 household contribution points by the end of the month.

George, the head of the household (one of the four mercenaries), will be undertaking a special mission this month to purchase salt and grain through foreign trade. He needs to buy at least 15 kilograms of salt and no less than 500 kilograms of grain. Upon completion of the mission, he will receive 200 family contribution points. Since the family is temporarily short of standard gold coins to purchase supplies, he will have the right to select supplies from the warehouse with a total value of 50 standard gold coins. After selling these supplies, he can then purchase the corresponding amount of salt and grain. This mission can be extended for up to 40 days. If he cannot return safely by then, the mission will be considered a failure.

[Friendly reminder: This mission allows you to carry a maximum of 150 catties of food, 20 catties of dried meat, and you may use the food transport equipment, tents and cooking utensils for the accompanying mercenaries free of charge. You may also carry a maximum of four wheelbarrows and one set of repair and replacement parts, etc.]

[Friendly reminder: Families can provide 200 iron cone-headed arrows, 10 fine steel armor-piercing arrows, 20 crossbow bolts, six standard iron shields, and six standard iron spears for free during this mission. If you need to bring more, it will require 50 standard gold coins of supplies.]

Teacher Ron will be serving as the duty blacksmith this month, responsible for related matters. He is expected to receive 60 family contribution points by the end of the month, excluding additional contributions.

Uncle John is in charge of day and night patrols and security this month, and is expected to receive 60 contribution points by the end of the month.

[Mama Fila is responsible for three meals a day, warehouse management, gathering, fishing, and other related matters this month, and is expected to receive 60 contribution points by the end of the month.]

[Leon, the younger brother, will be in charge of the future lord's manor construction this month and is expected to receive 60 contribution points by the end of the month.]

[The servant Clyde will accompany the head of the household to purchase supplies this month and is expected to receive 60 contribution points by the end of the month.]

[The matriarch, Hathaway, is feeling slightly unwell this month and needs to rest, but the head of the household has made it clear that she is not allowed to leave the family camp within a three-mile radius, or she will bear all the consequences.]

[Sister Penny is also feeling unwell this month and has chosen to rest, as above.]

(End of this chapter)