CHAPTER 33: NEW FEATURES

The next day, I began tinkering with the new features. I was I my room with Damian.

The interface materialized more clearly this time, almost like a holographic display that only I could see. But I could manipulate it, and the information was real.

```

[VILLAIN NETWORK: OBSIDIAN COUNCIL]

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FACTION STATUS OVERVIEW

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TOTAL MEMBERS: 4

AVERAGE LOYALTY: 78%

MONTHLY INCOME: 8,000 gold

MONTHLY EXPENSES: 3,500 gold

NET POSITIVE: 4,500 gold/month

FACTION MORALE: High

THREAT LEVEL: Medium

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CORE MEMBERS

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

```

A list expanded, showing each member with detailed information I’d never had access to before.

```

DAMIAN ASHCROFT

├─ Role: Personal Guard / Administrator

├─ Loyalty: 100% (Maximum)

├─ Skills: Combat Butler (A-rank), Administration (B-rank)

├─ Current Status: Available for missions

├─ Morale: Excellent

├─ Notes: Would die for you. Don’t make him.

└─ Upgrade Available: Advanced Combat Training (Cost: 1,000 VS)

MARCUS VOIDSTEP

├─ Role: Enchanter / R&D Director

├─ Loyalty: 95%

├─ Skills: Enchanting (S-rank), Crafting (A-rank)

├─ Current Status: Working on personal project

├─ Morale: Good (overworked but happy)

├─ Notes: Needs more sleep. Won’t take it.

└─ Upgrade Available: Master Enchanter Workshop (Cost: 5,000 gold)

LUCILLE NIGHTSHADE

├─ Role: Intelligence Director

├─ Loyalty: 85%

├─ Skills: Assassination (A-rank), Stealth (S-rank), Intelligence (A-rank)

├─ Current Status: Available for missions

├─ Morale: Good (enjoys the work)

├─ Notes: Trust has grown significantly. Genuinely cares a little now.

└─ Upgrade Available: Spy Network Expansion (Cost: 5,000 gold)

ISABELLA FROSTVALE

├─ Role: Economic Director

├─ Loyalty: 80%

├─ Skills: Business (S-rank), Ice Magic (A-rank), Negotiation (A-rank)

├─ Current Status: Managing trade contracts

├─ Morale: Excellent (thriving in partnership)

├─ Notes: Relationship evolving beyond business. Proceed carefully.

└─ Upgrade Available: Trade Route Establishment (Cost: 10,000 gold)

RAVENNA BLACKTHORN

├─ Role: Magical Research Director

├─ Loyalty: 95%

├─ Skills: Void Magic (S-rank), Research (A-rank), Dark Arts (S-rank)

├─ Current Status: Working on anti-holy project

├─ Morale: Good (grateful for support and belief)

├─ Notes: Deep emotional attachment. Be aware of her devotion.

└─ Upgrade Available: Advanced Laboratory (Cost: 8,000 gold)

```

"This is..." I breathed. "This is exactly what I needed."

But I’m going to have to dip into the money reserve of the family, and luckily, I just got my uncle support.

A new tab opened, revealing a mission assignment interface.

```

[SUBORDINATE MISSIONS]

[ASSIGN TASKS TO FACTION MEMBERS REMOTELY]

[THEY WILL RECEIVE MISSION NOTIFICATION DIRECTLY]

[SUCCESS CHANCES CALCULATED BASED ON SKILLS AND RESOURCES]

```

"I can assign missions directly through the system?" I said aloud, mostly to process the information. It seems the system would send it to their magical communication devices.

```

[CORRECT]

[NO MORE NEED FOR CONSTANT MEETINGS]

[DELEGATE EFFICIENTLY]

[LIKE AN ACTUAL ORGANIZATION LEADER]

```

"Show me available missions."

A list populated:

```

[AVAILABLE MISSIONS]

MISSION: Establish Intelligence Network - Eastern District

Recommended Agent: Lucille Nightshade

Duration: 1 week

Required Resources: 5,000 gold

Success Chance: 78%

Rewards:

├─ Information network established

├─ 10+ informants recruited

└─ Eyes on Adrian’s eastern operations and other interfering from anyone.

MISSION: Create Communication Crystals (For faction)

Recommended Agent: Marcus Voidstep

Duration: 2 weeks

Required Resources: 3,000 gold (materials)

Success Chance: 82%

Rewards:

├─ 15 communication crystals

├─ Instant faction messaging capability

└─ Encrypted communications

MISSION: Establish Southern Trade Route

Recommended Agent: Isabella Frostvale

Duration: 3 weeks

Required Resources: 10,000 gold (investment)

Success Chance: 71%

Rewards:

├─ New revenue stream (+2,000 gold/month)

├─ Southern merchant connections

└─ Exotic goods access

My mind raced. This changed everything. Instead of micromanaging every detail, I could assign missions and let my people work.

"Damian, how many people are waiting to see me right now?"

"Some potential recruits, three supply contractors, and Professor Helena sent a message asking for a meeting."

"And I was going to handle all of that personally." I shook my head. "Not anymore."

I pulled up the mission interface and started assigning tasks.

MISSION ASSIGNMENT: LUCILLE NIGHTSHADE

```

MISSION ASSIGNED: Establish Intelligence Network - Eastern District

MISSION DETAILS:

Set up network of informants in eastern campus district. Focus on monitoring Adrian’s faction activities and gathering actionable intelligence.

BUDGET: 5,000 gold

TIMELINE: 1 week

SUCCESS CRITERIA: Minimum 10 reliable informants, twice-daily reports

AGENT NOTIFICATION SENT...

[LUCILLE NIGHTSHADE HAS BEEN NOTIFIED]

[MISSION ACCEPTED]

```

A small window appeared showing Lucille’s response, and apparently the system could transmit messages both ways.

```

FROM: Lucille Nightshade

"About time you delegated. I’ll have the network operational in five days, not seven. And I’ll do it for 4,000 gold. Send the funds to the usual account."

```

I smiled. Even through system messages, her efficiency showed.

MISSION ASSIGNMENT: MARCUS VOIDSTEP

```

MISSION ASSIGNED: Create Communication Crystals (Faction Set)

MISSION DETAILS:

Develop and create 15 paired communication crystals for faction-wide instant messaging. Ensure encryption and security against interception.

BUDGET: 3,000 gold

TIMELINE: 2 weeks

SUCCESS CRITERIA: All crystals functional, secure, and paired

AGENT NOTIFICATION SENT...

[MARCUS VOIDSTEP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED]

[MISSION ACCEPTED]

```

Marcus’s response came almost immediately:

```

FROM: Marcus Voidstep

"Finally! I’ve been wanting to work on this. Two weeks is generous, I’ll have prototypes in three days. Also, I’m adding a feature where they can show basic emotions through color changes. Because I can. Also because it’s useful. Mostly because I can."

```

That was very Marcus.

MISSION ASSIGNMENT: ISABELLA FROSTVALE

```

MISSION ASSIGNED: Establish Southern Trade Route

MISSION DETAILS:

Negotiate trade agreements with Silvermere Federation merchants. Focus on exotic goods and supplies independent from Adrian’s influence.

BUDGET: 10,000 gold

TIMELINE: 3 weeks

SUCCESS CRITERIA: Sustainable trade route generating minimum 1,500 gold/month

AGENT NOTIFICATION SENT...

[ISABELLA FROSTVALE HAS BEEN NOTIFIED]

[MISSION ACCEPTED]

```

Isabella’s response was characteristically professional:

```

FROM: Isabella Frostvale

"Excellent timing. I have contacts in Silvermere already. I’ll aim for 2,000 gold/month minimum. Sending preliminary contract drafts by end of day. Expect progress report in 72 hours."

```

Just like that, three major operations were underway.